change. Here especially, days, even hours, are sufficient; I cannot express the concern I felt last night. I was undressing when Captain Enderby sent to beg to speak with me and communicated the death of Colonel Kelly, an event which justly impresses every one who knew him with deep regret. He lately received information of the death of that only and beloved son at sea and never recovered the shock. . . . These dreadful lessons of the perils of India make me now seriously resolve to go while the power is left, but then my dearest James! if he must remain, what is safety to me?

18th August.-I spent last night with Dr. and Mrs. Craigie; in defiance of the rain they made their way up to me, saying how much they had regretted not being able to see me during Fenton's absence, Dr. C. having been engaged in attending some patients at Chaundernagore, and she had no conveyance in his absence. They would not leave the house without me, and both seemed so attentive and kind, it repaid me for the exertion of sitting up, which actually I am now unable to do. They very cordially joined in the deep and general regret for our kind friend. .. Dr. C. suggested to me that Fenton ought to apply for two years' leave on account of his health, which seemed to him far from satisfactory, and I then told him that we were really thinking of going to settle in New South Wales providing we got an encouraging account of it. . . . Fenton unexpectedly came in at night, the court having adjourned, and complained very much of his side. We resumed the conversation on Australia; Fenton seemed well disposed to apply for leave, while we were so far on the way. As Colonel Kelly had settled to return to England with Lord Combermere, the command of the depôt had been promised to Colonel Everard of the 13th, who I suppose will now assume

the duties. It will be a great relief, for the additional emolument by no means counterbalanced the trouble and annoyance, to me especially, of living almost in public.

27th August.-Fenton returned again to Calcutta to attend this tedious court of inquiry; Dr. Craigie went with him and I promised to pass the evening with her. During the morning Mrs. Clark of the 47th who lives just beside us, within a call, came to see me. She seemed quite shocked to know I was alone in such a delicate state, but said that from my appearance when she met me during our evening drive she had supposed me in perfect health. This is very true, for I have always a higher colour than usual when ill, before an attack of fever particularly; indeed it makes me quite nervous to be told I look well. Mrs. Grant and I were always conspicuous by our complexion in the cold season, which I dare say would have been supposed artificial if rouge was generally worn; I don't think it would be possible, from the moisture of the climate, to keep it on; a fine complexion, being rare, is infinitely more striking than at home. I believe it was mine which made Lady Ryan speak of me as 'The pretty Mrs. Campbell' at Bishop's College and drew on me increased ill-will from my tawny companions. Mrs. Clark, who is really a wellmeaning woman, begged if I felt at any time inclined to see her I would send without ceremony either by day or night, and seemed struck with amazement that I had courage to remain in the house alone without even a female servant. Indeed she said so much to frighten me about my own risk, that she made me promise to send for Captain Enderby's`nurse and child to stay in the house until Fenton came back. I liked both so much while they stayed, I had no objection. that they should repeat the visit, and it was equally agreeable to Captain Enderby, who wished to go to Calcutta.

29th August.-As I went to lie down yesterday about one o'clock in passing through the baby's room she was running about in high spirits with a kid the bearer had brought in. I lay reading till four and then returning to my sitting-room I saw the baby on the nurse's knee, flushed and every indication of high fever; the nurse was in the most dreadful distress, saying she feared it to be the epidemic so fatal among children and entreated her papa should be sent for. I first sent off the palanquin for Dr. Craigie, who confirmed the fact and apprehended imminent danger. I think he put fourteen leeches on her chest and gave ten grains of calomel. Oh! how it bled and yet the infant's pulse did not change and no favourable symptom appeared. I know not how many changes of clothes were steeped in blood till at last the poor nurse, whose grief seemed without limit, said she would torment it no more, but let it die in peace, for no other conclusion seemed probable. Enderby returned about three o'clock in the morning and we all sat watching its inanimate form in that state of excitement and suspense which passes description. ... The critical period and morning returned, when to the surprise of Dr. Craigie life still lingered. . . . Alas! too well I knew the sensations of those whose very soul seems to hang upon the event, what even a doubt which implies hope can produce. I was at that moment thankful I was not a mother. Most wonderfully the infant seemed to struggle all the following day, and all that could be said at night was that she was alive, if stupor can be called life. During the night she as it were awoke, knew her nurse and took some milk, but oh! so weak, so fragile. Now I really think she will recover.

Her nurse seems like a person whose reason was bewildered, she is quite hysterical and wandering. I brought her some wine hoping to compose her, and begged she would give me

the baby even while she changed her clothes, but to no purpose; she told me with bitter tears she had pledged her word to its unhappy mother to be a mother to it, and called it a judgment of God on the father for taking it from the mother, whose innocence she solemnly upholds-she, a confidential servant, ought to know. How could a woman of depraved mind cherish the love for her child she evidently did? As Mrs. Wilson justly said, Captain E. ought to have shunned any one who could cast aspersions on his wife they could not substantiate.

What I have observed of this woman confirms my idea that you seldom meet mediocrity among the Irish; they are generally very good or very bad; but if I had a child, I never saw any person to whom I would so readily entrust it as to her.

3rd September. We have received many interesting letters from James on the subject of Australia. He earnestly urges and advises our getting out of this country and declares it his fixed purpose to accompany or join us as soon as possible. This point settled, I have no further anxiety. I understand Colonel Everard is on his way here and this will place us at liberty.

I received this morning a note from Mr. Gough, the husband of my poor dear Charlotte, saying if agreeable he would call on me in the course of the day. How my heart throbbed at the name, indeed I should have willingly avoided the meeting. I had met him about five years before but quite forget his appearance, it was altogether so unlike the person with whom she ought to have been united. He is what would be called good-looking, but oh! how unlike Captain F———.

Colonel Everard arrived here this morning and this must

bring our plans to a crisis. If I wished to forget the past I could not; every day awakens something of it. The last time I saw Colonel Everard was at Monghir; he evidently had not forgotten it, and for some time I could not compose myself. He brought me a parcel from my dear George Lawrence, which had been lying at Dinapore, a pretty Agra scarf.

What a melancholy piece of intelligence I have just heard, -the death of Captain Hemming of the 44th, very suddenly at Gazeepore. Poor, poor girl! what will become of her, utterly friendless. They lived expensively and beyond their means; I greatly fear, with every other trial, she has that of pecuniary difficulty to encounter. With an infant boy! How I wish I were settled in some place and could invite her to stay with me! The situation of these native-born young women is often most pitiable under such circumstances, they are alike discarded by their father and their husband's family, and being left without an independent provision, I can hardly fancy a more dreadful situation, especially if they go to England, for what can they do there, generally unfitted by their birth and education to retain a place in their husband's class of life? These marriages are unfortunate for both parties and seldom turn out otherwise. I felt absolutely shocked the other day when Dr. Craigie pointed out to me a brother of Charlotte Gouldsbury's almost as black as my bearer; he is what is called a Kranee, or native writer. Poor Frank, if anything befalls him, which may heaven forbid, what an associate for his elegant mother would she be !

7th September.-I have been so busy for some days past, writing letters about Australia, I have done little else; indeed every day the necessity for getting out of this country seems more imperative. I have hardly strength to sit up an hour