The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-15 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

We (Times) have received our private correspon-
dence and file of papers from Calcutta of the 4th of
July, and:Bombay, the 11th of July.
Our galentta correspondent writes as follows :
" CALCUTTA, July 4.
" I am happy to be able to state that Lord Dal
housie, who has never written satisfactorily regard.
ing his health since he went to Ootacamund, at
length informs his friends in Calcutta that it is de-
cidedly improved, and that he is better than he has
been for the last ten months. He has no intention
to modify the arrangements which he made when
he left us, and still determines to return to Cal-
cutta by the last week of November, and embark
for England as soon as he has made over charge of
the Government to his successor.
" The Five per Cent. Loan is closed. Some
trifling subscriptions may remain to be received at
Madras and in the north-west, but the loan is vir-
tually closed, and amid universal regrets. There
is a strong disposition in human nature to do
everything at the eleventh hour ; and of this the
progress of the Five per Cent. Loan affords a very
apt illustration. When it was first announced the
public appeared to receive it with repugnance,
owing to the depressions of the Four (17 per
cent.), and for many weeks we heard nothing
but abuse of the Five per Cents. The money
came in very slowly and in small driblets. At
length there appeared some prospect, or there was
some rumour, at Bombay, that the much-abused
loan was filling rapidly, and it is said that 350,0001.
were deposited in four days, and the doors of the
Treasury were suddenly closed, although it is
affirmed that people were waiting without with
another million on their shoulders. It was now
that the advantage of the electric telegraph became
apparent. The wire flashed the news to Calcutta
that the Bombay loan was filled. It flew through
the town, and every one hastened with his surplus
cash to the Treasury. One insurance office sent
in 100,0001. The loan was filled up in two days,
and on the third applicants were sent away in dis-
gust, and the new stock rose to a premium of two
per cent.
"Every preparation has been made to give eclat
to the mission which Major Phayre is about to un-
dertake to Ava, to return the compliment which,
the King paid to us in sending an embassy to Cal-
cutta last winter. It is said that the presents which
are to be laid at the golden feet are of the most
superb description, and that the cost of them will
fall little short of 30,000/. Major Phayre pro-
ceeds as our Envoy, with Captain Yule, a very
eminent engineer officer, as his Secretary. Captain
Rennie, of the Indian navy, who accompanies the
mission, with Lieut. Heathcote as his assistant,
will survey the Irrawaddy and report on its na-
vigation. Major Allen, of the Madras service,
will report on military matters. Dr. Forsyth
will make observations and furnish a report
on the physical geography of the country. Pro-
fessor Oldham, who has been directed to juin
the mission, will report on the geological features,
military resources, and coal mines of that region,
and Mr. Grant, an eminent artist, will take
sketches of the most interesting objects and locali-
ties. The mission will be, in every respect, com-
plete, and we shall probably have a more correct
knowledge of the coun try on the Upper Irrawaddy
than we have of many provinces which have been
half a century in our own possession. It is exactly
in keeping with Lord Dalhousie's character thus to

take advantage of the occasion of this complimen-
tary mission to make the most extensive surveys
and researches in a country with which, even
against our will, we shall probably have so much
to do in future.

" The last despatch received from the East India
Railway Company in London has thrown a wet
blanket over our expectations. We were indulging
the hope of having the entire line from Calcutta to
Delhi open in three years from the present time.
The great obstacles in the way were the bridges,
some eight or ten in number, but there was every
reason to hope that, by dint of extraordinary
energy, they would be completed within that
time, and we felt certain that the intermediate
lines of rail would be ready, at the same time.
But without rails and carriages we could not
of course move an inch. The directors of that
company have now written out officially to
say that they shall not be able to supply the neces-
sary quantity of rails and rolling stock for seven
years to come. The quantity of dead weight
which it will be necessary to ship in order to
complete the line to Delhi will fall little short of
250,000 tons,' and the quantity of freight now
available does not exceed 35,000 tons a year. Cal-
culating from the middle of the present year, the
whole of the amount of tonnage could not be
despatched from England before the year 1862.
Our hopes of opening the line from Calcutta to
Delhi are thus postponed for a long period, unless
indeed there is a disposition to encourage in the
most cordial and energetic manner the development
of our own mineral resources and the manufacture
of rails in this country.
" The most important
.event which the present
mail announces is the commercial treaty which
has just been concluded by Sir John Bowring with
Siam. It will not be forgotten that Sir James
Brooke some years ago proceeded to Bankok, under
orders from Downing-street, to open negotiations
with the King, but was repulsed with Asiatic in-
solence. Sir John Bowring, however, met with
the most distinguished reception, and in the course
of three weeks succeeded in concluding a treaty,
which throws open the whole of that rich country to
European enterprise. The old system of monopoly
has been abolished, and a duty of only 3 per cent. is
to be collec-ted on all articles. The heavy tonnage
duty has been abrogated, and British shipping will
enjoy the same advantages as the most favoured
nation. British subjects are to be allowed to settle
in the country, to erect dwellings, to cultivate the
soil, and to buy and sell without restriction or limi-
tation. Thus, one by one, the nations to the east-
ward of Hindostan—China, Japan, Pegu, and
Siam—are brought within the pale of civilized in-
tercourse, and thrown open to commercial enter-
prises, which will be beneficial alike to them and
to the European family.
" The report of the Madras Torture Commission
has not only been sent to England, but given to the
editors of the public journals at that Presidency.
It is said to establish the fact, which was at first,
and not unreasonably, doubted, that torture
has been employed in the collection of re-
venue, whether with or without the cognizance
of the European officers cannot be determined
but by a reference to the evidence published with
the report. lam sorry to say that I was prema-
ture in announcing to you that the Salt Report
which Sir John Pakington called for the other day
has been, completed and sent home. It is not com-
plete. The Government of India feels excessively
annoyed that so lone and unnecessary a period has