The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-02 00:00:00

THE INDIAN ARMY.
The discussions which have of late occurred on the
merits of a peace or war policy for India have caused
more than ordinary attention to be bestowed on the stag
of the armies of India, as to flair strength, efficiency,
and expense, compared tB4-that in which they formery
existed, and to the condition of the Exchequer. From
these it appears that within the last 10 years we have
add, d about 20,000,0001., or about one-fourth, to our
debt, and been living regularly at the rate of 750,0001.
to 2,000,000/. sterling above our income,—no year
exhibiting a balance less unfavourable than the smaller
of those just named. Our gross annual income
is believed at present to be about 25,000,0004
The total amount of our military charges exceeds
14,000,0001. a year. The armies of India, exclusive of
Queen's troops, mustered 168,477 just before the Affghati
ar began: they went on increasing at the rate of about
10,000 a year, till in 1844 they mustered 250,030 men,-
81,553 men, and nearly 700 European officers, being added
to its strength. From this date to the time when the
recent reductions began, 25,000 more had been addbd to
their ranks—making a total addition of about 110,000
men, or something above the entire Royal army of Ent;'
land. Including Queen's troops we had on our muster roll,
on the Ist of January, 1847, considerably above 300,000
men. The Bombay army alone has betwixt the dates we
mention been augmented by above 40,000 men. Of the
total augmentation, 24,000, maintained at the cost of
above 1,000,00001. sterling annually, have been specially
raised for service in Sinde—] 8,000 continue up to the
present moment to be quartered in that country--
24,000 were required l'or it nearly the whole of
the present year. The total reduction at present
proposed to be effected falls: somewhat under 40,000
of all arms, leaving on the muster roll above 70,000
men, in the highest state of efficiency, more than
we could boast of from 1831 to 1838, when no
had the vast armies of Sinde, Gwalior, and the Pun-
jaub—all since extinguished—to watch. So utterly
senseless is the clamour at home in reference to the un-
wise diminution of our defence, that at no time in our
history was our army ever so strong, or so little likely
to be called cn to take the field, as in the beginning of
1847 The want of European officers is being remedied
in the only way within the power of the Company,
now so greatly in debt. The native regiments have
been reduced in Sepoys by a fifth, and have, of
course, in proportion to the number of native soldiers on
the muster roll, become by this much stronger in
European officers, an extra captain having been lately
added, and, as already stated, some seven hundred
officers in all since 1837. The reasonable part of
it is, the vast majority of the army is well satisfied
with all this; did they entertain the views ascribed to
them by their professed advocates and admirers, they .
would indeed deserve more than the censures their ,
severest critics have bestowed on them. Nearly every
one of the statements just made may be verified by
official documents within the last three months laid
entire before our readers. The British army in India
at present could cope with any force in the world
in courage, discipline, or strength, without more aid
from Ergland than is usually accorded. The only
grounds it has for apprehension of severity or
injustice are those which arise from new and expen-
sive wars crippling the treasury to an extent which
might compel reduction, even were this accompanied by
the abandonment of those of our territories the revenues
of which are unable to meet the charges they occasion
us. This rests with Cannon-row, tot Leadenhall-street-
The Court of Directors would give us peace and plenty,
would her Majesty's Ministers but allow them.—Bombay,
Times.

TIIE LATE VISCOUNT ASIIBROOK.—The will of
the Right Hon. Henry Jeffry, Lord Viscount Ashbrook,
of Castle Darrow, Kilkenny, and of Old Windsor, Berks,
has just been proved in London by his son, Viscount Ash-
brook, his son-in-law, Wm. Wilson Campbell, Esq.,
Major- Gen. James Claud Bourehier, and Edward White,
Esq , the executors. The personal estate in this country
was valued at 35,0001. He executed his will in 1842,
and there are four codicils, the last dated June 6, 1846.
All his unsettled estates he has directed to be sold, in-
cluding his mansion-house, called Beaumont Lodge, once
the residence of Warren Hastings; the land in the
parish of Egbam, purchased from the Crown, with the
other freeholds in Egham and Thorpe, and all
other his estates in the counties of Surrey and
Berks, together with the manors, towns, castles, and
estates in Ireland, the trustees first offering the same to
the tenant for life or in tail of the Castle Durrew estate;
the produce arising from the sale of these estates, and
the conversion of all real and personal property to
be held in trust, one moiety for his daughter, Mrs.
Campbell, and her husband, and then to the children.
of her first marriage ; the other moiety to his
son-in-law, Mr. Every, and the children (except the
eldest son) of his late wife, his Lordship's daugh-
ter. His daughter, the Duchess of Northampton, takes
no interest under the will, having received 15,0001.
under the marriage settlement. There are a few pectt•
niary bequests, and to each of his executors 2001.; the
plate, pictures, and furniture to the Viscount; the din'
mends his Lordship had previously divided among two
of his daughters. His Lordship's death was very sudden,
on the 4th of May last, then in his seventy-first year.
The title was conferred on the first Viscount in the
reign of George 11., 1751.
..111E CROPS IN AMERICA.—We have made it our
business to read, carefully, the accounts of the growing
crops throughout the country, since the opening of
spring, and we have arrived at the conclusion that the
prospect of the husbandman of reaping a plentiful
harvest is decidedly good. To be sure, the lateness
and coldness of the season, and the hail-stormst
have in some places destroyed the young cotton
and tobacco plants, but the ground which these occu-
pied has been generally replanted with corn, or
something else equally as good for the sustenance of
man. In the west and south west, the prospect of
an abundant yield was never better, and if the wee..
ther be propitious that prolific part of the country
will give au unlitnited yield. The immense drain
upon this country for food for the past year, and the
,
prospective demand for the surplus of this year
s
harvest, stimulated many of our citizens, who never
made two blades grow where but one grew, to
leave their regular business and embark in agricul-
ture. This, with the fact that our farmers have
planted on a larger scale than they ever did, will give
the world an insight into the immense agricultural re-
sources of the United States. We shall still continue
to watch the progress of the crops, and record frottn
day to day their advance to maturity. It is the most
important and interesting intelligence that we can pre-
sent to our readers.—New York Herald, June 1.