CALCUTTA. The Encyclopedia contains some account of the settlement and subsequent improve ment of Calcutta ; and in the present article, which is compiled from the works of recent writers, we have endeavoured to comprehend whatever is most useful and interesting in the description of this cele brated city.
Calcutta is situated upon the river Hooghly, which forms the western channel of the Ganges, and though not the principal, is the only one of its nu merous branches which is navigable for large vessels. The town is 100 miles from the mouth of the river, the navigation of-which is difficult and often danger ous, on account of its numerous sand-banks, many of which are continually•shifting their situation. Vessels drawing more than seventeen feet water can not, except at spring-tides, ascend with safety above Diamond Harbour, where the vessels of the East India Company usually load and unload. This is about sixty miles below Calcutta, and passengers are conveyed to the city in smaller vessels or in boats. The country, from the mouth of the Hooghly to Diamond Harbour, is dreary in the extreme ; the banks of the river are high, and the adjacent land, on each side, which is perfectly fiat, forms a com plete wilderness of timber and brushwood, the haunt of tigers, and of other beasts of prey. Advancing up the river, the scene gradually improves ; the country becomes more and more cultivated, the shipping And the bustle on the river increase, and the beautiful country-seats on its banks announce the approach to the capital. The city, with its nu.; merous spires and other public edifices; presents, at a distance, a striking appearance, and, on .landing, the magnificence of the buildings command the ad miration of all strangers. The town and suburbs extend along the left or eastern bank of the river above six miles, but varying much in breadth at different places. In the middle of it, and very near the landing-place, is an immense square, each side of which extends above a quarter of a mile, and the centre is occupied by a large tank or open reservoir of water, for the supply of the town. This square, together with the adjacent buildings and those to wards the south, forms, what is properly termed, the town of Calcutta, the residence of the European in habitants and of the natives of distinction. To the south, along the bank of the river, lies the Black. Town, which is occupied entirely by the lower ciao ses of inhabitants, and is rather considered as part of the suburbs ; and about a quarter of a mile to the north stand Fort-William, and the barracks, which form, on this aide, 'a great ornament to the city. The intermediate space, which is an extensive open plain, is termed the Esplanade. The citadel of Fort William, which was begun by Lord Clive in 1757, after the battle of Plessey, is the strongest and most regular fortress in India, but the works are so ex tensive, that they wouls1 require at least 9000 or 10,000 inen, with 600 pieces of cannon, to defend them. On the west of the Esplanade steads- the government.house, built by the Marquis Wellesley, which is the largest and most splendid building in Calcutta. It is the residence of the . Governor General, where be holds levees, and transacts all the government business ; it also contains magnificent apartments for public entertainments. The other
principal buildings are a town-house, with public rooms, which, though handsome, are too confined for the climate, and for the number of inhabitants; the hospital and jail, which are situated on the Esplanade ; two English churches, the one of which is a plain building, but the other has an elegant appearance ; also a Scottish church, which is new ly finishedand, besides these, there are various churches belonging to the professors of almost every religion in the world. Portuguese, Greeks, Arme nians, Hindoos, and Mahomedans, all enjoy here the most perfect toleration. .
The customhouse faces the river, and forms part of the west side of the great square. It is built upon the site .of the old fort, which was taken in 1757 by Surajah Dowla. Near to it is the famous Black Hole, which is now converted into a warehouse ; and be fore the gate stands the monument which has been erected to commemorate the unfortunate persons who perished there. It is surrounded by an iron. railing, but it has been struck with lightning, and, has since been allowed to go to decay. In front of the customhouse is the quay, which has been . of essential service to the numerous shipping which there load and unload. On the west side of the river, and in a beautiful situation, stands the bo tanic 'garden, at a bend to which it gives the name of Garden Reach. It contains a splendid collection of plants from every quarter of the globe, is laid out with great taste, but more with a view to practical utility than scientific. arrangement. Above the garden there is an extensive plantation of teak. Horse-racing having been discouraged by govern ment, the course, which was to the south of the town, is now converted into a ride ; but the prac tice still continues at Barrackpore, sixteen miles up the river, where the •fashionable society of Calcutta assemble to partake of the amusement. The south side of the great square is occupied by the writers' buildings, which make but an indifferent appearance. They form the residence of this class of the Corn-. pang's servants who are newly arrived from Eu rope, and who are students at the college of Fort-' William. The private houses in Calcutta, in the central or genteel part of the, town, are built, most ly, after the European fashion, but modified to the nature of the 'climate, and to the magnificence of eastern manners. In a line with the government house, is a range of elegant buildings, ornamented with large verandahs, and another, at right angles with it, called Chouringee, formerly occupied by native huts. These houses are built of brick, cover ed with a species of stucco called Chunam. They are all aparated from each other, every one hav ing attached to it a considerable piece of enclosed ground, in the middle of which it is situated. The approach is by a flight of steps, under a large por tico. The architecture is Grecian, and the profusion ' of columns, porticos, and verandahs, gives them more the air of palaces than of private houses. To this part of Calcutta the Black Town forms a striking pontrast. It has been already described in the Ea cyclopadia, but has been considerably Unrolled by the widening of the streets, the filling up of ponds, and by tiling instead of thatching the houses, by which means the danger from fire has been much diminished.