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Leader (1850-1860), 20th November 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1265

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      the war was already begun and afforded ^ 8 ° ^ indications of their feeling towards us . Hitherto Dr Campbell and Cap tain James , who represented himwSonfurlougllhave kept the Ghoorkas in order , and made them very useful in the settlement , for they liave acted as labourers , and been enlisted as recruits ; but a period has arrived when this aid , instead of receiving encouragement must be made of less importance to u « 4 * « I ™ £ moment the settlement may be ravaged by the large bodies of Ghoorkas distributed through it , and the lantationswhich have

      town , schools , villas , and p , taken so many years to rear , will be devastated This is , however , the least evil , for numbers of invalids , women , and children—a population more particularly helpless—are distributed there , and they could not bear the hardships of captivity in Nepaul , were such an alternative to slaughter afforded them . Any blow aimed at Darjeeling will render fruitless the efforts made of late years to reopen commercial intercourse with Eastern Thibet , a resource , which when obtained , would of itself be a great mine of wealth for our territories in the district .

      We are "lad that the assurances we gave of the safety of the district have been confirmed , and trust that the difficulties experienced during this period of anxiety in communicating with Darjeqlino" will only render the Government of Bengal mo e determined to afford it the requisite facilities of access .

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      COTTON SUPPLY . The Cotton Supply Reporter , in a late number , has entered upon the consideration of the sources of supply of cotton , and has come to the conclusion that we are rapidly approaching the time-when a famine in cotton will compel this country to look elsewhere than to America for that supply , wJiich she candidly confesses herself incompetent to furnish . The present state of the cotton imports from India is viewed not without disquietude , as showing the

      necessity for more urgent action on the part of the Government . On the whole , the import of cotton from that country has been greatly stimulated , for in 1831 we imported from India only 35 , 178 , 62 5 lbs ., or about one-twentieth of our total supply ; but in J 857 we imported 253 , 516 , O 0 Olbs ., or about onefifth of the whole imports , and one-quarter of the quantity supplied by the United States . In the first six months of this year we have not received more than 56 , 525 , OOOlbs . from India .

      open up Guzerat , Berar , and other cotton districts , especially in the interior . At home , it is a matter of the greatest importance that our operatives shall not suffer by a cotton famine , nor our merchants have their in and out trade impeded by short supplies of raw material and goods .

      Examining the returns of the exports of English cotton goods , the Reporter finds that in 1831 -we exported of calicoes to China and India 27 , 373 , 835 yards ; in 1844 , 291 , 002 , 986 yards ; but in 1857 , 591 , 354 , 426 yards , being to China 121 , 594 , 515 , and to India 469 , 757 , 011 yards . Thus resources are provided for the purchase of cotton in the soil by the returns of the manufactured article . It is because we have made progress , because we have not been defeated in our efforts to extend this trade , that greater efforts are necessary , and we can see the means of progress , and we must take advantage of them . Quicker transport is the great instrument for advancing the export and import trade .

      At present the merchant is impeded by the delays in getting his returns . If he makes advances on a cotton crop in the interior , there is the growth of the crop , and then months possibly before it gets to the port of shipment ; in which time the market is altered . The consequence of this is that advances cannot be made on growing crops , and the native grower is loft , to a great extent , in the hands of the native usurer , and the cultivation is discouraged . It is not worth while to make advances on riuo or grain , for these in most places are articles of local consumption ; but cotton is an article of export , and therefore the merchant is led on stop by stop till ho makes advances on the crop ; and , indeed , there are few crops brought into the English market , whether wool , flax , sugar , or coffee , but what the credit given by the English merchant on goods , or the positive ot

      auvnnce capital , has not assisted the production . Make the delivery of the cotton grown not only speedier and cheaper but more reliable an to timo and condition , and the credits the merchant now givos will embrace the production , and cotton will become an eligible crop on that ground , for , tinder all circumstances , there will always bo a preference for a cirop whioh can at once be turned into money , or which affords a good lien ; so , too , tho quicker manufactured goods can bo got up tho country the further duos tlio influence- of tho importing merchant and . capitalist extend . It is , consequently , most desirable that while tho Government provides for the moans of production by the Madras Irrigation Company and by tho execution of looal works , that the Madras , Groat Indian Peninsula , Uorar and Bombay , anil Baroda Railways shall bo pushed on , so as to

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      Death .- ^— At Ferozeporo , Upper India , on the 80 th of August , Helen , the beloved wife of F . Anderson , Esq ., M . S ., surgeon 4 th Regiment European Light Cavalry , aged twonty-soven years . This New Ambassador to China .- —Tho Hon . Frederick Bruce , brother of Lord Elgin , who acted as secretary to liim during his embassy in Cbina , and brought home the Treaty of Tien-tsin , has been appointed tho first Ambassador to Pekin under the provisions of tho treaty . Sir . Bruce was attached to the late Lord Ashburton ' s special mission to Washington in 1842 , was Colonial Secretary in Hong-Kong from 1844 to 1846 , was appointed Consul-General in China in 1847 , Charge * tl ' Aflfalros in Bolivia in 1848 , at Montevideo In 1851 , and Consul-General in Egypt in 1858 . —Times , Nkw Russian Speculation . —The Russian

      Government has sanctioned the formation of a jomt-fltock company for lighting the streets of St . Potorsburg with gas . Tho company has boon granted the exclusive right of lighting tho principal streets for a term of fifty years , find has also tho lighting of all the lamps in tho otlior portion of tho city . Its operations oxtend , tliorcforo , to ovary point where gos-lightfl already exist . The capital is fixed at 4 , 000 , 000 roubles , In 40 , 000 aharos of 100 roubles each , tho fijrst instalment to bo i 15 roubles per share . If on tho expiration of ono year all the aharoa are not ; disposed of , ( ho founder * , Counts Sp lipnfovow and Miaanikow , Brothers , nru bound to take tlio remainder , so that tho poymont of all the capital is assured . An immediate rotum of 0 por cont . la calculated upon

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      entirely unoccupied by the natives . The Government will be strongly urged to open up the district bj roads , &c , so that we expect soon to report anothel successful colony . It is to be hoped the home Government will stir up the Madras authorities , for the establishment of these settlements is a matter of primary importance . The leaves of absence to the hills reported by this mail are very few . Assistant-surgeon A . Maclean , 32 nd Highlanders , is appointed to the medical charge of Darjeeling Depot instead of to Murree .

      It is a good omen for Bengal railways that the Government in India has consented to guarantee five per cent , on the Mutlah Railway , the capital for which is estimated at a quarter of a million . It may well be called an important undertaking , for by uniting Calcutta at once with a good harbour on the Mutlah , having ready access to the sea , and only thirty miles land carriage , it will render valuable services to the trade of Calcutta . The cost of conveying goods by the railway from the new town of Port Mutlah to Calcutta will be about 5 s ., and the railway

      NOTES ON INDIAN PBOGKRESS . An important measure is under the consideration of the Society of Arts for extending its connexion with the colonial interest , and more particularly with India . A committee for India is to be formed , and another for the colonies . The promoters of the use of Roman type in India have obtained the publication by Longmans of a cheap Hindostanee manual at half-a ^ crown , and by the Bible Society of a Hindostanee testament at one shilling , of which thirty thousand copies are to be printed ; part of these are to be English and Hindostanee , so as to favour the study of Hindostanee by persons about to proceed to India . As is well known by philologists and linguists the New

      Testament is one of the best books from which an adult can learn a language , as , being familiar to the learner , it supplies its own vocabulary and dictionary , and a practical grammar , furnishing a good stock' of words ; and the pronunciation being afterwards acquired , and the- grammar briefly studied , the learner is in a position to read common works , to write a little , and begin his practice in conversation , for practice is the main thing in learning a language for speaking . There can be no doubt many a man , even among common soldiers , will on his way out obtain a conversance with Hindostanee , which his camp intercourse will improve ; and he will become qualified as an interpreter , and to engage in civil pursuits and uncovenanted employments , otherwise beyond his

      capacity . When the Hindostanee stock is sold off the more important step will doubtless be taken of adopting a like measure for Bengalee , and so for the other languages , as the capital will be reproductive . Hindostanee was perhaps best to beg in with , being the camp language . A lecture was delivered on Thursday for the benefit of the Jews' Institution at Sussex Hall , on English Settlement in India , by Mr . Hyde Clarke , Honorary Secretary of the Society for Promoting English Settlement and English Progress in India . ' series of

      The Building News has announced a articles by Mr . Julius Jeffreys , F . R . S ., on the peculiarities of Indian building , a subject on which little information has been obtained by English architects . In these articles ventilation , cooling , and the various local arrangements will be Considered , particularly in reference to military buildings . The Building News of this week contains an article founded partly on our Notes , in reference to the architectural arrangements and misarrangements of the Indian Government , and advocating the more extensive employment of civil architects and surveyors .

      The news from the hills and sanatoria is satisfactory , except from Darjeeling , which is menaced by Nepaul , and on which we have spoken in another column . From Simla , we learn that tho lamented death of Mr . Dr O . B . Clark , has left that town without a boys' school . Mr . Clark was the first to start a school at Simla in December , 1836 , under the auspices of tho late General Tapp , then Political Agent .

      We regret that the Madras Government has declined to give the required aid for the formation of a public library at Ootakamund on most trivial grounds . The building would havo afforded a library and museum , for which the Government was asked to give a Bite and 750 / ., the remainder being subscribed by the English in the town . Tlio plea is that most of tlio English are not resident , but are only casual visitors , and in good circumstances . The Government does , however , express a willingness to give something .

      Thoro is every prospect of tho establishment of an English settlement at Khandalla in the Western Ghauts , on tho Great Indian Peninsula Railway , of Avhich it will form a station . There are some good bungalows , and tlio electric telegrtvph will be accessible , communicating with Bombay . Some profer Khandalla to Mnlheran . An important expedition has been carried out in the Ooimbatoro colloctorato by Mr . J . W . Cherry , the collector , and ton other gentlemen , who have

      explored tho hitherto unknown region of the Anamully hills , ou which great expectations have been justly formed . They started from Colmhatore on the 12 th September , were absent ten days , and ascended to tho height of 6000 or 7 O 0 O feet . Their report is said to bo in ovqry way satisfactory , as they consider these hills almost equal to the JSTeil ghorries . and every way suitable for English settlement , with ftbnnUnnoo of forest land , well adapted for coffee , while tlio uppor ranges of theeo bJUe are

      fares for passengers will be moderate . The distance is an hour ' s run . The commercial traffic will be enough to pay , but part of the suburbs of Calcutta through which the line passes are populous , and will afford a good return . The Mutlah line and harbour have had to contend with much discouragement , but now both are under favourable auspices . The union of the Mutlah line with the East Indian , by a bridge across the Hooghly , will be a most desirable measure . The Indian Government Steam Navigation Company has been registered under the Limited Liability Act .

      The Great Indian Peninsula Railway has reduced the second-class fares to three farthings per mile . The East Indian Railway rates are 1 id . Capt . A . Impey , who was lately executive engineer at Allahabad , is now appointed civil architect at Calcutta—a rather strange appointment when plenty of qualified architects can be had from England . The Calcutta Uncovenanted Dispensary Company ( Limited ) is making good progress , as all the shares have been taken up—one-fifth by the native servants of Government . The object is to supply drugs at a cheaper rate .

      A great number of suburbs have been included in the city of Calcutta for municipal purposes , which will largely increase the municipal revenues . The names are Dukhinsore , Bunhoogly , Bunaunnuggur , Sabik Nowaparah , Palparrah Dum-Dumah , Kunyepore , Entalghattah , Taleegunge , Russa , Barabagaun , Auruckpore , Gobindpore , Dnnkooreah , Podrah , Moodie Alee , Dhopaparah , Futtehpore * Luskerpore , Behalah , Shahpore , Bishenpore , and Poonungee . A municipal commission is appointed for the new and important seaport of Kurrachee ; It consists of the civil surgeon , the bazaar-master , the executive engineer , the superintendent engineer of railways , the agent of the Scinde Railway , three English merchants , and three military officers .

      Extensive new entrenchments are to be made at Ghazeepore , in which the gaol and all the opiumbuildings are to be included . The Mechanics' Building ( Society of Bombay has begun operations , the Government having granted a site . The number of shares taken up is 288 . The first building will cost 7200 / ., and will accommodate thirty tenants . The rent , to return 10 per cent ., must amount to 21 . 10 s . per month , a considerable sum , but one worth paying to get good accommodation . The experiment is an interesting 1 one .

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      TT ;«» ^^ . so ! 858 . 1 T B E L E A P E B .. 1265

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 20, 1858, page 1265, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2269/page/25/