THE CLIMATE OF CALCUTTA.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—As an old resident of Calcutta I must enter a protest against the condemnation which you bestow upon the climate of that city in your very interesting article of the 16th inst. upon the new capital of India. In what respect is the climate of Calcutta worse than that of Bombay, Madras, Singapore, or Hongkong ? From November 15th to March 15th Calcutta enjoys a season superior, I venture to think, to many tropical cities, while as to the rest of the year the general health of the thousands of Europeans engaged there in trade and corn• merce speaks for itself.
The transfer of the capital of India. to Delhi has its full justification in political reasons. It is a master stroke of policy, and the manner of its accomplishment has indeed made the King-Emperor an emperor in deed as well as in word.
May I be permitted to point out an historical error in your article P Clive did not receive the grant of the " diwani " from the Mogul, Shah Alum, at Delhi, but at Allahabad, where at the time (1765) that ruler was a fugitive. Shah Alum asked Clive to march to Delhi and replace him on the throne, but the latter would not listen to the project.—I am, Sir, &c., 78 Onslow Gardens, S.W.
A. S. GLADSTONE.
Previous page
