The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-27 00:00:00

THE CALCUTTA MAIL.

We have received papers from Calcutta to March
22, and from Madras to March 28.

The Viceroy's progress is drawing to a close. He
has, we (Madras A thenaeum) believe, held his last
durbar, and will now, after a short rest at Simla, re-
turn to the seat of government at Calcutta, where,
it is likewise mentioned, he will be joined by the
commander-in-chief, Lord Clyde. The viceroy's
last display but one was at Peshawur, where he
delivered a most emphatic speech to the chiefs and
principal native residents who had been summoned
to meet hint. After the usual cerem&ies had been
gone through, his excellency bestowed on Khoja
Mahomed Khan, Raio of Khutak, the title of
Khan Bahadur for his services during the rebel-
lion, and then addressed the assembly in the fel-
-1 lowing words :
Khans of the Peshawur Division,—l have summoned
yen to meet me here that I may thank you for
year loyalty and good service to the state. t see
amen you many who have voluntarily taken arms in the
Queen's Indian army, and many who, unable by age or
infirmity to do so in person, have sent their icons and
dependents to strengthen its ranks during the
contest which was lately raging in Hindostan.
I see others who have heartily aided the civil government
in maintaining enter in that division of the empire during
the time of excitement and trouble Peace is now restoryl
to every corner of India, and it is a pleasure to me to thank
you in the Queen's name for the share which you have had
in the good work. Khans -As the chiefs of this country von
are the advanced guard of the British power on this side of
India. Yon have for neighbours, restless, warlike,and unruly
tribe., who have too often done violence to the lives of
British subjects and to the authority of the government.
Quite recently some of these men have learned, not fur the
first time, how swift and sharpcan be the punishment of those
who so offend. I now charge you in your intercourse with
them to warn them that the lake punishment will never fail
to overtake those who by their crimes disturb the tranquil-
lity of the frontier. Tell them that if any of then. suffer
wrong at the hand of British subjects they shall receive
prompt redress : but that peace must not be broken. They
shall have justice, but I will have peace. Khans—l look to
you as loyal chiefs to aid the government in enforcing this
rule, and in repressing violence on both sides of the border.
Ton will thereby best promote your owe prosperity and
that of your dependents, and command respect from the
subject, of the neighbouring power,
The Calcutta Esiglislsman states in an .extraor-
dinary edition that the executive of Bengal has
resolved on immediately introducing an act into
the Legislative Council to compel the fulfilment
of contracts for the cultivation of indigo
by a summary and peremptory proems. This
act, it is determined, shall be taken by the
district authorities as law from the date
of its notification. This "will not only allay
the fears of the planters, but will at once put an
end to the great injustice they have been labouring
under for some time, it will ensure the immediate
cultivation of the lauds contracted for, and if car-
ried out, as we believe it will, must sot as a real
protection to the honest ryot, who will undoubt-
edly receive the full value of his labour under its
provisions."
Bills containing all the necessary details of the
budget were to be read a first time in council on
the 24th ult., and would come into operation about
the beginning of the official year, let May next.
Mr. R. Temple, lately commissioner of Lahore, has
been for some time with Mr. Wilson in Calcutta.
He will act as Chief Counnisaiouer of Issue, when
the paper currency is fairly afloat. A short state-
ment of the nature and reasons of the new taxes
and notes has been drawn up for translation into
all the languages of India, and will be published
iu a few days. From Mr. Wilson's statement it
appears that while the duty on imported tobacco
when raw is Gd. a pound, and double that amount
on the manufactured article, the excise on the leaf
grown in India will probably not exceed a
pound. As the pure leaf is adulterated to a con-
siderable extent, the price to the consumer will be
little affected.
Dust Dlahouried, the ruler of Affghanistan, was
to have been present at the Peshawur durbar,
hold by Lord Canning, but was not. His
absence is accounted for in two ways. The first
is that the wild tribes, enraged at their black mail
having been stopped by his orders, had shut the
passes against him, so that he could not come into
the Viceroy's camp. Their object was, it ia stated,
to extort from him the arrears of black mail,
and a promise that its levy should not be interfered
with in future. "We are as little able to say,"
says the Madras Atheneum, "whether there is any
foundation for this story, as we are with regard to
the other alleged reason for the Doet's absence.
This is that three Russian generals, commanding a
force from Bokhara, threaten his dominions on one
aide, and that the governor of Herat, with a large
force of Persians and Heratees, threatens him on
the other. Indeed it is said that this lard-named
force has besieged Killah Furrah, and taken pos-
session of several of the surrounding haudeta
This account cornea to us through the Cabul cor-
respondent of the Lahore Chranick, and the events
alluded to are said to have occurred in the month
of February. Whether they have any foundation
in fact it is impossible to say, but that part which
refers to the Russian generals must at any rate be
received with a very large quantity of salt, for the
cry that the Russians are coming is always being
raised in that quarter, and is always turning out
to be a mare's nest."