Title
A Voyage to the East Indies: Page 94
Description
The Character the English Inhabitants of Calcutta bear, is that of a liberal and generous People. The more confin’d Settlements of Madras or Bombay, have not a Breath of Generosity betwixt them. At either of those Places, the Wellfare of a Man, procures him Enemies who envious of the Happiness of another, eneavour to prejudice him in the Opinion of the World. If Fortune takes an adverse Turn, they shut their Purse Strings in the Hour of Distress, & endeavour effectually to compleat his Ruin. But at Calcutta, a Man of Character’s Wants are no sooner known than reliev’d. Money seems to be their least Consideration. They give most elegant Entertainments, brilliant Balls, and the same Harmony and Decorum prevails as in the first City in Europe. A Man there does not hesitate or consider if it is his Interest to assist another; Other, and more generous Motives induce him; he wishes to be accessary to the Happiness of his Friend. Indeed their Disregard of Money, seems to suffer them to be impos’d upon, by the villainous black fellows, who negotiate their Affairs. Whatever commendable can be said of the English at Calcutta is counterpoisd by the Cunning and Duplicity of the black Inhabitants, Train’d up from their Infancy to Fraud, low Cunning and Artifice, they make it their Study to deceive, and are alone emulous amongst themselves in that Point. Submissive to the lowest degree, where they [end page 94]
