The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-15 00:00:00

SUPPLY OF FLAX FROM INDIA.

An influential deputation from gentlemen in Scotland,
interested in the growth of flax, had an interview yesterday
with Lord Stanley, in his capacity of Secretary of State for
India, on the subject of the capabilities of India for the
supply of flax to this country.
Viscount Durrcert, M.P., having introduced the deputa-

Mr. MILLER, chairman Of the Dundee Chamber of Com-
merce, stated that from information which had recently
been received in this country, there was every reason to be-
lieve that flax could be produced in India of fine quality
and texture. Indeed, he had himself received a sample,
which had been fairly tested, and was found to be admi-
rably adapted for the manufacture of canvas for the navy.
The British manufacturer was at present in a somewhat
critical position with respect to the supply of the raw
material. Neither Russia nor Ireland was likely to increase
its production of flax; on the contrary, it was more than
probable that from the increased value of land, and the
rise in the price of labour, the supply from those sources
would be diminished. Last year the import of flax amounted
only to 50,000 tons, whereas from Russia alone ho had
known the imports in former years to reach 80,000 tons.
The question, then, was, how were the wants of the linen
trade to be supplied? A committee had been appointed in
Dundee, with a view to form an association for the purpose
of encouraging the growth of flax in India, and they were
anxious to impress on his lordship the great necessity
which existed for improved means of transit, and of making
some alteration in the tenure of land.

Lord STANLEY said—As far as respects improvements in
the internal communications of India I can only repeat that
we are doing all we can to forward those improvements.
The Government has been spending of its own money upon
railways and public works an average annual sum of
£2,000,000 a-year for some years, and in addition to that
the Indian Government have guaranteed .E 5 per cent. upon
nearly £40,000,000 of railway capital. I should have no
objection myself to increase the number of those guarantees,
but this does not depend upon the will of the Government.
The state of the money market at present renders it impos-
sible to do so ; for we could not throw fresh guarantee secu-
rities into the market without depreciating those in the
market already. When, however, the great railways now
in progress in India are completed the great lines of transit
communication through India will to a great extent supply
the deficiency now so much felt. As far, however, as the
roads were concerned, that was a matter more of local con-
cern than of arrangement in this country.
In reply to a question from Viscount Duncan,
Lord STANLEY said that the instructions which the home
government had sent out would enable the authorities there
to improve the land tenure, and in some cases to create a
species of freehold.
Sir G. OGILVIE—Then, supposing a man builds: a fac-
tory, or establishes a farm, there is no chance of his being
dispossessed.
Lord STANLEY—Just so. This instruction will meet
your views exactly.
Sir G. OGILVIE said that an association, which he men-
tioned, intended to distribute prizes among the most suc-
cessful growers of flax in India, and he inquired of the noble
lord whether the Government could assist them in that
respect ?
Lord STANLEY replied that there was no objection in
principle to the distribution of prizes for that purpose, but
he thought the growth of flax in India would be much more
influenced by the price the producers could obtain for their
flax than by any premiums for its successful cultivation.
The Government could not encourage the natives to invest
their money or labour in the cultivation of an article unless
there was a prospect of a steady demand for that article for
the future. _ _ . .

Some further conversation took place, in which it was
stated by several of the manufacturers present that at this
moment it was impossible to obtain a sufficient supply of the
raw material, and that some of the mills were actually
standing in consequence.
Lord STANLEY said that the subject was one of great im-
portance to the country, and that they might depend upon
it it would have the closest attention of Government,

EXAMINATION LIST 1011 WOOLWICH.

The following is a list of successful candidates for
admission into the Royal Military Academy at
Woolwich, at the examination held at Burlington-
house, Piccadilly, in Jan., 1859 :
J. D. Bowly, 17, Preparatory Military Academy, Eltham,
4,612 marks.
J. H. Urquhart, 17, Dr. Bridgeman's, Woolwich, 4,285
marks.

H. Fowler, 17, King's College, and Mr. Taylor's, Wool-
wich, 4,215 marks.
M. T. Sale, 17, Rugby and Clapham Grammar School,
4,059 marks.

W. C. O'Connor, 19, Queen's College, Cork, 3,930 marks.
T. C. Cooke, 17, Harrow, and J. PFleming's, D.C.L.,
Tonbridge, 3,824 marks.
C. E. Tuthill, 17, Dublin University, 3,806 marks.
A. Warry, 17, Winchester, college, and Mr. Taylor's,
Woolwich, 3,795 marks.
C. Jones, 18, Upper Canada College and Dublin Uni-
versity, 3,727 marks.
C. D. E. Smith, 17, Mr. Taylor's, Woolwich, 3,570
marks.
T. F. Glancy, 18, Dublin University, 3,560 marks.
W. A. Day, 18, Dublin University, 3,529 marks.
C. Cunningham, 17, Glasgow University, and Mr. Tay-
lor's, Woolwich, 3,511 marks.
A. H. Kildahl, 19, Dublin University, 3,430 marks.
A. B. Brown, 18, Royal National School, New-cross, and
Rey. C. Hughes's, St. John's-wood, 3,418 marks.
W. S. Peat, 19, Trubey House, Woodford, 3,393 marks.
C. Kirkwood, 18, Kingstown School, Dublin, and Rev.
A. De la Mare's, Woolwich, 3,300 marks.
J. W. Bernard, 18, Cheltenham College, 3,292 marks.
F. H. W. Milner, 18, Eton, and Rev. J. H. Groome's,
Earl Soham, 3,266 marks.
W. A. W. Orange, 19, Grammar School, Halifax, 3,210
marks.
J. A. Kelso, 19, St. Paul's School, and King's College,
3,208 marks.
R. J. Haslet, 18, Dublin University, 3,195 marks.
L. Downes, 17, St. Peter's College, Hadley, 3,175 marks.
H. A. Barker, 17, abroad, and Rev. H. Pritchett's,
Charlton, 3,165 marks.
P. Lewis, 18, Cowbridge Grammar School, 3,121 marks.
H. H. Baker, 17, Marlborough College, 3,110 marks.
H. Allman, 19, Dublin University, 3,379 marks.
S. Gardiner, 18, Royal National School, New-cross,
3,067 marks.
A. C. Ward, 17, Mr. Osborn's Bath, and J. P. Flemings,
D.C.L., Tonbridge, 2,958 marks.
P. R. Barber, 18, Yarmouth Proprietary School, and
Rev. F. Arnold's, Kingston-on-Thames, 2,946 marks.
E. G. B. Gattey, 18, abroad, and Rev. W. Pritchett's,
Charlton, 2,897 marks.
F. H. E. Day, 19, Mr. Pritchard's, Eltham, and Clapham
Grammar School, 2,874 marks.
W. H. Wright, 17, Marlborough College, 2,729 marks.
J. E. Toiler, 20, Harrow, 2,694 marks.
J. B. Ormsby, 10, Dublin University, 2,655 marks.

LOVE AND SUICIDE.-EXT.RAO.RDI-

NARY CASE.

Yesterday, Mr. Wakley, coroner for West Middlesex
held an inquest at the Assembly House, Kentish Town, on
Joseph William Jones, aged 22, late assistant to Mr. Emer-
son, surgeon, of 3, Lower York-place, who committed self-
destruction under very peculiar and determined circum-
stances.

The evidence having been given by deceased's employer
and others, to the effect that on Friday morning last he was I
found dead in his room, and that death had been caused by
prussic acid, a bottle which had contained that poison being '
found by his side.
Harriet Ranson, a young person to whom it was stated
the deceased was engaged to be married, was next examined,
and the witness appeared deeply moved. She said that she
resided at 7, Bishopsgate-street Without. She was well
acquainted with the deceased, and she received a letter from
him on last Friday morning. The last letter prior to that
was on Monday morning.
The witness handed in the letter she received on Friday,
and while it was being read she became very much agi-
tated, and swooned away. The letter ran thus :
" 8, Lower York-place, Kentish Town.
" My dearest Harriet,—My gold watch is for you, and
please apply for it at 1, Hamilton-place, Highbury Park
North, of Mr. Llewellyn, who will give it up to you, as you
are the one I most love of all. Therefore accept my watch,
with my love.—Yours most affectionately
"JOSEPH JONES."
The letter appeared to have been written in a very hurried.
manner. The witness having been restored to conscious-
ness said, with continued emotion, that the deceased had
never written or spoken about suicide to her. They parted
as friendly as ever on the Sunday before, and he promised
to see her again before the month was over. She Bever
noticed anything peculiar in his manner; and he seemed as
usual when they parted on Sunday night, about a quarter-
past nine o'clock.
Edward Champion, errand boy at Mr. Emerson's stated
that on Thursday night, before going to his room, the de-
ceased wrote two letters and sent them to the post. He
was writing another but he tore it up, and be then went to a
cupboard where the poisons were kept. After this, about
seven o'clock, he went upstairs, and he did not come down
again. As ho was goin& up stairs he gave witness a parcel,
containing a shirt, saying ho might have it if he liked.
There was nothing unusual in the deceased's manner. And
the witness further said, that he never noticed anything
peculiar about the deceased.
Other evidence was taken for the purpose of endeavour-
ing to gain a clue as to the state of the deceased's mind at
the period he committed the suicidal act, but in vain; the
deceased being described as being always cool an col-
lected, and nothing had ever been observed in his manner
denoting the least insanity.
The coroner, in summing up, said that he never had a
case before in which the evidence was so scanty and bare
as to the state of mind ; and repudiating as he did such a
harsh verdict as one of felo de Be, which did no good, but
only gave pain to the relatives, he recommended as open
verdict to be retureed.
The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict of
" Suicide, leaving the state of mind an open question.