The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-28 00:00:00

INDIA.

The Mahommedan community of Madras gave a
farewell entertainment to Sir William Denison on
the 24th March. The Madras Athena iim of the
28th March says the entertainment was of a kind
such as was never before given by the Mahommedan
community "to any authority in Madras." A
highly flattering address presented to his excellency
on the occasion concluded in the following terms :

Your excellency has manifested much kindneu and con-
sideration to the several members of our community who
have had occasion to come before your excellency. Unfor-
tunately for us, notwithstanding that we are loyal subjects
of the British crown, we have always been looked at
through the distorting medium of a political light, and con-
sequently those in authority have been slow to extend to
us their countenance and support. But with your excel-
lency it has been otherwise. Your excellency has been
above such narrow prejudices, and your excellency has even
done us the honour of giving us the means of representa-
tion in your legislative council; and it cannot be denied
that your excellency. has the afforded an object
of praiseworthy ambition to the leading and noble members
of our community, and given them the means of rendering
themselves useful to their community in particular anti
the country in general. For this, we beg to tender to your
excellency our most grateful thanks. That your excellency
has had at heart the real interests of the people is evidenced
by many of your excellency's acts, but by none so palpably
as the formation of the model farm at Sydapett, and the in-
troduction and exhibition of improved European agricul-
tural implements. During the various dynasties which
have ruled over India under its own native princes,
under its Mahommedan conquerors and its British
rulers, this one great original feature has re-
mained unchanged, viz., the attachment of the
people to the soil, and their reliance on it for their chief
support. The tributes laid upon the people have chiefly
been met from the produce of the soil, and the main
source of revenue under every dynasty, Hinder), Mahom-
medan, or British, has been the land tax. To this the
people have always willingly submitted, and this they have
always cheerfully paid. Your excellency has therefore
manifested true statesmanship in teaching and encourag-
ing the people to increase the productive resources of
the soil, and they cannot be too thankful for the
impetus that has been given them in this direction.
Your excellency's name will long be associated
with the improvements in agricultural pursuits in
this presidency. It is greatly to be regretted, indeed
it is a misfortune, that men of your excellency's character,
disposition, and capabilities are permitted to be connected
with the government of this country for so limited a pe-
riod, and that they are called away laefore they can elect
all the good they desire. A life tame would not suffice to
erect all the good that can be realised, and the period of
five years is too short to mature and give completion to the
many schemes for the advantage of the people and deve-
lopment of theresources of the country which must no doubt
have presentedthemselvesto a philanthropic mind like that
of your excellency. But it must be confessed that your
excellency has done your best under the circumstances,
and acquitted yourself with honour to yourself and nation
and benefit to the people and country. And now we bid
your excellency farewell ; but while we do so with the
most profound regret, we heartily wish you the enjoyment
in your native land of all that satisfaction and comfort
which he must enjoy who has been true, just, and honest
in the performance of public duties and the practice of
private virtues ; and we trust that your excellency will
receive on your return to England, at the hands of her
Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, a suitable recognition of
, your services, which they so richly deserve.—We beg to
, remain, with the utmost reepect, your excellency's most
obedient servants, AMUR Oon DOWLAH DAHADOOH, anti
some 3,000 others.
TM Excellency replied as under :
My Friends.—On the eve of my departure from this
country, it is I confess a very great pleasure to me to find,
that the mode in which I have administered the govern-
ment of this presidency during the last five years has been
such as to merit the commendation bestowed upon it, in
the address which you have just read. I feel quite certain
that I have but carried into effect the wishes of her
Majesty the Queen, in maintaining, without reference to
creed or caste, that perfect equality before the law
of all classes of her subjects in India, and I can-
not but think that the Mahommedan population
must have misjudged the conduct of nay prede-
cessors, who I feel certain were actuated by the same
principles which have guided me, though they may not
have had similar opportunities of exhibiting them in ac-
tion. lam glad to find that you appreciate the efforts I
have made to improve the character of the agriculture of
this presidency. As two-thirds of the population are di-
rectly or indirectly engaged in agricultural pursuits, any
improvement, however trifling, in the various processes
which may lessen the amount of labour expended
upon these will have a very marked effect upon
the productiveness of the country ; and I trust that
a conviction of this will induce many to turn
their attention towards the development of the many
sources of wealth which this country presents. I thank
you heartily for your good wishes. I look back to the
five years which I have passed in India with feelings of
great satisfaction, and these feelings are naturally enhanced
by your assurance that in the performance of my duty to
the best of my ability, I have had the good fortune to
establish a claim to your sympathies and kindly feelings.
I need hardly say that I shall rejoice to hear that pro-
sperity, the sure reward of peace and industry, continues
to prevail throughout the length and breadth of the land,
and that in such prosperity the Mahommedan portion of
the population ham a full and overflowing share.
In speaking of this address the Madras Athena ran
says:
There was one passage, alluding to the mistrust and dis-
couragement that Mahommedans had experienced at the
hands of former governors, for political reasons, which
would better have been omitted. Sir William felt it
incumbent on him to refer specially to this, and to assure
his hearers and their co-religionists outside, that the
motives and acts of his predecessors had beer, misunder-
stood. The address otherwise commands entire
approval, and particularly that part of it in which
the framers deplore the practice of frequent changes
in the government, which deprive the Indian
presidencies of their rulers just when they have
gained such an amount of acquaintance v. ith the coun-
try, its inhabitants, and its affairs, as would render
the continuance of their administnition infinitely more be-
neficial than it can be during their few years of learning
how best to perform the duties of their high and most re-
sponsible office. It is not to be doubted that if Sir W.
Denison were to remain three or four more years among
us, with sufficient liberty to carry out his plans, he would
do far more for the good of these provinces and Madras
than he has ever yet ventured to attempt ; but we lone him
at the very time when he could render us the greatest
amount of service, and when he commands our best
esteem and confidence.