The Express.
London, England, 1857-03-06 00:00:00

THE STATE OP INDIA.

This morning a return to parliament was issued of
a copy of the circular of the Governor-General of ludis in
Council, dated the 28th of Feb., 1836, calling for opinions
on the reports of the Royal Commission on Judicial Esta-
blishments in India; extracts from a minute of the Lieut.-
Governor of Bengal, dated April 30, 1836, on the adminis-
tration of criminal justice, sad on the ago and
inexperience of the magistrates; and a copy of
memorial from tho missionaries to the government of
Bengal on tho mate of that provinces, with the
reply of the government. The latter memorialists, who are
twentysfive in number, include representatives of the Church
Missionary Society, Free Church of Pentland Minionary
Society, London Missionary Society, and the Baptist Mis-
sionary Society. They urge a searching inquiry into the
state of the police and the judicial slam.; the power and
influence of the semindara and planters, and how those
pewees are need ; the resources and earnings of
the labouring class, and the proportion which these
bear to the rent that they are compelled to pay; the hers
rassing exactions and oppressions to which the poor are
subject ; the landed tenures ; the extenaion of the ode of
ardent spirits and intoxicating drugs among a people once
celebrated fur tluir temperance; the actual extent to which
education is provided for tho manes, and the best Maas of
alleviating the sufferings and elevating the condition of the
Peoples
Tho following is the reply of the government :
" Council Chamber, Nov. 11, 1856.
Sir,—l am directed by the Governor-Get:Lend in council
to arknowleder the receipt of your letter, No. 1,336, dated
the 17th of September, forwarding a memorial from certain
reverend Christian missionaries residing in and near Calcutta,
in which it is prayed that the government will keen n com-
mission:it° inquire into the condition of the people of Indite
and the means of improving it.
" With this memorial you have also submitted a minute
by the Lieutenant-Governor, in which his honobr has re-
corded hie reasons for defining to support the proposal.
" Your subsequent letter, No. 1,368, dated the 27th of
September, forwards a petition from the committee of the
British Indian Association, requesting that the Foyer of the
memorial of the nriar!onaries may be acceded to.
"The Croventer-General in council has read and deliber-
ated upon these documents, with the cart and attention due
to the importance of the subjects they treat of, and to the
excellent and earnest men by whom the memorial hue been
I presented; and he luta arrived at the conclusion that the
course recommended by the raemorialiete, while likely to give
rise to very eerioua cease would fail to secure or forward in
1 any degree the end at which the government no less than the

emoaialiatr sins, tamely, tho nwnl and social iroproven

of the people.
"I eat directed, therefore, to request that, with the per-
mission of the Licratenant-Governor, you will inform the
reverend missionaries and the committee of the British Indian
eteaciciati,u that his lordship in council, concurring in the
views recorded in he: honour's minute, cannot consent to the
appointment of a comnsisaiun fur the purposes indicated in
the memorial.
"The subject will be reported for the information of the
home authorities by the next mail.—l have, fcc.,
"(Signed) C. Druncin,
" Secretary to the Government of India.
" From C. Deaden, Esq., secretary to the government of
India, to W. Grey, Esq., secretary to the government of
Bengal."