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Via Marseilles, on the 10th and 26th, for letters and newspapers, pre-paid either in money or stamps, up to 11 a.m., at any ordinary receiving-house in London.-Letters only, pre-paid in money, are received at the chief office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, also in Lombard Street, until 11.35; but with stamps attached, up to 11.45, i.e., ten minutes later than if paid in money.-Newspapers, pre-paid in stamps, are received at St. Martin's-le-Grand and Lombard Street up to 11.15 a.m.

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THE weather in Calcutta is stated to be "severely” hot, if such expression be allowable. If it were severely cold," which is a phrase undoubtedly warranted by custom, we should have concluded that the channels of intelligence were frozen up. But under "existing circumstances," as the younger William Pitt used to say, we cannot very satisfactorily account for the lack of news. The reports from Oude vary greatly, a fact which the Hurkaru accounts for by reference to the animus of individual writers. He adds, that so many of the reports of disturbances, and of the disaffection of the people for the new rule, have proved groundless, prudent persons receive them with great caution. We are glad to hear this, for we are thereby placed in the category of "prudent persons," as we distrust all such reports most heavily. On one occasion only does there appear to have been any instance in which the troops found it necessary to burn powder. The parties exposed to this strong measure were some Nujeebs, who were uncivilly threatening the life of a chuck ladar, from whom they could not obtain their arrears of pay. This, it will be seen, was but a vestige of the ancient times, when soldiers looked for their pay only when they were lucky enough to get it, and no one ever thought of disbursing it so long as the fatal day could by any means be staved off. Part of the local press almost lament that this event was so much honoured, and unfeelingly remark that the chuckladar would only have met with his deserts had he fallen a victim to the soldiery. What a martyr would he have made for the Madras malcontents to parade for the public sympathy! The ex-king of Oude (happy is it for the people that we can write ex-king) seems to be as unquiet and undecided as those usually are who have drained to the dregs the cup of sensual pleasure, and allowed no restraint to fetter their inclinations. It seems likely that he has given up his journey to England, if he ever seriously designed it. It was rumoured fately that he intended returning to Lucknow.

The Sonthals are mute as fish, and nobody seems to bestow a thought upon them.

A reader of the Indian papers cannot fail to remark how little we hear of Burmah. A conflagration at least seems necessary to excite any interest in it.

The Delhi Gazette has its usual budget from Caubul and Candahar; but we do not think that the news is sufficiently important to justify its insertion here.

The rumours from Nepaul are as various and as contradictory as could be desired. We are quite sure that they would afford our readers no information, and suspect that they would give them as little amusement. An attack upon General Grantham, within twenty miles of Madras, gives occasion to the Athenæum to indulge in the following reflections. Part of them are suggestive of the evils of our vile ticket-of-leave system at home. If rogues are to flourish, let legislators say so at once, and not profess to punish but really encourage them.

Gentlemen who have any regard for their own safety and property will do well to trust to their own prowess. Those who confide in the Chingleput police will lean on a broken reed. We should recommend revolvers to the attention of travellers, and caution ladies against travelling at all, except under escort of some one able to protect them. A well-aimed shot or two would most effectually break up the band; a wounded man would necessarily give a clue to the discovery of the others; and although the impression of a European's superiority seems fast wearing out, the natives still retain a dislike for the practical effect of firearms, which will be found sufficient to disunite the most hardened villains. The want of rice may, perhaps, partly cause such attacks, since crime is a natural concomitant of scarcity; but men of hardened and abandoned character are turned adrift from the Chingleput jail, at the expiration of their sentence, to revert to their old habits; and if any discovery is made of the perpetrators of the present outrage, we anticipate that some such will be found the leaders of the gang. A highway robery of a general within twenty miles of Madras is a suggestive fact in many respects. It is an ill wind which blows nobody good; and we shall rejoice if the gallant officer has served the public the good turn of Sidney Smith's burnt bishop.

The bishop referred to was not the bishop who, in his ardent zeal for notoriety, has lately immortalized himself by proposing to put criminals out of the way in a very quiet manner. This puts one in mind of the great painter -Michael Angelo, was it not?-who bought of the public authorities a criminal sentenced to death, that he might kill him at his leisure; and of the French painter David while looking on at a revolutionary massacre, who, being asked what he was doing, answered, "Catching the last agonies of those rascals."

We do not know whether or not there is any foundation for the speculations superinduced upon the fact mentioned in the following quotation from the Bombay Times; but the manner in which it deals with the patriots, who hate India almost as much as they hate their own country, is, as Leigh Hunt would have said in his palmy days, "quite refreshing."

For the past half-century our Government has given a guarantee to a number of the Guicowar's subjects, having claims on our consideration, against the oppression of their own ruler, somewhat indefinitely promising, that in case of wrong, we should see them righted according to the customs and laws of their country. The eagerness with which the guarantee was sought for, and the high value which was set upon it, conveyed the severest reflection that could be made on the misgovernment of a country the subjects of which solicited the interposition of a foreign power to save them from indigenous tyranny. The privilege of the guarantee has just been withdrawn; the circumstance is a precursor, we have no doubt, to measures of greater stringency; and there are few things more advantageous to the people at large than an early change of masters. We recommend absorptions solely for the benefit of the people themselves, and we would set aside some scores of tyrants when this was required for the advantage of the tens and twenties of millions of subjects. Nothing can be more groundless or unwarrantable than the imputation cast by Sir Erskine Perry and the anti-annexationists on the press of India, that we maintain the country to be kept solely for the good of England. There are about 150 journals in the East, of which one-third are English and a dozen are dailies-and not in one of them will a sentiment,

PASSENGERS BY THE PRESENT MAIL.

To MARSEILLES.-Mr. Aubert, Mr. Gubbins, Mrs. Cromelin and infant, Mrs. Wheeler and 2 children, Capt. Ferris, Mr. and Mrs. Skinner and 3 children, Mr. Martin, Mr. Craigie, Mr. Cross, Mr. Seallon, Lieut. Sims, Mr. Macdonald, Mr. Cockerel, Mr. D. Wilson, Mr. Wilson, jun., Miss Wilson, Col. Napier and child, Maj.-Gen. Sir S. W. Steel, K.C.B., Mr. and Mrs. F. Copleston and infant, Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Magrath and child, Mons. E. F. Fondelair, Lieut. Burnside, Lieut. F. Pictet, Mrs. A. M. Ritchie, Miss Barlow, Mons. P. De Roziere.

EXPECTED AT SOUTHAMPTON.

Per steamer Indus (May 20), Lieut.-Col. and Mrs. Wright, Miss Holroyd, Maj. and Mrs. Chamier and 3 children, Mr. and Mrs. Balfour and child, Mr. Richards, Lieut.-Col. and Mrs. Somer, Maj.-Gen. Dickinson, Miss Bunny, Dr. Guise, Maj. Langden, Mr. and Mrs. Reed and 3 children, Mr. T. Kerr, Maj. and Mrs. Davies and infant, Master F. Handley, Maj.-Gen. Wilkinson, Master Beattie, Master Turner, Dr. Russell, Capt. Larkins, Miss Montgomery and 2 children, Mr. Scott, Col. and Mrs. Franks, Mr. Metizzer and infant, 2 Miss Wilsons, Lieut. Ross, Mr. Harris, Mrs. Dunbar and children, Mr. Beamish, Sir R. Barlow, Ens. Battenshaw, Dr. McKibbon, Mr. Wallis.

PARALLEL BETWEEN INDIAN AND ENGLISH POST-OFFICE. -Is it, or can it be really the case, that the wisdom of Government cannot devise, nor the wisdom of the fourth estate suggest, any feasible remedy for a state of things which actually makes people look back with regret to the old system, under which, if they had to pay exorbitantly for their letters, they could at any rate entertain some rational confidence in their safe delivery? That this confidence is at present entertained by no class whatever is a notorious fact. We are told to refer official complaints; cui bono? unless a man puts his letter into the post with his own hand, he cannot swear to its having been posted at all. Here is

a plain and simple answer to every individual complaint, "Oh, most likely your servant never posted your letter."-Correspondent of Madras Athenæum.

CONSEQUENCE OF ABSTAINING FROM OPIUM.-A Chinaman was seized with a serious fit of illness while at the police-court today, in consequence of prolonged abstinence from opium. He had been under arrest since the day before yesterday, and had not had any of the drug during the whole time he was in custody. He was brought up to-day to the police to answer to the charges pending against him, and while there he fell into the fit above mentioned. A little before this he had put a piece of rope, about two yards long, three or four times round his neck, and endeavoured to strangle himself. Some of the chowkeedars seized him, and prevented his committing suicide. He then fell on the ground, and began striking his stomach with his fists, rolling from side to side, and asking at the same time for some opium. About two or three minutes after, Surgeon Rolfe, of the Bengal army, felt the man's pulse and addressed him, but he was speechless. Some water was then poured on his head; he recovered a little, and was removed in a stretcher to the hospital.-Bengal Hurkaru.

BENGAL.

THE INDIAN ARTILLERY.

Amongst the various and important reforms introduced into the Royal army since the commencement of the present war, none have been so extensive or complete as those to which the regiment of artillery has been subjected, notwithstanding that in spite of many deficiencies it was, even previous to the outbreak of hostilities, in a more efficient condition, as regarded the personnel, than the other branches of the service.

Although a wretched parsimony, miscalled economy, had reduced the matérial equipment of this arm to a scale below that of the artillery force of some amongst the petty German principalities, although the whole array of field ordnance equipped for service was not more than proportionate to a force of ten thousand men, amounting to little more than thirty effective pieces, and the majority of these light six-pounder pop-guns,the mechanical and commercial resources of Great Britain admitted of the speedy preparation of the requisite matérial of the best description, and also of the prompt supply of horses and draft equipments of excellent quality at short notice. But the more important element of trained artillerymen was not so easily obtainable. Fortunately the good sense and firmness of those in military authority had protected the regimental establishments from the baneful influence of the Manchester economists; and these establishments, although their aggregate was small when considered in reference to the military position of Great Britain, were still complete as far as they went, and were liberal in comparison to those of the other arms. The advantage of this circumstance has now been fully experienced, and has admitted of a gradual expansion of the corps from ten to fifteen brigades and battalions, equivalent to an increase of fifty per cent., with comparatively little difficulty.

The present establishment consists of 1 brigade of horse and 14 battalions of foot artillery, each of 8 strong companies,-separate companies of drivers being attached to the field batteries. Of these latter there are now a greater number maintained on a very efficient footing, than three or four years ago there were field guns available. Each company has an effective establishment of 1 captain, 1 second captain, and 3 subalterns, exclusive of the regimental and ordnance staff; whilst each battalion has a permanent quota of 7 field officers, and a present average of more than 8, giving above 1 field officer per company.

The proportion of these grades to each battalion of 8 companies, is 1 colonel commandant, 2 colonels and 4 lieutenant-colonels. The colonels commandant are all general officers, and receive the off-reckonings of the battalions; but the remaining proportion of general officers allotted to the regiment are struck off the list of regimental colonels, and are borne as supernumeraries to, and fill up vacancies amongst, the colonels commandant as such occur. Of these supernumeraries there are at present above 20, giving an average of more than 13 per battalion.

The object of maintaining this proportion of senior officers is the same that regulates the establishments of the artillery corps of all the leading nations in Europe, viz. the necessity of always having a field officer available to detach with any force of artillery exceeding a single company, the advisability of entrusting such commands to officers of position and experience, and also the justice as well as prudence of allowing a liberal proportion of the higher grades to a service, which, being one of seniority, must of necessity be slower in promotion than the line.

Let us now compare the condition of the Royal with that of the Indian Artillery, or rather, as we have not sufficient details available regarding the other two presidencies, with that of the Bengal Artillery, which may be taken as representing the condition of the whole of this arm in India.

Here then we find a very different system existing. In the Royal Artillery the supernumeraries are attached to the highest, in the Bengal Artillery to the lowest grade. There the proportion of field officers to the junior grades, and also that of captains to subalterns, is considerably greater than in other branches of the army; here it is actually less. In the Royal Artillery the number of field officers slightly exceeds that of first captains; in the Indian Artillery the total establishment of field officers is only half that of the captains. In the home service the senior captain, whose service at present is twenty-two years, steps at once to the grade of lieut.-colonel; in Bengal the senior captain, with a service of thirty years, may consider himself fortunate if he attains his regimental lieut.-colonelcy six years hence. In the British service there is no grade of major, whilst there is an addi. tional and special grade of colonel commandant, and a double establishment of colonels and lieut.-colonels, thus enabling the officers of that arm to reach the rank of lieut.-colonel in less than the average time occupied in the rest of the service; in India no such advantages exist, and the artillery field officer

is longer reaching each grade than the officers of any other branch.

Thus, for instance, taking the last quarterly army list as a guide, whilst the average service of the 80 lieutenant-colonels of the line is 36 years, that of the 12 lieutenant-colonelcies of artillery is 363 years; the average of the 80 majors of the line is only 30 years, whilst that of the 12 artillery majors is 32 years. Again, taking the two senior captains of each line regiment and, their equivalent, the 13 senior captains in the artillery, we find their respective lengths of service to be 25 and 28 years. Finally, whilst in the royal service, the artillery, with higher pay, accelerated promotion, higher position, and several special advantages over the line, is naturally a favourite service, in India, the same branch, being in nearly all these points at a disadvantage, is consequently the service of all others that is least sought after, and there are few who would not gladly exchange an Addiscombe appointment for a direct commission in the infantry.

Such is the condition of the Indian artillery as regards the posi tion and prospects of the officers; let us now look to the interests of Government as affected by the efficiency of that arm.

In the previous comparison of the Royal and Indian services, we have contrasted the actual and effective condition of the former with the nominal establishment of the latter. If we take the actual and effective condition of the latter, the result is startling. In Bengal, for instance, instead of an available Field-Officer for every two companies, there are, exclusive of the Commandant, only 7 available for the whole 12 brigades and battalions of which the regiment is composed-a serious evil in itself when the scattered condition of the arm is considered, and one which has no parallel in any artillery out of India.

But even in the subordinate grades, the effective proportion is much below the requisite establishment. The batteries of horse and foot artillery, though under their complement, are comparatively well provided for, but the remaining companies are in a state of perfect destitution, averaging little more than one officer to every ten companies, although several of these are detached.

That this is no exaggerated view of the case will be proved by the following statement, ahowing the allotment of the whole establishment of officers, which statement, although not official, will, we believe, be found tolerably correct, being compiled from the latest army list, and the subsequent general orders.

From the foregoing table it will be seen, that whilst the numbers of absentees on furlough and local leave, as also on the staff, are below the average of the service generally, the balance remaining for regimental duty is altogether inadequate. The details of the absentees on staff employ also demand notice. The bulk of these, it will be observed, are in the ordnance department, or with the irregular artillery, both of which duties are purely professional, may be fairly considered as connected with the regiment, and could not be performed by any other branch of the service. The education and training of the artillery officers specially qualifies them for the duties of the survey and department of public works, and we believe there are few of the artillery officers thus employed whose services the Government could conveniently dispense with: whilst the names of Colonel Dixon, Sir Henry Lawrence, Colonel MacGregor, and Sir Richmond Shakespeare, are a sufficient guarantee for the manner in which the State has been served by

the four artillery officers in civil employ. The complement on actual army staff is then reduced to one lieutenant-colonel and one major, who by seniority are commanding brigades of the army; one major, officiating as town-major, and two subalterns, who are aides-de-camp to relatives: thus affording a practical illustration of the value, or rather it might be termed the mockery of the recent order which threw the staff open to artillery officers-when available!

Situated as we are at present in India, with a military force numerically weak, when considered with reference to the extent of frontier to be guarded, and the millions to be held in subjection and order, it is of vital importance that this force should be in a state of complete efficiency, and that in its composition and organization it should be greatly superior to any body that can ever be opposed to it. The artillery arm is the one in which European science and skill admits of such invincible superiority being especially maintained; and yet from the commencement of our military ascendency in India, this important advantage has been constantly and remarkably neglected. The evil is a serious one, and the day may come when it may lead to its natural results; most earnestly is such a calamity to be deprecated and most carefully ought it to be guarded against. This can only be done by keeping pace with the spirit of progress abroad elsewhere, and by maintaining the arm at all times in a state of complete and practical efficiency, for it must ever be borne in mind that a good artillery cannot be made in a day.

Well trained and experienced officers are the main spring of such efficiency, but they must be in sufficient numbers, and not placed in a position less desirable than that of their brethren in

arms.

The necessity for a considerable increase to the establishment of European officers in the Indian Artillery is generally admitted, and it is rumoured that such an increase is shortly to be granted, but that it will be confined to the subordinate grades. In the probability of such a suicidal measure we have no faith. Already the prospects of the junior officers are sufficiently gloomy ; but such a proceeding would annihilate hope, and destroy all spirit and energy amongst a body which heretofore has been second to none.

There are two simple and easy modes of effecting the requisite addition. One is by placing the Indian on the footing of the Royal Service, introducing the grade of Colonel Commandment, increasing the number of Lieutenant Colonels, abolishing the grade of Major, and introducing that of second captain. The other, by retaining the existing grades in the same proportion as in the line, and giving additional battalions of officers only, to meet the demands of the ordnance department, and the drain caused by the irregular artillery. But whatever the mode of increase, it should be sufficient to insure a full regimental complement of effective officers, after allowing an equitable proportion of absentees on staff and furlough. To insure this, the addition made must be a considerable one.-Friend of India.

LIFE ON THE FRONTIER.

An attempt has been made to assassinate the officer employed to carry the ratified treaty to the Ameer of Cabul. As the story will probably reach England in a paragraph, headed "assassination of a British Envoy," it may be well to place on record a correct version of the affair.

Futteh Khan, the officer in question, is a Khuttuk by birth, and served for many years in the guide corps under Major Henry Lumsden. Even in that corps he was remarkable for daring, and led the guides in many an attack both by night and day. Although in the very prime of life, he gave up the service some three years ago, on the departure of his commanding officer for England. He was rewarded by the Governor-General with a sword and a dress of honour, the title of Khan Buhadoor, and a pension of Rs. 150 a month. With this sum, his own lands, and the profits of a considerable jaghire, Futteh Khan retired into a wealthy as well as honourable privacy. Singularly dignified and courteous in manner, he was selected by Colonel Edwardes as the fittest messenger to carry to the Ameer the ratified treaty of Peshawur. After a delay for which it might not be difficult to account, the Ameer's Vukeel, Darya Khan, arrived with a suitable escort at the mouth of the Khyber, and Futteh Khan, on the 6th March, started with him for Candahar, He had arrived in safety at Soondeh Khaneh within the pass, when one of his baggage animals threw his load. The Khan dismounted to refasten the burden, when he heard the click of a pistol. He turned suddenly round, the assassin fired, and the ball passed through his turban. The assassin was off like an antelope, but he had been recognized, the Vukeel promised redress, and Futteh Khan calmly pursued his way. The act was not one dictated either by religious or political fanaticism. The man cared nothing about the treaty, and had no

especial enmity to Kafirs; but he had been in prison at the suit of Futteh Khan, and had waited months for his revenge.

It was impossible to permit such an outrage to pass unpunished. According to European ideas, we should either call on Dost Mahommed for reparation, or treat the affair as a private crime to be settled by individuals. The authority of the Dost, however, has not much weight among those who claim the lordship of the passes; and as for the second alternative, Futteh Khan as a private individual would stand little chance of redress. The usual expedient has therefore been adopted. The tribe is fortunately dependent upon its trade with Reshawur. It has therefore been blockaded until the murderer has been surrendered to British justice. Even then, we question if it will be possible to inflict a heavier punishment than imprisonment. The natives expect to see death inflicted; but even the non-regulation law of the Punjab is not sufficiently rough for frontier discipline.

This has been made strikingly evident in the recent murder of Mr. George. This man was proceeding to join his office at Kohat, when he was shot by a Ghazee, or fanatic, and died immédiately. The Sowars, who had accompanied him, endeavoured to seize the murderer, but, favoured by the nature of the country, he contrived to distance them. During the pursuit, he kept on firing slugs from his pistol, and wounded one horseman and two grasscutters, peacefully pursuing their avocations. At last the Sowars, tired out, employed their carbines, and after several unsuccessful shots succeeded in hitting the murderer in the leg. Like a wounded tiger he still fought on, and was at last only captured by the aid of a body of villagers. He was carried to the thannah, where, bleeding and growling more like a wild beast than a man, he declared that he was a messenger from the Prophet, and his home with God.

The incident strikingly illustrates the inapplicability of our English ideas to such a locality as Peshawur. The man thus taken red-handed must in the first place be tried. His case must then be referred to the commissioner, and then to Lahore, the two processes causing a delay of at least eight days. Even when the sentence has arrived it is almost inoperative. What is the use of inflicting death upon a being who has committed murder to attain that very reward, who believes the gallows the surest passport to eternal bliss? Not one end of punishment appears to be attained. The murderer himself is not punished, for he exults in the doom he has deliberately striven to incur. No example is made to his fellows, for the delay has taken away that certainty of prompt and instant retribution which alone cows Asiatics. Nor is society protected for the future, for what amount of public indignation can weigh against the authority of a divine command sincerely credited? The body, it is true, will be burned, but, as we have often remarked, this expedient is a failure. The man is not burnt alive, and the usual care of a Mussulman for his corpse is foreign to a Ghazee. He has not to await the coming of the angel of death, but springs at once to Paradise, and the dispersion of his ashes matters nothing. The ashes of the wretch who assassinated Col. Mackeson were dispersed, and since then seven fanatic murders have occurred. A native prince would keep such a being alive, or kill him by tortures so terrible that even fanaticism could not overcome the shuddering fear they would inspire. Such measures are repugnant to English feeling, but some terrible punishment should be devised, sufficient to daunt the murderer, yet cheat the fanatic in his hope of death. We question if even the ancient penalty, the loss of the right hand, would not be more merciful than a plan which, while it deprives the murderer of life, does not secure the end which justifies an execution. At all events, even if this extreme measure is avoided, let justice be sharp and sure. The Ghazee captured red-handed on the scene of his crime should be strung up then and there. He is no more accountable to law or reason than a wolf, and should have as little of the forms intended to secure justice only to human beings.-Friend of India.

THE FIGHTING STRENGTH OF THE FRONTIER

CLANS.

We have from time to time described the policy adopted by the British Government towards these clans, and its success appears at last to be acknowledged. We question, however, whether the magnitude of that success is even yet thoroughly appreciated. The immense length of the territory to be watched, the barbarous names of the clans who from time to time descend upon the plains, and the apparent want of connection in our own movements perplex and weary the most attentive. The public thinks of "the frontier" much as if it were an outlying station in some danger from the tribes around. We have seen some statistics which will, we think, tend to diminish this delusion. They show that the clans whom we have compelled to respect our territory can turn out a force greater than the whole army of Bengal. That they require even now au army of observation greater than the force which defended the Pe

cribed the bringing forward these important lines of communication; they were projected generally in his lordship's minute, printed in the railway papers of India, by order of the House of Commons.

"The surveys and sections now submitted, have been carefully prepared by Messrs. Ross MacMahon and A. Jacob, on the part of the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway Company.

"I will now briefly notice the lines, referring for details to the sections themselves, and to the notes that accompany them.

"The Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway Company's line from Surat to Baroda having been sanctioned by Government, it will be only necessary for me to state particulars from the point at which the Central Indian line bifurcates from the Surat and Baroda line.

"The datum adopted throughout is the low water level of ordinary spring tides at Baroach. The line follows the course of the valley of the Nurbudda on the right bank of the river as far as the town of Rajpore Ali.

"This portion may be considered as of the easiest construction, the gradients being almost level, without any curves worthy of notice, and no heavy works of masonry.

60000,

These men are all, be it remembered, trained from boyhood to the use of arms. All can use the tulwar, the long assassin's knife, and the long and heavy matchlock. All are fanatic Mussulmans, clinging like mountaineers everywhere to the worst dogma of their faith, that the slaughter of an infidel is the readiest road to heaven. All, too, are accustomed to consider plunder the easiest source of income, and robbery the only profession worthy of an honourable man. Add to these facts, that they have for ages regarded the people of the plains as serfs born to till for the benefit of the mountain, and that these serfs can be attacked through all the passes of ranges which extend for eight hundred miles, and the task of the Government may be partially comprehended. The figures, too, may serve to explain the necessity for the great force which is now concentrated in the frontier stations:

It is fortunate, if not for the existence, at least for the stability of our rule, that these tribes are incapable of combination. They live in incessant blood-shedding feuds. Life for life is the universal law of the mountain, and the feud once commenced can end only with the destruction of one clan or the other. They have but one common bond, the hatred of the infidel, which from time to time urges individuals to acts of homicidal frenzy. That bond, however, is sufficiently powerful to give rise to some apprehension. A union among these tribes is considered in the Punjab an impossibility. Feuds as deadly were pacified in Arabia, when tribes equally wild and not more fanatic united for the conquest of the oriental world.-Friend of India.

RAILROADS FROM BARODA TO AGRA AND DELHI.

THERE is a project on foot for another gigantic railway in India, as appears from a letter addressed to Government by Sir R. N. C. Hamilton, the Governor-General's agent for Central India, under date the 14th ultimo. Our readers are aware that a line has already been sanctioned from Bombay through Surat to Baroda; and the object of the line now proposed is to continue the former from Baroda to Indore, and from thence by two separate lines, to Agra and Delhi respectively. Of course, were not the interests of the intervening country considered, one line from Baroda to Delhi, passing through Agra, would meet the requirements of those two latter cities; but Sir R. Hamilton gives very good reasons for his advocacy of both lines receiving the sanction of Government, as will be seen from the following extracts :"I have the honour to lay before the Most Noble the GovernorGeneral, the reports and sections of a proposed line of railway, by which the port of Bombay may be connected with the Northwest Provinces, having Agra for one terminus, and Delhi for the

other.

"To the Most Noble the Governor-General must be as

"From Baroach to Rajpore Ali must be considered as the first division of the work. The line passes through some populous towns, and a country in which cotton is much grown; it follows the main line of traffic between Malwa and Guzerat, and the sea-borne trade to Surat and Baroach. Mr. Hardy was the gentleman who made the survay from the guaranteed line at Meahgong up to Rajpore Ali, at the three hundred and thirty-fourth and a half mile from Bombay.

46

Rajpore Ali itself is the chief town of the Rajaship of Ally Mohan. There all the traffic concentrates, previous to ascending the range of hills, by the passes leading to Jhabooa, Dhar, Rutlam, and Bhopawur.

"When the line has to be constructed, it may be a question whether it should be taken up to Rajpore Ali itself, or take a more direct course to Jowaree Ghaut, by which a saving of some eight miles of distance will be effected.

ascent.

"From Rajpore Ali to Indore must be considered the second division. In it the only difficulties along the entire line are encountered. The Ghauts of the Vindya range have to be surmounted. This can only be done by incurring a considerable expense in the Ghaut A reference to the question will show that Mr. Ross. MacMahon has projected the line with much skill. The gradients. in the Ghaut ascent are noted in the margin. The ascent extends from 335 miles and 70 chains to 308 miles and 53 chains., The curves are all good. The quickest one is at the 378th mile; it has, however, a radius of 60 chains.

The line from the top of the Ghaut to Indore passes through the Amjehra, Dhar, and Holkur states. At starting from Tirilla, the station of Sirjanpore is passed on the north side, at a point three miles from Bhopawur; the country is now open and healthy, and continues so throughout the entire distance to Agra.

"Dhar is a town of some importance, the residence of the Rajah of that territory, which is well cultivated, producing opium, grain, and cotton.

"The next town on the line is Indore, which may be considered the capital of Malwa. At it the whole trade concentrates, whether that from Bombay and sea-borne, or from Hindoostan through Rajpootana, Gwalior, and the Saugor territories. The importance of the opium trade alone would almost warrant special attenti n. The revenue derived to our Government has, during the last three years, exceeded annually one crore of rupees, reaching as high as a crore and near twelve lacs in the year.

"The whole of this opium is carried and exported to China from Bombay, mainly by the Agra and Bombay road: so deeply interested are the mercantile community in this article of trade, that the amount realized at the Electric Telegraph Office at Indore during a month covers the expenses of the establishment.

Were