The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-06 00:00:00

INDIA.

The following is the letter of our Calcutta cor-
respondent :

" CALCUTTA, MAY 3.
" I have enjoyed during the past 10 days addi-
tional means of making myself acquainted with the
effect on the native mind of the untoward publica-
tion of Sir Charles Trevelyan's minute. Prior to
that publication Sir Robert Montgomery, the
Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, Mr. Edmon-
stone and Mr. Wingfield, the rulers of the North-
West Provinces and Oude, had reported to Govern-
ment that the natives in their respective satrapies
were prepared to accept the measure. Their re-
ports subsequent to the publication have been by
no means so satisfactory. While even now they
apprehend no real difficulty, they have ascertained
that the language itsed by Sir C. Trevelyan has
unsettled the minds of many who were previously
resigned. It has produced a strong impression on
the natives generally that they may yet escape
taxation altogether. They cannot believe that
Sir Charles would have dared not only to write but
to publish his dissent to Mr. Wilson's measures,
unless he had been sure of strong support from the
English Ministry. The confident tone assumed by
the Madras newspapers, especially by those who
have the credit of being inspired from Government-
house, has confirmed this scepticism. They wel-
come, therefore, the idea that the Home Govern-
ment is divided in its Indian policy ; that, if a
portion of the Ministry is prepared to support
Mr. Wilson, another and a stronger section will
back up the Governor of Madrus. He must, they
say, be certain of carrying through his policy;
and, as that policy is confined to the defeat of
Mr. Wilson's schemes, they do not conceal their
wish for its success. I have said that these hopes
are sustained by the language used by the Madras
press. I might also add that they are confirmed
likewise by the language and bearing of the author
of the mischief; for Sir Charles loses no opportu-
nity of boasting the great feat he has aceomplished
in preventing the success of the new measures. In
public and in private he never ceases to congratu-
late himself upon this manoeuvre, and he considers
himself on that account especially entitled to the
gratitude of the country. This confident bearing
tends more than anything else to fan the hopes of
the disaffected, and to induce a belief among the
entire community that they may yet escape a sacri-
fice to which they had previously schooled them-
selves to submit. Under these circumstances every-
thing depends upon the prompt decision and rapid
action of the Home Government. It is impossible
that this country can be subject to two masters ;
nor, if the English Government were simply to
affirm Mr. Wilson's views, would it be practicable
for Sir C. Trevelyan to carry into execution mea-
sures which, in his opinion, would produce wide-
spread discontent, if not rebellion. Indeed, itis not
to be supposed that he would consent to take a part
obviously unsuited to one who holds such strong
opinions on the subject. Were he, notwithstanding
that the support of the Ministry were accorded to
Mr. Wilson, to remain at Madras, the idea of divided
councils would not be wholly eradicated from the
native mind. It is not easy to see how the collec-
tions could be made in the Madras Presidency,
while from other parts of India every eye would be
turned thither to watch the least sign of the con-
vulsion which had been foretold by its ruler. On
the other hand, lam confident—and my opinion is
shared by every thinking man in Calcutta—that a
prompt and hearty support of Mr. Wilson, evinced
in a manner likely to strike the imagination, would
silence every murmur and cause his bill to be ac-
cepted without hesitation. The crisis is so impor-
tant, the chance of introducing a fair measure of
taxation, the only one that can operate equally on
the mercantile community, so dependent on the
line
the Home Government may take, that great
anxiety is felt as to the course they may adopt.
Whatever it be, it is hoped that it may be prompt
and decided—prompt because the delay of each day
increases the difficulties in the way of the Govern-
ment, and decided, because a middle course must
bring administration to a dead lock. The feeling
of the mercantile community here has been strongly
pronounced in the matter ; no class will suffer to
a greater extent from the proposed taxation. Their
prepossessions were all in favour of Sir C. Treve-
lyan, and yet they support Mr. Wilson to a man.
' I do not want to be taxed,' remarked one of them
to me this very morning, and I would support
Sir C. Trevelyan if his plan were feasible, but it is
a chimfcra—it is no plan—it is simply an objection
to taxation of any sort. The expenditure of the
country must be provided for, and therefore I sup-
port Wilson.' This is a type of the prevalent feel-
ing of all classes of Europeans in this city.
"No alteration has occurred in the programme
of Lord Canning's movements. He will leave
Simla on or about the 7th, and will reach Calcutta
about the 20th of the month. Lord Clyde will fol-
low a few days later, and will leave 'Calcutta for
En
England the first week in June. Sir Hugh Rose
will, in all probability, come round at once from
Bombay to assume the command of the army in his
room. General Mansfield has already been ga-
zetted to succeed Sir Hugh at Bombay, where he
has been commanding in virtue of his seniority.
" Accounts from the indigo districts are by no
means so favourable as when I last wrote. On more
than one occasion the ryots have assaulted the civil
power, and it is a significant fact that they have
shown a bad feeling not so much against the mere
indigo planter as against the Europeans generally.
It has been remarked, too, that in those districts
nearer the metropolis the ryots have acted upon a
policy hitherto unknown. Although in many cases
they have professed themselves satisfied with the
decision of the magistrate, that functionary has no
sooner turned his back than a deputation from the
ryots has proceeded to Calcutta to take orders on
the subject of his communication from a native
junta, which has i
constituted itself in permanence.
This junta, which s composed of wealthy Bengalees
or their agents,
desires nothing less than the expul-
sion of the indigo planter from Lower Bengal. It
is with this view, I believe, that the ryots, whose
prospects were never better than they are at this
moment, have been constantly stirred up, supplied
with money, and incited to undergo anything rather
than sow indigo. In spite of these efforts, order has
been preserved in districts which possessed a magis-
trate of firm and decided character, but in others
which have not been so fortunate—and there are
more than one of these—disorder still reigns ram-
pant. To such an extent has this proceeded that
the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal has determined
no longer to delay the appointment of a committee
whi h shall possess. lull powers to sift the ques-
tion to its foundation. The indigo interest has
looked with much anxiety to the manner in which
this committee would be constituted, especially
to the names of the members of whom it would
be composed. These points; have been settled
by the Lieutenant-Governor in a way which
will give satisfaction to every one,
evinces on and which
his part an earnest desire to arrive
at the truth. It will not be a mere committee of
members of the civil service, but it will contain
representatives of every interest. Tho president,
Mr. Seton Karr, is known as one of the ablest
civilians in Bengal, as a really practical man,
thoroughly
acquainted with the indigo system.
Mr. Temple, one of Sir John Lawrence's civilians,
lately taken from the Punjaub by Mr. Wilson, is
the other representative of the civil service. A
planter, as representative of the indigo interest, a
missionary, on behalf of the ryots, and a native
magistrate, complete the formation of the commit-