The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-28 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL

By the arrival of the Overland Mail, we (Morn-
ing Chronicle) have received files of papers and
our despatches from Calcutta to the 20th August,
• and Bombay to the 30th. We have also received
our papers and correspondence from Bombay of
the 15th August, which were dispatched by the
Formosa, and were taken to Suez by the steamer
which left Calcutta on the Bth of August ; but these
iitermediate dispatches were detained at Suez for
the Bombay mail of the 30th.
BOMBAY, AUG. 30.
The mail of the 24th June, having been brought
to Aden in safety by the Peninsular and Oriental
Company's boats, was at that place made over
to the Honourable Company's agents, who forth-
with put it on board a pilgrim ship for carriage to
Bombay. This vessel was lost on the Arabian
coast, and not a single letter or paper which
left London on the 24th of June reached us, for
they all went to the bottom. This, however,
seems to have been the turning point with
the Bombay public. A public meeting has been
called for Saturday next, the 3rd proximo, in
order to take into consideration what steps are best
to secure good Overland communication with Eng-
land. Unless the carriage of the mails is taken
out of the hands of Government, it is to be feared
little, if any good will be effected. All over the
world the most marked improvements have
taken place of late years, regarding the car-
riage of the mails, whereas between Suez
and Bombay—the nearest point of communi-
cation between England and India—we are far
worse off now than we were nine years ago. During
the present rainy season our mails have been twice
brought down from Aden in sailing vessels ; and a
third one has been entirely lost. At the present
time there is but one good steamer, the Acbar,
which goes to-day, and she is fifteen years old, em-
ployed on the Government packet service. There
are, in fact, but five Government steamers alto-
gether now available at Bombay for mail work.
The best of these is the Acbar, the second the Vic-
toria (an older boat by three years than the Acbar),
the third the Ajdaha (now lying disabled at Aden),
and two very old boats called the Queen and the
Aucland, neither of which is considered safe to send
up the Red Sea, or even to Aden, during the
south-west monsoon. The Honourable Company's
steamer Mozuffer was lost the other day near
Rangoon, and the Feroze and Zenobia are
to be kept at Rangoon by order of the
Governor-General. So what we are to do for
the carriage of our mails unless the contract is
given over to some private company, no one can
form an idea. The local Government cannot be
blamed with justice, nor is the commodore of the
Indian navy (Sir Henry Leeke) in fault. The for-
mer must carry out the orders of the Court of Di-
rectors, and the latter can only use such steamers
as are given him. But it is to be hoped that the
home authorities will see the folly of attempting
any longer an utter impossibility—that of carrying
the mails twice a month to Aden and Suez, with
one pretty good, and two very bad steamers.
There have been no fresh outbreaks in Burmah,
but a terrible famine is spreading over the length
and breadth of the land. The rice crop has failed
throughout the Pegue provinces, and is now selling
at three seers per rupee, or 61bs. weight for
two shillings. Taking into consideration the
wages in that country and in England, the prices
are equivalent to the loaf at home being sold
for five shillings. At Rangoon some shiploads
of rice have arrived from Calcutta, and are
selling at a moderate price, so that the scarcity is
not so much felt there as up the country. All up
the Irrawaddy the cultivators are living upon wild
roots, leaves, and other miserable substitutes for
good food, and, as might be expected, the cholera
is decimating the population to a fearful extent.
The troops as yet continue free from the scourge,
which may be attributed to the good food provided
for them. Other maladies are, however, rife. The
Ist Bengal Fusiliers (Europeans), at Rangoon,
have 200 out of 700 men in hospital. No deaths
in the commissioned ranks have been reported dur-
ing the last fortnight. Altogether, the European
regiments which landed in Burmah little more than
a year ago have lost upwards of 1,500 men, partly
by the enemy, but chiefly from sickness. General
Godwin has returned to Calcutta, and proceeds at
once to take charge of his divisional command at
UmbaTlah, in the north-west provinces.
Mr. Bushby, of the Bengal Civil Service, has
been appointed Resident at Hyderabad in succes-
sion to Colonel Low. The Jangor and Nerbudda
territories, which were under Mr. Bushby as go-
vernor-general's agent, are in future to be under
the Lieut.-Governor, north-west provinces ; and
Mr. Hamilton, as Resident at Indore, is to have
political charge of Scindiah's dominions, and of
Bundelcund. The following is a list of appoint-
ments of officers to the different districts in the
territory which was ceded to the British Govern-
ment by the late treaty with his Highness the
Nyzam. You will observe that the celebrated
Captain Meadows Taylor, whose book, called the
" Confessions of a Thug," and other works on In-
dian subjects, are so well known, is amongst those
who have obtained employment.

"No.-3,565.

, - -
" Fort William, Foreign Department,
Aug. 12th, 1853.
"The Most Noble the Governor-General of India in
Council has been pleased to appoint the underin entioned
Officers to the several districts assigned to the British
Government by the late treaty with his Highness
the Nizam.

" BERAR DISTRICT.
"Northern Division.—Captain T. H. Bullock to be
Deputy Commissioner ; Lieut. J. J. Hamilton, 2nd
Bengal N. 1., to be Assistant Commissioner, Ist class ;
Mr. W. A. Palmer, to be Assistant Commissioner, 2d
class.
"Southern Division.—Major J. Johnston to be
Deputy Commissioner ; Captain J. It. Paye to be As-
sistant Commissioner, Ist class.
" RAICHORE DOAB DISTRICT.
" Eastern Division.—Major G. F. Hampton to be
Deputy Commissioner ; Brevet Captain Ivie Campbell,
43d Madras N. 1., to be Assistant Commissioner, Ist
class.
"Western Division—Brevet Captain J. G. Balmain,
Madras Artillery, to be Deputy Commissioner ; Lieut.
R. N. Taylor, 17th Madras N. 1., to be Assistant Com-
missioner, Ist class.
" Western Districts.—Captain P. M. Taylor to be
Deputy Commissioner; Lieut. W. Cadell, 36th Madras
N. 1., to be Assistant Commissioner, Ist class.
"J. P. GRANT, Offig. Sec. to the
Government of India."
Our north-west frontier is again disturbed. The
Afreedees have closed the Kohat Pass in conse-
quence of their chief not having paid them any of
the "black mail" which he received from Govern-
ment. The country on both sides of the Pass be-
longs to us, and the Pass itself is only eight miles
long, and yet not a man in the British force is al-
lowed at the present time to go through. The Af-
reedees have offered to carry out letters as before,
provided the money heretofore paid to their chief
be now made over to them.

At Mooltan, there is a report that the Persian
army, accompanied by several Russian officers, is
before Herat. If this be true, an English army
may again have to march to Cabool, but this time
one army would move from Peshawar, only eight
miles from Cabool.

In the north-west British provinces, at the sta-
tions of Cawnfore, Benares, d c., there is still a
very great deal of cholera. In addition to the
deaths reported by last mail, we have now to men-
tion that of Dr. Harvey, surgeon of her Majesty's
70th regiment. This gentleman is said to have
fallen a victim to his labours in attending upon the
sick more than to the disease itself. The corps to
which the doctor belonged has lost a fearful num-
ber of men during the last few months, and it is
proposed to send them out of the station into camp.
Discussions relative to the New India Bill are
rife amongst all classes—even the natives argue,
pro and con, the different sides of the question.
Amongst the European inhabitants the Company's
officers, civil and military, the bill is highly ap-
proved of ; but the natives seem to think that
some provisio ought to have been made for their
obtaining employments of a higher emolument in
the civil administration of the country.
Great astonishment and much indignation have
been
expressd by every one at the manner in
which the Court of Directors are reported to have
confirmed the decision of the Bombay Government
regarding the suspension of the Sudder Judges,
Messrs. Le Geyt and Grant. The answer which
Sir Charles Wood gave Mr. Hume and Mr.
Otway in the House of Commons is at direct
variance with fact. There was neither miscon-
duct, nor alleged misconduct, on the part of either
judge ; their greatest enemies allow their official
characters to have been unimpeachable. More-
over, both had months before (M. Le Geyt in the
commencement of 1851, Mr. Grant in 1852) they
were suspended by the Bombay Government, re-
quested that an inquiry into the truth of the
anonymous slanders published against them might
be made. In both instances this was refused point
blank, and yet we find that Sir Charles Wood has
been either misled, or has finis-stated the facts in
the House of Commons. Again, in Mr. Luard's
business there is, somehow, or other, a complete
mystification. The President of the Board of Con-
trol talks of that gentleman as having been restored
to office, but Mr. Luard is still under suspen-
sion, without pay, rank, or allowances of any sort.
Messrs. Le Geyt and Grant were at once ques-
tioned as to the truth of certain allegations put
forth against them in a newspaper which had for
years past evinced most determined personal hos-
tility towards these gentlemen. The answers net
being deemed satisfactory, they were at once 0%5-

pehded, disgraced, and, in a pecuniary sense,.t
ruined, as far as poor men can be, by
a l
oon the
salary equivalent to a fine of 10,000 k
other hand, Mr. Luard impeaches two other mem-
bers of the Company's Civil Service--the late
Messrs. Bell and Simpson, who were, at the time
Mr. Luard accused them, alive and well. But in-
stead o
stead of a single question being asked these gentle-
men, their accuser is at once suspended. Alto-
gether, strange events have taken place during the
last three years in connection with the Bombay
Government, and the confirmation of local orders
by the local authorities is a matter of surprise to
all.
The Governor-General is still at Calcutta, and
Sir H. Pottinger at Madras. The latter is said to
have sent home his resignation of the Madras Go"
vernment. Lord Falkland is still in the Deccan'
Lord Fitzclarence is also at Poona' where he has
been suffering from an attack of gout.
Trade is brisk for the time of the year, and the
money market easy. There have been nunic.r°ll!
imports into Bombay, and goods have met with !
ready sale, and at fair prices. We have had, sin!'
my last, a temporary cessation from rain, but tne_
wet weather has again set in, and Bombay is m.
like London on a very wet October day than 11
what a new corner would imagine India to be. o 4,5
Surgeon Nicholson, of the Bombay army, 'J
been acquitted. The officers who brought him
trial have been severely reprimanded by the Co.
m.ander-in-Chief, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence.

COMMERCIAL.
CALCUTTA MARKETS.
Calcutta, Aug. 19.—The steamer Bombay waso3tb:
nounced on the 11th inst.; and came up on the 1' f
bringing London dates to the Bth July. The position of
trade at home was good, although business had bee
checked by the uncertain state of the Turkish question,
parties in consequence only buying for immediateivells.
The reports from the indigo districts are still unes't
factory, and according topresent appearances the ersic;
if it exceeds in quantity that of last year, can only of
only do so by a few thousand mds. The shipment.
indigo up to date, amount to 26,705 chests, cool
ing Fy. nada. 100,297. Shell lac and lac dye rein in
unchanged. An average business has been del...te,a
hides, both for England and the 'United States.._„..l4'—ad
has continued in active demand for Great Britain
America, at an advanced rate, say 2-9 to 2-12 per d its
The inquiry for rapeseed has been less active, an
fla
value has consequently delined a little. Jute of g
quality is very scarce, and this added to high rates,,ms.
freight has caused a further decline in prices. The w—rot
ments of rice to Great Britain have been moderate, to
exceeding mds. 18,529 since the first of the month'
demand from Rangoon has subsided. Saltpetre hastd
tinued in active general demand with free supplies 73,
former prices. Transactions in safflower have decreale
and that article is obtainable at rather easier rates.
business done in sugar for shipment to Great Britoil,
been very limited during the past fortnight, not exee%.
ing 600 tons ; prices, however, are firm,_and above
to 3s. per cwt. above home quotations. COnr
The business done in dbtton piece goods has been
,;„,,,
paratively limited, not from any unfavourable altet"-d
in the position of the market, which is healthy andoB"--
but from the difficulty of obtaining steam water carL76
to the Upper Provinces. Copper is quiet but firm.
holders of iron have increased their pretensions, 1%0.
dealers are quite willing to pay recent quotation
There is but little doing in spelter ; holders, heweCoge
are very confident, and look for better prices than tu-id
currentlp offered. 1,550 mds pig lead are reported os
at 7.4 per md. Salt ris in good demand at full Priceo
fine Liverpool is quoted at 95 to 100, and butter at
to 95 per 100 mds.
The Money Market is kept well supplied, and Do°1;
modation can be obtained on comparatively modemard
terms. The share market is firm, with an nPiv
tendency,
Exchange has not undergone any material alteratien;
Tonnage is very scarce ; freights have not, howev.,e
much altered owing to the small business doing in '-
ports for Great Britain.

BOMBAY MARKETS.
BOMBAY, AUG. 30.—During this month there Ileg,
been a very considerable business in piece goods
.s.
acted, notwithstanding rather a heavy import of ges'i.",-ad
and twist and sales of goods to arrive have also "nt
effect to a large extent, although without improvelr
in prices, or even at remunerating rates. save d
grey madapollams, which appear to be very scarce) le
have advanced in value four annas per piece during
last three months. Grey yarns have been imported
more than double the extent of any previous Ye3r.
Still, prices have not given way. On the contrail;
quotations show a slight improvement on prevo
quotations.
Shipments of cotton have not gone forward with all
vigour lately either to England or China, but last AC
counts from England have given a little more vigellr
and dealers ask higher prices for cotton, which has 11°
however been met by purchasers, owing to the advalle",
in rates of freight and exchange.

EGYPT.
ALEXANDRIA, SEPT. 2°',
For the last two days much excitement 105 e`:
isted amongst the mercantile community here. of
On the 17th the intention, after eight (13Pfbe
consideration, of the Pacha, to prohibit for ",;(1
present the further exports of grain, was announce
by Stefano Bey, the Minister for Foreign Aff4/'
who had been sent down from Cairo for that Pe
pose.
Many of our merchants having extensive ope,x;
tions in grain still pending, and many vessels
cently chartered in England for its converoZ
complained of the serious consequences likelyarise from so sudden a measure. The entire c
sular body waited upon Stefano Bey, s°hc
that the period of notice should be extended from
that of eight days till 30th November.
d
The Minister seeing the justice of the demandn
consented, upon his own responsibility, to octefa.
it till 30th October, which being deemed inse,he
cient, he expressed his willingness to resubrait,i4,
,;matter to the Pacha, which is to be done. .1'
wracha is still at Mount Sinai.
untrl
Loutfy Effendi, as about to represent this co
at the Exhibition in America, proceeds to-rilori-50.
via Southampton and Liverpool, for that porF othe
Great fears are entertained of damage frora,k-
continued excessive rising of the Nile, and ems
ments are being thrown up everywhere. oil
The hot season may now be fairly said tostye
the wane. The health of the city is above
usual average at this season of the year.
Exchange on London, 98g.