The Express.
London, England, 1856-06-30 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.
- -
THE OVERLAND MAIL.

We have received our despatches in anticipation
of the overland mail The dates are—Calcutta, 31st
17 ; Bombay, 27 ; Hong Kong, 10 ; Shanghai, 2.
The Bombay Times, of May 27, says The
mat important topic at this season of the year 4
the state of the weather. We have almost entirely
escaped the scarcity of food at one time apprehen
and the sufferings from the deficiencies in our sup.
plies of water, much more mild than was &anti.
pated, are now nearly over. Long before thin
reaches England we shall have as much rain la
would be deemed an ample supply in the North of
Europe for a year.
" Several slight disturbances, such as are taunt'
in the hot weather, have within the pad fortnight
occurred in the Bengal and Madras presidencies. The
Sandals are once more occasioning trouble, ag
apprehensions are entertained that during the
approaching rains they may give annoyance to tits
surrounding villagers; no reason is given for thin
fresh appearance of disaffection.
" There have been some commotion. amongst the
Moplahs in Malabar, when, to avoid the risk of the
prison containing the rirgleaders being broken into
with a view to their rescue, the Auaye was sect
from Bombay to Oalicut to take them quietly aa
board and carry them down to Madras. Her pr sense
at the presidency WAS fortunate, disturbance. having
occurred to the northward of Vizigapatarn, partici.
lan of which have not as yet transpired. A con.
siderable force was ordered to the spot, and the ate.
vices of the steamer put in requisition u a transport.
With these exception, none of which seem impor.
tent, India generally is tranquil.
"There seems a feverish excitement at present
amoogst the chiefs all over India on the subject of
annexation, occasioned by the' late cases of Nsgpon
and Oade, and this might be salutary if it did no
more than frighten bad governments out of their
miscouducts.

"In Otide all is quiet. Mr. Coverly Jackson, of
the Re Sadder Board, Agra, has been appointed
to act for Sir James Ontrem as chief commissioner,
and mane charge on the Bth of May. The ex-King
has arrived at Calcutta, but it remains to be seen
whether be will proceed further on hie way to Bug-
, land. A letter has lately been published from tbe
1 Marquis of Dalhousie to the King of Oade, a treas.
'slim of which has been furnished to the press by
Captain Wilberforce Bird, and has supplied food for
no end of bitter comment.

"The King of Ave is eaid to have deputed Marc
Kincaid and Dawson, American missionariee, on an
eaabaisy to the President of the United States, with
a view et establishing a friendly feeling between the
two courts.

"It has just been intimated that the greatest jea-
lousy has been expressed by the supreme goveni.
meat, of the construction of great public works in
India through the intervention of private enterprise
and capital. Twenty months ago, a company for
cutting canals of irrigation in Western India was
projected at Bombay, with a capital of half a million
sterling, the whole of which was almost immediately
applied for on the spot. So soon as the deposits were
collected government was applied to as to the terms
to be conceded, it being distinctly explained
that no interference whatever was contem-
plated with the revenue arrangements, and that
though no usistanee was asked tor, success was only
expected through the cordial good understanding be.
twixt government and the copartnery, based on great
natural advantages. Eight months having been
required for reference and consultation with the local
officials throughout the presidency, the revenue con.
missioners ultimately recommended that the most
cordial assistance should be given to the project, the
whole difference betwixt the rent of watered and
nawatered land being assured them for a century,
the public officers undertaking the custody
of the canals and collection of the revenue
at a charge of 25 per cent. At the very time the
chairman of the Board of Control is showing the in.
capacity of government for carrying out with eu&•
Meet speed the works all allow to be most desirable,
the supreme government steps in to prevent private
parties from undertaking that which they themselves
cannot accomplish, and which others are willing to
attempt.
" Colonel Jacob, acting commissioner in Slade, has
just intimated by proclamation that forced labour was
from henceforth to be discontinued in the province,
every man to work or not as it best pleased him, and
on such terms alone as he deemed desirable. Hitherto
throughout Binds the public works were oonstructsd
by forced labour. This state of things still coctinoss
in the Madras Presidency, handed down from time
immemorial, and which hitherto has passed almost
uneodeed. The juncture has probably been 'Mud
on for its abolition in Mode of the approaching
commence ent of the railway operation betwixt
Kurrachee and Hydrabad."
In the Madras elthenaum, of May 24, we read :
la war summary of the na-s of the peat fortnight em
give precedent:ea to the affairs of Madras, and undoubtedly
tho„Umet important subject that has attracted attention
is the sta►page of all ►ublic works not yet cow
mimed, except such as are considered of an tritest
oaten. The goverameat of India do not seem to cm.
alder the opening of the Godavery to belong to this elms,
sad ectoomasotly that most beneficial undertaking, whisk
has boas proved to be quite practierhie, and which would
lead to ineetimable regular, Is shelved, not only for the prs-
mat, but in all probability for a loop time to come. The
wake in the Parjab and in the North West Proeiner 'bare
also been stoppen, and the came as igned is want of fends.
Instituted in °bathetic, to pressure from view, under-
takes without tontemplatiag toe cast, they ars now sham
dosed, sad the little teat bar been done wi l be worse than
melees. The idea of providing for public works out of cornet
revenue, in place of opening a large loan for that ramose,
boa • per with Idr. Gladatona's infirmly foolish notion of
carrying on the Russian war without borrowing to makeup
foe the entre expenditure. No other ember; man that now
mentioned could have bees anticipated, and unless the
government of India adopt Colonel Coalu'e plan—col-
striating public works by means of borrowed money—the
resources of the country will be left to der, lop themselves.
and it requires no prophet to foretell that the result of that
coarse will be to atonally increase the increasing yearly de-
ficiency in the revenue.
Siam Lord Canning's 'remotion of the supreme pewee
in India little has been heard of hie prom editing. Of COW!
Isis lordship has been making himself acquainted with has
new duties, and this abysms of any is, sr ter. gaol news,
for it mar indicate a desire to learn before acting.
The Governor-Oenerel appears retro:lly to be securing
the respect and good opinion of those around him, end
though wisely fora time declicirg tt make himiel unduly
prominent with so much to learn, the coov:ciion seems ge-
neral that his administration is &mite,' to be a distinguished
one—this certainly not having been the impression at the
time of his nomination. Lords II orris and Elphinotons are
at the seats of their respeetlve government..
market
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dome, but priers nave unproved, and the pretojee:a of the
approaching seasoa are 'sooting tag.
The CO*.tril market has been 'bettor, sad prices have ad-
vanced. Freights have (bell emsidcrahly.