The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-27 00:00:00

INDIA.

The distress in the famine districts still remains
unabated, but the Calcutta Englishman thinks it
has probably reached its climax, and that it will
be soon alleviated by the cutting of the Aoos rice
crop. The accounts of the crops from all parts of
the country are most favourable, it adds. The
Hurkaru, after mentioning that the accounts from
Orissa continue to be of an exceedingly distressing
character, says it does not appear that the relief
administered, although large in itself, has as
yet affected the crisis to any appreciable ex-
tent. The destitute among the population of
the districts surrounding Calcutta are be-
glom (it adds) to find their way here,
but the tolerably well-to-do are also taking
advantage of the opportunity to be fed without
working for it. Our streets are becoming crovided
with %hese poo*, and as they are generally
and d.oed, there is some danger of their giving
rise to and propagating an epidemic in this crowded
city. We are glad to say that the wealthy natives
of Calcutta are generously feeding large numbers
of these afflicted people, who but for them would
in all probability have died in the gutters.
The Madras Athencewm writes in very gloomy
terra/ on the subject of the famine. It is of opinion
that for some months to come there will be sad
tidings to communicate regarding the state of affairs
in India. Painful as was the ruin caused by the
recent financial disorder, it bore reference only to
limited classes of society,whereas the calamity that
now overshadows the land affect. more or lees
the entire population, and is, in fact, a matter of
life seri death to the great bulk of them, who have
no resources to fall back on when the fruits of the
earth fail, owing to drought long continued or a
succession of bad seasons.

Referring to the steps that have been taken to
meet the calamity, the Athenannt says :
The supreme authorities in this country seam to be
arousing themselves to a perception of the magnitude
of the catastrophe which has to be met, though
it cannot be averted, and we are glad to say that our own
govern*, Lord Napier, is fully alive to it, and disposed to
afford 444 relief he can to the distressed provinces under
his rule. The richer members of the load community are
also coming forward to assist his efforts. A general re-
het fund recommended by his lordship, has been orga-
nised, as well as special ones for the succour of the afflicted
district of Ganjain and the town of Madras itself, and sub-
scriptions are flowing into all three, with, we rejnioe to
see, unusual liberality on the part of the affluent natives.
There was a very crowded public meeting held in Pat-
cheappah's Hall on the 21st instant, under the presidency
of the 'thief justice, and on a requisition to the sheriff
more numerously signed by leading representatives of all
races than most that we remember to have seen during 20
years t. The sum of donations on that occasion to the
gen;
tvieonlief fund,
800 ts., wziilell,tos7sth me
, taand ofwn o monthly
con Madras
fund patios present gave 7,745 n., and promised monthly.
subscriptions of bis rs. The donations to the special fund
for Ciao jam have reached the figure of 6,641 re. ; sad these
gifts are of course but an earnest of what the public will
do hereafter to help their perishing fellow-creaturn. Go-
vernment are going to contribute 20,000 n. to the general
fund, beside what they are otherwise doing in the famished
provinces. A very influential central committee was ap-
pointed at the late meeting, and local bodies of the same
kind will be formed up-country, so that the total amount
milted is certain to prove large. The Bishop of Madras
also has strongly urged his clergy to use their best
endeavours ea behalf of the philanthropic cause ; nor
must we omit to mention that the Philharmonic Society
have devoted the proceeds, 350 rupees, of a assert glee;
by the to the cause el humanity, whistle/1W the sym-
pathy of every man of right feeling. It is very Inetifying
to be able to record facts like the foregoing, but, after all,
alas ! the combined aid thus afforded will go but a small
way toward meeting tho dreadful emergency of the case,
which has not been paralleled probably by any similar
events since 1637.

The same paper says of the still unfinished trial
at Simla :
- " •

The unhappy affair between Sir William Mansfield and
Captain Jervis is dragging its slow length along at Simla,
without much credit to either party. We cannot commit
such a breach of propriety, as trying to anticipate what the
decision of the court-martial would be, but may simply
observe that both parties have compromised themselves
by lose of temper and mutual recriminations, and that
the higher has painfully sacrificed the dignity of his posi-
tion, whatever eventual issue may be, while the court
have held their own place admirably, considering that
they had to deal with his Excellency the Commander-
in-Chief, nominally as a witness for the defence, but
virtually as a defendant of his own proceedings against
his former friend and aide-de-camp.
From Central Asia or Affghanistan there is no
trustworthy news of importance. Great uneasiness
is said to prevail on our Peshawur frontier. Re-
ports were current of the capture of Bokhara by
the Russians.
The Calcutta Englishman, referring to the
appointment of Lord Cranborne to the Secretary-
ship of State for India, says it is on the whole
favourably viewed in Calcutta, though too little is
known of that statesman's antecedents for the
public to form a very decided opinion on the subject.