The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-17 00:00:00

introduction into any European country,
ands
onlyth e
increase of supply and diminution
of coal
• cation-
likely to increase and strenultivgthen the
has been demand.
singuThe
progress of the Indian
larly rapid and shows how favourable must be the
auspices of the Himalayas. Four years ago in the
Western Himalayas only three experimental State
gardens were planted with tea, whereas now it
is spread over the whole district. In the Kurpah
Valley, where formerly one of the State gardens
had the whole cultivation to itself, tea is now
grown in 47 villages, and the peasantry, according
to Sir R. MONTGOMERY'S report, are joining eagerly
in the movement. Wherever he went he was be-
sieged by zemindars exhibiting samples of tea which
they had grown in their own fields, and the culti-
vation is most popular. Culivators who had a few
years ago hardly clothes to cover them, now
reckon their hundred of rupees. Such was the
verdict of the natives on the success of the tea
plantation, and it may naturally be supposed that
where Hindoos prosper in trade Englishmen will
not be idle. In fact, it is the presence of English
energy and English capital which has stimulated
the natives to exertion. On the high road to Lahore
there are 17 tea estates belonging to Englishmen
which cover 15 square miles, and all along the
western slopes the planters are gradually turning
waste and neglected lands into sources of comfort
and prosperity. It is satisfactory to find that the
presence of these strangers is not unwelcome to the
people, but the relations between them are friendly.
So beneficial has been the effect of the contact with
civilisation that the people have applied for two
government schools in which they may learn Eng-
lish, offering to pay half the expense. Of course
the necessities of trade have as much to do with
this request as any desire fOr mental cultivation, but
the sign is at any rate a hopeful one.
In marked contrast to the flourishing condition of
the native tea trade is the unsatisfactory state of the
internal cotton supply. Instead of the native
manufactures receiving any stimulus from the high
prices, they have rather declined, while the demand
for English manufactures has also sensibly dimi-
nished. In the country districts the trade is said to
be absolutely stagnating, and the weavers to be suf-
fering extreme distress. Great numbers of the
people who used to wear an outer garment of Eng-
lish cloth have left it off, and in other parts wool is
taking the place of cotton. In the North-western
provinces, while European fabrics have risen from
50 to 100 per cent. in price, native goods have risen
from 100 to 200 per cent. Yet no one can
doubt that the cotton trade of India is
capable of fully as much extension as
the tea trade, were the same encouragement
given to it. It must be remembered, in estimating
the deficiency of the cotton supply inlndia, that the
extravagant prices have not produced a corres-
ponding increase in production. Of course Indian
cotton has formed the staple of our supply during
the last year or two, but then we must remember
the vast capabilities of the country, and the fact
that cotton cultivation has been established there
for years, instead of as in other parts having to
struggle through the difficulties attending its intro-
duction. Also, we must recollect that the quality
of the Indian cotton has been very much inferior to
what might have been reasonably expected, and
that frauds of every kind have been perpetrated
with impunity; yet in the face of all these'
drawbacks and difficulties, with the almost
entire absence of State encouragement, India
stands first on the. list of cotton-producing
countries. How much, then, is it to be regretted that
so profitable a source of revenue should have been
so long neglected and mismanaged? A very few
years sufficed to develope the extraordinary propor-
tions of the American trade ; but we have had a
good many years' experience in India without
making a proportionate' advance either in quality
or quantity. The special advantages offered by our
constant communication with India, and particu-
larly by our having the undisputed control of the
country, would, one might think, secure every at-
tention to this matter. An Indian market would
in any case be a wholesome check upon American
merchants, while the security offered to our manu-
facturers by the double source of supply must be
immediately apparent to everyone out of the India
Office.

It is satisfactory to find that the Courts of
Justice Building Bill has been read a second time,
for it affords some hope that it will reach completion
before the end of the session. Of course, there
were many dissentients to the proposal, as will
generally be found to be the case in all such decided
changes; but it doea not appear upon reflection that
any of the arguments against the scheme were
valid, or, at all events, sufficiently important to
sanction the withdrawal of the bill. The Attorney-
General gave a very fair exposition the other evening
of the whole nature of the measure, and was at great
pains to explain the manner in which they proposed
to carry out the project; and doubtless his state-
ments contained such influence that those who
differed in words from his plans did not deem it
expedient or consider it necessary to bring the
matter to a division. An argument against this
plan was that the dwellings of the poor would
disturbed, and consequent distress would prevail ;
,but this objection has not stopped any of the
numerous railway schemes, which have been carried

to
completion totally regardless of inconvenience to
any one. It seems therefore rather inconsistent that
this idea should be taken up to the prejudice of a
scheme which is of more consequence to the com-
munity in general than any particular line of rail-
way. But we all know that when people are against
a thing they can discover all the possible and
imaginary obstacles to its fulfilment with surprising
dexterity and quickness. It is certainly of great
consequence that due provisions should be made for
those who are turned out of their houses for the
benefit of others, but it will never be practicable to
stop their eviction. The evil to be complained of is
that those who are able to do something in this way
do not exert themselves, but it is an Utopian idea,
incapable of realisation, that expects no changes to

be made. It is for the good and gain of the coin

munity at large that most of these alterations are
made, and they will benefit in health as well as in
business by the removal of close streets and crowded
dwelling-places. In the end those classes upon
whom the changes now press most heavily will be
the greatest gainers, for most of the streets removed
are not fit to live in, and their continued occupation
is prolific of the spread of disease, and must be
prejudicial to all the inhabitants, both mentally and
bodily. So far, then, this reason should not be
considered as a stumbling-block to the affair,
though of course due weight must be given to all
valid statements. Mr. BAILLIE made a few very
model lodging
wise remarks upon this subject, and urged the pro-
, y of introducing clauses in committee by which
,t,hcalteain,
Paris houses might be constructed for the
benefit of those who were displaced by this great
and that Uome
Government
-ance.,,
some
hon. gentleman also observed
KINNAIRD also advertwday
hand before,
said that the o.u:rhpatruotovision was generally made,
when°
so large a number of poo;
example in these matters, tobitllhsewsaerme
have taken the matter in
ent passed.oughte
tanendzhenertise they displaced
tthing,
set Aa
In
ra
an
they should do