Vicissitudes of Fort George. By David Leighton. (Combridge and Co.,
Madras and Bombay.)—A certain Mr. Francis Day built Fort George in the year 1639. For some years its annals are not particularly interesting, though not without importance to the thorough student of history, and they are scarcely edifying. In 1746, deserted by the officer in command of the British fleet, it surrendered to La Bourdonnais, and Fort St. David became the headquarters of the Government. This, too, was attacked by the French, but unsuccessfully. Then we besieged Pondicherry, but failed. By this time Clive had appeared upon the scene, and did not a little to change the aspect of affairs. Dupleix had met his match. His countrymen did but little to support him, and the great scheme of a French India disappeared for ever. We cannot follow Mr. Leighton in his interesting narrative. Not a few great names appear in the course of it, sometimes in circumstances somewhat wanting in the dignity which we are wont to associate with them. There were strange goings-on in those days. There was the famous Dr. Andrew Bell, for instance, holding eight Army chaplainships at the same time. They could not, however, have been very lucrative, for when he retired at the age of forty-six he had not contrived to accumulate more than £25,000. (Money, it will be remembered, bore high interest in India.)
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