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Leader (1850-1860), 6th August 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 909, Untitled Article

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    • INDIA, AND INDIAN PROGRESS/ ¦ •¦ : —
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      Untitled Article

      Unpardonable Railway Carelessness . — -A serious accident occurred this week on the Paris and Lyons Railway . Two trains were coining from Lyons to Paris , in which troops from Italy were being conveyed . By some fatality one train ran into the other . The consequence was that a lieutenant was killed and several soldiers wounded . The Emperor expressed great imjUgnation when made acquainted with the fact , and immediately despatched two officers to hold an inquiry on the subject .

      The Napoleon Fete . — A Paris letter says : — The grand coming fcito occupies too much time for the Emperor to go even to the sea side . Those who know the excessive labour demanded for the production of spontaneous enthusiasm are perfectly aware that no managor of a melodramatic theatre is more harassed in producing a new piece- than is Louis . Napoleon in arranging his grand demonstration ; the time occupied in greasing the slides and tipping the scene shifters ; in keeping the actors in good humour > in making the orchestra go together ; in drawing the audio nee , and feasting and coaching the reporters , is quite enough for the attention of

      one great man . Ho must put off all visiting till after the" eventful day at any rate . It is now determined , it seems , that the entry of the army into Paris shall take place on the 14 th . instead of the 15 th jnstnnt , fts originally arranged—so the army and the imperial fotos will bo distinct after all . GovjaimwKNT CioARa .-rTho French Government has succeeded in fabricating cigars by machinory $ they aro beautiful to look at , and , of course , cheaper to make , and the tobacco is said to bo good , Nothing can appear moro promising , but , unfortunately , they won t smoko . It is rather a drawback , certainly , but hen nothing is perfect ,

      Untitled Article

      FINANCIAL STATEMENT . Sir Charles Wood made on . Monday his long expected statement about the finances of India . The expenditure of the year ended , April , 1859 y was 48 , 507 , 000 ? ., and the revenue 33 , 800 , 000 ? ., leaving a deficit of 14 , 707 , 0002 ., the debt having been increased in two yearsj 1857 and 1358 , by the sum of 22 , 118 , 000 ? . For the current year the revenue is estimated at 35 , 850 , 0002 ., and the certain expenditure at 41 , 131 , 5002 ., leaving , in round numbers , a deficit of 10 , 500 , 0002 . To push on railways , however , and other works , he wants an additional 2 , 000 , 0002 ., making really 12 , 500 , 0002 . to be borrowed . But for 7 , 000 , 0002 ., power has already been taken toissue debentures . What amount of cash these ma . y actually

      yield , Sir Charles Wood does not know ; but to be prepared With a large margin far all contingencies , he proposes to borrow 7 , 000 , 0002 . Thus a deficient revenue and . a great addition to the debt was the sum of Sir Charles Wood ' s budget ; nor did lie hold out any bright prospects for the future . He has a mere hope , without any well-defined project for realising it , that if things go weir the expenditure may , at some time or other , be reduced , and the revenue be then found sufficient . He does not , however , suggest reform , nor any means of future improvement ; He may excuse himself by the short . time he has held his present high office , but the public will recollect that he ^ was President of the Board of Control , and should not now require much study to make himself master of his position . .

      Apparently , he has some modest misgivings of his ability , and since , he spoke it lias been announced that a new finance minister is to be appointed for India . The Right Hon . James Wilson , now Vice-President of the Board of Trade , is to go thither as Chancellor of the Indian Exchequer , and for the express purposes of putting the finance in order . His appointment may give a totally new aspect to this important subject . The right hon . gentleman is known , by his writings in the Economist , to be a determined opponent of mingling the revenue of India with that of England . He would therefore , we take it , bo opposed to the project which we have advocated of lending the guarantee of our Government to the loans for India , and which has suddenly found an advocate in the Times . He would , we

      presume , too , be opposed to the project , to which Sir C . Wood alluded , of the home Government guaranteeing the payment of the interest on all the debt of India , and thereby reducing , by the goodness of our credit , the rate of interest to be paid on it to 3 J or 4 per cent . What financial projects he may have in petto we cannot , of course , know , but his appointment will turn all eyes on him , and his opinions , as fur as they are known , to read the financial future of India . He has had no actual experience in India , though he has been Secretary to the Board of Control , but is a great statistician , to bo intimately acquainted yilth tho revenue of

      England , to' bo a free trader and , ns tho vxx \ q , opposed to taxes on imports and exports , tp all interference with industry . Ho is favourable to direct taxation . How ho will apply the knowledge he possossos of financial subjects gonorally to tho finances of India , wo cannot forcsoo , but that country offers a vast field for a mini of financial talonts . If tho right . hon . gentloman had not already shown himsolf in offloo very sonsiblo of its customary duties , anil not inclined to bolfc from Us constraints in tho pursu ^ of a theory , wo should fear that hia avowed ,, partiality for ft-co ^ trade migh t rather stand in his > vay of bringing tho financos of India into good order . His task will require all his known capacity for work . How this Is to bo accomplished la

      India, And Indian Progress/ ¦ •¦ : —

      INDIA , AND INDIAN PROGRESS / ¦ •¦ : —

      Untitled Article

      FOREIGN INCIDENTS .

      Untitled Article

      whose duty it was to examine the condition of the culvert was guilty of culpable negligence ; and censured the officers of the company for having constructed an-improper culvert . _ •' - . The Washington Star denies the report that 60 or 70 cargoes of African negroes have been landed in the United States since the successful Voyage of the Wanderer . It adds , however , that the parties in the South interested in the revival of the trade are doing their best to embarrass the action of the Government officers charged with the duty of guarding the coasts . During the proving of a 68-pounder gun at the Washington navy yard , it burst , and two persons were killed and several severely wounded .

      Untitled Article

      No . 489- *™ : «¦ 1859 . 1 - THE LEADER . 909

      Untitled Article

      BRITISH ENTERPRISE—SOUTH AMERICA . It is quite a relief to find evidence of progress amidst the stories of useless butcheries and destruction which are the staple communications from the republics of South America . Even there , however , English enterprise can revive the life and prosperity which the natives are continually destroying . From Monte Video , we are informed by the Overland Mail that three English and one Spanish gentlemen have purchased a considerable tract of land , called Pray . Bentos , situated about eighty miles from the point where the Paraguay falls into the great estuary of La Plata , and with the sanction and support of the Monte Videan Government , have begun building a town there , to be called Independencia . There is already a considerable trade in the neighbourhood , but the town on the opposite bank of the river is destitute of a good harbour , while there is an excellent harbour in Pray Bentos , and great means of improving the trade with the town opposite and the surrounding country . Lime , clay , and sand are found in the immediate vicinity ; timber and water are abundant ; the country is picturesque , as well as healthy ; the river abounds in fish ; and the enterprising projectors have begun to build roads , wharfs , bridges , arid other conveniences . The town is regularly laid out , like all Spanish towns , with the streets at right angles , and a square in the centre . It has a large river frontage , and will soon have all the conveniences necessary for carrying on a considerable trade , and to be a comfortable home . The situation and pro-r spects are promising ' , and people are rapidly attracted to the spot . It will in time , we hope , be an additional emporium for the trade of England * " and will help to make the fine and fertile region in which it . is situated the abode of a great and flourishing people . The country has all the material elements of wealth and greatness , anil needs only that the spirit of industry and enterprise now imparted to it should strengthen , to become extremely flourishing .

      Untitled Article

      ENGLISH , FRENCH , AND AMERICANS IN CHINA . The Ooerland Friend of China , under date June 4 , says that our Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Pekin , the Hon . F . W . A . Bruce , C . B ., departed for Shanghai , en route to the northern court , In her Majesty ' s steamer Magicienne , on the 2 nd , followed the same day by M . Bourboulon , his French colleague , in his Imperial Majesty ' s steamer Du Chayla . The Russian Commodore and Plenipotentiary PopofF paid Hong Kong a short visit on tho 24 th , leaving for the north on tho 28 th , Admiral Hope left us in the Inflexible on the 27 th , bound to tho consular ports and Pekin .

      Mr . Bruce left matters in tho south very much as lie found them . Nothing was decided about claims for compensation at Canton . From Shanghai we learn that the United States steamer Powhattan had got on slroro near Woosung , but it was expeotod she would bo got off uninjured , and that Mr . Ward ' s progress would not be delayed on this account . The Treaty and the Chinese Authorities . — A Shanghai letter says : —" At Pekin Mr . Brine will very likely remain some time . Aj soon as the ratifications are exchanged trade will commence ; in fact , sub rosa , it has commenced at several new places , particularly northward , in Shantung , whore there are already said to be two or three ships , sent b

      mobbed and insulted ; and that necessarily different climates and different nations require a difference of costume ; and particularly forbidding the use of the old words for a foreigner—viz ., ^ foreign devil' and ;< barbarian . '" " Japanese "Njbws . —Mr . Alcock , the Consul-General for Japan , arrived in her Majesty ' s ship Sampson , at Shanghai , and has left for Japan . The trade with that country began with a great spurt j but it is evident now it will not be on a very large scale . We got all they had to give us in every shape comparatively cheap to us , though doubtless at higher prices than they had been in the habit of receiving , and some few people made enormous profits , though to a small extent . Everything has now risen to 200 per cent . Three Russian gunboats have left Hong Kong for Shanghai , thence bound for Japan . Their names are the Opritehnick , Griden , and Renda . The " Allies" in Cochin China . —Intelligence from Cochin China received via Manilla , tells of loss sustained by the French and Spanish forces , and great sickness prevailing . The natives fight bravely , and it is said that the French admiral has applied for strong reinforcements , and meanwhile is content to hold his position . We have no later news , though all reports confirm those before received of horrid cruelties by the allies whenever they have the opportunity . They appear to give no quarter . :

      y aome of our loviathan commercial firms , and which mysteriously disappeared from this with miscellaneous cargoes on board . There have boon one or two admirable proclamations issued by tho native authorities ; one especially , on the occasion of some merchants who , with Captain Shadwoll , our senior naval officer , were on a trip up the river , being insulted and attacked at a village . On their return it was reported to the district magistrate : tho rlngloador was taken , bambooed , and then exposed in a ° ago in front of our custom-houso every day for some hours , till begged off by Captain Shadwoll . A proclamation was then issued which would have aono credit to an English magistrate , explaining to the people that because foreigners differ frointhomoclvos in language , dress , &a , they must not bo

      Untitled Article

      South Australian Prospects . —^ Letters from South Australia reach to June the 1 st . The Legislative Session was opened by a speech from the Governor on the 18 th May , in which , in reference to the mining industry of the colony , he expressed his hope that " the recent discovery of-extensive and valuable mineral deposits to the north of Port Augusta will , at no distant date , add new sources of wealth . " The financial and commercial state of the colony he declared to be satisfactory . An interruption in the telegraphic communication between Adelaide and Melbourne had occurred , through damage from a severe storm . The South Australian Register of May 18 says : —" The mines in work are going on favourably . " The Burra Burra Company had declared their 38 th dividend of 100 per cent . The price of the shares was 1452 .. Copper" was at 1002 . per ton .

      The Earthquake at Erzeroum . —The town is entirely destroyed . The shocks have continued day after day till only a few houses are left standing . The Porte has sent a Pacha to distribute relief among the survivors , and he brings with him 10 , 000 purses ( 40 , 0002 . ) . He is also to control the conduct of the governor , but everybody knows what will come of that—nothing whatever . Erzeroum will never recover from this dreadful catastrophe . In two months the weather will get chilly , and the inhabitants will all leave . The result will be a loss of 30 , 000 persons to Turkey for 'the benefit of Russia , who receives them with open arms . Russian propagandism makes great progress here , and all along the sliores of the Black Sea , by means of a continual traffic in passports .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 6, 1859, page 909, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2306/page/9/