The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-16 00:00:00

WOOLWICH, MAY 14.&

APPOINTMENTS.

Captain the Hon. g:T. Carnegie (1841), from the com-
mand of the Horatio, 24, screw steam-guard-ship, at
Sheerness, to command the Tribune, 30, screw steam-
frigate, commissioned this day at Woolwich.
Lieutenant Henry W. Wrigjit (1848) to the Nerbudda,
12, brig, at Chatham.
_ _

Mate---I:lenry J. Urquhart (1852), from the Rodney,
90, to the Comus, 14, sloop, at Sheerness.
Second Master—John P. Dillon (1848) to the Fisgard
flag-ship, at Woolwich.
Naval Cadet—C. J. Pears° to the London, 90, on the
Mediterranean station.
The Black Eagle steam-vessel, Master Commander
John E. Petley, received orders at a late hour on Friday
evening to proceed with the least possible delay round,
to Portsmouth, and left Woolwich at 4 o'clock a.m. to-
day for that destination.

The Phoenix, screw steam-sloop, Commander Edward
A. Inglefield, left Woolwich about half-past five o'clock
a.m. to-day, having Mr. Taplin, second assistant to the
chief engineer, on board, to report on her speed and
working of the engines when tried with all her stores on
board and complete in every respect for her intended
voyage. On arriving at the measured mile at Sea Reach
the time was taken, and on the average of four runs, two
down and two up, her speed was found to be 7 2-10 knots
per hour, the engines working very satisfactorily. The
Phoenix returned to Greenhithe, and was brought up at
moorings at that station to have her compasses adjusted.
The Diligence, store-ship, left Woolwich shortly after
four o'clock a.m. to-day, towed by the Monkey, and will
be brought up and remain at the Nore until the whole of
the vessels of the Arctic squadron leave the river on their
enterprising expedition.

The Deeperate screw steam-sloop, Captain William
W. Chambers, left Woolwich this afternoon for Green-
hithe, where she will remain until the Phoenix has had
her compasses adjusted, and some experiments made
in taking distance ; and when these are completed the
Desperate will take the Phoenix in tow as Tar as the
Orkney Islands, in order that the latter vessel may hus-
band her ,coals, and enter the Arctic regions under the
most favourable circumstances.

The Manceuvrer lighterbas taken on board a por-
tion of the castings and machinery of the James Watt,
90, screw steam-ship, for conveyance to Devonport.
The Rhadamanthus, .Master-Commander Belam, is
undergoing a thorough renovation at this port, prepara-
tory to further service in the conveyance of troops.

MORE DESERTIONS IN THE NAVY.—lmprisonment
and flogging seem to have little effect in deterring men
from running away. The crew of tho iron screw troop-ship
Vulcan, Commander Von Donop, at Portsmouth, had
leave of absence some time since, which expired the
early part of last week. Upwards of 30 have entirely
forgotten to return ; and of those that did, some eight
or ten made a clean bolt on the same day. It is
rumoured that this ship will have a captain's commis-
sion.

THE INDIAN RIVERS AND INDIAN
IRRIGATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—l have just seen in your paper of this day an
able and interesting article on the Godavery and
Kistnah Indian rivers. You therein describe one
of the innumerable acts of misgovernment of the
"Supreme Lords of India," and you describe some
of the dreadful results. You have, in that article,
referred to neglects, delays, and, in fine, to omis-
sions. Will you allow me to state, not an omission,
but an act committed, with regard to a river as im-
portant as either the Godavery or the Kistnah—
namely, the Indus ? The prosperity of Scinde depends,
in .a great measure, upon controlling the waters of this
gm/at river. Its periodical inundations at times subside
prematurely for agriculture ; the higher parts of that
?portion of the land inundated are, in such cases, either
not reached by the waters, or left dry and exposed to
the powerful sun too soon, and so burnt up. Innumerable
large ditches, called in India " nullahs," run at right
aigles from the river to all those lands, like the legs of a
centipede from its body. Up these ditches the waters
of the innundation flow, and by cutting them propor-
tionally deeper, the said waters reach further inland,
passing the limits of the innundation itself, however
high that may be. Now, it required no conjuror to see,
I;hat by .a proper arrangement of dams, with sluice-gates,
the waters of the innundation, when at their highest
elevation, could be retained in the aforesaid nullahs, and
thus the power of irrigation be continued, in defiance
of any premature abatement of the innundation, till
the operations of the agriculturist no longer required
them ; he then would open his sluice-gates, and let the
waters rush back to their parent river. There are also,
vast results which would accrue from such a system to
the health of. the people. To enter upon these last
would make my letter too long,
These views I submitted to Lord Ellenborough,
who immediately ordered me to form a department,
1 ander engineer officers, exclusively appropriated to
I ;he execution of this great work—viz., to take the
necessary levels, to cut large main nullahs, and to deepen
Ile nullahs already existing. This department was im-
i nediately formed, and continued in full operation, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, of the Bombay Engineers,
011ie I remained Governor of Scinde.
; I have no papers in London to which I can refer. I
p ak -from memory when I say that the whole expense
o f this department. was under the sum of 15,0001. a-
y car. A few years would have completed the operations,
2 'and the preservation of each portion the general work
alien to the charge of local magistrates. See the
History of the Administration of Scinde " for a more
• letailed account.
Now then for the part taken in this important project
f or the improvement of Scinde by the " Supreme Lords
o f India." The moment I left the government of Scinde
tl Canal Department was abolished, and the expense of
• eral years' labour in taking levels and forming canals
• rai3 then thrown away—whether by the Court of Direc-
t mrs, by the Governor-General, or by the Bombay Go-
✓ vs-nment I do not pretend to say.
:I think, Sir, that this picture on the Indus, as regards
adian hydraulics, forms a tulerablependant for yours of
tl 39 Godavery and Kistnah.—l remain your obedient,
e srvant, C. J, NAPIER, Lt.-Gell.

London, May 11.