The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-08-24
From the Nashville Wing.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
EAST INDIA COMPANY:


"The first charter Of incorporation Of the
East india Company, says Alison, "was gram
ted by Queen Elizabeth on the last day Of the
sixteenth century but it was not for a hundred
and fifty years that they become territorial
sovereigns. During the long period that in
tervened from their first origin until the mid
die of16th century. they painfully and indus
trioulsy pursued a pacific career, neither
aspiring after foreign conquest nor ev-
en- accommodating any force to defend even
their own factories from aggression. So hum
bled were their fortunes at this period, that in
1856, when the lorocious tyrant Suraiee Don.
lab invested and captured Calcutta, the Dest-
ined Queen OF the East, and now the abode Of
a million ofinhabitants, the whole number o.
persons made prisoners amounted only to one
hundred and forty six They were all con-
fined by his orders, in a dungeon not twenty
feet square, with only one window, during an
intensely hot night in June. Only twenty
four survived the dreadful suiocation which
followed, smong whom was Mr.. HolIowel,the
Governor, but the Indignation excited through
out England by that inhuman cruelty was I'M
exampled all classes were excited BY a gene
rous desire to avenge the suffering Of their
c0untFymen and from the horrors Of the
Black Hole Of Calcutta the glories Of our In
dian Empire may be said to have taken their
rise"
Soon after the event namely ia December,
1866, the gallant Give, at the head Of 900
Europeans and 1900 Sepoys, or native troops,
retook Calcutta, and subsequently stormed the
campo Of Suraiee Daulah, and struck such ter.
ror INTO his troops that treaty was conduct
ed BY which Calcutta was restored to the
Company. On the ODD June 1857, Give at
the head Of only 900 Europeans and 20O0 Sc
poys, and six guns, come up with the army Of
Suraiee, consisting Of 10000 infantry, 5000
cavalry and 40 guns, under French Officers.
aTho odds were fearful, but valor and deeis.
ion can sometimes supply the want Of num-
bers the British were sheltered ia the early
part Of the day. by a high bank from the can.
non shot ofthe enemy treachery and disaf-
| lection reigned in their ranks, and before Give
led his troops in then turn to The attack, The
victory was already gained. The Nabob iiet
On bis switest elephant Give remained mas.
ter Of the indian camp, artillery and baggage
and the fate Of kingdom a. great as France
containing thirty Millions Of inhabitants, Was
determined with the loss Of seventy men.
From this time the ascendancy Of Great Brit.
ian on the Cages was secured, and her ter
ritolial empire IN India founded, and,aeeordini
to Allison.she chad no alternative butte 60 o.
conquering in a continually increasing circl
tnthey came to the SHOWS Of the Himalay'
and the waves ofthe Indus"
4 arhis important Fictog," continues ID
same writer, sdecided thofale Of Bengal, !" 9Th
court of Delhi was too much humble 20 Be en-
ablad to resist and after short negocialioi
lhe Mogul emperor signed q treaty. By whic
i he resigned al sovereign claims over Beng
| and part Of Bahar anu 0rizzz, y e0nsideTi