The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-29 00:00:00

the verdict of a member of the Calcutta Medical
College, who said, "If a man is fortunate when he
first comes out he will have fever; if he is unfortu-
nate he will have dysentery; if he is very unfortu-
nate he will have cholera." Such a picture may
be an extreme one, but it is only too evident that
there is urgent need of some change. We are pay-
ing a dear price for the culpable indifference and
neglect which has hitherto been shown in
these matters in the lives of valuable public
servants whose official duties oblige them to
undergo the risks attending a prolonged resi-
dence in Calcutta. Mr. MILLS, Q.C., the new
judge, is, we regret to learn, the latest victim. Some
efforts have lately been made to mend matters;
and the report of the chairman of the newly ap-
pointed Sanitary Commission, only :comprises the
most that has been said of the state of the city. The
Government is preparing for its move to Simla, and
is therefore, in common with the public, awaiting
anxiously Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN'S Budget.
That anxiously looked for event is not likely to be
quite so welcome this year as last, since recent
events have interfered with the expected surplus.
Fortunately, the unusually large receipts from the
customs have compensated in a great measure both
for the depression of the opium trade and for the
tightness of the money market. Unfortunately Sir
CHARLES TREVELYAN has lost much of his popula-
rity among the trading community by his inaction
during the late commercial crisis. Matters are now
mending, but from the restricted state of the cur-
rency the recurrence of such panics is but too cer-
tain. Why cannot our financiers try the experi-
ment of a paper currency under proper limitations,
based on the national credit. Such a course would
relieve India from her monetary difficulties, and
would avoid the possibility of a crisis like the pre-
sent. It would also give a stimulus to enterprise
and an encouragement to trade and commerce,
which could not fail to affect the general prospe-
rity of the country and to develop its resources,
Had the panic occurred in a less favourable year
its results would have been far more serious, but we
have no security that it will not recur when the
Exchequer is embarrassed and the crops failing.
According to English, and still more to Anglo-
Indian custom, we must we suppose wait for that
day before we can hope for a substantial change.
Reforms of all kinds are, however, likely to go on
under the new Governor, whose energy and industry
have startled officials of every degree from their
comfortable dolce far niente. None can complain of
overwork when they see the amount of labour
accomplished by the chief of the State, and accord-
ingly a long accumulation of arrears is being cleared
of in every quarter. The Viceroy does not spare
sharp words and practical hints to indolent
or supine officials; and by example, precept,
and keen supervision, he has succeeded in
stirring up the various departments to a degree of
vigour and inactivity long unknown. Neither is
his supervision a mere form, since almost every re-
port bears, it is said, in its marginal notes a proof of
its having been read by the Governor himself.
Afraid apparently of the reaction which would fol-
low his absence, the Governor takes the whole
secretariat with him to Simla, where, if they get
change of air, they are not likeiy to get too many
holidays under such a chief. India wanted such a
man at her head, since the immense accumulation
of neglected public questions placed a formidable
barrier in the way of her social and political pro-
gress. There are in all quarters of the country
abuses to be rectified, reforms to be instituted, ins.
provements to be effected which have been talked of
year by year but have never been forthcoming.
The present session has seen many important
measures passed in Calcutta, and one of them for
the registration of deeds is interesting to many in
this country, since it secures the purchaser of land
from fraud and litigation, thus encouraging the
formation of enterprising companies, and the in-
vestment of English money in India. Altogether
the news is satisfactory, and we may hope that the
active and enlightened spirit now infused into the
Calcutta councils will before long produce still more
marked effects.