Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
Richard Caton Woodville, Jr. (1856–1927), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
A witness appeared before a Calcutta court, only to find that judge and learned counsel were determined to discredit her.
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By Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
When he left Calcutta in February 1799 for a tour of Europe, Abu Taleb Khan scarcely expected to spend so much of his time in England trying to keep out of the courts.
© Miguel Hermoso Cuesta, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Edmund Burke explained to the Duke of Bedford that in politics there is very great difference between change and reform.
© Clément Bardot, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
In 1585, English merchant Ralph Fitch found himself at the heart of Mughal India, as a guest at the court of Emperor Akbar the Great.
By Rudolf Lehmann (1819–1905), via the National Portrait Gallery and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: ? Public domain.
Sir Richard Steele reflects on the ingredients in his recipe for the perfect English gentleman.
© Jebulon, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Some panicky Pigeons agree to let the Kite rule their dovecote, so long as he promises not to take advantage of his position.