The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-24 00:00:00

THE SUN,

Yesterday we announced that henceforth, in
consequence of new arrangements made for
the transmission of true Greenwich time automatically
from the Royal Observatory by Electric Telegraph—
every day at noon, and at four P.M. a singe heat or
deflection of the telegraph needle is visible at London,
Tonbridge, Ashford, Folkstone, and Dover, which
represents Greenwich mean time. Admirable and
startling though this must appear, the innovations
certain to be brought about by the intervention of
the Submarine Telegraph Company are equally certain,
we feel satisfied, to surpass any preceding changes
hitherto thought of in the way of inter-
communication. At any rate, while it is, of course,
permissible to indulge in these wondrous day-dreams
as to the future achievements effected by
means of
some miles of copper wire, it is but reasonable for a
matter-of-fact race like the English to supply the
" sinews of war" requisite in the first instance for
the purpose of extending more and more widely the
benefits inevitably accruing to society from the de-
velopment of these electro.telegraphic communica-
tions. At present the number of telegraph stations
in Europe appears to be about 200 altogether—a
e x tendednumber which before 1853 has elapsed will
doubtless be nearly doubled, and saoolnia,nbceys a
propor-
tionate multiplication of existing appliances,
in the lapse of years to the limits of every reasonable
requirement. It seems, according to a somewhat
rational calculation very generally accepted as cor-
rect, that by the 11th of next September the contract
for the Belgian rope will be completed, so as to enable
those entrusted with the subsequent arrangements
forthwith to lay it down from Dover to the
vicinity of Ostend, at Middlekirk, when
the submarine lines will be brought into
direct communication with the general system of the
continental telegraphs. Thereupon the " beginning
of the end" of the great scheme now opening up to
the imagination becomes at once comprehensible—
insomuch that any one may reasonably anticipate the
possibility of instantaneous intercourse between the
capitals of the different countries of Christendom.
The gratitude of the public generally in the develop-
ment of this system of the Electric Telegraph is due,
of course, first of all to that science which has brought
this astonishing power of nature to light, and subse-
tluentiyt to
that enterprise which is so astoundingly
facilitating the task of its development. Nothing
satisfactory,
at the same time, can possibly be antici-
pated from this development, until such time as the
electric wires in England have been united with those
on the European continent.

News received by the last mail brings intelligence
that an important association had been formed at
Poonah, composed of the leading Mahratta Sirdars
and others, for bringing before Parliament their views
and wishes respecting the improvement of India, in
connexion with the impending discussions on the
East India Company's Charter; and that it was in-
tended to send a deputation of natives to England in
furtherance of their object. With influential heredi-
tary nobles of the •Mahratta empire were associated,
for these purposes, a number of other intelligent and
respectable natives, and amongst them some in the offi-
cial employment of the Government. We now un-
derstand that the Government of Bombay,
(rather, indeed, we should hope, some of its
indiscreet officials) have endeavoured to break up
this association by alarming such cf its members as
happen to be in its employment, and so withdrawing
from it those who would be most likely to give prac-
tical point and due form to its proceedings. The de-
vice has had some effect; and we notice it now, in
order to warn those who may attempt so unworthy
a mode of stifling the growing political opinions of the
natives of India, that their names may be brought
prominently before the public, and also before the
Committee of next session on Indian affairs, if it be
persisted in.

If these meddling officials had possessed a spark of

the true spirit in which India should be ruled, they
would have been delighted at such a proof that the
days have passed away in which Mahratta nobles
would have taken to saddle and lance for far less
weighty causes than the much needed improvements in
the government of their own country, and instead of
deterring, would have eagerly aided them in their first
entrance on so new and noble a career as a constitu-
tional agitation for patriotic objects.
We trust the members of the Ptionab Association,
and of the like bodies in Calcutta and Madras, will
not suffer themselves to be thus discouraged. If there
be disinclination in any quarter to aid them in seek-
ing improvement or redress, it does not lie with the
public of this country; and nothing would render a

greater service to both countries than so full and
frank an exposition of the condition and wants of
British India as its native nobility and gentry are
best qualified to lay before the Crown, the Parlia-
ment, and, above all, the people of England.

Parliament sat upon the East India Company in
1834, and though much information was then eli-
cited, the altered condition of India, the improved
condition of its people, and the elevation---by means
of education and increased social rights—which the
natives have obtained, unite in presenting a totally
new and different phase for the observation of Par-
liament. Tiventy
years ago, such a thing as an
Indian gentleman visiting this country, mixing
on friendly and equal terms with our nobility and
leading gentry, would have been considered utterly
impossible. Much more absurd would have been the
idea of one of this class being received, by his
SOVEREIGN, in familiar society ab Buckingham
Palace, a welcome, because an intelligent and intel-
lectual, guest. But, only a short time ago, this was
realised in the person of the late DINARKANAUTH
a E
simply
theply in an Indian mer-
chant,o visiting s whoing benefit of his health,
Gitappeasedngland
for
and to see for himself what sort of persons were the
actual rulers of his native land. So, also, even half
twenty years ago, not only India but England would
have -ridiculed the idea of the dignity of knighthood
being conferred by the QUEEN, in acknowledgment
of his munificent public services at Bombay, upon a
Parsee trader. But of such an honour a native of
India became the recipient, and we trust that Sir
JEMSETJEE JEFJEBUOY may long continue to wear
the honour conferred on him by our QUEEN. Another
distinguished native, honoured and worthy of honour,
is JEvANJEE PESTONJEE, whose enterprise and libe-
irality are well known at home and abroad.

„„Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, respectively the
petals of the three Indian Presidencies, are
; now so sufficiently European, in English tone, feeling,
and education
residents--thet the public cannot avoid concluding
that from them great •
previous to
--we mean as regards their Hindoo
the
renvalnofofrmthaetioEnasmt aylndbiea ocbhtaairnteedr..
We see no cause for excluding from the list the na-
tive inhabitants of Poonah—nay,
are entitled to be included, bec they particularly
arum, as more Indian
ionftterheestsviattaitheirt
ararewith the points in
and less English than the natives resident in the other
great cities,_thoveyqnarmee mntorwehfair,—:i
our Indian G
The dewnfal
their religion,m etmheoirrywocwrfldhlaoyare,
their manners.
great proportion
With
oppoa. ed to.
customs
therefore, well qua-
lifted,
ta sway ia
within the
of the
this actual living experience, to contrast
lified, by _
h British government, and can tell, far
native with
Anglicized inhabitants of the other
better than the
al causes of complaint. It is
population of Poonah,
capitals, what are the re.
tempts on the part of the
Bombay to discourage at
views before the
in the Government people at
unwise and impolitic
1 d• The Dec..
f Eng an • Parliament and the people 0
higher natives to bring
3,lehratta Sirdars
can Association, founded by .
tors), includes
proprietors), (equivalent to our own landed
intelligent, and a numerous body of wealthy,
their
well-
educated native gentlemen thoroughly
acquainted
with all the bearings of the East India question, and
determined to be heard upon it. They want neither
class-privileges nor class-legislation, but they are
resolved that the East India Charter shall not be
renewed by the British Parliament without com-
petent native testimony on all points being of-
fered to the Legislature. The natives of India
have.. grievances and wants, the pressure of which
I this moment.
"ley, naturally, are best acquainted with. Cu-
riously enough, at the head of Indian grievances
1 is that which is the theme of agitation in Ireland at
The great Mahrattan want at this
hour is greater fixity of land tenures. Without this,
the native gentry of India will gradually be an-
nihilated. Another point, and a galling one, is the
practice of excluding natives, however well qualified,
from participating in
the great offices of tho Anglo.