Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-04 00:00:00

that England has yet to do her best. As yet,
the insurrection has only extended to the Bengal
army. Still this of itself is calculated to create
uneasiness among the ruling powers that be, and
to compel the authorities bath here and in India
to calculate the power and strength of the
enemy. According to the latest and most
accurate geographical information we have upon
the subject, the superficial extent of British
India is about 700,000 square miles, and its
estimated population 130,000,000. The native
States surrounding, or in close proximity to,
British India, measures somewhere near to
80,000 square miles, and their population, it is
said, falls but little short of 200,000,000. The
grand total of the military forces of the native
prindes does not fall much short of 400,000 men
—a number which exceeds the Anglo-Indian
army at least to the extent of 100,000 fighting
men. Again, of the X 700,000 square miles of
Indian territory subjected to British sway, no
less than 444,000, are directly or indirectly under
the Presidency of Bengal ; and out of a total
population of all the territories, 80,000,000
belong to the mutinous province. Look also at
this territory and what can we find—two portions
of country lately conquered, and annexed to the
British regime—the Punjaub and the kingdom
of Oude. In all this there is much to suggest
and support the unpalatable thought that we
are fighting against a people powerful in
numbers, and trained and tutored in the arts of
British warfare.

It has been convenient for parties who wish
to treat the mutiny in India as a mere bagatelle
to assert that the matter is confined only to the
Bengal army, and that it has no sympathy from
the people. This is hardly the fact. But were
it so, it would not be any panacea for the
grievance, inasmuch as the Bengal soldiery are
not merely the military guardians of the presi-
dency, but the civil servants of the state, at
least, as far as putting in force the laws of the
country, acting as its criminal police. Hence
the annihilation of such an army is complete
destruction of the instruments by which the
behests of the civil government are carried out,
and causing all civil authority throughout the
Bengal presidency to become completely para-
lysed. Nor should we forget that the greater
portion of the. Bengal army is raised from the
Hipdoo and Mussulman population. The former
constitute the majority in the cavalry, and the
latter predominate in the infantry. It should
also be borne in mind that a large proportion of
both have been recruited from the kingdom of
Oude, and that recently we have deposed its
king. In addition to all this, we should consider
that Indian soldiers, no matter how low their
grade, are considered in their native villages
somewhat important personages, and that they
annually minglelifor lengthened periods with
their relatives and friends. On the other hand,
the English population in India is of the most
fractional character. They are acquainted most
imperfectly with the manners,customs -- ell
language of tile natives ; but the native soldiery
is part and parcel of the native population.

If we consider and deliberate with calmness
upon these facts, we cannot fail to perceive that
the Indian mutiny has both a social and civil
import, much greater than we could attach to a
similar movement at home. It must have had
some effect upon the loyalty of the innumerable
native officials who are connected with the several
administrations and courts of justice in the Pre-
sidency. On this point we have some slight
evidence to justify us in thinking that the people
at large are infected with a desire to banish the
royal standard of England from the soil of India,
from the fact that what appears a silly and incon-
siderate crusade has been commenced against
the press, by insisting upon a vexatious system
of license.

We observe that the leading journal labours
hard to induce the belief that the masses of
India are neither sharers nor sympathisers in the
revolt; hut we fail to detect in his remarks
either facts or figures. All is assertion, built
upon mere conjecture. That a deep-rooted
antipathy against British rule in India prevails
among the Hindoo population, there cannot be
a doubt. British artillery, muskets, bayonets,
and sabres will not convince them that our rule
is for their good; and while seeking to make new
conquests, let us not forget that, as conquerors,
we owe a duty to those whom we hold in sub-
j ug-a tion.

We make these remarks for the purpose of
pointing out the duty of the Government, not
only as regards the present, but future Govern-
ment. We have before us every hope of success,
but that hope should not allow us to be over-
confident, and delay making all due. preparation
before it is too late.

TORONTO CORRESPONDENCE.

THE CANADIAN RAILWAY SYSTEM.

The Trunk Railway' System of Canaria, with an uniform
gauge of 51%. 6i0., is undoubtedly the most comprehensive
system of railw-zy extant. It is protected from injurious
local railway competition., for nearly its entire length, by.
natural canses, embracing the traalc of a region extending
in one direct line from Quebec and Porlaad to Lake
Huron. At Portland it conncts with the system of rai!-
ways reaching eastward towards the province. of
Brunswick, as well as southward by lives to Basta and
Now York. -From Quelrc it runs westivard to Montreal,
givigd?rect access to this the groat commercial city of
; thence proceeding on to Prescott, it connects
'wit'h the tributary line from Ottawa ; at Kingston it
connects with the Rideau Canal ; from thence to Toronto
it connects with the fertile country north of Lake Oatario,
through lines already made and in progress, all tributary
to the main trunk. At Toronto the Lake Simcoe and
Huron line to Col:ingwood (one hundred miles)
contributes the 'traffic of' 'the region around Lake