The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-07 00:00:00

INDIA.

By the arrival of the Bombay mail we have re-
ceived files of papers from Bombay to the 12th of
December, and from Calcutta to the 3d December.

We take the following from the Bombay Gazette
of the 12th of December :

" The Viceroy has left Calcutta on his journey
into Central India, having prefaced his departure
with another act of clemency—namely, the pardon
of all except the most blood-stained and refractory
of the convict mutineers.

" The Legislative Council has resumed its
labours. The most important measure to be
brought under its consideration is the Penal Code.
Some of its provisions are absurdly severe, others
quite unintelligible.
" We regret to report some disturbances in the
Bombay Presidency on account of the income tar.
At Surat, on the 29th ult., the people assembled in
thousands in an open part of the city and began to
clamour against the tax, declaring that they would
shut up their shops and cease all business till the
act was repealed. The magistrate, Mr. E. Ravens
croft, behaved with great promptitude and decision.
Collecting a body of police, horse and foot, he
quickly dispersed the mob, arrested 30 of the ring-
leaders, and condemned 25 to six months' imprison-
ment with hard labour, the other five being acquitted
for want of evidence. Mr. Ravenscroft's energetic
action was successful in at once restoring order.
All thought of opposition ceased ; and the returns
of income are now sent in with praiseworthy
regularity. At Bassein the popular discontent has
assumed an even more insolent form. The deputy
magistrate, Mc. Hunter, was assaulted while sit-
ting in his office, and with difficulty made his way
through a crowd of rioters to the pier, where he
jumped into a boat and escaped to Tannah. Very
numerous arrests have since been made at Bassein,
' and it is to be hoped that some signal punishment
will mark the sense that Government entertain of
the gravity of the offence committed. If this be
not done, it is certain that the life of every civilian
in an up-country station will be endangered. In
Bombay there is no change worthy of notice in the
position of affairs. The native merchants, having
been convinced by some heavy fines of the folly of
refusing to send in their returns, have now changed
their tactics. The assessors have no longer any
reason to complain of disregard of the law—though,
when the collection of the tax itself comes to be
made, some further opposition may be expected.
But, with a determination and unity that no one
anticipated, the natives continue to abstain from all
dealings in English goods, and the' European mer-
chants are becoming seriously alarmed at the com-
bination. There is no doubt, however, that in the
natural course of things self•interest will force on
the natives the abandonment of this plan of striking
work.

"The Bombay Volunteer Corps, under its com-
manding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel North, now
numbers nearly 100 members, and its popularity
continually increases. Drill will be commenced
immediately, the Government having given its cor-
dial approbation to the establishment of the corps.
" The CaZeutla Englishman asserts that Lord
Canning has been offered the option of remaining in
India for another five years, at the expiration of
the term of his present proconsulate. This is at
variance with the report commonly received here
that the Viceroy himself expects to go home in
February next, as by t hat time it is supposed the
conclusion of
.the Chinese war will have left Lord
Elgin at liberty to come round to Calcutta under
happier auspices than were his when he last visited
the City of Palaces.
" An important 'notification appears in our last
page concerning the transformation of the whole of
the Bombay Cavalry into Irregular or Silldar regi-
ments. Out of the ten corps now on service four-
teen new regiments will be made, and each of these