The International Magazine, Volume 4, No. 5, December 1851Various
History
The International Magazine, Volume 4, No. 5, December 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
I have alluded to Mr. George Thompson. His arrival in India in 1843
was greeted by all classes of the community with joy. All had heard of
his eloquence and his ability, of the interest he had exhibited in the
affairs of, and his design in visiting, India, and therefore hailed him
as the champion of her interests. Hindoo and Mussulman flocked eagerly
around the standard he raised as a patriot leader, listened to his
addresses, and, as he enlarged on their rights and wrongs (so far as he
knew them) felt discontent, hatred to the rulers of their country, and
bold resolutions to free it from their tyranny, rising within them. The
press lauded and flattered him; invitations overwhelmed him; patriotic
societies rose from nonentity at his presence; and his person and
character were themes of inquiry and constant disquisition; imitative
would-be orators sprang up in multitudes, and poured forth torrents
of anger and abuse against Government, and all was excitement, all
radicalism. Suddenly the man on whom the eyes of the people were fixed
as their instructor and guide left the metropolis, and when he again
appeared in it, did so in the character of ambassador from the Great
Mogul. With what abuse he then met, let the periodicals of the day
testify. "Where now," it was asked, "are his magniloquent professions
of philanthropy, his self-devotedness, and his zeal in the cause of
India?"
In India, as in England, the public appetite for the drama seems to
have been satiated. There is a very elegant theatre in Calcutta, but
it is now closed. It languished for want of support, though several
talented performers were attached to it. Mrs. Leach, its founder and
greatest ornament, was an exquisite actress. A Miss Cowley and a Miss
Baxter, too, were both superior and elegant actresses. The latter
preserved the theatre to the community on a former occasion, when it
seemed about to fall. A circumstance, as true as it is laughable,
connected with this theatre, occurred in 1841. Two ladies, engaged in
England for it, and sent out, were actually entered among the "imports
manifest" for the port of Calcutta, as goods consigned to the manager
of the playhouse!
The newspaper is as necessary an adjunct to the breakfast table in
Calcutta as it is in London. The military man looks eagerly for
accounts from the north-west; turns to the lists of promotions and
staff appointments, and forgets not to cast his eye at the obituary;
the civilian searches for the advertisements which announce fresh
arrivals of horses from Persia, Burmah, and Arabia; spinsters' and
oilmen's stores from England; and wines and fruits from France; just
glancing at the drafts of laws about to be enacted, and conning over
the programme of the next races; and the merchant studies the accounts
relative to indigo, sugar, and saltpetre. But the greatest excitement
prevails when the mail from England is due. How eagerly is it looked
for, and when it arrives, how are its contents scanned and analyzed!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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