December 26, 1849.—­Pertabghur, distance eight miles.  In the course of fourteen years, almost all signs of one of the most healthful and most agreeable cantonments of the Bengal army have been effaced.  Fine crops of corn now cover what were the parades for cavalry, infantry, and artillery, and the gardens and compounds of officers’ bungalows.  The grounds, which were once occupied by the old cantonments, are now let out to cultivators, immediately under Government, and they are well cultivated; but the tillage of the rest of the country we have this morning passed over is scanty and slovenly.  The Rajah of Pertabghur has, for some time, been on bad terms with the contractors, greatly in arrears, and commonly in opposition to the Government, having his band of armed followers in the jungles, and doing nothing but mischief.  This is the case with most of the tallookdars of the country over which I have passed.  Not one in five, or I may say one in ten, attends the viceroys, because it would not be safe to do so; or pays the demands of Government punctually, because there is no certainty in them.

I passed down the line of Captain Magness’s corps, which is at present stationed at Pertabghur.  It is as well-dressed, and as fine a looking corps as any infantry regiment in our own native army, and has always shown itself as good on service.  It has eight guns attached to it, well provided and served.  The artillery-men, drivers, &c., are as well dressed and as fit for their duties as our own.  Stores and ammunition are abundant, but the powder is execrable.  Captain Magness is a good officer.  The guns are six 6-pounders, drawn by bullocks; and two gallopers of very small calibre, drawn by horses.  They are not adapted for the duties they have to perform, which is chiefly against mud-forts and strongholds; and four 9- pounders, two howitzers, and two mortars would be better.  They are, however, well manned and provided with bullocks, ammunition and stores.  The finest young men in Oude are glad to take service under Captain Magness; and the standard height of his men is at present five feet ten inches.  He has some few men, good for nothing, called sufarishies, whom he is obliged to keep in on account of the persons by whom they are recommended, eunuchs, fiddlers, and Court favourites, of all kinds.  In no country are there a body of finer looking recruits than Captain Magness now has at drill.  All of the first families in the country, and of unquestionable courage and fidelity to their salt.  He has four hundred Cavalry, of what is called the body guard, men well dressed, and of fine appearance.  These Cavalry are, however, likely soon to be taken from him, and made over to some good-for-nothing Court favourite.* He has about seven hundred men present with his Infantry corps.  His adjutant, Yosuf Khan, speaks English well, and has travelled a good deal in England, Europe generally, and Palestine.  He is a sensible, unprejudiced