The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-10-02 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

LORCHEt3TER, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2. WA

NOTES OF 71IF WEEK.

IR INDIA presents calamity in
a form so overwhelming as almost to exceed
the comprehension of those who are familiar
only with Western civilisation. The vast and
helpless masses of the population; the vary
restrictions which from religious fanaticism
and other causes are laid upon their re-
sources of sustenance; the mere bulk wh;cli
is assumed by the articles of consumption
where the diet is chiefly vegetable (rice) ; and
shall we not add, the extreme poverty of the
many which is ever found surrounding the
great wealth of the few inland, where "wealth
accumulates and men decay ;" all these causes
conspire to render ah Indian famine more
than usually appalling. The cry of distress,
however, no sooner reached this country than
the Press with its ready chivalry took it Up;
and the Timee, in a leader, somewhat bitterly
urged that its remarks in behalf of a single
starving pauper in St. Giles's would possess
an influence exceeding all it could say for the
thousands in a state of starvation in India.
How erroneous was this assumption has at
once been demonstrated by Friday's deputa-
tion to the Mansion House, of bankers, mer-
chants, and other persons of consideration in
the city of London, and especially of bankers
and merchants in connexion with the trade
with India, to the Lord Mayor. Tho ap-
pearance of this deputation on the scene at
once called to mind the fact that on a former
occasion large subscriptions had been raised
at the Mansion House for a similar purpose;
and that in reality the last famine fund far
exceeded what was necessary for the emer-
gency. As Mr. Kirkman Hodgson, one of
our on. members for Bridport, observed,
"they should not wish to do that over again,"
but at all events here was the machinery
that had before overshot the mark, once more
in motion, and who could say that a deep and
unbounded sympathy with our Indian fellow
subjects did not agitate the breasts of those
in England interested in India P Tho com-
plaints in the newspapers were chiefly levelled
at the local Government of India for having
done so little on the spot; and it now appeared
that the Lord Mayor, anticipating the arrival
of the deputation to him, had put himself in
communication uith Lord Cranborne, the
chief of the India Board, justly described
by Mr. Rani, another of the speakers, as "a
man of great energy and immense talent,"
and Lord Cranborne had shown that so far
from the Government having remained in-
active they had authoriPed the expenditipu of
£200,000 from the public treasury in Bengal
alone, for the purchase of rice to be distri-
buted among the people. This money is to
be re-placed by sales; but strictly charitable
relief ID to be afforded through means of the TRH ANNUAL VOLUNTEER REVIEW.
surplus funds subscribed in IWO for the ringth. h.ttasvestioonf ivol.A"teeth...
famine in the North-West Provinces amount-
ing to £62,500, and through local subserip- for 1866 on Wednesday, 28th Septemfore the 14)rd Lieutenant of the
ber, at took A6or-
tion2 raised by committees of which there is borne.
no account; whilst for the relief of famine The old town was grandly Wight for the 00126011
'in Madras grants have been sanctioned by with Ire: and triumatai arches, and
Government to the extent of 80,000 rupees. iPncts glorious state and
excitement. For Fallorgradweeeeke wperree-
Under these circumstances it has been eiously, as our readers are aware, an influential
boldly asserted by Lord Cranborne on
ottooolob!souttinteog
ihnedeoomiboonon =kin
ainbeß
befitting
gmannomceeter,
and
that
thee
errlegiereleeettth;e Abbey bteallswith"without ceditg t)"
the part of the Indian Government,
the
it is not desirable that any such effort
should be made in the city of London appropriate mottoes (I)" the firininfanaaie "other
as was made in 1800, when £120,000, ff;n&e.offi.deuko.y,,wweerefefollSt forth inheethat pomp:a:lcy,
of which £62,000 yet remains unexpended
was raised as a famme fund; for the Govern. • 'ottunc-the jubilantto.aurdi.cations of the
pleasu regard for
ment had the means, the will, the inclination, the eehmt„„ was not eehmeted b;;l'providong bell-
e'r
and the authority to cope with the calamity. ringin ,g bunting, sad smoke • with consideration
No doubt it is melancholy to hear from 3fr. redounding to tinfir infinite credit, they remembered
Dudley Smith that so far as already known, the volunteer,' are Englishmen as well as
4,ooodeaths from famine have been registerud. trjartill'adi therefore, believe ip sort of ateloll
Four thoututud deaths from famine! When netts, thought that Ila et Wibetiatlair a loiblailurney—etnaencoeetlin.