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

THE SIIN,

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 single beat or
deflection of the telegraph needle is visible at London,
Toabridge, 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 wt.." requisite in the first instance for
the purpse of extmding more and more widely the
benefits inevitably acct &lig to scciety 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 newly doubled, and se 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 subsequent arrangements
forthwith to lay it down from Dover to the
vicinity of Ostend, at Middlekirk, when
the submarine lines will be brought ;Tito
direct communication with the general system of the
continental telegraphs. Thereuponthe " 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-
quently to that enterprise which is so astoundingly
facilitating the task of it; development. Nothing
satisfactory, at the same time, can possibly b ) 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 cssociation 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-
derstend 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 wain 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 hen delighted at such a proof that the
days have passed away in which Mahratta nobles
would 'nave taken to saddle and lanco 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 pat.iotic objects.
We trust the members of the Poonala Associfltion,
end of the like bodies in Calcutta and Mdras, will
not raffsr themselves to be thus discouraged. If there
be disincliaath.s. in any qu-t ter to rid them in seek-
ing improvement or refire:is, it does not lie with the
public of this country ; and nothing would render a
greater service to both countries th,n so full and
frank en exposition of the condition and wants of
British India as its native nobility end gentry are
best qujfied 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 ViEs 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 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 at 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 DwAsKANAnTa
visiting England for the benefit of his health,
eTbAxE, who appeared simply ag an Indian mer-
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
JEMEETJEE JEEJEBBOY may long continue to wear
the honour conferred on him by our QUEEN. Another
distinguished native, honoured and worthy of honour,
is JEY -
A3JEE I'ESTONJEF, whose enterprise and Jibe-
, rality are well known at home and abroad.

Calcutta, ..
Madres, and Bombay, respectively the
capitals of
the three Indian Presidencies, are
now so sufficiently European, in English tone, feeling,
and education—we
mean as regards their Hindoo
public residents—that the •
that from them
greatpinhfco r
nclaunt ni
noi t 2
ma vaoyi d
be c oonbctlauidniendg.
Ipyr eev
si oe
eu s n too
nt ha
ue
srenewal
excludingofthe fErnamst
tlbnadliiastCthbeerntear.
tive inhabitants of Poonah—
.
thanare more
the
e familiar natives residentv it
with
thein
nay, they particularly
£re entitled to be included, because, as
more Indian
tphneinottaheinr
gie
Indiri Government which are
our
End .
atleesistEieen,gtlbisehy
most opposed to
heir worldly interpat., ci—.. ~.,
their religion+,..;,,...Av..,
The downfal of the Mabratt
their manners. a away is
within the memory of a great proportion of the
population of Poore], who ore, therefore, well quft.
wit living experience, to contrast
lified, by this ac
native with British government, and can tell, far
better than the Anglicized inhabitants of the other
capitals, what are the real causes of complaint. It is
the Government people at
unwise end impolitic in .
Bombay to discourage attempts on the part of the
•
higher natives to bring their views before the
England. The
Sirda re
Parliament and the people of
Dec-
can Association, founded by Mahratta
ies-
(equivalent to our own landed proprietors),
inciutwell
• a numerous body of wealthy, intelligent, and
educated native gentlemen thoroughly acquamted
with all the bearings of the East India question, and
deteimined to be heard upon it. They want neither
class-privileges nor class-legislation, but they are
resolved that the East India Chvrter 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
they, naturally, are best acquainted
liwith. Cu.
i 3 that
anon h
g , at the head of Indian grievances
• t winch is the theme of agitation in Ireland +
The this moment. - a.
great Mahrattan want at hour is greater Salt this
the 1_
yof land tenures. Without this,
native gentTY 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 -rest offices of ti Anglo-