The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-06 00:00:00

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

By the arrival of the above mail we have advice'
from Bombay to Nov. 13, and from Calcutta to

Nov. 7.
" The continued absence of rain in Eastern India
bas caused such a complete failure of the crops that
throughout the whole of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa
(says the Times of India) the people are on the very
verge of famine. In the north-east of Bengal alone is
there anything likes considerable crop, and there it is
very much below the average. In many places provi-
sions cannot be bad for money, and where they are
offered it is at such a price that starvation must
overtake one-half of the population unless special
relief be afforded. Had the natural advantages of
a well-watered province like Behar been turned to
good account, there might have been corn enough
and to spare, even in the season of drought, but
now Lower Bengal and Burmah must be looked to
for relief. It is to be hoped, however, that this
famine will materially hasten that great work of
irrigation, which alone can secure India from the
recurrence of such a calamity."
The Calcutta Englishman says that in one or two
districts coarse rice has been selling as high as six
and seven rupees per matted, and the greatest dis-
tress has prevailed, perhaps, in Nuddea and Cut-
tack. "It was feared (adds the /Ng/is/man) that
we were on the eve of a very severe famine, but
extreme apprehensions have now passed away, for
it is known that the crop in Eastern Bengal is a
heavy one, and will soon be pouring into the
markets of the less favoured districts. We may,
however, anticipate high prices throughout the
season."
has been
Cornet Watkins, of the 18th Hussars,
sentenced to four days' imprisonment, and fined
1,200 re. (1200 by the High Court at Madras for
assaulting the editor of the Bangalore Herald.
A fracas has taken place at Kurrachee between
Captain Bacon, her Majesty's 95th Regiment, and
Captain Grant, the Judge of Shikarpoor, ia which
the former officer abused the latter and gave him a
horsewhipping. The quarrel is said to have arisen
out of a disagreement regarding a bet.
A court-martial assembled at Umballa for the
trial of Captain Ingram, of the Public Works De-
partment, on a charge of embezzlement ; but the
captain absconded before the court sat, and he hoe
not since been heard of.
The left wing of her Majesty's 45th Regiment at
Neemuch having lost a number of men from cholera,
the g,vernment have determined that no more
European troops shall be sent to that station until
the barracks are constructed.
Cholera has again appeared among the troops at
Nusseerabad.
Kurrachee has been visited by immense swarms
of locusts. They are reported to have completely
destroyed the vegetation on many large estaten, and
more or less injured every plantation in the neigh-
-1 bourhood.
i Cattle disease is prevailing in the Madras territory,
n
ttli,

(FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE.)
THE BETROTHAL OF THE PRINCESS RELILTA.—At
the Court at %bider, the sth day of December, 1865,
present, the Queen's Most &adept Malady in Council,
her Majesty in Council was this day pleased to declare her
consent to a contract of matrimony between her Royal
Highness the Princess Helena Augusta Victoria and his
Serene Highness Prince Frederic Christian Charles Augustus
of Sieswig•Holatein Sonderburg Ausustenborg ; which con-
sent her Majesty has also caused to be signified under the
Great Brt
WarranALL, Nov. 29.—The Boys' Rome Indus-
trial School, Itepat's-park•read, in the county of Middle-
sex, has been certified by the Secretary of State as fit to
be an industrial school under the provisions of " The
Industrial Schools Act, 1861."
WHITEHALL, Nov. 29.—The certificate granted
by the committee of her Majesty's Privy Council on Educa-
tion, under the Act 20 and 21 Viet, a. 48, to the Boys'
Horns Industrial Schcol, EUStOO4Olld, in the county of
Middlesex, has been withdrawn by the Secretary of State,
l under the provisions of "The Industrial Schools Act,
1861."
CONVOCATION.—At the court at Windsor, the
sth day of December, 1865, present, the Queen's Most
Excellent Majesty in Council. It is this day ordered by
her Majesty in Council, that the Right H oorrable the
Lord High Chancellor of that part of the United Kingdom
called Great Britain do issue writs for further proroguing
the parliament, which was appointed to meet on Thursday,
the 28th day of December instant, to Thursday, the lit day
of February next ; and also for proroguing the convoca-
tions of the provinces of Canterbury and York, from Fri-
day, the 29th day of December instant, to Friday, the 2nd
day of February next.

THE ANTI-SILVERY MOVEMENT IN SPLIN.—
A public anti... Livery meatier is to be held cm the 10th
instant at Madrid. It is expiated to be a very large and
important gathering, and will be addressed by some of the
leading Spanish orators. Senor Olomp, the perliamentery
chief of the liberal party, will preside.