with the leading nations of Europe. In this pursuit, the spirit of the Crusades-the spirit of chivalry-the spirit of romance-found a new and appropriate object. It then immediately reappeared, though now metamorphosed into the restless and daring spirit of foreign adventure and maritime discovery.

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The Portuguese,-saturated with the spirit of the age, and inflamed with the swelling reports of tradition and of distant fame,-sallied forth, prepared not for novelties merely they really expected, and were resolved to meet with wonders. And, in the absence of real wonders, such was the fervour of their enthusiasm, that it would have thrown the most brilliant colouring over the tamest scenes, -magnifying the most ordinary and commonplace into the marvellous,-converting every field into a garden of delights, every rock into a mountain of gold, and every valley into Elysian bowers. What, then, must have been the effect on such ardent, chivalrous, and romantic spirits, when they found, or imagined they found, the ideal pictures actually eclipsed by the tangible and the visible !-When, even on their glowing fancies, the reality burst in a blaze of unexpected splendour? Around them were strewn the most stupendous monuments of art-tombs and templespalaces and towers-that seemed to bespeak an age when genii and demigods were denizens of earth, and compeers of mortal man. Before them, too, and on every side, nature flung forth her stores with a prolific bounty, utterly unknown in northern climes. To say that they were filled with amazement and surprise, is to say little. The impression was altogether overpowering. From that time the very name of India became throughout Europe the symbol and representative of all that is great, glorious, and magnificent, in the products of nature and of art,-unsealing to the romancer and the poet, a never-failing fount of imagery, which, blending with the flowers of Parnassus and the gentle ripplings of Helicon, has been woven into the richest drapery of modern song.

Actuated by such feelings, and entranced by such pro

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spects, need we wonder that the Court of Portugal and its emissaries in the East were at first heartily disposed to treat even Indian commerce as comparatively of secondary moment. In the acquisition and retention of that monopoly, on account of its manifold advantages, they indeed gloried. But it was not enough. In itself cold and dry, artificial and systematic, tame and prosaic, it could not satisfy the warm and generous, but bold and flighty spirits of a poetical age. For these, more appropriate objects must be found. Nor were such objects long wanting. Soon did the presiding genius of the heroes of the tournament, and the enchanted castle, and the holy sepulchre, break forth on the shores of India, in a passion for adventure, and conquest, and military glory. Burning with enthusiastic ardour, they rushed on from victory to victory. In feats of daring and prodigies of valour, they seemed resolved to outrival the knights errant of bygone times. City after city, and kingdom after kingdom, lay prostrate at their feet. Princes were dethroned, and subjects raised to royal dominion, at their good pleasure. The pomp and pageantry of triumphs, like those of ancient Rome, were revived,-triumphs in which were strangely blended the ferocity and tenderness, the generosity and savage pride, that so peculiarly characterized the age of chivalry,-triumphs which gave rise to the splendid eulogium of their own historian," The trophies of our victories are not bruised helmets and warlike engines hung on the trees of the mountains; but cities, islands, and kingdoms, first humbled under our feet, and then joyfully worshipping our government."

The glow of romantic interest which the reports and earlier achievements of the Portuguese threw over India, was, if possible, heightened by the vivid representations of the first French and English adventurers. These, it is true, went forth, chiefly for the promotion of mercenary ends; but not without being imbued with a portion of the excited spirit of the age. All previous accounts they were enabled to confirm; and, in some cases, vastly to exceed. The brightest visions that ever floated before the fancy of poetic

dreamers in the West, seemed more than verified in the real magnificence of the court of the Great Mogul-the most splendid by far that ever dazzled the eyes of man.

From a multitude of details, let us select a few, merely as specimens.

Here is the portraiture given by Sir T. Roe, the English ambassador, of the personal appearance of the emperor. He represents him, on his birth-day, as sitting crosslegged, on a little throne, all covered with diamonds, pearls, and rubies; before him, a table of burnished gold, and on it about fifty pieces of gold plate, all set with jewels, some very large, and extremely rich; his sword and buckler entirely covered with diamonds and rubies, and his belt of gold, suitably adorned; his rich turban decorated with lofty heron's feathers; on one side, pendant, a ruby unset, as big as a walnut; on the other side, a diamond as large; in the middle, an emerald, still larger, in the form of a heart; his staff, wound about with a chain of great pearls, rubies, and diamonds, drilled; round his neck, a chain of three strings, of most excellent pearl, suspended; his arms and wrists glittering with diamond bracelets; and on each finger, a ring of inestimable value."

To this account of the personal ornaments of the sovereign, may well be subjoined Tavernier's minute description of his imperial thrones. "The Great Mogul," says he, "has seven thrones, some set all over with diamonds; others, with rubies emeralds, and pearls. But the largest or peacock throne is set up in the hall of the first court of the palace. It is, in form, like one of our field beds, six feet long, and four broad. I counted about a hundred and eight pale rubies in callets about that throne, the least whereof weighed a hundred carats; but there are some that weigh two hundred. Emeralds I counted about a hundred and forty, that weighed, some three score, some thirty, carats. The under part of the canopy is all embroidered with pearls and diamonds, with a fringe of pearls round about. Upon the top of the canopy, which is made like an arch, with four panes, stands a peacock, with his tail spread, consisting entirely of sap

phires and other proper coloured stones; the body is of beaten gold, enchased with several jewels; and a great ruby adorns his breast, to which hangs a pearl that weighs fifty carats. On each side of the peacock stand two nosegays as high as the bird, consisting of various sorts of flowers, all of beaten gold enamelled. When the king seats himself upon the throne, there is a transparent jewel, with a diamond appendant, of eighty or ninety carats weight, encompassed with rubies and emeralds, so hung that it is always in his eye. The twelve pillars also that uphold the canopy, are set with rows of fair pearls, round and of an excellent water, that weigh from six to ten carats a piece. At the distance. of four feet upon each side of the throne, are placed umbrellas, the handles of which are about eight feet high, covered with diamonds; the umbrellas themselves being of crimson velvet, embroidered and fringed with pearl. This is the famous throne which Timur began, and Shah Jehan finished; and is really reported to have cost a hundred and sixty millions, and five hundred thousand livres of our money. Besides this stately and magnificent throne, there is another of an oval form, seven feet long, and five broad. The outside of it shines all over with diamonds and pearls ; but there is no canopy over it. The five other thrones are erected in a magnificent hall, in a different court, entirely covered with diamonds, without any coloured stone."

Here is a single throne, estimated at a sum of money so large, that, if all the chapels, and churches, and cathedrals in Scotland were swallowed up by an earthquake,-a mere fraction of its value, after being reduced to the lowest reasonable amount, would more than suffice to rebuild them all, and replenish them with all needful furniture ! Who, after this, can charge Milton's language with hyperbole, when he so happily pourtrays "the gorgeous East" as having

"Shower'd o'er her kings, barbaric pearl and gold?”

Rather, who will not be ready to admit that the hyperbole of the great poet, however graphic, scarcely conveys

an adequate picture of the reality, as minutely described in prose?

Having seen the Mogul in his palace, let us catch a passing glimpse of him in his outward movements. When he rode forth to take the field, it was amid a thousand elephants, not only richly caparisoned in gilded trappings, but having their heads splendidly adorned with precious jewels. When his encampment was spread over the plains, the royal tents, and those of the great omrahs or nobles, assuming every conceivable form of elegance and beauty, shone resplendent with the most varied and brilliant colours. "It was," says Sir T. Roe," one of the greatest rarities and magnificences I ever beheld." The whole appeared to resemble a vast city of surpassing beauty and splendour suddenly summoned into being by the spell of a Magician; and realizing the wonders of Aladdin's lamp, and the other talismanic powers of the Arabian Nights.

Need we wonder that accounts like these, and others equally authentic and astonishing, were calculated to heighten and perpetuate the romantic interest in India? Need we wonder that, at the same time, they tended to inflame the cupidity and avarice of the European world? Need we wonder that the commercial and mercenary spirit began to develope itself with mightier and more wide-spread energy than ever? Or need we wonder at the long protracted struggle that ensued, for ascendency in power, and monopoly in commerce, among the leading nations of the West?

The history of this struggle is itself a species of romance. Who can peruse the exciting narrative of embassies, and stratagems, and sieges, and battles, which terminated in what has been justly styled the most extraordinary of all historical phenomena,-" the subjection of the millions of India, and the expulsion of other Europeans from its shores, by a mere handful of British,”—without being filled with astonishment and surprise? Of a series of events so vast and complicated, it is not possible to furnish even a sketch. But we may glance at the result. A region of Asia, equal in ex