The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-02 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUAR 1847.

in discussing the ;Propriety or otherwise of Mr. Lewin's
answer to the address presented him, on his suspen-
sion from *See by government, by the native com-
munity of Madras; and their comments on it have
been in general unfavourable. The Spectator ups ;—" The
reply of Mr. Lewin is a topic that we approach with much
reluctance, becalm; we regret to say that its nrturo was such
as we cannot approve. Considering his position an a minister
of the highest court of justice under the Company's Govern•
meat, and a Provisional Member of the Council of Madras,
he should have abstained--whatever his wrongs or feelings
might have been—from the use of any language calculated to
excite irritation, and to widen the breach made by the erroneous
measures of the Marquis of Twesddele, between this govern-
ment and the heathen subject to it. In our opinion, indeed,
by far the wisest, most seemly, and moat dignified course
would have been for him to thank the deputation briefly
and generally for the favourable sentiments expressed
towards him by the meeting, and to waive any lurther
discussion of matters which were under reference to
the Court of Directors. This is, however, a point of
taste whereon he had an undoubted right to form his
own opinion. Not so, however, in respect of the retie'.
CMS topics which occur prominently in his answer, and which
should have escaped handling after a fashion in uhviously
tending to strengthen misconceptions, and to excite popular
alarm. We disapprove of and lament many portions of
that document. but would in particular condemn the para-
graph wherein be speaks of the probable &Sire of govemnu nt
to force Christianity upon the people. Such impute. ions are,
we believe, unfounded, injurious, and sliuuld never have been
made."
BESOAL.—The Legislative Council at Calcutta has lately
been promulgating draft acts of great utility, one of which
—that for the binding of apprentices—has long been felt
as a desideratum throughout India. Though long in a state
of lethargy, the Council has shown that it liaa not been
totally inactive—The Bar of the Supreme Court of
Calcutta has been strengthened by the admission of a
Mr. W. McPherson a i.ongst its practitionem—Sir L.
Peel and Sir J. P. Grant have returned from Madras
and resumed their duties on the bench.—The management
of the Indigo factories in Lower Bengal belonging and
mortgaged to the Union Bank. has been conferred on a Mr.
Rose, formerly of the firm of Barton and Rose, on an
income of 1440/. per annum. Mr. J. C. Stewart, secre-
tary to the bank, has given notice of his intended resianatMn,
owing to ill health. Mr. Stewart belonged to the house of
Brownrigg & Co., and left Bombay in 1542, on the return
to that presidency of the able, intelligent, and high-minded
head of the firm Mr. Marcus Broesniugg. He was
while amongst us—and he is little likely in these particu-
lars to change—distinguished for large and varied literary
and scientific acquirements, the greatest benevoli nee and
warmth of heart, and that high-minded honour which viewed
suspicion as indignity. His conduct since the aaumption
of the office of secretary to the Union Bank of Calcutta
has given universal satisfaction. The Friend of India, in its
issue of the 12th ult. thus speaks of our former citizen :
"It appears that Mr. Stewart, the secretary, has born
induced to tender his resignation to the directors, and
tit:A the state of his health, which has been impaired by the
I. sr card tear of his duties, is one of the 1, ading causes
of his retirement. It will he no easy matter for the bank
to find a fitting successor. Ile took charge of the office at
a time when, by the predominance of private interests in
the employment of its capital, the bank had been placed
it a state of great jeopardy, and its shares were gradually
falling below par, and the public confidence in its stability
was rapidly ebbing away. He determined manfully to
face tie difficulties of his position; he ascertained the
worst, and then prevailed on the director: to retrace their
steps, and make the most determined effort to bring the
resources of the Bank back into the legitimate channel of
commercial accommodation. The ruinous es stem of ad-
vances on the block and produce of indigo factories was
closed, and the resolution was announced to extricate the
capital which had thus 'been embarked at the earlii at
period. The half-yearly report of the funds of the bank,
which he drew up for the propritory body at the meeting
of January, 1844, was the first intelligible document the
public had received for some years. Its lucid and straight-
forward statements, not less than its candid admissions,
served in a great measure to restore public confidence;
the stock rose in the market, and eventually attained a
premium of twenty per cent. The difficulties with which
he was required to struggle, and the dissatisfection which
was loudly expressed by some who had been instrumental
in placing him in the office of secretary, when it was found
that he was determined to act independently of them, mid
consult only the interests of the public, are well known;
but they served only to enhance the merit of his exertions."
—The cause of education would seem to be receiving the
greatest attention from the authorities at Calcutta, neatly
every day's papers bringing us accounts of the founding of
schools, and appointments to and chmiges in those already
in existence. Several rich and influential natives have
also put their shoulder to the wheel, and are sealoualy
exerting themselves in the cause of learning. The go-
vernment geologist, Mr. Williams, has lately commenced
making experiments in boring at a Flue not far distant
from Calcutta. We c-py the following paragraph from
the liarkarn, in reference to the encouragement about to
be given by the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal to Oriental
literature:—" We have learnt from a source on which
we can safely rely, that amongst the several interesting
matters that were determined at the monthly meeting of the
Asiatic Society on Wednesday last, there was one which
iwe think too nteresting to withhold from the public. A
sub-committee for philology and Oriental literature has
been appointed, in musequeace of the offer of a liberal
grant of five hundred rupees front the Supreme Govern-
ment of India to the Society, for the purpose of encountg-
ing Oriental literature. Dr. Sprenger of the North
Western Provinces, has been lately successful in obtaining
an elaborate and complete history of Caahmere in menu.
script, which it is proposed will be published under the aus-
pices of the Asiatic Society. It is said that it contains more
useful information than the interesting work of Rajturrun-
genee. The Committee is contemplating to invite candidates
for translating Sanacrit, Hindi, Persian, and Bengalee works,
for which they intend to pay on a liberal scale of remunera-
tion,"
- - -

•
COLOMIIO.—We have papers from Ceylon to the 20th
Nov. Several deaths from cholera had occurred during the
fortnight, amongst whom was the son of Captain fiction,
of the Riflearorps. The evidence for the prosecution and
defence in the cue of Captain Fenwick, of the Rides had
terminated, but the result of the court-menial had not
transpired. Messrs. E. Burrows and J. Northmore had
been appointed writers on the civil establishment of the I
colony, and attached, the former to the Colonial Secretary's
and the latter to the Govt. Agent's office at Colombo. A
commissioner appointed by the Chamber of Commerce to
examine into and report on the state of the roads, &c. in
the western province of the island, had given in his report,
from which it would appear that a large sum of money
would require to he expended on them before they could
be got into anything like a state of efficiency. The well-
known ship Malabar had touched at Colombo on the 16th,
and sailed for Bombay the fotlowing morning. The
passengers had "lauded in order to stretch thew weary
limbs (so says the Times) alter so long a confinement
on ship ',lard; and the fresh.colourcd home-like looking
faces which met our gaze at every street turn, induced
comparisons greatly in favour of a residence in Briton's
sea-girt isle, to the disparagement of all Oriental luxuries
in general, and those of Ceylon in particular." And who
ever doubted it ? The Colonial Secretary had joined the
School Commission, and the event was considered likely
to he of benefit to tho cause of education in Ceylon.
The Times, in an nrticlo on the probable succesm.r, mention'
Sir J. Emmerson Tennent as the best person that could be
nominated, and recommend, the community to petition the
home government on the subject. The following officers have
been directed to proceed with the rifle detacbmt nt to Hong-
kong:--Brevet Majors Cochrane and Bonnor; CaptainaW. T.
Layard, T. Lillie, W. Driebent, and lt. My lies; First Lieute-
nants W. H Underwood, K. Watson, W. Bagenall, H. Lunn,
W. C. Vanderspaar, H. Skinntr, Brert ton, J. A.
1-ayard, W. H. KeLton, J. Dwjtr, G. T. Dawson H. J.
Beans. H. Bird, C. C. Durnford, aud E. F. Tranchell.' The
second Lieutenants had not been mentioned. The Times

has the following in reference to a pirate avid to be hovering
about in the vicinity of the line We have received
Mauritius papers up to the 23rd of Oct. By Le Mauricien
we have intelligence in carol:oration of the statements of
the Cape papers, that a pirate vessel is cruising in the
neighbourhood of the line. Captain Durant., of the ship
Perseverant, bound from Marseilles to Bourbon, states
that he met, near the line, a suspicious looking brig.
This vowel having fired a gun,—to which the Perseverant
replied by showing her colooirs, and hearing too—sent a
boat with a crew of nine men, armed with pikes, sabres,
&c., who, perceiving no indication of resistance,
left their arms in the boat, went onboard, and set about
unlashing the booms on the Perseverant's deck, declaring
that they wanted a main yard and top-gallant mast. They
put several questions to Captain Dorante as to his cargo,
place of destination, &c., and having thrown the mast and
yard into the water, returned with them to the brig. Dur-
ing their visit she approached close to the Perseverant,
which enabled Captain Durante to observe that she carried
four broadside guns, and one on a swivel carriage; her crew
rounded of about sixty men, ill-looking and ragged. There
were two men on the look-out during the whole time of this
interview."

THE BOMBAY MARKET.
(From the Chamber of Commerce Orer(and Prier Denver.)
Boum', Dec.l, 1919. Since the departure of last mail, out market
far imports has continued hi a very depressed state. The esks of the
Pet fortnight are limited (a amount, and prime, generally, exhibit
a wansiderable reduction upon those current a kw weeks olio—tbia
pate of things has been mused entirely by the gambling bugalos in
opium, to which we alluded In our taint:inn, and until the resultathe
Government sale of opium, Ithieb was to take plthe on the 30th tilt.
at Caleetta, becomes known here. we cannot but hare commercial the-
trust amongst the native mereuntile community, and writhe, Interrup-
tion to bureaus. The Marwarrie dealers me deeply involved in flute
gambling tree salons, and in the meantime their purchaser, usually
large at thle season, have been entirely suspended.
Mrrata.—A fair amount of business km keen done in there during
the put furtniel.t. tsken plane in °fain tm.
st rs. 494, and 01 nal toes do. at rs. 304 per coulyorbtal prime exhibit
a alight dedh.. te on our lest quotation. Brinell bar has not thwthated
In value. Hoop and nails are ego without clung. 090110 nail rod
has been disposed of at to. 47 per eandy„whicit is anednaceon former
rates Of M. 2 at 3 per candy. For rotund lull red, es. 43 per ma. miaow
offered. In Npelter, we are informed of a sale of 3,000 cwt., at to, 11
per cwt., being I rupee below tut quotation. The stooks of Copper
on hand are very light, but this giraffe attracts little or no attention,
and prices may be old to have onalergont •diebt dedlne• Thekdath
made for Haub Amen= (select parcels), are not above to. 43 Oa 49
per cwt an for inferior slake considerably kw; but we beer of no
Wes.
COTTON MANVPARCAT, —The Men for piece goods ham, gene-
rally, ruled lower then they mere, but the &mums the part of
holders has prevented any resider-line. No demand can be said to
old for any particular kind of &brio in the pruent depressed state
of lie market. Grey domestics 43 tot.o in., continue to be Nile-
able, but ao not owe than restive m Low grey ,Inthoorts and
Mt:Jun.:lams bus been sold to some extent, loot at mieemMe pekes.
We also Ite.:r of • luge fele of 45 in. grey ebirlings at ra 3-7.0 to
6411_0. tappets. end indeed almoet every decriP AncY
inn* in, Quito negleet.d.
Corrnm VAape.—The market for Twist la extremely dull. Nos. 90
and 30 Mule are ingnlred (or, but eta roduetk.n of I to I sr= per lb.