The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-23 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE-(THIS DAY.)
The quarterly General Court of the Proprietors of
the East India Company was held to-day, in Leaden-
hall-street, when
inOLATRY IN INDIA.
Mr. PoTNDER brought forward his motion on the
annuity paid for the support of the idol worship of
Hindostan, which he insisted was equally inconsistent
with Christian duty and political interests. He believed
that there were none of those insuperable obstacles
interposed before this advantage, which the timid
and the wavering were so ready to imagine.
If the Hindoos were once convinced of the
necessity of relying upon themselves for the
support of their own superstitions much of the
mischief would be at once subdued, for, under the pre-
sent circumstances, the Indian priesthood relied on the
credit of their authority, and the moment it was seen
that that authority was not backed by that supreme
power, which was evident throughout the whole of India,
it must cease. There was, therefore, no reason what-
ever why the custom on which he spoke should not be
abolished; he would, therefore, move
" That it appearing that the continued pecuniary
allowance to the Temple of Juggernaut (subject only to
a recent modification) proceeds upon the assumption of
a pledge presumed to have been originally given upon
the conquest of Cuttack, and that the late recommenda-
tion of the Bengal Government for the continuance of
this money payment, under another form, appears to
require further consideration, it be referred to the Ho-
nourable Court of Directors to review the arguments for
the continuance of this annual payment, having special
reference to their own dispatch to the Bengal Govern-
ment of the 20th February, 1843."
The motion being seconded,
The CHAIRMAN said, that while the subject which had
been brought before the Court of Directors was allowed
to be of the utmost importance, there were considerations
which greatly impeded their active interposition, but the
Hon. Proprietor might be assured that no efforts would
be spared to accomplish that which would be for the
advantage of India; and that, under any circumstances,
the directors decided that, whatever might be the result,
at the proper time they would do their duty.
Mr. POYNDER said that, with this assurance, he was
satisfied, and would, therefore, withdraw his motion.
Mr. THoMpsoN also begged to withdraw his motion
for the present, and he would therefore give notice that
he would bring it on at the next general court.
The motion was accordingly postponed.
RAILWAYS IN INDIA.
Dr. SULLIVAN then rose to move for the production of
the correspondence and memorials respecting railways
in India. In doing so he was exceedingly anxious to
avoid anything like reflection on the directors,
but the matter which ho had to submit was
of too much importance to be lightly passed
over, especially as the formation of railroads would
materially increase the prosperity of India, and the ex-
pense of their formation would be of buClittle cost to
the Company. In this particular respect India was be-
hind every other country in the world. In the case of
that prime necessary of life, the benefit to the Indian
residents from the formation of railroads would
be immense, for the inhabitants of the coast
had only to expose the sea water to the action
of the sun, and with but little care the sun
would perform the whole duty of evaporation,
and sublimation would be done by the sun. Then, with
regard to the article of cotton, the advantages of a rapid
transit were equally evident, for it was an indubitable
fact that the plains of India were competent to produce
the whole of the cotton that was necessary for the
manufacturing demands of this country. He was per-
fectly satisfied, if the Court of Directors would for-
ward this object, that the districts in the neighbour-
hood of Madras would alone be sufficient for
the purpose. Cuba, and Jamaica, and New Bruns-
wick had all railroads, and the Mauritius, Ceylon, and
other colonies, were about to have them. Seeing then, that
there was no insuperable obstacle, and that the outlay
would be repaid, not only in the shape of an ample re-
turn to the revenue, and a large per centage to the
proprietors, he would, therefore, conclude with the
terms of the motion, of which he had give notice.
The motion having been seconded,
The CHAIRMAN said that he could assure the proprie-
tors that the directors were anxious in every way to for-
ward the object. Twenty years ago he had himself
written a treatise to show the value of the cotton culti-
vation in India. But if railways were made at all there,
Bengal, which is as well adapted for the cultivation
of cotton as the neighbourhood of Madras,
ought first to enjoy the benefit, especially as it
is the seat of Government, and, consequently, the
centre of intelligence for the territory of the Company.
He would not have the slightest objection to produce the
papers requested, but he deemed them quite useless until
some results had been produced. Of one thing, however,
he must remind the Hon. Proprietor, that money was
not exactly picked up everywhere, and that it required
considerable thought before any plan was adopted.
General BRIGGS said that this matter had been under
consideration for some thirty years or more, and that
it was now high time that they came to some conclusion
on the subject, for the advantage to the country was so
great and so evident, that the directors ought to proceed
immediately. If it were necessary at all to obtain any
evidence of the benefit that would arise from the forma •
tion of railroads, they had nothing to do but to refer to
the progress which had been made since the
formation of railroads in India. It was a singular, but
not the less a substantial tact, that before the formation
of railroads in India, it absolutely required no less than
4,200 men to convey one officer to the seat of govern-
ment; and at a subsequent period not fewer than 7,300
men to carry three officers to the coast. But what
would have been the case if a railroad had
been made in that direction. Then, again, with
regard to the cultivation of sugar, it was
well known that sugar is consumed in this country after
the rate of 61bs. per bead, and that the price paid is from
fivepence to sixpence per pound, whereas if it was ob-
tained from India it would not cost more than from
threepence to fourpence per pound. India is at the pre-
sent moment a large sugar producing country, for it
supplies ni it only its own population, but the
whole of the countries both east and west of it for
a considerable distance. Persia, amongst others,
produced no sugar, and derived its whole supply from
India. The population of that country alone consumes
580,000 tons, the whole of which is obtained from their
own: cultivation. For cotton and every other product
the advantages were equally manifest.
After some observations from Mr.Princep, Mr. Lewis,
Mr. Fielder, and Major Oliphant, all of them, excepting
Mr. Lewis, supporting the motion,
Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE said that it was ridiculous to
talk of the want of money for any great public object,
when he had himself that very morning, at the
Privy Council, seen a brief endorsed with 6,000 guineas,
and averse as he was to a profligate expenditure even in law,
it did appear to him a little too much to talk of the want
of funds for a great public improvement which would
not only return a good per centage to the proprietors,
but add greatly to the revenue in the face of this fact.
Mr. HILL explained that the case alluded to by
the Learned Sergeant was a Crown appeal, in which it
was necessary to retain not only the Attorney and
Solicitor-General of the present Government, but also
those of the late Government, together with standing
counsel of the Company ; and that was the occasion of
the large expenditure.
Dr. SULLIVAN having replied,
The Court divided, when there appeared for the
motion 26, against it 17.
The other motion, for which notice had been given,
being withdrawn, the business concluded, and the Court
adjourned.

STATE OF TRADE.
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY, JUNE 22.—The continued
firmness and gradual advance in the Liverpool cotton
market, has caused spinners and manufacturers gene-
rally to ask higher prices here; and to some extent,
particularly in yarn, buyers have acceded to their de-
mands. There appears to be a fair number of orders in
the market for yarn for Russia, Holland, and the Medi-
terranean; but the advance of prices prevents the buyers
from operating freely, and the business done is conse-
quently on a limited scale. For goods there has not
been so much inquiry as during last week, and very few
sales have been made—generally at previous rates.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY, JUNE 21.—We have had very
few buyers in the market to-day ; but though the busi-
ness done has been very limited, there is a better feeling
manifested, and more inquiry about goods. The wool
trade is still slack, and there has been very little done.
Prices have undergone little change since last Monday.
HALIFAX, SATURDAY, JUNE 19.—Although there
was no increase of business in the Piece Hall to-
day, yet there was a better attendance of mer-
chants, and evidently an improved state of feeling.
The yarn market also presents a rather cheerful aspect;
though we cannot say that either the demand or prices
have decidedly improved. The stock of wool at market
is very light, and a moderate business doing, to supply
immediate wants; but prices have not been so low for
many years.
There is a prospect of a strong contest
between the grower and the spinner, the issue of which
altogether depends upon the result of the harvest.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY, JIINE 22.—We had a de-
cidedly better market to-day, with a fair attendance of
buyers, and a
sorts of fancy goods.
considerable business done in the best
LEEDS, TUESDAY, JUNE 22.—There was a rather
better market last Saturday, and a little more has been
doing to-day
mend for cloths and heavier descriptions of woollens
in fancy tweeds and coatings; but no de-
has as yet set in, and these branches of our trade are
still in a languid state.—Manchester Guardian.

A MAN KILLED IN A FIG LlT.—Between eight and
nine o'clock yesterday morning, a man named John
Watson,
toria-bridge, and another man named Bradley, had a
a fishmonger, standing at the bottom of Vic-
dispute in the Fish Market, about a shilling, which
the latter alleged to be due to him from the former.
From words they came to blows ; after they
had fought for a short time, they fell together
over some baskets of fish, but got up and renewed the
fight, taking hold of each other by the hair. Watson
then commenced " butting" at Bradley with his head;
and at the same time a man named Peter Swift, who
is in the employment of Watson, came up, and struck
Bradley a violent blow with his fist on the temple.
Bradley immediately fell down insensible, and he
expired as some of the bystanders were taking
him to the Infirmary ; indeed, before he was taken far
from the spot where the outrage occurred. Watson
ran off immediately that the deceased fell, and has
not yet been apprehended ; but Swift, who remained,
was apprehended by sub-inspector Dixon, who had been
informed that there was a fight in the Victoria Market,
and came up almost immediately after the occurrence.
Swift was brought up at the Borough Court yesterday,
when the above facts were given in evidence, and he was
remanded till this day. The father of Watson, at the
same time, promised that his son should be produced at
the sitting of the Court to-day.--Mancheaer Guardian.