The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-21 00:00:00

THE SUN,

INDIA.
(From the Times.)
We learn from our Indian correspondence that it
has been resolved to recommend the creation of a
fourth Presidency for the better administration of our
eastern dominions. The new Government is to b 3
styled the Government of Lahore, and, if we may
judge by the specifications of a project which must
still be rudimentary, it will greatly exceed the ancient
territorial departments in magnitude and splerniour.
Its base, if we may so speak, is to be constituted by
the spacious province of the Punjaub, to which, on
the east, it will annex the broad districts of Agra and
Bengal, up to the banks of the Sone' embracing the
populous and important cities of Allahabed and Be-
pares. To the south-west it will include our anoma-
lous appanage of Sinde, and will thus extend
itself from the Hindoo Eloosh to the mouths of
the Indus, and from the mountains of Biloo-
chisten to the plains of the Ganges. Nor will its
dignity be disproportioned to its dimensions, for the
prescriptions of a century are at length to be de-
mashed, and the supremacy of India is to be for-
mally transferred from the residence of Clive and
Hastings to the capital of the Sikhs. At the latter of
these cities, or at Umballah, will be stationed a subor-
dinate administration, and a Lieutenant-Governor
will superintend from the deserted palaces of Calcutta
the immediate interests of Lower Bengal. The su-
preme Government and Council of India, under the
Governor-General in person, is to be permanently
established at Simlab, from which agreeable retreat
the affairs of our Eastern Empire will be henceforth
directed.
Though the proposed change involves no more than
a redistribution of territory already acquired, it is
probable that few readers acquainted with the subject
will hear without a certain emotion of so sweeping a
project. Even those not immediately conversant with
Indian affairs will be startled at a suggestion for
transferring the central seat of British Government to
a capital city some 1,200 miles from the mouth of the
Hooglily, and which within three short years was the
metropolis of our most distant and most determined

foes. -If it was denied hozirdous to annex the Pun

jaub, what is likely to be thought of selecting it as the
residence of supreme power ? Whet will be said by
those writers who worried us against crossing the
Sutlej of our final domestication in the heart of those
very territories which were described as so barbarous,
remote, and inaccessible ? We are carrying ourselves
bodily to encounter our proverbial perils. We are
placing ourselves in immediate contiguity with the
treacherous and turbulent chieftains of Affghanistan,
and, if the argument has any weight, we are ac-
tually marching a thousand miles in the direction of
Russian advances. Herat will now actually be nearer
to us than Calcutta; and Herat within these last few
months bee really been besieged again.
To the omens which might thus be not unnaturally
suggested, a few substantial arguments can be stated
in reply. In the first place, although in effecting this
mOVement we should he retiring from Calcutta, we
should not be retiring from England. The mighty
revolutions cf trallic generated by the employment of
steam have already worked their irresistible will
abroad as well as at home, and have left the City of
Palaces stranded and forlorn. Bombay is now the
point of contact between England and India, and as
the system of overland communication becomes gra-
dually perfected under Mr. Stephenson's auspices, the
terreieus of the commercial track will advance still
nearer to the plains of the Punjaub. It is Calcutta,
not Lahore, which will be the remote station of India;
and, if the Supreme Government were still to be pre-
served at that spot, we should be retaining our central
seat of administration at one of the most distant cor-
ners of our dominion.
In the next place, it must be observed, that if the
productiveness of India is ever to be much increased,
the object must be accomplished by reclaiming from
desolation or sterility those spacious plains which
should derive an agricultural value from the fertiliz-
ing streams of the Ganges and the noble rivers of the
Punjaub. Already the work of irrigation in the north-
west is regarded as one of the most important duties
of Government; and it needs no argument to prove
that the enterprise will be far more effectively prose-
cuted under the immediate eyes of the chief rulers of
India. Such a precedence would we fain assign to
these pacific enterprises that, if truth would permit,
we should gladly abstain from mentioning the benefits
of the proposed migration in the event of war. If the
storm, however, should ever burst upon us anew, it 15
scarcely doubtful that it must proceed from the quar-
ters against which we should thus be fortified by the
presence and appurtenances of a central power. One
of the contemplated advantages of the East Indian
Railway was, that it would carry our battalions from
Barrackpore to Meerut before the enemy could con-
centrate his strength on the Sutlej ; but, if these are
the contingencies against which our battalions are
most obviously required, why should not Meerut be
made a Barrackpore at once ? It would doubtless
have been a prodigious gain to have reduced a march
of 1,000 miles to a ride of forty-eight hours, but why
should not the movement be dispensed with altogether ?
Why should our troops be quartered at all at such a
distance from the probable scene of action ? In point
of fact, the Bengal army already pivots on Umballah
or Lahore ; the artillery, it will be remembered, did
actually receive the route the other day from its
time-honoured quarters at Dum-dum, and substantial
reasons ought surely to be forthcoming for main-
taining the troops in one place and their directors in
another.
So self-evident is the principle of the projected
change, and so manifestly bad the huge and unwieldy
Presidency of Bengal outgrown the administrative
machinery of Calcutta, that at the last renewal of the
Company's charter it was proposed by Government
and sanctioned by Parliament to detach the north-
western provinces for a separate Presidency with the
capital and title of Agra. The scheme, however,
although still discernible in the arrangements and
accounts of the Company, was never effectually car-
ried out, but it is now designed to divide the military
force as well as the civil administration of Bengal,
and maintain a Lahore army as distinctly as a La-
hore Government. The latter force, indeed, must
soon become the more important of the two, and the
last victories of the Bengal army may not improbably
contribute to the comparative oblivion of the military
designations under which they were wen.
Above all, however, in the eyes of practical Eng-
lishmen the best argument for the change must lie
in the circumstance that it simply contemplates an
assimilation of profession to fact. The Government
of India is already to all intents rind purposes engaged
and stationed in these very parts, and there
can be no good reason for maintaining such
an artificial distinction between theory and prac-
tice 113 would place the residence of the Governor-
General at Calcutta, while his duties lay at La-
hore. how far the seductions of climate may have
operated in maturing this change of opinion we will
not attempt to conjecture, but it; as a matter of fact,
the Governor- General of India does find himself at
Simish through ten months of the year, it is surely
better that his Council should be brought thither at
once than that a thousand miles should intervene be-

tween the head and its members. If the Punjaub and
the north-western districts furnish the chief scenes of
action for the civil and military servants of the Com-
pany, they had better furnish a seat of government
too. It is certainly probable that objections may
hereafter be discovered to this remarkable migration,
and, beyond all doubt, they will receive their fullest
effect in the hands of the good people of Calcutta. It
is no small calamity for a city to be reduced from a
metropolis to an outstation, but, if the interests of
India require it, the change must be made ; and if
Calcutta, in its turn, should become a Golconda, it
must acquiesce in the unalterable destiny of cities, and
glories of the past.
repose on the

THE LATE KING OF HANOVER.—Our lady readers
will be glad to hear that from the usual forethought of the
Messrs. Jay, there will not be any advance in the price of
silks, &c., for mourning, their resources both in the loom
and bulk in Regent-street being more than amply sufficient
to meet the expected demand.
ASTLET'S.—Mr. Batty, ever on the look-out for
novelty and attraction, has just made an addition to his
stock in the shape of a pair of elephants, male and female,
which have just arrived from Calcutta, in the ship Ann
Mary, Captain 'nisei], now lying in the St.
Mr Katherine's
Docks ; they were purchased expressly for . Batty, and
are attended by a native Mahout, whose control over the
animals is most extraordinary. They will doubtless be ex-
hibited at the Amphitheatre in a short time.
CUSTOM-HOUSE REFORM.—The agitation at pre-
sent going on for numerous reforms in the management of
the Customs, is already producing results; as, on Monday
next that important branch of the Customs, the Long Room,
will be open at 9 a.ar., in place of 10 A.M., at which hour
official business will commence. During the summer months
it is intended to commence business at 8 A M., thus giving
merchants an advance of two hours of most valuable busi-
ness time.
CUSTOMS.—The following notice has been issued
by the Commissioners of the Customs Custom-house,
London, Nov. 18, 1851.—Notice.—Merchants, shipowners,
masters of vessels, and others, who may have occasion to
address the Board of Customs, are hereby informed that it
would tend materially to expedite the board's decision upon
their applications, if, instead of lodging their applications
with the Petition Clerk tor registry in the first instance,
they would, when convenient, deliver the same to the prin-
cipal officer of the department, or at the station to which the
subject Lf their application may relate, who have been in-
structed to report thereon and forward the papers with all
practical dispatch to the Board through the Petition-
office at the Custom-house. By order of the Commissioners.
—William Maclean, Secretary."
S. MARIA CußTlS.—This young woman, who, it
will be recollected, was deprived of her eyesight in April
last by the accidental discharge of a pistol, was last week
elected into the School for the Indigent Blind by a large
majority of votes, her Majesty the Queen sending her proxy
for lOU. The sufferer, whose affliction is now in some
degree alleviated by the kindness of her benevolent friends,
has testified her gratitude by her sincere thanks to them.

GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND. —Measures are
being adopted to ensure the immediate commencement of
this line, which is to be from Aberdeen to Inverness. The
distance will be upwards of 100 miles, but in the first instance
the hitic wtv De ade tct Ktith, a distance of hi Pilo.

LON DON,

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of
public business. The attendance, of commone•ra was
very nuvneruue, and several aldermen were present in
consequence of the expectation that a vote of thanks
to the late Lord Mayor would be proposed.
Mr. BENNOCII invired of the chairman of the
Markets' Improvement Committee (Mr. H. L.
Taylor), when the Court might expect to see their
report.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR—The committee aro as fully
aware of the importance of this subject as the gen-
tleman who has pat the question, who may rest
quite assured they are doing all they can in the
matter. The committee are anxious not to come to a
premature decision—they are about to prepare a re-
port which I hope to be able to lay before the Court
very shortly.
VOTE OF THANK 3 TO THE LATE LORD MAYOR.
Mr. Deputy CORNET—My Lord Mayor, I feel it
any duty to bring under the notice of the Court the
services of the late Lord Mayor; and I hope the
Court will allow me whilst 1 state that, during
his tenure of office as president here (and I
believe I shall be borne out by every member
present), the business was never more punctually or
more faithfully administered.—(Hear, hear.) I
have in the vote which I now propose steered clear
of any questions that might beget a controversy,
from a conviction that a unanimous vote of thanks is
a compliment that every public man duly appreciates.
That vote is alloyed if there are are any objectors.—
(Hear, hear.) I am unwilling to advert to what
passed in the Court of Aldermen on Tuesday last, but
my impression is that that Court, not having carried
out its motto, "Audi alteram partem," has excluded
such explanation as, I am satisfied, would have
averted a good deal of what there took place.—(Hear,
hear.) My motion is," That the thanks of this
Court be presented to the Right Honourable Sir John
Musgrove, Bart., the late Lord Mayor of the City,
for the very able and efficient manner in which he dis-
charged the important duties of chief magistrate
during the past year—a period eminently distin-
guished for the cultivation of the arts and sciences,
and the extension of friendly intercourse with all the
nations of the habitable globe—for the upright admi-
nistration of justice—for the punctuality and attention
which distinguished him on all occasions—for the
liberal support he cheerfully extended to the nu
merous charitable institutions which adorn the metro.

polis of the British empire—for his promptitude in
convening the meetings of this Court, and the
strict impartiality he displayed in presiding over its
deli berations."— (Hear, hear.)
Mr. JouN Maori—My Lord Mayor, I have been
requested to second this motion. Before I consented
to do so, I perused the paper on which it is written,
in order to see whether, in my lAnnble estimation,
there was any passage to which I could object. I
confess I see none.—(Cheers.)
Mr. BARKLEY—If a vote of thanks is to be passed,
as a matter of form, I, perhaps, should have no ob-
jection to vote in its favour ; but when I consider that
a vote of this description is one of the highest honours
that this Court has it in its power to bestow, it is one

that we ought to be very chary, indeed, in agreeing
to, unless fully satisfied in our own minds that the
late Lord Mayor fully deserves the compliment that is
now sought to be paid to him.—(Hear, hear.) A
very large sum of money is granted by this Court for
the purpose of enabling the Lord Mayor to maintain
the dignity and honour of the office, and, in my
humble opinion, Sir John Musgrove failed in carrying
out the object for which this money is granted.—
(Hear, hear.) No member of this Court is in the
habit of dining less frequently at the Mansion-house
than I am.—(Oh, oh.) I certainly received an invi-
tation from his Lordship to dine there.—(ol3, oh, and
loud cries of " Shame.") I accepted the invitation,
but afterwards; when I found his Lordship had deviated
from the practice of his predecessors in the mode in
which the invitation was conveyed, I considered it my
duty not to dine upon that occasion,—(Loud laughter.)
When his Lordship was remonstrated with for the im-
propriety of the course he had pursued he assigned
a reason which, I think, was an insult to the members
of this Court.—(Laughter.)
Mr. DE JERSEY—My Lord Mayor, the gentleman
who proposed this resolution seemed to think—indeed,
he said he stood upon very tender ground, and he,
therefore, drew that resolution in a very mild form.
lam not here to canvass its terms. lam perfectly
free to admit the courtesy, the urbanity, and even the
hospitality of the late Lord Mayor. I know not
whether the late Lord Mayor has deviated from any
rule or custom of late Lord Mayors.—(Oh, oh.) I
go upon higher grounds. I stand upon principle, and
I intend to move an amendment, and to divide the
Court upon it, even if I stand alone. The late Lord
Mayor has violated an obligation.—(Oh, oh.) He
has done that in a foreign country which he dare not
do here.—(",Oh, oh," and laughter.) In this country
we never hear of public festivals being held on the
Sabbath—the idea of such a thing is repugnant to the
feelings of the British nation, and would not be
tolerated for a moment. Formerly the Ministers of
the day used to give their public dinners on a
Sunday, but the practice has of recent years been
abolished. So also with the Lord Mayor. When
foreigners flocked here a few months ago they
found the Exhibition closed to the public
on Sundays ; but when the Lord Mayor went to
Paris he was content to enjoy the festivities of that
city on that day. Perhaps I shall be told that the
Lord Mayor could not have acted differently from
what he did, and that he must have gone to the folks
on Sunday, or not at all ! Not at all! The French
are a polite and considerate people, and would most
willingly listen to the conscientious objections of any
man, more especially of a man so honoured as the
late Lord Mayor was on the occasion of his visit to
Paris, and they would have acceded to any wishes he
might have expressed with the greatest promptitude.
I have not provided myself with any seconder. I ap-
prehend that every Christian gentleman who supports
the Sabbath, as a great number in this Court do, will
feel it to be a principle existing in his mind to endea-
vour to carry out the amendment which I propose.
I see a friend opposite (Mr. Anderton) taking notes,
I hope I shall have his vote.
Mr. ANDERTON—I am not a pantiler or a maw-
worm.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Dis JERSEY—Now, I look round again, and
esk who will support me ?
Mr. ANDERTON—Why, nobody.—(Laughter.)
Mr. DE JERSEY—I ask members who hold up their
lion& repeatedly in this Court for the various reli-
gious societies of the community, whether they will
hold up their hands against my amendment?
Mr. ANDERTONl—Certainly ; all of us.—(Hear.)
Mr. DE JERSEY-4 should be ashamed to do so. I
can tell my friend this, that if I am not supported
in this Court, I am supported out of it.—(Hear, hear,
and cries of " Oh.") I am supported by the whole
community of England. 1 have no objection to the
resolution of the lion. Deputy, but I wish to add as
an amendment the following words:—
"Yet this Court cannot but express its regret that, on
the occasion when the municipal authorities of Paris
offered a series of magnificent files to the Lord Mayor,
and other distinguished Englishmen, the Chief Magis-
trate of the city of London permitted himself to forget
the obligations of the Christian Sabbath, and to sanc-
tion, by his presence at Versailles, th© desecration of
that day. This Court with pain declares its opposition
to the course taken by one whose public conduct has
been generally so deservedly esteemed; but, looking to
the character of Great Britain, in which, however im-
perfectly, yet most firmly, the Sabbath-day is honoured
by the outward conduct of official men, and by the ex-
ample of
but
tf
rtehgerSetovtheraetigthne lateoftheLseorrdeamlmasy,otrhii.asiCleodutrot
hold
d-
that day sacred in a foreign land. The world•famed
courtesy of our French neighbours would undoubtedly
have promptly provided for a conscientious objection,
while they would have honoured the consistency of the
Lord Mayor in the maintenance of principle alike in
France as in England."
Mr. ANDERTON—Nobody will second that, I am
sure.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Deputy LoTT said, I do not rise to second the
amendment, but to support the original resolution. I
had indeed hoped that a resolution of so temperate a
nature as that which is before the Court would have
passed unanimously, and I regret very much that any
opposition whatever should be made to it. Our friend
Mr. Barkley opposed it, and I cannot enter into his
reasons. According to his own statement, he was
invited to a dinner at the Mansion-house.—(Hear.)
He did not dine there.—(Laughter.) Whether he
anticipated taking anything which might disagree
with him or not, I cannot tell—(lncreased laughter)
—Mr. De Jersey has taken objection to the conduct
of the late Lord Mayor in Paris. The objection
taken by the Court of Aldermen was based upon a
very different ground. It appears that the late Lord
Mayor had in a foreign country—a country profess-
ing a different religion—chosen, on his own Sabbath,
tto o
hsworshipypo )topfeato,ohrb
eher
Lord
i uet
gentlemenomrireligion.—(Hear,
igo MakerniMayor
i_fha in
ap r
,ac
he eof
hear.) worship
This
dedicated
conduct
caused considerable delay in the movements of
The remarks
on
rr teahmsae raeer t
great,
ascetic.—(Loud
. an—o and
f(
Ldnoo broughtuayld
forl
fiaelaughter.)
gd hdw
censure
to(eDr. ne)
sajuloape n ihdorasneveoe heard of a French astronomer postponing an
eclipse—perhaps there would have been as much rea-
son and probability in postponing the fele.—
(Laughter.) I would ask my friend whether his ob-
servations were not those of an ascetic, when he
would deny to the Lord Mayor a few hours' enjoy-
ment in the after-part of the day, after having at-
tended his own place of worship. He seems to have
forgotten the verses of the celebrated Dr. Watts, who
says, with reference to the recreations of man, re-
ligion never was designed
" To make our pleasures less."

—(Eiear, hear, and laughter.) I most cordially agree
with the motion proposed. I say most distinctly that
the Lord Mayor acted with the most praiseworthy
courtesy to the meinbera of this court, and that he
performed all his duties with z-al and ability.—