The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-14 00:00:00

T 1-1 E PRESS, AUGUST 14, 1858.

Up to this time Mr. Lawrence had been almost
exclusively engaged in the collection of revenue ;
and, owing probably to the absence of great oppor-
tunities, his value and ability were little known ex-
cept to his immediate superiors. By them, however,
we know that he was duly appreciated from the first.
Having held one or two temporary employments, in
1816 we find him already engaged as judge magis-
trate and collector over the important district of the
central division of Bengal, where his administrative
ability attracted the attention of the Governor
General, Sir Henry Hardinge. It wag not long
before he had an opportunity given of making for
himself a name. In 1811 he was appointed to the
important post of Commissioner of the Trans-
Sutlej Provinces, which had been recently added
to our Indian empire, as the result of the Slit cam-
paigns. Here he had new ground to break up, and
a chaos of disorder and confusion, political, fiscal,
and agricuhural, to reduce into system, shape, and
form. In this work lie showed a masterly power
of administration, and a perseverance, energy, and
industry which were beyond ail praise. Nor was h.:
long in looking for his reward in the shape of pro•
motion to a more important and better paid, and
(what he valued more highly still) a more laborious
post. As our readers will doubtless remember, the
assassinati an of the British envoys in 184 M at
Mooltan, the capital of a petty State between the
Indus and the Sutlej, was followed by the capture of
that fortress, and the subsequent union of the forces
of Shere Singh and Chucker Singh. After a long and
obstinate contest, the Sikhs and Atfghans were
finally crushed by Lord Gough at Ferozepore anti
Chillianwallah, and surrendered into our hands. The
issue wag, that the Affghans were obliged to fly
beyond the Indus, the Sikh forces were disbanded,
and the Punjaub was declared by Dord Dalhousie as
thenceforth annexed to the British territories in India.
Sir Henry Lawrence had already filled the post of
British Resident at Lahore, and he and his brother
Mr. John Lawrence were nominated as two out of
the three members of the board, for the administra-
tion of the Punjaub.
The first step undertaken by the hoard (Sir 11.
Lawrence, Sir John Lawrence, and Mr. Marsh), on
receiving their plenary powers, was to appoint an
executive qua of civil officers, and to cause a tho-
rough investigation to be made into the rights of
such lands as claimed to ho free tenures, and to settle
a complicated fiscal system. They next proceeded to
enforce for civil judication the rules current in the
Sutlej provinces, as being " calculated to insure sub-
stantial justice unfettered by legal technicalities."
Next came the settlement of a new penal code, and
the organization of a body of polite, for the purpose
of disarming the people, and the dismantling or forts
and strongholds, which only served as the fastnesses
of thieves and freebooters. And, lastly, the re-
sources of She country had to be developed. Trade,
agriculture, and commerce were to be fostered.
Surveys had to be made, canals to be cut, levels to be
tak:m, and roads constructed. The mineral resources
of the Alpine regions bordering on the Himalayas
had to be explored, and the internal communication
by navigation of the rivers had to be opened up. In
addition to this it Was found necessary by the
board to disband the Sikh soldier!, though
many of them subsequently entered the British
service, whilst they were empowered to raise
en irregular force consisting of ten regiments—
five of cavalry and five of infantry,—for the protection
of the western frontier. As to the results of these
movements, we may state that, within the first year,
the administration of the country was reported to the
Governer-General as having been " lairlyset, in train"
—civil and criminal courts having been established,
and no less than 8,000 marauders and other offenders

having been lodged in custody. During this time a
new system of excise and customs was projected,
submitted to Government, and carried into effect ;
municipal and conservancy arrangements were made,
attention was paid to public improvements, scientific
surveys were conducted for the greatroad to Peshaw•ur
and fur the Baree Doab Canal, and cross-roads com-

menced in all directions through the country. During
the succeeding year, the entire currency of the Pun•
jsub was reformed, a new coinage was introduced,
and the roads and canals, designed in the previous
year, were actually commenced, to say nothing of a
new system of excise being fully established. The
consequence of these efficient services was, that, at the
end of the second year, the board were able to
report to the Governor-tleneral that " the entire
British system and its institutions were thoroughly
introduced into the Punjaub." The board add the
following comment :—" The two first years were
years of originating, the third year has been rather
one of perfecting ;" and they conclude by referring
to the appendix to the report all who desire to know
the step by which the general administration had
been advanced up to the poin! at which it then stood.
To give a detailed account of these results, equally
solid and splendid an their character, would he to
give an epitome of an East Indian " }tine Book," of
npwarda of :300 pages, includine, many important
tables l $ talk OW we opus inthotius on ourselves

or our readers; the more willingly since Indian
Blue Books " are printed at present without
marginal summary.
The rest of Sir John Lawrence's career is inn
fresh in our reader' memorier to nerd rep.rninm
here. We may, however, mention that, in Is3n, he
was made a in reward for his service, as
Commissioner of the Punjaub, and way advanced to
the dignity of a G.C.B. last year, for zeal,
intrepidity, and energy in supporting liis decriLsed
brother and the military anthorities in sUpprei.miiig
the Indian mutiny. He is now farther rewarded
with a baronetcy, and a seat, by nomination of her
Majesty's Government, in the new Indian Council,
in which capacity he will enjoy a salary of 1,2001.
a year.

The following's Order in Gam:o," recently istlei
by Lord Canning, will speak for itselt

The 3overnor-General in Council will not postpone Ms
grateful acknowledgment of the services which have !.t.ea
rendered to the empire at this juncture by the Chk
Commissioner of the l'uttjanb. To Sir John Iswrener• it
is owing that the army before long u o eat aff
from all direct 'support from the lower provinces, has been
continually recruited and Krengthened so effectually sr to
enable iis commander not only to mr.intain Ms position
unshaken, but to achieve a great success. To Sit John
Lawrence's unceasing vigilance, and his energetic and
judicious use of the trustworthy twee at his dispels], it is
due that Major-General Wilson's army has not Is"
harassed and threatened on the aide of the l'unjattb, Rol
that the authority of the Government in the I'unjuub itself
has been sustained and generally respected.
It will probably be remembered that, in November
last, Sir John Lawrence, when he received the dis-
tinction of the Grand Cross of the Bath, at the same
time received the thanks of Parliament by resolution
of both houses. Shortly afterwards a despatch was
sent out by the directors of the East India Company
directing that his salary of 7,2001. a year as Cleo'
Com rnis:%ior er should be increased to the same animal'.
as that of lieutenant•governor—namely, 10,0001. a
year, and that its receipt should date from the Ist
January, 185 m. The.e circumstances show that the
distinguished and invaluable services of Sir .1.14:1
Lawrence have not been overlooked, though the
nation will not think that his services have been
adequately rewarded until they are crowned with 3
peerage ; and it is generally expected that a peerage
is in store for him, when the Indian mutiny has been
fairly quelled, and Lord Cannilyg has been advanced
to an earldom.

We learn from Ilardwielte'A "Sid Kni;litar "
that Sir John Lawrence married, in 14-12, a daughter
of the late Rev. R. liamilton.—Court Circular.

SI'CONI) EI)LFI(►\.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

L TEST INTELLIGENCE.

AUSTRIA.
VIENNA, Aug. 1:;.
The official journal publishes the result of the
budget of 1857. The Government is under the
necessity of niltnitting a deficit of 4'2,000,000 dorms
005,000,000 francs). The deficiency for the rear
1856 amounted to 60,000,000 florins (150,000,000
francs).

CHINA.

PAras, Aug. 13.

The allied admirals in China hare taken poises'
mon cf Takow. They are completely masters of the
ccurse or the Peilto up to the point at which it ceases
to be navigable, some miles beyond Tiensio, the
important granary of Northern China, where are
stored the immense supplies of rice from the southern
provinces on which Pekin depends for as sub.
sistence.

THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS.
POTSDAM, Aug. 12.
The Queen and Prince Consort arrived bac at ten
o'clock this evening, all well.

SIR J. LAWRENCE.
TILE Times of this morning says :
We are enabled to state that Sir John Lawrence will not
leave his post in India until the tranquillity of the conatry
is restored, though he is most so:loins to return to Ent,-
land, and though, but for the insurrection, he would hare
returned last winter. It
is in contemplation of b
which is so far contingent, that the offer of I place.
in the
N return,
Council will be made him, conditional on his ability to
accept it, and with the option of his remitting or resigning
it if he should hereafter desire to resume tan
present pod
in Indio.

FItENCH FUNPB—CLOSING PRICES.
FARM 008.
Three per Cats, • • • • • 0ti.94

Court Anb lastion.

DEPARTURE OF HER
GRAVESEND. MAJESTY FROM
Os Tuesday morning her Majesty and his Royal
Highness the Prince Consort embarked from
Gravesend on board the royal yacht, on their visit
to their daughter and Prince Frederick William of

Prusaia.
This, the first visit of her Majesty to Gravesend,
was supposed to be a strictly private one, yet, from
the peculiar circumstances in which it originated, as
well as owing to the warm manifestations of loyalty
which always attend the progress of her Majesty
through any part of the United Kingdom, the visit
could not be entirely divested of a certain character
of iete and pageant, which, though the Gravesend
people thought little of it, would have appeared a
handsome demonstration in any other toivn.
It is said that the visit was supposed to be private,
for in truth the town, we believe, had no official inti-
mation that her Majesty was coming there privately
at all. It. was known, of course, that she would
embsrk from the Terrace-pier, and as the time ap-
proached an official letter was sent to the Secretary
of State, asking if her Majesty would permit any
public demonstration of welcome to be given by the
townspeople. In the ordinary course of business this
letter was transmitted to Lieut.-Colonel Sir Charles
Phipps, K.C.8., who replied to the secretary, after a
decent interval of delay, in a letter containing some
P •
acket of clover seed, but nothing more. As, after
s
this extraordinary despatch had been received, Sir
Charles Phipps was at Cherbourg, nothing further
could be done towards solving the enigmatical letter,
and the borough officials were obliged to take public
rumour as an authority that her Majesty wished to
travel as quiet.), and privately as possible, and govern
their demonstration accordingly.
To a certain extent, therefore, it was understood
that her Majesty was to be received privately. But
nothing could entirely suppress the decorative
loyalty of the Gravesenders, and so it broke forth
in such a display of ciphers, banners, wreaths, and
garlands as must have given her Majesty a good
idea of what the town would do if ever she came in
state. Altogether, it was a most beautiful and cre-
ditable display, and, apart from the fact that the
Home Secretary was not applied to for the decora-
tions or the police called upon to do the cheering,
it was in all other respects equal to the show so
lately made so n.uch of in the streets of Cherbourg.
The main avenues from the railway station were
covered with banners of all kinds, and even the
streets branching off from the line of route were
more or less gay with coloured drapery. In Harmer-
street the inhabitants had the good taste to combine
in their decorations, and ali the balconies in the
fronts of the houses, throughout their entire length,
were festooned with garlands and coloured ribands
with the prettiest effect imaginable. Across the
toed, near the entrance to the Terme-pier, a beau-
tiful triumphal arch of flowers and evergreens was
erected, while the pier itself was lined with scarlet
cloth and draped with flags and banners from the
roof. Perhaps the only, though partial, drawback
which occurred throughout the day was the rain, for
from seven in the morning till a few minutes before
her Majesty's arrival it poured with such a drenching
vigour as we have seldom seen surpassed even on
the occasion of the most interesting public cere-
monies. Yet even this downpour bad no effect upon
the attendance of spectators. They thronged the
streets and crowded to the pier as if it was regular
Queen's weather. Nine o'clock was the latest hour
at which visitors were admitted to the inclosure by
tickets.

A guard of honour, with the fine band of the
Royal Marines, was stationed outside the pier, and
the streets were kept by patrols of the 15th Hussars.
Before nine o'clock all the plates were taken, and
everything was supposed to be in readiness for the
arrival of her Majesty at ten o'clock or thereabouts ;
but at nine a messenger arrived to say that the royal
train had started, and would reach Gravesend at
94(1 This was alarming news, since it was almost
certain that the royal yacht would not find sufficient
water to float her to the pier by that time. However,
an effort was necessary, and an effort was made, and
not ten minutes before the arrival of the cortege the
royal yacht was got alongside, with just enough
Water to float her, and no more. At all events, she
was there, and so the minds of the corporation were
relieved of an intense anxiety respecting what could,
Would, or should be done if the Queen had to wait
for half an hour among the crowd on the pier. The
royal party arrived at her Majesty's private station at
the Bricklayers' Arms at about halt-past eight, where
they were received by the chairman of the company,
the Hon. J. Byng, Captain Warren, Mr. S. Toulon,
and Mr. C. W. liborall, manager. The royal train,
la charge of Mr. Knight, superintendent of the

1