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Leader (1850-1860), 5th February 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 186, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      mechanic , has been engaged to put together some iron framework for barracks for a period pf three years , at th 6 end pf which time by the terms of the contract , it is imperatively necessary that hejjhould return to England at his own expense , and should he decline , he is compelled to do so six months after his dismissal , receiving pay up to the date of his arrival in England . The Englishman looks on this as a convincing proof of the aversion of the- late Court of Directors to the settlement in India of Engl ishmen not in Government employ .

      The evidence Of the Rev . J . Mullens before the Emigration Department as to the number of Eng ^ lish in India , has been the subject of comment in India . The Friend of India is inclined to confirm this estimate , which places the English and Eurasian population in the country parts of the Presidency at 5400 grown men , exclusive of officers , and the total population in the Mofussil at 17 , 000 persons ; in Calcutta , 4256 grown men in a population of 16 , 000 ,

      making a total of 33 , 00 0 or 34 , 000 before the late revolt The Friend of India considers that now these numbers are increasing , for , j udging from the pressure for house-room in Calcutta and some other parts , the tide of emigration has set in , and the English are rapidly and permanently increasing . Every ship now ; brings out a few new adventurers , every mile of railway gives scope to their energies , every new steamer , new mine , new plantation , and new public work attracts half a dozen .

      The leave of Lieutenant W . J . S . Richardes , at Mussoorie , had been extended . For the Neilgherries , leave had been given to Captain G . A . Searle , Captain C . Nicholls . and Lieutenant H . L . j . Perry , all for long periods . The 2 > elki Gazettehksa . very good article proposing a new gold coinage for India as required at this time . The editor proposes that there shall be no gold mbhurs , but a ten-rupee piece . " The coin should resemble in everyway the English sovereign , and an order of Government should lay down its legal value . " "We presume the editor means an exact counterpart of the sovereign , but coined in the Indian mints , as

      the Australian sovereign is in the local mints . Such a measure , long since . advocated , would be a step towards the decimal system , and the uriiformilisation of the coinage of the empire . The next step would be to make the rupee and florin uniform . As there is so little difference between a ten-florin piece and a ten-rupee piece , and gold is not a standard in India , there is no object in making a distinct tenrupee piece for purposes of currency , while there is every reason for not doing so . We should then have a free flow Of gold between England , Australia , and India , without the disturbance of a drain of silver for Eastern purposes , while , there is good scope for the . introduction of a gold coinage into India .

      The BengaL Government has it m contemplation to establish an audit over the Stationery Department . The Indian Government is trying to keep up a large force of native artillery in the Punjab . This is strongly and justly objected to . Lord Stanley has approved of the proposed pier at Madras , and the plan for giving improved water communication between Cochin and Beypore . We very much regret that such , plans should be ' remitted home , for if the Presidential Government is good for anything it can as well decide on such matters as the Government pf Adelaide or JNTatal . The pier is to be completed within two years and a half from its commencement . We should like to see a good

      breakwater at Madras . The railway works in , Ceylon are begun in earnest , and the chief engineer has announced that eight thousand labourers are to be employed . The Mutlah Bail way and new town in the Mutlah are drawing attention . Tine present name of CanningBtown is objected to , because Lord Canning did not give the place adequate support . Great complaints continue to be made of the arrangements on board the Peninsular and Oriental Company ' s Steamers . The Calcutta cabmen are likely to have the benefit of western civilisation , as it is proposed to apply to them a tariff . The £ > occa Gazette advocates a corresponding measure of licensing for the boatman on the Ganges .

      Messrs . Brine have made a very good contract for clearing the Jugde » poro jungles . They arp to have the timber , wUich they will use on tho railway , and the land rent-free for ninety-nine years . At the annual meeting of the Calcutta University , two native gentlomon took the dograe of Bachelor of Arts . An examination has taken place pf the native girls' school * at Madras , in . connexion -with tho Free Church Mdawon * There « re fowr schools arid feur hundred girts . The bowdiwg-uohool in for Christians , and the-pfihora include forty Mahomedans , the other chUawn ^ otag » o ) P -twIqub Mlndop'seatiB Tho pFiawtrOToltkqwifo g * ren (« t thoMwJraiijClTil Orphan Asylams'Qhort ^ i ^ M ^ of the last mali . It Is wgwat tpity Chose tiwylunwi are not tvt Ootakamwad , win the jEMunwoyn .

      A very good , report is published of the Kurrachee Institution Library and Museum . It now has about . 4500 volumes . . ¦ The Bombay Standard notices the rapid increase of Parsee arid , Mahornedan inefrcourse with England . Jaffer Sullimari ; a coach-builder pf Bombay , visits England periodically . Several Bombay Parsee firms have opened branch houses in London and Liverpool . Indeed , for that matter , the Parsee is now a familiar object in the streets of London . A Mussulman barrister and attorney have been added to the local practitioners . A Parsee doctor has taken to England his wife and family . Many of the clergj ' in India are causing annoyance , by administering the rite of baptism , only once a month . This practice has been introduced in the cathedral of Madras .

      The Director of Public Instruction has hotly contested the introduction of "Jewish antiquities" as a qualification for degrees in the Bombay University .

      Untitled Article

      THE STATE OF MEXICO . The present state of things is too terrible to last . Either the Mexicans , will before long fall under the power of some military chief of genius superior to the other pretenders to power , or the interference of other States will pat aii end at once to the anarchy and the independence of the Republic . The principal cause of strife seems to be the feud between the priesthood and the Liberal party—a feud which is the more to be regretted , as the priests were among the principal authors of Mexican independence , and have preserved more spirit and national feeling than some other classes of the people . About a year ago Comoftfort , who had been elected President , found himself so much hampered by the acquirements of the sacerdotal body that he resigned

      in fayoiir of Juares , Judge of the Supreme Court , and , like the Vice-President of the United States , the legitimate successor to the Presidency , in case it should by any means become vacant . This Juares , the leader of the so called Liberal party , soon allowed it to be understood that lie intended to secularise the Church -property . It is probable that Mexico exceeds all Catholic countries in the proportion which the wealth of the Church bears to that of the community ; and this wealth , great as it is , is most unequally divided , certain churches and monasteries having immense funds , while the working clergy in their neighbourhood are in want . Juares , thinking that a people on the brink of financial ruin may call' upon their ecclesiastical establishment to

      bear a part in extricating them from their difficulties , proposed to lay his hand on the well-stored coffers of the Mexican convents . The . clergy were on the alert , raised an army against him , invested Mexico , bribed the garrison , and forced Juares to fly to Vera Cruz . After that event Zuloaga was appointed their General , and held the interior of the country , the Liberals occupying the principal Atlantic and Pacific ports ,, whence they were not easily to be driven . Towards the end of December the priest party found it could give its Generals no assistance , and Zuloaga gave up his command , and took shelter with the British Legation . Since that time one Robles , who had been Minister at

      Washington , has been made , or made himself , President , only to be superseded by General Miramon , who was elected by a junta of notables called together by Robles himself . This Miramon , a young man of twenty-live , has before this defeated tho Liberal troops , and no doubt will carry on the war against them with some energy , but with more ferocity and cruelty . Such is . the latest phase of Mexican politics . The new President has made himself notorious by his outrages on British subjects , and though , having obtained power , he may be willing to conciliate the principal foreign States , still liis accession affords no prospect that the discords of this unhappy country are coining to an end . —Times .

      Untitled Article

      CoMFuwjottY Prepayment ov Inland Lhtthrs . ' — An apprehension having boon oppressed with roforoncQ to tho compulsory prepayment of inland letters , that » letter may occasionally bo stopped owing to tho postage label having boon acoldontally detached , wo would rominu our readers that by tho use pf an onvolopo bouring « n embossed stamp this risk , small aa It Is wUli o ™ moderate caro in afllxlng tho stamp , can bo wuouy prevented . Registered letters are also entirely froo ixom tho risk of detention from tho above cause .

      Untitled Article

      1 B 6 THE LEADEB . [ Ko . 463 , February 5 , 1859 ^

      Untitled Article

      WEST INDIES . The Parana arrived at Southampton on Wednesday with . intelligence from Jamaica to the 11 th . January , and Havajmah to the 9 th . " From the British colonies there is little news of importance .

      JAMAICA . The Jamaica Legislature continued in session , but would in all probability bring its labours to a close by the 15 th ult . Among the measures which had passed both Houses , arid received the sanction of the Governor , were Acts for levying additional import duties , to amend the Stamp Duty Act , and for the licensing of fire-arm 3 , the object of which was to increase the revenue in order to meet a deficiency occasioned by an alteration in the financial yearmade last session , by which , eight days '

      revenue had been lost . Acts had also been passed relating to the Spanish Town and Old Harbour Railway , and the Jamaica Slip Dock , guaranteeing six per cent , for a certain term of years on the capital required for carrying out both those undertakings . An Act for amending the Act relating to the Public Hospital and Lunatic Asylum abolishes the present board of management , composed of the executive committee and certain members of the Assembly , ' and substitutes in lieu one paid superintendent at a salary of 400 ? . per annum .

      . ¦' . ¦ .. ¦ KAYTr . , . , ' . : .. ¦ The latest private advices mention that the . Emperor , after , having advanced with his army within two leagues of St . Marc , had been twice beaten by the Republican army under General Geffrard , and forced to retreat into Port-au-Prince ,. which he entered on the 10 th ult . His proclamation confirms this intelligence , and , we think , speaks the language of despair . From Jacniel the intelligence is that at the last moment the news , had reached there that Soulouque was on the point of abdication , which he was willing to do by convention ; but it was thought that , the Republican forces having the entire ascendancy , he would be dethroned unconditionally , with , maybe , his life as the forfeiture ,

      The revolution appears to be complete . On Thursday , Dec . 28 , the republic was publicly proclaimed in the Grand Square , and Geffrard named Provisional President , which office he accepted . Governor Bartholomew gave in his submission , and after a grand solemnisation by the church , the now constitution was signed by the late authorities of the principal cities . The forces of Geffrard were augmented by citizens of Gonaives , and the fortified town of St . Marc was taken possession of without opposition . Hero they were to remain and recruit , until they were strong enough to meet tho forces of Soulouque

      in the field , or assaW him at Port-au-Prince . The insurrection was spreading north and south . Various decrees had been issued , one of which revives and puts in force the constitution of 1846 , and provides for the calling of a Legislature by President Geffrard . Decrees had also been promulgated releasing all political prisoners , increasing the rations of soldiers , and ordering tho destruction of the fort of Gonaives . A decree had also been issued headed " The Republic of Hayti , " which , in the name of the nation , deprives Soulouquo of all power . It also characterises his administration as nothing but a series of robberies .

      Further news has been received at New York from Port-au-Prince to the 4 th ult . Tho Emperor was moving against tho insurgents . He had inspected tho army and taken other preliminary measures , but in a bulletin issued on tho 4 th treated the insurrection as a mere temporary riot not endangering the stability of tho empire . A party of insurgents had occupied a position on tho rivor Mont Roins , but on learning tho approach of tho Emperor they precipitately fled , leaving their ammunition . The Imperial troops then occupied tho evaouatod position . Tho army exhibited no signs of disaffection , Soulouque had issued a proclamation calling his subjects to his aid , and announolng his determination to lead tho army in person . Gonaivya was bo * lievod to bo In a etfttQ of blockade .

      CUBA . In Bavnnnah , on tho 10 th tilt ., the weather was cool nnd dry , and very favourable for making sugar . Tho crop this season was expected to bo At least an average

      one . In December , Havannah suffered from a species of typhus fever , but the cool northerly winds in January had stopped the further progress of the . disorder . The island was . quiet and prosperous , and railways were being made in all directions . . . ¦ . . . - . .. ¦; DEMERARA . • The Derrierara Court of Policy had been taking its ease for the last fortnight . The late Mr . S . H ., Goodman had been succeeded in the office of Adjutant-General of the Militia by Sir . William Holmes . The vacancy in the office of Clerk of the Inferior Court of Criminal Justice for Demerara and Essequibo , caused by Mr . Goodman ' s death , was filled by the appointment of Mr . Curtis Augustus Fleming .

      Untitled Article

      BRAZIL . At Rio do Janeiro , and in the neighbourhood ,-very heavy rains had fallen in the month of December , to tho injury of tho ordinary roads , andjof the first section of tho Dom Pedro Segundo Railway . Tho United States Expedition against Paraguay , by the latest advices , was at Monto Video . The Government of the Emperor of Brazil had , however , tendered its mediation to tho American Commander , which ho had accepted , and tho Brazilian Admiral in tho 1 'lato

      had left Montevideo for Ascuncion , tho capital of Paraguay , to make a similar offer to President Loposs . A definitive treaty of amity and friendship had boon concluded at Rio do Janeiro between Brazil , < the Rapublio of Monto Video , and tho Argentine Confederation , founded on , and in fulfilment of , tho Convention of 1828 , which was negotiated under the mediation of Eng land . A change of Ministry had taken plaoo at Kto do Janeiro . The no > v Cabinet is described as boing ModoratO'Gonsorvativo .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 5, 1859, page 186, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2280/page/26/