The Sun.
London, England, 1824-07-16 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICES.

The CZAR, an Historical Tragedy. By JOSEPH CRADOCE,
Esq. M.A. FAA.
This Tragedy was written by the gentleman
who was the Author of ZODEIDE, a Tragedy that
was represented with success very many years
ago, and which possessed so much poetical merit
that we are surprized it has not been adopt-
ed by the Managers, and included among what
are styled stock pieces, which are occasionally
brought forward. The heroine of ZODEIDE was
Mrs. YATES, one of the greatest Tragic-actresses
of her day, and whose talents and beautiful per-
son at the time were calculated to give popularity
to any dramatic composition. The Czan was
written about the same period, and had the
countenance of Mr. GARRICK and Mr. SHERI-
DAN, as appears in the correspondence prefixed
to the play. Why it was not represented is not
explained, as Mr. Sn ERIDAN requested the Author
to bring it forward. It is a composition of con-
siderable merit, and would doubtless have been
very attractive. The fable is founded on histori-
cal facts, with such additions as were necessary
to increase the interest of the story, and to soften
the character of the CZAR. SHAKSPEARE, with
wonderful success, contrived to palliate the furi-
ous nature of llENity the Eighth, and to give his
brutality the appearance of honest bluntness and
rough dignity. Mr. CRADOCK had a similar dif-
ficulty to encounter in the character of the
CZAR, in order to mitigate the horror arising
from the repudiation of his QUEEN, Mid the mur-
der of his son. The character of Oltokesa, the
Czar's first Queen, is well-drawn. The indigna-
tion of insulted virtue, the pangs ~f jealousy, the
affection of the rejected wife, and the tenderness
of the mother, are painted in striking colours.
CATHERINE, the second wife, is a model of ge-
nerous sensibility, and the CZAR is shown in all his
turbulent grandeur, with however some touches
of parental contrition, which, though history with-
holds from him, he doubtless must have felt.
A ItTAMON, the perfidious and cruel Minister, is
ingeniously made the father of CATHERINE, which
accounts for his determination to ruin the QUEEN
and her son, in order to exalt his daughter to
the throne. The pathos of this tragedy main-
tains a strong interest through the whole. The
author, we understand, is very far advanced in
life, but is in full possession of his faculties. Ile
has been connected with some of the chief charac-
ters in this country, as well as with many dis-
tinguished foreigners, and is held, we are assured,
in the highest respect by all who have the plea-
sure of knowing him. The publication of this
Tragedy is intended as the precursor of works
that are likely to extend to four octavo volumes ;
and the manuscripts and other documents have
been carefully collected, that nothing unauthen
ticated may be given to the, public after his do-,
cease. But, advanced as he is in life, we sin-
cerely hope that he will still be preserved to his
friends, to revise his own works, and to wear the
Laurels which we are persuaded that he will
justly acquire, long before the Cypress shall
wave over his grave.

FIFTEEN YEARS in INDIA; or, Sketches of a Soldier's
biro. 1 Vol. tivo.
The perusal of this interesting volume has af-
forded us considerable amusement, and may be
read with profit by all persons desirous of ac-
quiring a correct opinion of India. The gentle-
man from whose journal the book is compiled,
resided in India from 1805 till 1819, and during
this long period of time, and being often em-
ployed upon active service, he had many oppor.
tunities of visiting the most interesting parts of
the Peninsula, and of becoming well acquainted
with the manners and opinions of the natives.—
The author has availed himself of all the oppor-
tunities'so offered to him, and has presented the
public with a book not less pleasing than it is
instructive. In short, we may safely say that
the, author has attained the object he informs us
that he had in view, of affording information and
entertainment.
his opinion of the Hindoos is unfavourable,
but we fear correct. They may be a mild, but
they are certainly a corrupt people. Among
them, indeed, " vice glares with specious and
bold aspect," and this he justly attributes in a
great measure to their gross and disgusting
idolatry. 4 4 The mass of the population is in a
state of monstrous depravity. Lying and perjur-
ing are so common, that an oath goes for nothing
in a Court of Justice. In Bemires, when Lord
Va len tia visited it, there were four hundred
natives who supported themselves by giving false
evidence in Court." In another part of his book
lie says that lasciviousness, falsehood, and selfish-
ness are prominent points in the character of the
natives of the Carnatic.

According to our author, the Madras Presidency
contains a population of about 15 millions of
of 50,000 men, a revenue of about
millions.s:tils'lil armyanl a half, and it debt of 9 millions
and a half. The Presidency of Bengal has a po.
pulation of about 30 millions, an army of 60,000
men, commanded by 1,600 European Officers, a
revenue of 10 millions, subject to an annual
charge of eight millions, with a debt of 20
millions. Calcutta contains about 600,000 in.
habitstnto.

The whole of llindostan is estimated at
1,020,000 geographical miles, and contains
101,000,000 of inhabitants. Of this the British
actually possess 400,000 square miles, and a po-
pulation of full 60,000 souls. Whilst the con. trout of the East India Company extends over
not less than 776,000 square miles, having
86,000,000 of inhabitants. The regular army
now consists of about 150,000 men, 30,000 of
which are European, chiefly King's troops. The
whole is in a most efficient state, but our author
Justly considers, ns a radical defect in the organi-
zation of this army, the impossibility of a native
officer rising higher than the rank of subadar,
which is subordinate to an ensign placed in the
same company. Another defect is, that in the
European part of the Company's army, non.
commissioned officers cannot rise to tho rank of
ensign:.

It appears that the account of the Nalri, given
by Bartolomeo, was tolerably correct, when he
imp, that in Malaintr several' brothers had one
and the same wife. " Xt is laid there are eleven

tribes of Nairs, in all of which property is di.
vided equally among the sons and daughters of
the deceased's sister, for no man knowns his own
child. In some of the tribes the Nairs marry,
but never cohabit with their own wives, who are
at liberty to grant their favours to any male of
equal or higher rank. In others, particularly
the Shekarry family, the males never marry, but
attach themselves to ladies belonging to the same
tribe. Their sisters reside in their houses, and
the children they have in this lawful way are
heirs to the property. This, though scarcely
credible, is perfectly true."
Though less formidable than they once were,
the Seiks are still very powerful, possessing the
province of Labrore, the whole of the Pangab,
part of Moulton, and most of the country be•
tween the Jumna and the Sutluge.
We must conclude, by once more remarkingt
that upon the whole, much useful information
may be derived from a perusal of the present
work.