The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-09 00:00:00

ASSOCIATION OF CALCUTTA,

A deputation of gentlemen connected with the
London breach of the Landholders' Aware:intim of Calcutta
waited on the Hon. Samuel Laing ou the sth instant. Mr.
D. Mackinlay, the chairman, read an address, congratulat.
ing the hon. gentleman on the reostahlialiment of his health,
and expressing a confidential hope that ere ho returned from
Calcutta, Indian finance would be placed on a sound foot-
ing. The association recognised the great benefit the in.
teresta of India had received from the information the hon.
gentleman had imparted to the home public, and hoped that
his exertions would be successful in securing a sound con-
tract law. Allusion was made to his speech at Man-
chester on the 19th September, and he was thanked
especially for tho testimony he bore on behalf of the
indigo planters of Bengal. Regret was expressed that
class animosity should rage as it does in 'Calcutta, and it
was hoped that through his influence a better state of things
would woo prevail.
After the address was reed conversation ensued on the
present position of the British settlers in Bengal ; on the
contract law, waste lands, encouragement to settlers, kc.
The hon. gentleman expressed himself generally favourable
regarding the points discussed. He said that ho had felt it
a duty to endeavour to correct the extraordinary niisunder.
standings which existed in England regarding the character
of the indigo planters of Lower Bengal ; that sa regards
the contract kw, and encouragement to British settlers,
he quite agreed with the deputation as to the
importance of the subject, and hoped that a prac-
tical and summary remedy for breach of contract would
soon be provided. Upon this point, when he reached Cal-
cutta, he should be most happy to receive any practical
suggestions from members of the association. As to waste
lands, Ise believed that the principle of selling such lands
on a feeeimple tenure was conceded, and it only remained
to fix the detailed conditions on which such sales should be
made. He could not enter upon details now, but could only
say that he was heartily in favour of encouragement to
British settlement, and could promise that his influence
should be used in promotiug any measures for that ob-
ject consistent with the just rights of the native
population, and in removing any obstructions, from
whatever quarter they might proceed. As regards the
large question which had been raised as to the
policy of the Bengal government, and whether a province
like Beupl, which contained such important interests both
European and native, should not be locally governed, like
Madras and Bombay, by a statesman selected from England
and free from local bias—that was • question fairly open
for discussion, but upon which they could hardly expect him
to enter, or express an opinion. The deputation were
highly gratified at the reception they received
from the boo. gentleman, and at the candid and
friendly manner in which he expressed his sentiniente. It
was regretted by the deputation that, their number was not
greater, but it was explained that many had left for India
by late steamers, and that indeed most of three present
were about leaving, to recover what was possible from the
wreck of their properties.

The Madrid journals state that the Queen of
Spain had caused the Prioress Dona Concepcion, whose
illness has been announced, to be treated according to the
homeopathic system. Not fewer than eightpeiglit Christian
names were conferred on the son of the Infante Don
&bastion, in his recent baptism.

The King of Prussia was born on the 22nd March,
1797, and is consequently 64 years and six months old.
The Hamburg journals announce the death, in
that city, of a retinal professor of the Naval School, of the
name of Hilfliog, at the advanced age of 86. In 1792 he
was present at the masked ball in the Opera•house in
Stockholm, at which Gustavus 111. was asmasituited, and
in the following year he arrived in Yetis the day after the
execution of Louis XVI.

Oaf ignani says :—" The celebrated Boulfd, said
to be entirely recovered, all lovers of the drama will learn
with pleasure is engaged at the Gymniiae, and will shortly
appear in one of his most renowned parte—Michel Perrin."
Verdi has just put the concluding finish to anew
opera, the title of which is The Force of Destiny.
We learn from Italy that at Naples tho manager
of San Carlo had `•thrown up his book." At La Scalu, Milan,
Madame Colson, a French prima donna, has been singing in
Don Pasquale. At Florence, we read, Madame Vera-
Lorini, in the Giuditta of Signor Pen, has been received
enthusiastically. The above Giuditta and Signor Peri's
ViStore Pisani, too figure in the programme for the winter
of the IWian opera at Madrid.

Mlle. Patti and the Sisters Marehisio are to sing
in Italian opera at Berlin during the winter.
The opening of the Italian opera at St. Peters-
burg has been retarded by the death of M. C 41104, the
atsuAger. _ _

It is announced that Rossini has recently con-
sented to give the public his latest production, called Titan.
"It is s magnificent vocal morceau," says Gulignani,
" which has been known some time in select private
musical circles, having been written by the great niacsf ru
fur a particular friend, for whose grand bass voice it is
especially adapted, sod whose execution of it is well
worthy the noble composition. Rossini has lately in-
strumented it for a full orchestra with all the virre of
his early genius."
_ _

M. i;ar tiler Pagbs, who is now in Path, has
lately visited the national theatre at Buda, where he was
given an ovation. Hardly hail the distinguished French-
man entered the box engaged fur him when the whole
house rose to welcome him, and the orchestra played in
honour of him the "Marseillsise Hymn," which the singers
all sang upon the stage, the audience joining in the chorus.
A controversy is being carried on between two of
the scientific periodicals of St. Petersburg, the ✓ournaf dm
and the Gazelle de ednufronif, as to the manner in
which the mines of Russia are worked. The Gazette strongly
condemns the system by which the government tskes the
direction of most of the mining works in the country ; it
contend. that the official system only insures a loss, and
insists on the necessity of transferring this br.inch of in.
dustry to private enterprise, or to the management of
joint-stock companies.
The Mannheim Journal states that among the
students who have arrived in that town to aural the
winter course of lectures at the University are • great m►ny
Poles, about thirty of whom wear their national costume.
Several of them young men come from Wartaw, and have,
it is thought, been sent from that city by their parents to
keep than out of political agitation.
Advioes from Baden state that thu vintage has
commenced in the neighbourhood of that town, both in the
plain and on the mountain. The grapes are in general un-
usually ripe and sweet, but regret is expressed that, in
consequence of the great number of insects which attack
them, they could not be left on the vines a few days
longer. _ . _

-
The Lelependance Beige recapitulates the con-
deniustions which have been pronounced in France alba
Belgium from 1859 up to the present time—that is, in less
than two years—on priests and members of orders, for
adultery, criminal assaults on boys and girls, abduction,
arson, cutting and wounding, swindling, and other crimes
and offences, and the total is furl Ore