The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-04 00:00:00

THE SUN,

expenditure over income has been about the same sum ; and
+inocr:l ”rtil
) mom.)
curries. The quarter of a million provided by the Lahore
contribution, added to the saving already na•ned, will na-
ys .ved our balance-sheet by more than half a million; which,
added to the free return of the Jullundur Doab, will afford
nearly a million a year to meet so much of our deficits. The
noble provision thus produced by the much-reprobated
policy of Lord Hardinge enables him to begin in earnest the
peace improvements heretofore only talked 'of. The con-
struction of the Ganges Canal was sanctioned by the Court
of Directors in 1841, when the warlike dispositions of their
Governors- General left no tunds available for domestic uses.
It was computed to cost, when originally estimated, 2d0,0001.
—it subsequently rose to near a million ; and will, when
complete, enable above 8,000,000 of acres, now nearly
barren, to be brought into cultivation, and relieve above
2,000,000 of human beings from the visitations of famine
to which they have hitherto been periodically subjected.
On this stupendous work, on which 20,000/. a year has
hitherto been grudgingly expended, it has been de
ter:limed to bestow 250,0001. a year, so that in four years
from the present time it will probably be complete. A
survey of a canal, extending ninety miles from the Sutlej
into the Bhuttee country, is now in progress; and active
operations will in all likelihood follow the survey, should
the peace policy of Lord Hardinge be left uninterrupted.
Then may we look for monuments of our rule comparable in
splendour to those of the Mahomedan Emperors, should the
sword be permitted to sleep in its scabbard; foreign con-
quests reduce us to beggary, with boundless regions of un-
imaginable fertility within our borders to subdue. The
formal annexation of the Punjaub to our dominions would
have compelled us to add thirty regiments to our army, and
a million to an expenditure already by this much exceeding
our income. The other tidings from beyond the Sutlej re-
late merely to the movements of troops. On the 4th of
January, her Majesty's 80th Foot and the 60th Native In-
fantry quitted Lahore, and were followed on the sth by the
12th and 45th Native Infantry. Her Majesty's 10th, with
the 7th, 32d, 38th, 51st, and 54th Native Infantry, have
taken up their quarters in the city. Major-General Sir John
Littler has been complimented in the highest terms by the
Governor-General, and been, in evidence of the estimation
in which he is held, appointed to the command of all the
troops beyond the Sutlej. Yet this is the man who has been
deprived of the rewards he is allowed to have deserved, and
on whose fair fame an imputation has been permitted to rest
—its recal in public having been refused publication by the
Commander-in-Chief. These, of a truth, are no hero's deeds!
The Governor-General gave a grand entertainment on the
7th, to the officers of the garrison, on which occasion he
spoke as follows :
" I will now propose the health of Sirdars Tej Singh,
Dewan Deena Nath, Share Singh, and other Sirdars whose
names I do not know ; in that I propose the Council of Re-
gency, more particularly Tej Singh, the commander-in-
chief, who displayed such energy and vigour in his late
movement towards Cashmere.' After due honour had been
done to the council, the Governor-General again rose and
spoke as follows I beg leave, gentlemen, to propose the
health of a distinguished officer, Major-General Sir John
Littler, K.C.8., and 1 am convinced that you will unite most
cordially with me in drinking the health of so gallant a sol-
dier. I cannot forbear, on the present occasion, enumerating
the eminent services of Sir John Littler during our late
campaign on the banks of the Sutlej,
particularly against a formidable
and gallant enemy. I beg more o
high opinion I entertain of Sir John Littler's abilities as a
commander, as shown in his admirable defence of Feroze-
pore. By the most judicious and bold manoeuvres, when
threatened by a numerous army and powerful artillery, and
thrown entirely upon his own resources, he succeeued
holding Ferozepore, and by showing such a bold front with
his handful of men against the whole Seikh army, he ec-
tually deterred the enemy from his threatened attack. After
this, he most skilfully, with 5,000 men and twenty guns,
effected a junction with the main army under Lord Gough.
On the departure of the British army from Lahore, finding
it necessary to leave a garrison of our troops in that city, I
selected Sir John Littler for this most important and re-
sponsible command. The appointment was at once accepted
by the Major •General, and I have only to point out the
high state of discipline which has been maintained
in Lahore, as well as the quiet and peaceable
behaviour of the inhabitants, to prove that my se-
lection of Sir John Littler was a most fit one. No one
is more aware than myself of the great difficulty attending
the occupation by our troops in a foreign capital—a fortified
city ; but I am proud to say that under the able and judicious
management of Sir John Littler all these difficulties were met
and overcome. I attribute this not a little to the good un-
derstanding and great cordiality that existed between the
chief civil and military authorities, and I have no doubt that
the same cordiality will continue to exist. I now beg to
propose The health of Major-Generalthree Sir John Lhree." ittler,
K.C.8., and the Garrison of Lahore, with times Et
'
The Governor-General left Lahore on the morning of the
I lth, the 42d Native Infantry accompanying him as an
escort. Precautions of every sort were being adopted for
preventing collisions between the troops and the towns-
people ; a race-course, t-court and a theatre were
about to be constructed, and there was some talk of getting
the services of a chaplain and erecting a temporary church.
The station will for the next six years contain 10,000 troops
at least, of which from one to two thous
forandves willto jbe Eoinnglish-
men. • Permission has been given wi their
husbands.

Sinde, like all our other provinces, has, during the past
month, been nearly barren of intelligence, the only tidings
supplied being corrections of information previously re-
ceived. We detailed at length in our last the unsuccessful
attempt of Colonel Stack against the Booghtie marauders,
supposed to have occupied a position, when he declined
attacking them, such as cavalry could not attempt with
the remotest hope of success. The inquiries instituted
subsequently to the misadventure brought out the singular
fact that the appearance of a sudden elevation and a mass of
irregular and difficult ground was an optical deception pro-
duced by the mirage of the desert. When the cavalry re-
tired, the whole of the officers were unanimous as to the
appearance being a reality; and had the impression been
correct, the justice of the conclusion would have been un-
questionable—that with 350 troopers, worn out by a5O miles'
forced march, to have attacked a body of 1,500 fresh, resolute,
and well-armed men, established as they were, would have
been madness. In reality, the enemy were defenceless, in
an open level plain, where they might have been cut to
pieces. The gallantry of the 3d Cavalry is well known ;
and the courage, ability, and high integrity of Colonel
Stack have so long been notorious, that no imputation ex-
cepting that of having been deceived by an optical delusion
rests on the officers or their commander. These were the
only facts the court of inquiry ordered to investigate the
matter, under the supervision of General Hunter, were likely
to elicit. The award pronounced would depend on the view
taken of how far Colonel Stack and his officers were war-
ranted to act on the evidence of their own eyes—deceived in
this :case by an atmospheric illusion. Sir Charles Napier,
with his family, intended to quit Kurrachee about the pre-
sent date (31st January), on a trip to Hyderabad, to take a
last look of the battle-fields which won him all his laurels.
There were numberless rumours of changes and reductions
in Sinde, but beyond what had appeared in general orders
nothing was known for certainty. The steamer Berenice was
under orders to leave for Bombay on the 30th with the head-
quarters of her Majesty's 86th Foot; three-fourths of the re-
giment have already reached Bombay. An unfortunate affair
had occurred about the 20th. A Sindian and a Beloochee pri-
soner having attempted to escape from an hospital tent, where
they were under medical treatment, were both shot by the
sentries on duty. The retiring troops had been highly
complimented in general orders by the Governor. No copy
of the paper itself has yet reached us. It is said to enter
into the general question of the policy, and especially into
the value, of the conquest, with other matters not usually
treated of in such documents. Should this prove true, it is
likely to furnish no small food for discussion. Accounts of
the strength and charges of the various irregular corps now
in existence, and likely to be maintained, in Sinde, lately
published in general orders, furnish further light on the ex-
penditure of the country, which lead to the inference that
the unfavourable balance exhibited in the Parliamentary
papers is greatly under the mark. There seems much reason
to believe that, after all the present seductions, a million and
a half sterling annually will not make good deficiencies.
Were this to come directly from the pockets of the people of
England instead of from those of the poverty-stricken culti-
vators of India, we should not long require to seek for
redress. The abandonment of Sinde would enable the
India Company to abolish the salt monopoly at once and
be gainers on the bargain, which would doubly relieve their
subjects. Why are Messrs. Aylwin, Stocqueler, and Co.,
silent on this?
We subjoin a couple of communications, which, though
of old date, contain almost all the news we have received
during the past fortnight :

LONDON,-

to present maiden colours to the 2d Irregular Horse It
is Rao o!nt. ore f‘f the many steamers that have taken the
7! t., gl:i%•achee will briol;•
lency to Hyderabad. At present there is not one steamer
in harbour. No or.e can say how long the Governor's stay
will be, or whether he goes onwards. Captain Scutt, su-
perintendent of canals, is now at Hyderabad busily engaged
in laying out work for his numerous assistants and surveyors,
the whole of whom are to be distributed throughout the
country. Captain Scott will also go into their several dis-
tricts, inspecting what each has clone. What with assistants,
surveyors, woodrangers, ice., and their respective attaches,
he has certainly a very strong subordinate corps, and for
the immense deal of money expended upon them Govern-
ment ought reasonably to expect ample topographical and
statisical information, as well as full particulars regarding
the resources of the country and the capabilities of its soil,
and suggestions as to the most profitable way of disposing of
the timber (sech as it is), firewood, gum, and bark, &c. The
superintending engineer, Major Peat, C. 8., will be at Hy-
derabad in a day or two, on his tour of inspection of the
public works. Lieut. Burke, of the engineers, is the present
executive engineer Middle Siude Division."—Bombay Tele-
graph axd Cou; ter, Jan. 27. •

THE BOMBAY MARKET.
(From the Chamber of Commerce Overland Price Current.)
BOMBAY, FEB. 1.---Our import market has been, in some
respects, even duller during the pest fortnight than we have
had to report it for some time past. Notwithstanding the
advance which has lately taken place in the cost of manu-
factures at home, buyers here show little diseosi• ion to in-
crease their stocks, and demand has been chitfl., confined to
heavy domestics and grey longcloths; other descriptions are
without inquiry. The heavy supplies known to be on the
way, and shortly expected to arrive, have re::dered not a few
of them desirous of selling at such low prices as are now cur-
rent. In consequence of this, though a good many sales have
been effected during the past few days, a general decline in
the prices of most of the Manchester staples falls to be now
quoted; indeed scarcely a single article in general demand
is saleable at a cost sufficient to save the importer from loss.
Such inquiry as has existed during the past fortnight has
been chiefly for heavy domestics and grey longcloths, of
which the sales have been considerable, but at a decided
reduction from the prices obtainable even in December
last. Lappets, mulls, book muslins, and all kinds of Glas-
gow goods, are only saleable at a heavy sacrifice. No
Marwarrie purchases of any extent have been made in
Bombay during this season ; these in former times were
very extensive. The absence of anything approaching to
the usual demand this season was at first accounted for by
calling to mind the extensive speculations in opium, in which
the Marwarrie people were known to have had a large share,
and the consequent more than usual want of confidence in
the native mercantile community, while the majority of the
claims arising out of those speculations remained unsettled,
and threatened, as they still do, to become subjects of exten-
sive and varied litigation in the supreme courts of the presi-
dency. But it is now remembered that the Marwarrie pur-
chases in this market have been declining for years; and
that they have this year been almost nothing, is not ex-
plained, or at least is only partially explained, by the circum-
stances attending the opium speculations here alluded to.
l'here is a certain amount of demand for articles of common
and general use, which speculations in opium could never
interfere with, and which, if not made in Bombay, will be
made somewhere else. It is believed that some of the
markets of North West or Central India, including particu-
larly the extensive one of Joudpore, which have hitherto
been supplied with English goods from Bombay, have been
of late supplied with these from Calcutta, where cotton goods
have been obtainable on even lower terms than at Bombay,
and whence the means of communication with the internal
country, by roads and rivers, are in many respects superior to
those yet available in Western India.—lt is not easy to fore-
see how tong this state of matters may last.
Cotton Manufactures--The foregoing general, observa-
tions are meant to apply particularly to these, and little ad-
ditional falls to- be added. Grey domestics, which lately
were in demand for the Arab market, have, since last issue,
been sold at Bto 10 annas below former prices. Turkey red
cloths, both twilled and plain, have &so been disposed of at
a reduction. The holders of grey longcloths and grey do •
mestic seem fully more desirous of selling than parties are of
purchasing. Sales in consequence can only be effected at a
reduction of price. Fine white shirtings and 45-inch grey
ditto are also in some request, but there is no improvement
to notice in their value. Seven-fourths and eight-fourths
cambrics are scarce, and would command good prices if now
in the market in moderate amount.
Cotton Yarns—Sales of twist have not been made to the
usual extent, and a slight decline on Bevel al of the numbers,
both mule and water is quoted thus :
Mule. No. 20. Annas 014 to per lb.
N 0.30 7 LA
No. 40 7 3/4 to 8 „
No. 50 „ 914 to 9'4
Water. No. 20...
N 0.30 Bl/2
No. 40 „ 111/2
Nevertheless sales are reported to us as follows :
Water Twist. 1,2001135. No. 20 to 7% ans. per lb.
1,2001b5. No. 30 to 8% „ „
2,4001b5. No. 30 to SLA If
Turkey red, green, and orange, in no demand.
Metals have been in fair demand, but without much alte-
ration in value. The following sales are reported or known
to have taken place::-500 cwts. Tile copper, at Rs. 50i per
cwt.; 150 cwt. of brazier's sheets, 4 by 4, at Rs. 61 per cwt. ;
90 cwt. of heavy sheet, 4 by 3, at Rs. 60 per cwt. ; 400 cwt.
of sheathing, at Rs. 58*. per cwt.; 40 cwt. of bolt, at
Rs. 59. In iron, we are informed of a sale of 70 candies,
3-16 to 6-16 inches, nail rod, at Rs. 46 per candy; of 165
kegs nails, at Rs. 12 per cwt.; of 776 bundles sheet iron,
at Es. 7i per cwt. ; of 2,510 bars false Swedish, at Rs. 88
per candy. In Spelter we have heard of a considerable trans-
action at Rs. 10 annas 10 per cwt., since last mail. There
has been a sale of quicksilver since our last, and the market
is bare of that article.
Beer—Allsopp is quoted at Rs. 65 per hhd., but there being
none at market, the quotation is merely nominal. Sales of
Bass are reported at Rs. 50 periland., but we are not informed
as to what extent.
Spirits--Sales of brandy at Rs. 3 2 annas to Rs 3 4 annas
per gallon have had effeet since our last.
Marine Stores—We are informed of 103 cwt. of white paint
having been sold at Rs. 11 per cwt.
Saffron—Sales of first quality are reported at R 5.18 per lb.
Cochineal—Very scarce, and in demand.
EASTERN PRODUCE.
Cotton—There is still considerable activity in Cotton
shipments for England, but prices have a tendency down-
wards, partly attributable to the inferior article on hand, and
to the scarcity of available tonnage in the harbour, and
consequent advance in the rate of freights. Shippers of this
received, the ne wa,nsdo f
me r
whi triflingeh Es.
8 parcelsB per of
is asked.-
wcandym
staple for China are doing nothing, preferring apparently to
wait the arrivals of new cotton to operating oa what re-
mains
r
a atty of
hthaeve old. Of
been
The current rates are as follow :--
Broach and Jumbooseer Rs.B2i
Surat B2
Dhollera 76
Compta
Opium since our last has receded, and is now quoted at
Rs. 1,080 to Rs. 1,100 per chest. Further accounts of the
China market (being expected by the Ceylon steamer) are
looked for with some anxiety. Not a little of what is in
the market is supposed to be of inferior quality. Purchases
to some extent have been made at the rates here named.
Freights to Great Britain continue firm at 51. 55., with en
upward tendency, owing to the small amount of available
tonnage in the harbour. To China freight is nominally
Rs. 14.