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A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF POLITICS, LITERATURE AND NEWS. |

EDWARD WHELAN] Vor... VI.

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Literature.

ee (From Blackwood's Magazine for December, 1836.)

OUR INDIAN EMPIRE.

( Concluded.)

Chis is trne Liberty, when Free-born Men, having to advise the Public, man speak free.——euRIPIDES.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1857.

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No. 35.

There are always to be found individuals whose demands too obvious to call for ‘remark. i So beneficial, indeed, has hundred and fifty millions of people with fuel, besides all

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‘and expectations outrun the possibility of performance ; and the telegraphic system been found in India, that the Court the other requirements of wood-work, ship-building, &c.

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who, though desiring nothing but what in substance is wise and right, do not take sufficient account of the obstacles to the realisation of their views. It is persons of this kind— men, for the most part, of an enlightened and philanthropic | but over-sanguine spirit—-who give utterance to the complaint, heard ever and anon, of the ineflicient spirit with which

So much for the works of irrigation,—of all others the | public works of improvement are carried on by the Indian most important for developing the resources of torrid India, Government. Practical men, accustomed to weigh difficulties,

anj augmenting the well being of its inhabitants.

Next in will take an opposite view of the matter.

Indeed, if we are

order come the measures for improving the general com-| to believe Mr. Vernon Smith, the fault of late years has not

munications of the country.

Lt is long since the Ganges | beeu apathy but over-eagerness.

In his budget speech in

was covered with a flotilla of river-steamers, provided by the| July, he said, “he regretted that such works had been

<iovernment and by the enterprise of private companies, for conveying the great trade which seeks passage on its waters.

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pressed forward so eagerly, and that they had not been undertaken more gradually. In consequence of the excite-

Bat it was not till recently that any navigation deserving ment, there arose throughout India an outery for public

the name sprang up on the other great river of India.

The | works.

Letters were sent round to almost all engineers and

conquest of Scinde put us in possession of the lower course | other officials employed on such works—a stimulus was ap- of the Indus, but it was not till the conquest of the Punjab plied to the promotion of undertakings of that kind—and ill- gave the upper stream also into our possession, that the | digested plans, as well as those which had been carefully

navigation of the river presented itself as an object of first-| considered, were carried out.” Ever since the beginning of the century, | not free from exaggeration, but at least it’ serves to show

rate importance.

We think: this statement is

the gradual extension of our territory in Hindostan has been | that there is no lack of desire on the part of the Indian carrying the frontier of the Bengal Presidency further and ) Government to engage in public works for the improvement

further inland, from that grand basis of our power, the sea. | of their territories.

To Lord Dalhouise belongs the dis-

Bat the conquest of the Punjab, the last step in our advance | tinction of having first given systematic development to this

os . | ’ . to the northwest, and whieh removed us further than ever | noble idea.

In the four years between July, 1853, and July,

trom the Bengal sea, and far even from the broad stream of | 1857, not less than nine millions sterling will have been spent

the Ganges, at oace gave us in the Indus a new highway to the ocean, and a much more direct route to Europe. ludian Government, accordingly, took measures to establish steam-navigation between the sea and the rivers of the Panjab ; and for several years steamers have periodically made the passage from Kurrachee to Mooltan. At no great

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fj _upon publie works in India; and last summer the Court of | The |

Directors gave permission for the construction of Government |

loans for such works to the extent of a million sterling, for each of the next two years.

The public works in progress in India tend to produce an increase of revenue to the State,

by increasing the fertility of the country, or opening roads

expense the ladus might be made navigable to Attock, and | for its produce ; and the irrigation-works are so remunerative steamers in the rainy season ean ascend as far as the military | that they pay at the rate of from twenty up to seventy per depot at Jhelume Although this river communication is still | cent. on the outlay—thus in a few years becoming a direct in its infancy, the channel of the Ludus is already becoming | source of gain to the State, as well as, from the moment of the great highway between Europe ani the north-western | the first opening of their sluices, the greatest of blessings to

provinces of our possessions.

Troops from England arrive) the native population. and depart by that route ; reeruits are sent out, and invalids | height of fully.

‘To stop such works would be the It would be sacrificing tweaty per cent. to

‘ut home, each year, by its stream,—-thus avoiding the long | save five per cent. (the rate at which money can be obtained and weary march which would otherwise be made by Calcutta. | on loan)—and that to the detriment of our native subjects, lieavy stores in great quantities, and passengers in large | as well as to the loss of our Indian Government.

numbers, take the same route, in order to reach a direct

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Thanks to the Commission appointed by Lord Dalhouise,

point of departure at Bombay; and if, as is proposed, a/the postal system in India has been freed from the great steam-communication be established from Kurrachee direct | defects which formerly adhered to it, and has been assimi- t) Suez, the importance of the line of the Indus will bea still| lated to the most approved systems existing in Europe.

further shortening of the route to Europe. In other quarters also a system of river-navigation is developing itself. Our new provinee of Pegu is peculiarly adapted for the services of river-steamers.

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Over all India there now prevails a uniform single rate of postage of half on anna/(#d.) for letters, and of an anna (14d.) for newspapers, irrespective of distance; and at the same

Immediately after the occupation of the |time the convenient system of postage-stamps has been province, a portion of the steam-flotilla of the Ganges was ‘substituted for that of cash paymeuts.

Recently, too, the

: > | . trausferred to the Irrawaddy, where it now forms the|llome Government have consented to the adoption of a great vehicle for the conveyance of supplies between the | uniform rate of postage, payable in one sum, on letters

frontier and the gea; and measures are in operation for re- moving the obstacles which impede the navigation of both the Irrawaddy and Bassein rivers, so as to forn: a coutinuous

line of internal communication throughout the lower parts of

Pega. Regular means of water-commuuication are likewise being established on the great Burrampooter river, which will mach enhance the value of the province of A-sam, where the experiment of tea-cultivation is now being made. In Southern India the rivers Nerbudda and Godavery have been surveyed; and although the former offers little hope of its ever being made navigable for purposes of trade, the latter, with its tributary the Wyngunga, presents no such difliculties, und promises to become a chief means of conveying to the sea the valuable cotton crops of Nagpore and Berar.

Lord Dathousie’s administration was distinguished, among other things, by the introduction into our Indian empire of three great engines of socia! improvement, which the sagacity and science of recent times have given to the nations of the West—namely, Railways, Uniform Postage, and the Electric Telegraph. Four great trunk-lines of railway have been approved, or are in coucse of construction ; 1st, A line from Calcutta, running north-westwards through the Bengal Presidency to Lihore, in the heart of the Punjab ; 2d, A line shooting off south-westwards from some point in the above line to Bombay, and connecting Bombay with Calcutta ; 3d, A line uniting Bombay and Madras; 4th, A line from Madras to the Malabar coast. ‘These lines, when completed, will knit together in close union the various centre-points or Soci of our vast Indian empire. In our view they are to be regarded as imperial, rather than as industrial undertakings : that is to say, although certain to benefit greatly the indus- trial resources of the country, they are calculated to enhance in a still greater degree the power and stability of the British rule,—-an object which must ever rank second to none. They are not to be judged, therefore, as mere commercial undertakings, although unquestionably they will greatly economise our military power, by enabling troops to pass from point to point with amazing rapidity, as well as afford outlets for the surplus produce of the various provinces. As imperial trank-lines of communication, we cordially and un- hesitatingly approve of the railways now in progress in India ; nevertheless we think the Indian Government will commit an error ifit seek to develope the railway system much further for many years to come ; for be it remembered, although railroads are most advantageous in the midst of a dense population, accustomed to habits of incessant locomotion, and in a country where the goods’ traffic consists of articles of high value com- pared to their bulk, they are of much less use where the mass of the people (as in India) are rural cultivators of very station- ary habits, and the bulky low-priced produce of whose fields cannot bear the high rates of railway earriage. Water com- munication is eight times cheaper than the minimum charge by railway, and the speed of railways is of no consequence in the transport of imperishable goods, such as cotton, rice, and grain. Useful as railways are, it isa maxim of com- mon sense, that their construction be delayed until more pressing wants and profitable works are supplied. And such wants India has in abundance ; for instance, work of irrigation, of which there can hardly be too many,—the making of ordinary roads, in regions where not a wheel-track is at present to be seen, and where the cost of transport is enormous,—and lastly, the clearing of rivers for that cheapest of all means of transit, water-carriage. The cost of a single railway in India would suffice to execute a score of such other more needed and more profitable works. Therefore, while we approve of the resolution of the Court of Directors to pr with the trunk-lines connecting the various

Presidencies, we venture'to think that, with the exception of

these, the influence and resources of the Indian Government ought, for some time to come, to be devoted to the promotion of other works of greater industrial value,

between England and India,—the rate being sixpence per half-ounce. Regulations of this kind add so much to the happiness and convenience of the people that they are not to be tested solely by the principles of profit and loss; never- theless we may state that, since their adoption, the correspon- deuce has increased upwards of twenty-five per cent., and the loss of revenue has been less than was expected. It is not easy to realise the extent of these postal reforms: Rowland Hill has been quite eclipsed in India. In England a single letter is conveyed to any part of the British Isles (at the utmost a distance of 700 miles) for a penny. But in India,’ a single letter is conveyed over distances imineasurably greater—from Peshawur on the borders of Afghanistan to the southernmost village of Cape Comorin, or from Debrooghur in Upper Assam to Kurrachee at the mouth of the ILndus—distances of two thousand miles—for three farthings! Three years ago the postage chargeable on the same letter in India would have been a shilling, or sixteen times the present charge. Again, since the uniform rate of postage has been established between England and India, the Scotch recruit, whose regiment happens to be stationed on our farthest frontier at Peshawur, may write to his mother at John o’Groat’s House, and may send his letter free to her for sixpence. ‘Three years ago the same sum would not have earried his letter beyond Lahore!

The name of Dr. W. O'Shaughnessy will descend to posterity as the originator of the Klectric Telegraph in our Indian Empire. It was in November, 1853, that the work of construction commenced ; and so rapidly did it proceed, that by the beginning of February last 4000 miles of electric telegraph had been placed in working order. The difficulties encountered in laying down telegraphic lines in India are such as have no parallel in the civilised and cultivated countries of Europe. Throughout Central India, for in- stance, as Dr. O’Shaughnessy states, “ the country crossed opposes enormous difficulties to the maintenance of any line. There is no metalled road; there are few bridges; the jungles also in many places are deadly for at least half the year; there is no police for the protection of the lines, From the loose black cotton soil of Malwa to the rocky wastes of Gwaller, and the precipices of the Sindwa Ghats, every variety of obstacles has to be encountered,” About seventy principal rivers have been crossed in the course of these telegraphic lines, some by cables, others by wires extended between masts. And some of these crossings have been of great extent,—the cable across the Soane measuring 5300 yards, and the crossing of the Toombuddra river being not less than two milesin Jength. Although the construction of the lines has been rapid, their solidity has not been over- looked, or three-fourths of the distance from Madras to Calcutta the line is superior in solidity to any ever erected elsewhere, and on some portions of its length its structure is really superb. For instance, in the Madras Presidency, the line for 174 miles is borne on stone-masonry pillars capped with granite, while for 332 miles it is sustained on single slabs of superb granite, sixteen feet high above ground, The tariff of charges on the Indian lines is cheaper than that adopted in any other country having lines of such length as permit a fair comparison. As regards rapidity in the transmission of intelligence, the Indian lines have already accomplished performances equal to those achieved on the American lines. For example, the first bulletin of Overland news has repeatedly been sent from Bombay ta Calcutta, 1600 miles, in forty minutes; despatches from Qalcutta have been delivered to the Governor-General at Ootacamund, during the rainy season, in three hours,—the distance being 200 miles greater than from London to Sebastopol; and there is never a failure in delivering the Mail news from England via Bombay within twelve hours. The political and military advantages which our Indian Government derives from the possession of such an engine of power are

of Directors have just sent out orders for the construction of | Ilence it behoves the Government to watch over the vast other 3000 miles of lines. living stores of timber and firewood. In all countries, at The astonishing rate at which the consumption of raw one time or other, the face of the earth has been mantled cotton is inereasing in the British Isles, and still more the with forests ; but the first result of the establishment of threatening clouds which are overcasting the horizon of the civilisation in a country is to produce a want of that very United States, make all reflecting men tura an anxious eye article which was formerly over-plenteous. Kven in many to the growth of cotton in our Indianempire. The quantity parts of North America a want of wood is much felt ; and of cotton used in the British manufactories is not less than if we turn away from “ modern instances” to the old empire two-thirds of the whole amount produced in the United of China, we find that wood is there so scarce that fires are States; so that, not to speak of probable commotions in in little use, and the deficit of household caloric has to be America, even the fluctuations of the seasons seriously affect | compensated by a multiplicity of clothing. [t was manifesily the prosperity of our cotton-lords and their myriads of mill- the design of Providence, in thus mantling the face of the workers. It would be a great matter if, by the introduction earth with primeval woods, to keep man in comfort until of a new supply of the raw material, the market could be his wits became sufficiently sharpened and his energies steadied,—especially if that new supply could be drawa developed to enable him to discover and avail himself of the from our own dominions, so as to render us less dependent | better mineral fuel beneath his feet. And precisely as the on the slaveocracy of America. We believe that such aj forests are cleared, and the surface of the earth becomes result is within our reach. At present the free-grown cotton | more and more devoted to raising food for man, does the imported from Egypt and India amouats to but an eighteenth | revelation take place of those fucl-stores below, which Nature part of the 24 million bales imported into this country prepared as a means of permitting a larger population on during the past year. But it must be borne in mind that the face of the globe than was otherwise possible. In the this free cotton is an increasing quantity, and that there is| New World each member of the immigrant Anglo-Saxon reason now to expect that its increase will be very rapid. Race was left to do what was right in his own eyes, but we The recent acquisition of the rich cotton-districts of Nagpore | are glad to observe that the Indian Government has recently and Berar has added greatly to the extent of cotton-growing | taken measures for the preservation aud renewal of forests soil within our dominions,—indeed, all the good cotton-|in various parts of the country, so as at once to prevent districts of India are now under our control. A railway is) uuthrifty management of them, and to make adequate in process of construction from Bombay to the heart of the | provisions, for the wants of the future. Rules have been laid cotton country ; while the river Godavery, now being rendered down, and officers appointed for this purpose. The forests of navigable, will afford a still cheaper but more round-about | Oude have hitherto furnished our chief supplies of timber outlet to the markets of Europe. The cultivators are miserably | for public purposes in Hindostan, and as these have now beea poor, and considerably apathetic ; but if agents of the mer-| brought under our control, they will henceforth be carefully chants were to settle in the districts, to aid the ryots with their | regulated* and preserved. On the trecless plains of the advice and occasional advances on their crops, and to see that | Panjab, efforts are being made to rear extensive woods ; and the cleaning and pressing of the cotton were properly perform-| we trust the undertaking will suceeed,—for it will not only ed preparatory to the long voyage, great and happy results diminish the sad want of fuel experienced ln the districts, would assuredly flow both to the Indian peasantry avd to our | but also, perhaps, suffice to alter the climate, and bring down manufacturifg interests at home. Already there is observable again over the parched land refreshing rains, a a very remarkable improvement in the preparation of Indian-| _ Here we conclude this sketch of our great Indian Empire. grown cotton, and consequently in its market-value. The | Having occupied so much space with the exposition of the Dharwar or Compta cotton, for instance, which fourteen years | leading features of our subject, it is impossible to advert in ago was the least valued of any, is now rapidly rising in value, |any way to the probable future of the people or their British and rivals in estimation and price the best cottons in Western | rulers. Now that railways are beginning to span the land, India. We may add that the Indian Government has recently | awaking, tossing together, and amalgamating the different given its attention to the cotton which is produced in the Upper | tribes and peoples of India,—now that commerce and wealth districts of Pegu; and a gentleman, having practical | are slowly beginning to accumulate in native hands, and that knowledge of the subject, and who has examined the districts | natives in ever-increasing number are taking part in the ad- beyond Prome and Thayet-Myo, has given in a report of a| ministration of the country,—the future, the goal towards somewhat enoouraging character. which all this is tending, must more and more press itself The culture of tea is likewise obtaining much attention | upon the consideration of thoughtful beholders. Suffice it to and support from the Iudian Government. Tbe cultivation | say, however, that Iadia promises to continue for many of tea in Assam has prospered in a remarkable degree; and | generations subject to the ascendancy of the British race, the plant has also been largely introduced into the upper |aud that it behoves us to fulfil the concomitant duty of districts of the North-west Provinces. More recently Mr. | benefiting the people over whom we rule. A cheerful and Fortune has been employed to bring plants and seeds in large | noble though arduous task ; and we doubt not that many of quantities from China, and to engage Chinese workmen for | the brightest names on the beadroll of England will continue tue manufacture of tea. Very iarge quantities of tea | to be contributed by the lordly bands of her gone g° forth to are now manufactured every year, which sell readi!y at a| uphold her strange and mighty Empire in the Kast. high price; and there is reason to believe that the cultivation ap of the tea-plant will spread widely in future years, and tbat the trade in tea produced in India will become considerable in extent. The vast extent of India, and the diversities of soil and climate existing within its limits, are eminently favourable for the production of valuable crops not indigenous to the country, and the Government is more and more directing its attention to the promotion of such undertakings. An experiment has been made for the growth of siik, and workmen skilled in the business, mulberry nlants, and every other requisite, have been provided by the Government. The growth of flax has likewise been largely encouraged, and the cultivation of it has already extended to very con- siderable dimensions. Agricultural societies are beginning to appear,—various kinds of seeds are being introduced from Europe for the improvement of the cultivation in certain provinces,—and Merino rams have been procured by the Government from Australia for improving the breed of sheep. A breed of sheep has also been introduced into our new province of Pegu, and the experiment promises to be very successful. The natives show a strong desire to possess them; they thrive perfectly, and are singularly fruitful. The absence of sheep in that province has hitherto been severely felt by the troops employed there, but this privation in respect of food appears now likely to be soon removed. The mineral riches of India are still almost entirely in an undeveloped state. The search for sparkling gems has in all ages been eagerly engaged in, but the thousand-fold more valuable seams of coal and iron have remained unsought for and untouched up to present times. A beginning, however, has at last been made, and the last and best, though poetically maligned, Age of Iron, is about to spread its blessings over India. There is no doubt of the existence of coal in abundance, and rich mines of iron have likewise been discovered. Indeed Central India, from Nerbudda to Assam, abounds alike in ironstone and coal-beds. ‘Coal occurs extensively in ten provinces,” says Dr. J. M’Clelland, ‘namely, Tenasserim, Arracan, Orissa (Cuttack), Bengal Proper, Burdwan, Sylhet, Assam, Raginchal, Behar, and Nerbudda, In every instance iron ores—either the common clay ironstone, or red or yellow ironstone, containing from 30 to 50 per cent. of iron—occur with the coal or extensively in the same district.” And Mr. Williams, geological surveyor to the Indian Government, reports that “ the actual | vi¢ a aad had we cost of mining coal in India, oman agency and rent, is; With mine, were s radiyg tong y Bonet gow pte ‘eft this one rupee (2s.) per ton, and the cost of mining iron would ee pe aun proof, | take it, Mr. Chairman, that the not exceed three shillings per ton. It could be mined in | chject ‘of the Address, was not generally satisfactory to the large quantities [for instance, in the Soaue district] for much | people of the Island—that is, if hon. members of this House less.” Taking coal and iron together at the average Indian truly represent the views and opinions of ee etites, rates, the cost of the two at the pit’s mouth is not more than} J farther observe, Mr. Chairman, tals ue Sdeddes (nd. half what it is in Scotland or Wales. Labour, too, «is | names of three hon ee Se neo thele conditiolt Bete plentiful and cheap, for population is somewhat in excess of | terests of the eects Dern ace tney nocepio’ dents tal tite the means of employment ; a large portion of it is ever ready | ar paygga oto I dnd that these gentlemen aresopposed to to go anywhere or do anything for a mere fraction of the io contemplated measure, am further strengthened in the wages that could be offered in this country; and we have | pejief which I have before expressed, that it will not give the testimony of engineers to the merits of the patient and “ general satisfaction.*’ I therefore move a the paragraph clever Hindoo at mining, smelting, and the other processes be struck out, and the re substitute a eile tie of the iron manufacturers, In the great railway works now] ‘‘ We thank your Excellency for pomarinemgr arn: hemtetrnd nd 7 ~% d : for the pro-| formation that Her Majesty’s Government have cor in progress in India, rea ample market is opened P favourable determination with reference to the joint address duce both of the iron and coal mines. But the great

; ° . f the Council and Assembly, to the Queen, on the subject of obstacle is the want of roads. ‘The distance and difheulty a gearenen by Her Majesty’s Government, fora joan tor the

of access to the minerals are formidable impediments to their | purchase of Township lands in this Island, with a view to the availability ; and nothing but the gradual extension of railways more speedy and general convertion of leasehold into freehold will bring these rich stores into exteusive use. _ | tenures.” One word more, on a matter which may appear unim- Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—I thought when the hon. meni- rtant, but which is not so. We mean the Woods of India. | her rose, he was going to give some reasons for pane rit or generations to come the Indian forests must supply a’ paragraph under consideration, but he wanders vil to the last

Colonial Legislature. HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

Monpay, March 2.

AFTERNOON SITTING. ADDRESS IN ANSWER TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The House having met, on motion of Mr. McDonald, the first order of the day was read, viz: that the House go into committee on the address in answer to the Governor’s Speech. Mr. Clark took the chair of the committee.

It was agreed that the Address be read in the usual way—- paragraph by paragraph.

On the Second paragaph of the address being read, which ts as follows:—

“It is with pleasure we receive the information that Her Ma- jesty’s Government have come to the determination to aid our endeavours to convert the leasehold into freehold tenures, by such means as cannot fail to afford genera! satisfaction. The sooner that desirable object can be effected, the more it will en- courage the tenants to reclaim their lands, and improve their homesteads, which is asure sign of @ prosperous country and contented people.”

Hon. T. H. ULAVILAND—Before the question be put upon that paragraph of the Address which has just been read, { wish, Mr: Chairman, to offer one or two brief observations upon it, as I do not conceive that circumstances warrant the Committee who drafted that Address, in assuming that the guarantee by Her Majesty’s Government for a loan to purchase Township Lands in this Island, for the purpose of converting leasehold into freehold tenures, will give ‘‘ general satisfaction 3 aud I do not require to go outside the walls of this House in con- firmation of the views | entertain upon the question. I was unfortunately absent in England during the last Session of the Legislature, when the Address of the Council and Assembly to the Queen, upon the subject referred to in His Excellency’s Speech, was agreed to. HadI beenin my place, I do not hesitate to say, for reasons which it 1s unnecessary at present to explain, that the measure would have received my most

ided opposition. a yy es grea the Journal of this House, which is now be. fore we, that in the division which took place, when the ad- dress passed this House, the numbers were nine to six. [also observe that beside myself, three other bon. members whose views upon the Land Purchase question, I believe, coincide