Page:Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma.djvu/62

 room on the 17th, which 'was exceedingly splendid' she says, from the number of officers in full uniform, and the large number of troops. 'Surprised we were,' adds the great lady,' at the well-fashioned dress and manners of most of the ladies.'

Society within the Ditch was in truth large enough and gay enough to distress officials who preferred secretariat delights to social functions. Lady Amherst played a large and gracious part both in court and camp. This lady, who seems to have been a person of great character, courage, and remarkable intelligence, has left a journal, perhaps almost unique of its kind, containing the history vividly and simply told of her husband's rule in India. The past is conjured up, still remembered names are familiarly quoted; we feel the temper of the times.

The events which had so lately shaken Europe had trained a race of warriors. Fighting is the order of the day, danger and adventure are the habitual element in which men live. Wellington has sheathed his sword. Napoleon is safely chained upon his rock, but a whole generation has followed in the steps of its great leaders. India is full of adventures and adventurers. Chieftains and princes have been raised and deposed, the Peshwá's rule has hurried to its close. The campaign in Burma reads like some history from a fairy tale. We witness the march of armies through unexplored lands: amid scenes strangely compounded of splendour and of squalor. We have feats of daring alternating with strange