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

THE SU N,

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 rat. a single beat 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 Companyare 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
number which before 1853 has • elapsed will
doubtless be nearly doubled, and so on, by a propor-
tionate multiplication of existing appliances, extended
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 subsferqomumeidndtpleokavrirerkran,
to
omwehtnhetnes
ateitnd,4owant
fvoiortihniwtyith
otof laoy
the submarine lines will be brought into
direct communication with the general system of the
continental telegraphs. Thereuponithe " 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,
ofcourse, first of all to that science which has brought
this astonishing power of nature to light, and subse-
quently 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 es 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 of 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 Poonah 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 en 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. Twenty 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 Veen considered utterly
impossible. Much more absurd would have been the
idea of one of this class being received, by his
SOVEREIGN, in familiar society at Buckingham
Palace, a welcome, because an intelligent and intel-
lectual, guest. But, only a short time age, this was
realised in the person of the late DWARKANAUTH
TAGORE, who appeared simply 83 an Indian me r-
chant, visiting England for the benefit of his health,
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
JEMSETJER JEEJEBROY 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-
rality are well known at home and abroad.

Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, respectively the
capitals of the three Indian Presidencies, are
n°w ao sufficiently European, in English tone, feeling,
r and•education—we mean as regards their Ilindoo
resideuts--that
the public cannot avoid concluding
that from them great information may be obtained.
previous to the renewal of the East India Charter.
'We see no cause for excluding from the list the na-
tive inhabitants of Poonah--nay, they particularly
are entitled to be included, because, as more Indian
end less English than the natives resident in the other
great cities, they are more familiar with the points in
most opposed to
our Indian Government which are
of the
their religion, their worldly interests, their customs,
manners. The downfal a the Mithrtitts sway is
. theofmreomoonrayb, of
whoa proportionsgrree,atthf
ere ore, well qua-
population
this
w theiritbi n
actual living experience, to contrast
lifted,
government, and can tell, far
b.:ith BritiSh
Anglicized inhabitants of the other
betternative
the real causes of complaint. It is
capitals, what are
in the Government people at
impolitic
unwise and
attempts on the part of the
than the
Bombay to discourage
higher natives to bring their
views before the
Parliament and the people 0f England. The Dec.Alahratta Sirdars
can Association, founded by
(equivalent to our own landed proprietors), includes
and well-
a numerous body of wealthy, intelligent,
educated native gentlemen thoroughly
and
India question,
with all the bearings of the East
want neither
determined to be heard upon it. They acquainted
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-
f`red to the Legislature. The natives 'of India
have grievances and wants, the pressure of which
they, naturally, are best acquainted with. Cu-
riously enough, at the head of Indian grievances
is that which is the theme of agitation in Ireland at
this moment. 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 I
practice of excluPa natives, however well qualified„'
from partieipitieg in the great offices of the Anglo- '