Echoes from old Calcutta : being chiefly reminiscences of the days of Warren Hastings, Francis and Impey / by H.E. Busteed.

  • Busteed, H. E. (Henry Elmsley), 1833-1912.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Echoes from old Calcutta : being chiefly reminiscences of the days of Warren Hastings, Francis and Impey / by H.E. Busteed. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    flowing loyalty Avas a very prominent feature of these festiA^e celebrations : “ toasts as usual, erJiaed from the cannons mouth,'” ami “ merited this distinction,” says an old Calcutta iieAvspaper, ‘‘ for their loyalty and patriotism.” There is a record of one of those parties (that of 1st January, 1787, given by Lord Cornwallis, Avdio no doubt merely kept up a time-honoured custom) Avhich lasted from two o’clock one day till four the next morning, as the ladies after supper “ resumed the pleasures of the dance and knit the rural braid in emulation of the poet’s sister Graces (sic) while some disciples of the jolly god of wine testified their satisfaction in l)oeans of exultation.” Lord CoriiAA'allis, who led the most abstemious life himself, Avrote to his young son (Lord Brome) about another festive occasion Avhen he gave a concert and supper to all the Settle- ment, and tried to liaA^e illuminations Avhich the rain put out; “ the supper AAdiich could not be put out Avas a Amry good one : some of the gentlemen Avho stayed late, hoAvever, Avere nearly extinguished by the claret. SeAmn of the finest ladies of the place and tAvelve gentlemen sang the Coronation anthem, so that on the Avhole it Avas a magnificent business.” In the letters of a gentleman aaJio Ausited Calcutta in 1779 is given a copy of a card of invitation in Avhich Mr. and Mrs. Hastings “ request the favour of his company to a concert and supper at Mrs. Hastings’ house in toAAm*—a joostscript requests him to bring only his “ huccabadar.” This introduces us to a custom happily passed aAvay. So indispensable Avas the hooka that at all parties it Avas admitted to the supper rooms and card rooms—even to the boxes in the theatre, and betAveeii the pillars and Avails of the assembly rooms. Grandpre describes all the hooka bearers coming in together Avith the dessert, each carrying his master’s hooka—and the consequent clamour and smoke Avhich filled the room. The rage for this sort of smoking Avas commoner Avith country- born ladies,” one of Avlioni fascinated Miss Goldborne Avith her Governor-Gfeneral. “ He lives,” he writes, “ in a house on the esplanade, opposite the citadel—many piivate individuals in the town have houses as good. The house of the Governor of Pondicherry is much more magniheent.” It was not till the time of Lord Wellesley that the Governor-General of India had a residence in which he could receive his public guests. The first occasion on which the State rooms in the present Government House were lit up, was in January, 1803, when Lord Wellesley gave a ball with a display of illumina- tions and fireworks in honour of the general peace. Eight hundred persons were supposed to be at the ball. Lord Valentia was present. * Tradition points to No. 7, Hastings Street, as being this house.