The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-19 00:00:00

INDIA AND PERSIA.

We have received our despatches in anticipation
'of the Overland Mail. The 'dates are :_Bombay,
April 16 ; Calcutta, April 9 ; Madras, April 15 ;
Galls, April 19 ; Hong K mg, March 29•
The summary of the Bombay Times contains
Copious derails of the proceedings in the Persian
Gulf, but the intelligence is not of later date than
that communicated in thef telegraphic despatches

gi"n on Saturday last.
The deaths of General Stalker and Commodore
Ethersey are plainly attributable, says the Bombay
,
Times to identical causes, remote and-immediate.

'Both men should have been in Europe on sick
leave, instead of directing operations in the Gulf.
in each instance the nervous system was evidently
shattered by the climate, and (pito unequal to
etrcounter, except under the influence of
`mama strong excitement, the extraordinary
Iresponsibility thrust upon it. For some
days prior to the 1411 ultimo, on whinh
the unhappy general destroyed himself, it was
observed that he was unusually depressed, and it

is generally believed that recent henvy pecuniary
lot-s...ss had come to supplement the harassing
responsibilities of .his position, and destroy the
energies already undermined by disease; and
fainting under an exaggerated estimate tat what

was r quired from him. It was determined
that he should command at Bushire, in the
absence of General Outram, who would con.
duet the operations against Mohamtnotah, and
he seems to have imagined that the force to
be left at his disposal was inadequate to the
service. There not the shadow of a suspicon that

any unpleasantness occurred between him and
General Outram, a friendship the most chivalric-
and ardent subsisting between them. They break
fasted together, in the company of the staff, on the
morning of his death, and no one observed
air! titeration in his manner. He rose from

the table, -and having called upon severld
of his staff, all .of whom unhappily Were out,
proceeded to his own, tent, where a pistol
shot was heard_ ten minutes afterwards, and

the unhappy general v►as found in the agony of
death. Several, of- the witnesses testify to his

nervous and undue apprehension for the health of
the troops during the approaching hot weather.
Certain it is, the meniand officers loved the gallant
nld man, who thus cared for them with no ordinary
love, and his memory saddens every heart. It is
'hut right to add that ono of the witnesses, Colonel
Lugard, asserts hia attong belief that the explosion
of the pistol WAS accidental. The verdict, however,
determined that the general destroyed himself in a
t of temporary insanity.
" The gloom that was cast over the camp by
this melancholy event, was to be deepened erelong
by another equally, if not more painful. On the
morning of the 16th ultimo, two days after the
death of Stalker, a rumour spread through lamp
that the Commodore of the Navy, Captain Ether-
sey, had destroyed himself in the night, and but
too well founded was it. It had been matter of
remark for some time that the Commodore, a
most able end talented man, was suit,ring from
mental excitement of no ordinary kind, sua It
is much to be regretted that a too nice tense
,of honour should have kept him with the force
when his state evidently demanded that he should
invalid for a time. On the night of his death he

had been poring over despatches recently received
from Sir 11. Leeke, and a memorial to the govern•
ment of Bombay lay beside them on his dressing
labit'. It would seem that, tired and confused,
:sick and in eeseair, he at last placed the pistol at
his head and destroyed himself. These despatches
.and that memorial were sprinkled with his blood,
but if we are to believe the government account of
the inquest, none of these doctunents were looked
into, to find the cause of that madness which they
agreed had led to the act."
At the inquest on the body of Commodore
Ethersey the following memoranda, found in his
diary, were put in :
Dated January 22nd,1857, Thursday.
"My poor head is sadly confwed ; I have frequent
dreadful nervous attacks at times,"
Dated 11th March, 1857, Wednesday.
r Had a bad night last night."
Dated 12th March, 1857, Thursday.
" I feel more and more my unfitness to command. I
am broken down—my head gone, and the terrible respon.
eibility, I shall make mess of it. —(sic in orig )
Dated 14th March, 1857, Saturday.
"Heard of poor Stalker's melancholy death: His case
is similar to my own. He felt he was unequal to the
respnnsibility imposed on him—(a black line intervenes
then). I have had a wretched night."
Dated 16th March, 1857, Monday.
" A bad night—took opium, bat the dose was too large
made me very ill for some hours. Hugh Lindsay anti
Napier started'for river; it promised to be calm, but three
hours after she left, it set in furious from the southward
and sonth-eastward. I feel for the little vessel, and that
it will be the first mishap of this wearisome expedition."
These extracts end his diary. His death tc.ok Place en
the following day. An unfinished paper sufficiently ex-
hibits his failing condition. This was found in his diary
—"I feel that I am utieryn.,l to the responsibility of con-
dus!ing the present large fl,et. My head is gone. I have
btu longer any confidence in my own judgment—have lost
ell energy, and act entirely upon the suggestions of those
around me. I am dreadfully nervous, and the slightest
occurrence agitates me, more especially (sic in orig.) to a
degree that renders ma incapable of acting, or of prompt
action. Anything that gor,s wrong for which lam respon-
eible, (Fite unnerves me for a time."
The verdict was, "The court, after deliberation,
is of opinion that the late Commodore Kthersey
destroyed himself with his own hand, whilst suf-
fering under mental aberration, brought about by
long continued anxieties connected with the duties
• of his command ;" and in General Stalker's case—
" The court having maturely weighed and con-
sidered the whole of the evidence before them and
viewed the body, come to the opinion that the late
Major General Stalker came by his death from a
Pistol shot inflicted by his own hand in a fit of
temporary insanity."
The Bengal papers are filled with the particulars
of the mutiny of the 19 lt Regt. Native Infantry,
which has ended in the disbandment of that corps,
and the spread of disaffection to the 34th Regt.
Native Infantry.
The Governors of the Presidencies are at the
seats of their administration.
A further improvement has taken place in the
Bombay money market, and we have to report a,
further rise in 4 per cent. paper ; the business
transacted in the import market during the fort-
- might has been to a fair extent ; freights have fallen
in value and exhibit a downward tendency.

, COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
BOMBAY, April 13.
A. further improvement has taken place in our money mar-
ket during the fortnight, and the Banlo have again reduced
their rates of discount one per cent all around, which now
range from four to eight per cent ; and as bullion in quantity
has arrived and about to arrive, we are of opinion that
lop' rates of interest must rule for some time to come. We
have to report a furtber rise in four per cent paper, which
we now quote 86 and fives Far to I premium ; some few of
our local joint stock shares have also improved in value.
IMPORTS.--COTTON PIECIII GOODS : The market has un-
dergone little or no change since the date of our last report,
and the -rates continue firm. The business transacted dur-
ing the fortnight has been to a fair extent. Grey Shirtings
low, are in active enquiry ; Madaprllams are steady ; and
domestics are without any noticeable change T. cloths
and cambrics are scarce, and prices in consequence have
advanced. Grey jacconets are in steady enquiry.
BLEACHRD GOODS : In this market we hare had no
noticeable change in the course of the fortnight.
YARNS continue rather firm ; are of some sorts in better
demand ; and have advanced in prices.
MaTALs : These continue nearly firm, with one or two
exceptions
EXPORTS —COTTON Wool, : This material has further
advanced ; though the arrivals appear to be larger than
before.
OIL Szios have lately declined a little—from one to
two annas. _ _

OPIUM : This drug has improved in value, owing to the
smallness of the stock and other causes. We quote at
Indore as Rs. 1.060 and Mandlesir at Rs. 1070 per chest.
The steamer Pekin, which starts this day for the Chinese
pDrts take.; above eleven hundred. chests on b ard.
TONNAGE : Freights have gone down in value, and still
Pxhibit a downward tendency. We quote London at 12
15s to £3, and Liverpool at £2 12s 6d to £2 17s.
EXCHANGE : Two banks have been drawing for this
steamer at 23 lid six months' sight, China drawn bills

fetching 2s 1 11-16thd to 2s lid, and local bills and docu-
ments, 23 lid to 23 lid. On Calcutta. sight, Rs. 100 a. On
China, sixty days' sight, Be. 220. On Madras, thirty days'
sight, Rs. 09k.

CALCUTTA, AiMIL 8.

In our PRODrCE market, transactions duritix the furl
night under review have not been ti t....1i4; client—cot
that a good demand doe's not Oast for our leading aricles,
but owing to the rather large advance in freigh!s, and the
still higher prices of produce, which have ruled since our
last rep :rt. Those articles, however, n hich are not much
affected by the advance in freights, have continued iri brisk
inquiry, more especially as our r xchange has aSsitnied a
downward to dency. Very little has been done in indigo,
of w.ich the- greater porti.m of the past season's crop h 4
already been exported. An excellent, though not general
demand has prevailed for sugar ar enh weed priceS.
A. good business has been done in saltpetre, and the mar
ket closes firmly. Raw silk continual in great &ion; but
the extraordinary high figures paid for the article renders
buyers less ganguine. In coralis, nothing has been done.
Hides continue to sell, but without any alteration in prices,
excepting indifferent qualities, which are lower. Juts in
moderate request, and not much offering in the market
liiri,e'ed is freely taken for America, but for' Great Britain
a moderate business in progress. Lae dye and shell lac
are not much dealt in.

Our (Bi PORT market, espeoially as regards British Cotton
piece goods, has scarcely shown s gns of activity. At this
time of the year, the market generally remains languid,
nor has the presentseason been en exception. Toe apprnach-
ing termination f the native year, the indifferent advices
from the 'marts in the Upper Provinces and the ac-
cumulation of many descriptions of cloth have alt
combined to restrict operations, although facili ies are
greater, owing to the improved state of the money market.
Under such circumstances, we have but a very moderate
amount of transactions to report. Metals, however, have
attracted greater attention, and under the influence of a
better demand, a firmness has been imparted to Or.- money
market, and ip many instances prices have taken as up-
ward tendency. ,
Mossy MasKirr —The improvement noticed in our
last continues unchecked, and confidence is gradually
gaining ground. On Thursday last the directors of the
flank of Bengal reduces their rates of interest and dis-
count one per cent. all round. The bank's last statement
of liabilities and assets, for the we -k ending on the Ist
inst., compared with the statement given in our last,
shorn delrea-e of cash from Ks. 89,31,190-10 to Rs
87,620,05-8-3, although the amount of Mint Certificates
has increased from Rs. 14,00,810-12-6 to Re, 41,84,4,475 -
10-4.