The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-09 00:00:00

PIPP.'

suil/4,4% LONDON, SATURDAI

New.aer.M.
E CoNQUEST AND ADMINIS-
TRATION OF SINDE.

unscrupulous, had they been applied to, would, no doubt, have
acknowledged every farthing of the debt, on purpose to make
the British Government pay it, and the more so as they were
then sanguinely expecting to be restored to their dominions,
where torture would soon have squeezed back all the money
from the Ilindoos. The Sindian Mussulmans have acted with
less asperity, for their transactions were not pecuniary, and
they show no vindictive feeling towards the Beloochees, but
seem content at being emancipated from their thraldom. The
three races under the Ameers were, in fact, precisely the
Normans, Saxons, and Jews of England under the first Norman
Kings ; but with this difference, that the Saxons had laws, the
Sindians none.
At the moment of conquest, and for a long time after, no
artisans could be found; the mechanical industry of Sinde was
driven away by oppressive exactions, and workmen came from
Bombay ; now they are flocking in so rapidly from every part
that appeals have been made from neighbouring states against
the emigration of their subjects to Sinde.
The Indus, in consequence of its Protean nature, is still a
doubt and a puzzle with reference to its commerce; and so
shortly after the violence of conquest and revolution no strongly
marked progress in commerce can be fairly expected in a
barbarous country. The thing is impossible ; the din of arms
has scarcely ceased, and the Ameers, abetted by their British
partisans in India and elsewhere, have never ceased inculcat-
ing a belief that they are to return to Sinde. The effect of
this, to say the least of its imprudence, has been most mis-
chievous to commerce. Take an instance : an inhabitant of
Kurachee, who is the greatest merchant and the richest man in
Sinde, has turned all his convertible property into gold, silver,
and jewels, and has retired to Delhi; at the same time inform-
ing the Governor, that if he could assure him that the Ameers
would not return, or guarantee his security if they did, he
would remain, and whenever the English dominion of Sinde
should be established past a doubt he would return ; but that
his known good-will to the English would not only ensure his
being ruined, but tortured also, if the Ameers came back ;
wherefore he took the opportunity of British protection to re-
move out of those princes' reach, with all his property ! This
is not an islolated case, but one of many, and even some of the
British officers themselves are afraid to build, or are doing so
with the fear of losing their property ; they therefore live in
tents, as no other quarters are allowed them by the Compan.).
But, in despite of all this, Kurachee has nearly doubled its po-
pulation since the conquest; mercantile speculations have be-
gun to show signs of activity, and the Lady of the Lake was
expected last March direct from London to Kurachee with a
cargo of something more than was exactly necessary for the
mere military consumption in that country. This swallow,
therefore, promises a future summer.
The shikargurs, or wooded hunting-grounds of the Ameers,
are likely to turn to enormous account ; large forests on the
banks of a large river must ever be valuable, and the Governor
of Sinee took the early precaution to place them under the
charge of an especial department, by which they base been care-
fully attended to, and are soon, it is said, to yield great profits.
But in everything relating to the regeneration of such a country
and people extreme patience is above all things necessary, and
the magical effects of wealth and enterprise in Eng-
land spoils us for the slower progress of other lands.
Nevertheless, there is strong reason to believe that trade
is very rapidly increasing even under all these disadvantages,
although on the part of Sinde the exchange must as yet be
in raw materials alone, but to what amount is not yet ascer-
tained. Her chief produce is indigo, sugar, wool, tobacco,
opium, grain, alum, sulphur, salt, and saltpetre; and by an
experimental garden, formed by Sir Charles Napier's orders, et
Kurachee, it is proved that every kind of vegetable yet tried,
as well as fruits of all species, flourish surprisingly. There
seems also strong reason to believe in the presence of both iron
and coal, if not in Sinde, at least close to it, in the Bolan Pass,
and in Schwistan, close to the Indus. As the climate of Sinde
is only unhealthy on the banks of the river, subject to inunda-
tion and consequent malaria, sickness will abate whenever the
waters are brought under control, but probably never be en •
tirely removed ; there are now, however, sanguine hopes
entertained that, in consequence of the precautions, suggested
by reason and experience, which the Government will pro-
bably soon have completed, little or no loss of Europeans will
occur next bad season, and at all others Sinde is a healthy
climate, except in the usual effects of great heat on European
constitutions, which equally apply to every other part of India.
Neither Hyderabad nor Kurachee is unhealthy; the latter is
fast becoming a favourite Indian station, and in time will pro-
bably be the Alexandria of Sinde. Although the feudal chiefs
still hold their land on tenure of military service, the Governor
is gradually changing it into one of landlord and tenant;
yet this must necessarily be a very slow and difficult
operation, but which he, as it would seem, means ultimately
to follow up, by allowing the Jaghirdars to purchase their
lands on fee-simple ; a still more difficult measure, for these
chiefs have no money, neither can any of them write or read,
and they are all in debt to the Hindoos. These and other
obstacles, all well known to Government, must be removed
before any important change can take place in the land
tenure of Sinde. But " patience and perseverance"
is the Governor's maxim. I will conclude this letter by giving
a general outline of the machinery of Sinde government,
as conceived and established entirely by Sir Charles Napier,
almost in the midst of hostilities. The Executive Ministers,
if I may so call them, are a Government secretary, three
collectors cf land revenue, and one collector of customs ;
the latter resides at Kurachee, and regulates the Sinde trade
according to the Bombay farms, which have lately been revised
and corrected, and, besides being reckoned good in themselves,
have been wisely adopted in Sinde to facilitate the transaction
of business with that port, which must necessarily be for a long
time the focus of Sinde commerce.
The three collectors of land revenue have eighteen deputy-
collectors under them, and under these again are " kardars"
and minor officers, all of them the same as under the Ameers ;
so that those in immediate contact with the people are not
strangers, only better behaved friends. Sir Charles Napier
divided Sinde into three great revenue districts or collector-
ships—namely, Kurachee, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.
That of Hyderabad includes all the British territory on the
eastern bank of the Indus, as far north as the dominions of Ali
Morad, which begin at Nowshara.
That of Kurachee includes the territory on the western bank
of the southern Indus ea far as Sehwan ; and the collector-
ship of Shikarpore, or Sukkur, all the British territory from
Schwan to the northern boundary on both banks of the river.
The deputy-collectors are dotted about the different collec-
torships ; their duty is generally that of a magistrate and the
collecting of the revenue,—as well as to look after the conduct
of the kardars and other subordinate officers, to see
that the canals are properly cleaned previous to the inun-
dation of the Indus, and to make reports to Govern-
ment, through the collectors, on any improvements that
they think may be undertaken for the advantage of the people.
Each of these gentlemen keeps a diary, in which he inserts an
abstract of every letter that he receives or issues from his
office. He also records therein all his decisions relative to
questions of revenue and land. This diary is sent weekly to
the Government Secretrry through the collector; the former
lays them before the Governor, who reads everything, and
thus becomes acquainted with every transaction carried on by
the collectors and their deputies; for the former also keep
their separate journals. This is a very simple, but for the
ruler a very laborious means of knowing the state and wants of
the country ; yet they are worth the labour, for the great ability
with which most of them are said to be drawn up must be of the
highest importance to the Governor, for several reasons. They
give him a thorough knowledge of what is going on; they
enable him to keep his system more consistent in its movements
by an uniform method of acting amongst the collectors and
their deputies; they enable him to judge -of the abilities
of these officers, are a check to their assumption of powers
(were any so inclined) that do not properly belong to their
office, and restrain each within his legitimate bounds, of
which none can better judge than the author of the system
himself. Still he has given himself a hard task, unaided as
he is by any council or any of those great official establish-
ments which exist in all old and regularly organised govern-
ments. The whole machine is of his own construction, and
he must necessarily feel an anxious responsibility for the
movement of every wheel, to maintain which these diaries
afford him considerable instruction of a general nature, by the
opinions therein recorded on subjects with which he must ne-
cessarily be unacquainted. These opinions the Governor is
said to collate with great care, drawing from them his own
conclusions ; by these he is at least enabled to form opinions
that he could not otherwise accomplish, and if they are, as is
said and believed, extremely able productions, he must gain
considerable information both in opinions and facts. The de-
sert tribes in the south-eastern part of Sinde, bordering on
Cutch, are placed on a different system ; they are very dis-
tant from Hyderabad ; are robbers, with peculiar manners
and customs; and were in some degree independent of the
Ameers, the Rao of Cutch, or any other Government. Sir
Charles Napier, seeing the inapplicability of his main system of
financial administration to them, placed their country under
the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts, an officer of great
ability, who had been political agent in Cutch, and passed
many years of his life amongst those tribes. Under this gen •
tleman's able management they have been reduced to an or-
derly state ; and he draws a revenue from them, in accordance
with their own customs, which would all have been broken
through by an attempt to apply the Sindian system, and pro-
bably caused a revolt. The police is intrusted with the usual
duties of such an establishment, and consists of 2,000
men, cavalry and infantry, well armed and tolerably drilled by
one European captain and three lieutenants of police ; all the
other officers are natives. The revenue of Sinde far exceeds
the expenditure, including the police ; but whether it includes
also a young battalion of Beloochees that Sir Chas. N apier has
already ventured to raise, arm, and discipline, I cannot say ;
but where I could speak with confidence I have, in this neces-
sarily long communication, endeavoured to add a few facts to
the slender and imperfect knowledge of Sindian affairs that has
hitherto satisfied, or rather dissatisfied, the public ; and have
e honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OFFICER.

Si! -„, TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
dr ' lour insertion some time ago of a letter. that I ad-
eased to o
to rd s 3' u about the Sinde Government now induces on
th,t
imt.onle additional, and I hope In erestin remarks, on
fat, ,u°Ject, especially as there seems to be an incipient desire
142, wall as a great lack of, information, on everything con-
sitss'eu with that province. The little knowle.dge acqu.ired. bays
kje : who for faction have sought informatio is
kees-tZwf °,rked up intos purposespaity weapons, that any simple state-
-111,..,, azts by a calm observer may be satisfactory, because
psi to know the truth, although
.so many distort or sup-
-1%1,4. Some weeks since we received the.,lndian Govern-
kr l Publication of Sir Charles Napiers dispatch, and
sfasee henry Hardinge's complimentary remarks on that
Ilia a difficult operations in mountain and desert against
tsi Pctserful border tribes ; but for this we should still
rumour.
vilignorant of the result, evcept from public
.m.
1)014 the Board of Control have so long neglectedthis i
ta nt dutY is hard to say, but it will surely be mortifying
Q1,1)0°41111 !,he General and his army when they knowof
made 41111 "i° o, and very naturally so ; for when troops. have
the • eacaPaign of such hardship and
.danger, , without
s._ .Piternent of battle, have displayed in a conspicuous de-
saie,etihe hardest of military virtues ; uncommonwhen_ skill and
arres)i!'n the General, with a corresponding devotion in the
ta alhappy and nearly bloodless issue, with the accomplishment
Peoi!rheat Political object (farjgreater than the generality of
sa, ~ ere are aware of), they surely deserve at least some
tu.s.4t., revsaion of their services by her
.I j y's Govern-
felt this Singenry Hardinge, himself a soldier, seems to have
tote. , and has
'tined done his part; but the Board. of Control's
-either silence shows that whoever directs its movements
salilitia, lucaPable of appreciating such exploits,s. political or
lees ': °r has sadly neglected his duty. negligence
'4l he-°` /flake good and faithful soldiers ; yet ulc da depends
le,alit:arraY : and it is moreover gratifying to the.ispirits and
°tip iPee°l the officers, notwithstanding that their sense of
Seceet:ounded on higher principles than can be shaken by the
That ar incapacity, of an effete Minister. .
aliaist-,,,,t„he Government; of Sinde has been. judiciously ad-
'tan (aCaeu is, I think, proved by this campaign, which we
'eatral" "13' two yea,rs after a bloody conquest) luthe British
4 teVaPported, and most usefully and zealously supypeorretiegdn,
sal*isn,`'c) great Beleoch cheftains (one of them so
isTrisetc, their own expense, and with a numerousa following,
ssuoss ;4,4' friends and countrymen. But it has been asked,
"414ra.' Sinde governed? By any form of native or general
t4eis!tri law, or by the simple fiat of the Go.ve.rnt oation
aLnet.
thsalsre the as yet infant system of its adminis r.ti a Aay,ct,
sat the eating in mind that " Rome was not built
-ferfi',lsttle village " we live in in a week, endeavourl to
; ''..'e. questions.
aiiitTe being a rnment
great military conquest,. the
tisk 01Y in the will of the Governor, as it did previously in
'lld...aiiiii; tue Arneers • but all their forms that are prreacsetircvaeldly
.
he chi Kith common' humanity have been
ailatr'ef alterations made by Sir C. Napier are—first,P a pro-
la iii;„°° against fathers, brothers, husbands,andephews,
tilte iatt' against all males related to the female, cutting the
tlais‘R-ncsf their women, as they were in the common. habit of
'ha , °t only when the latter were detected in the act of
laat.-,e hut On the general sus.picion of it. For instance,
!liti i.uie Anseers' government, if any manehose to declare
tt a - 'kinswoman was an adulteress, or otherwise. unchaste,
*as deesa d -
taaas e a sufficient excuse for his murdering
.both the
ft, and her supposed paramour, and protected him from
theartiher inquiry. If the accusation were notoriously false,
jag iCte rnurdered man's relations took an opportunity of slay-
the twe laurderer, and a blood.feud was commenc.ed between
ataiss° tribes; but the Government. took no notice of
_these
11'4 eat Secondly, Sir C. Napier abolishemdsetolvretus,re, which was
:kard43:. practised by the Ameers. themselves,
village, but by the
as well as
,',Y, o,,e•‘: or Government agents in each
radiolatir ' hakims," or governors c
hetowns. Thirdly, the
darn," or feudal lords, had also t e power of life, death,
'erY oarturing t• this also has been abolished. Fourthly,. sla-
Isis% h 4
been extinguished altogether; and let no man ima-
''isa la some ignorantly do, that slavery was a light load in
tatt47mise exultation of the slaves, their open.ly ex ressed de-
%.v ~',,..° of their masters, their eager and noisy Ppeal to the
e-r'n r against some chiefs who had disregarded the law
ett"aal retained them in thraldom, and their joy at the
tlioa;),' Punishment and their own final emancipation,y is
atil Ts",,if anything were required, to colnfuete those writers
the contrary.
/t''rdkra who assert and foolishly
toe sous Uhorough deserves great i-aisebefo'revthis. Fifthly, in
aissi7tton of revenue, the Governor. very early endeavoured
ittiaa,cit° all fees and reduce the ruinous amount of taxation
'this' the Ameers, who, amongst other. things, seized
cif the agricultural produce, leaving the rest, along
e ° cost of tillage, to the cultivator.
'gaits, is`°rture above alluded to was commonly used in the exa-
Zheo",..° °f 'witnesses, for which there weFe noThree ular rules,
gusual mode
isketZhth.an for the administration ofjustice.
N-,ttt h-zael was to ask the witness without any oath what he
,'"d` t;';'ne stilled? If he pleaded ignorance, and thus ex-
ts'aki -Ka; Judged suspicions, torture was directly applied to
l' k :,211 confess -what the judge considered he ought
:41'4,7' , This was done by either hanginged the suf-
-111 t,-(1). ny the thumbs and applying . hot ram-
;hgtet Ifferent parts of his body, or akinrg him with a
;St „,(.4. applying its naked blade tPontehe throat with a
Ise a- ''' cutting it. Such were the usual modes of
when the
l'itac'kur'l434ee " hakims," but chiefly
11414 wag considered as an accomplice. u(aseauths were
'tea!ten-
't' according to the forms of their religion to persons of in-
i :ank if unsuspected of an motive for conceal and
,Ilay„-fnitiation thin proceeded; but a man of high rank was
'4ltri,...' lequired to state what he knew, it being considered a
taith„, both by Hindoo and Mahometan gentlemen to be put
tide sar oath. At resent a form of solemn affirmation is con-
INs'as_" sufficient as in the rest of India. At Hyderabad the
;ivil -`eilsitZas, somewhat different ; oaths were administered in
a t as. but no regular criminal trials ever took place under
it ts,"`seers. In cases of murder, the usualpraasetiee was to let
regarded rob-
tuakry-tuel, s settle it amongst themselves ; and,
as"' tier " kardar" ascertained to the best of his ability who
`4lto deco
was, and then put him in the stocks, and beat
Rite -rtared him until he confessed, while any one refused to
'll"idenc if he were believed to know something, was simi-
-4r treateclet •lhis reluctance ceased. There were also the
;14i1.41 Watery ordeals. If the accused were bur tin the
41 tee' °r unable to remain under rater the prescribed time
la ,ge latter without suffocation, or if he refused the proof,
ads t nee condemned. This, however, only applied to
trit;, ande Sindians or Beloochees of a weak arintdwhealaplleiess-
,4,e4,,for, if strong and powerful, no co,nceaolfm,e,
visito.ft; the property was kept in defiance h kardar" or
has
,',' and the first man who came to apprehend the culprit
o"palspe;tectirte:noniously dispatched ;
ofbut
oiwf
etrhfuel
thenephelesfo,nr.obbed
the
VPerty -,7,en.lay the protection a P
sht-e ge - L'lt.s equivalent was commonly restored. This was
r--" 4 t:eea-- eflara•eter of Sindian justice un er the Ameerra
!senThoewesiaelnlysibly felt and fully p reciated by all
'Pe" ka
: r l'-11-14.aenr!res
Thele'ld Safety. ' the women, who feel that they have
%veralasre no civil judges as yet. appointed
iby the supreme
the country 'lleie 'llia the Governor is all 111 all,
to haveritliy Prepared for them. Sir Charles Na pier's plan is
"itia.ts' both in civil and criminal cases, preliminaryP ex.
l'sltedis.°ll by British officers acting as magistrates,a and as-
`e 111-el a " eazi,' or Mahometan attorney, who expouns
iit'art is sea
law and Sinde customs. . -The magistrate's
hi cces°,ll" °f ee *ty, and after a full examination, assisted by
ta-isjudglit'esn'iteuspo-ouri:ifiOne he decides according tol the best of
sr'tain class of cases, but on ytboasfienoef
IrasZsr°PortauPte on which he is authorised toh imposefirst to the
ataatm4uunent, and corporal punishment;
With baldt°f one hundred. rupees, the second forte three months
1,, lab
.. civil our, the third tothe number of two dozen lashes.
by the opinion
.of the.
tilie4zi,,`, cases he isil
smuchtau
guidedlaw is generally very
character
tetienr
Qs: re for
eln iaalleme;iminal cases of a grave
tieshaNistrate only takes the evidence, which isfeorawhryaarded
Isitjc the Judge Advocate-General, accompaniedstudy
the
%iv- I °Pinion to- the Governor ; after due the
Theenl°r order; a military commission to try theprisoner.
to
the dls°ceedin s of this commission are then submitted
rise
~,osernor,gthrou h and by the Judge-Advocdatet-eGse.noetrearl-,
the, -1'4%1 acts gas prosecutor, unless other efoirwairding
°as' only
Ysome officer is substituted.
lake ,acts to the Governor, the Judge- Adlvuocate -hGisenoewraol
iasii,;°cotripanies them with a written statement of
4 ekt 'tits on the proceedings and sentence, h of which
lithet4ll9 read and considered by Sir Charles
teNnaepeiera,swh.no
'cart'', ecrifirms or orders a revision of the .en y. . i
iNta;taartial, with this difference, however, that the military
',lns ih''tion is not a legal court, but only a council to assist
slaroß;the distribution of justice, he possessing f. 11 power to
sa'tY.-fs-e °r commute their sentence by his indivi_udiuralcahuathrloe-s
,"spi,°lll Which alone the Court derives any.. S
(atY commission
as it would aear considers the opimon of the mai-
AtleaZturnission as that of One court ; the opinion of the Judge-
Nis, tesGeneral as that of another (which may be called a
,-: It th-i;aa!Peal) ; and the final decision by himself as the opinion
11aadin:F,ourt. Wherefore, if all three courts concur in the
saga fag and sentence, it is presumed that the prisoner has
Ntes trial and is justly judged, whether condemned or ac-
r ;'• If the . .ons of two of these courts disagree—
..4s *68341P1e th emi
commission and Judge •Advo.cate- General,
atlssh-,ererrio'r giveeshis casting vote, and the prisoner has
ie
vntstZtge of knowin i case has. been c 11
a'acitZeti by three distinct courts, quite independent ►
of.
s'Tes i'eleir• The Governor's enormous power, extending as it
tel., dependent and death, renders this form ofproceeding !tit of of e,Pendent on his will, which is, of course, the great
latlLatt absolute governments ; but despotic rule is as yet
thi rsable for the protection of the Sindian people_;oeethae
th*tetelto,lll4 obey no other, and any attempt. to introduce
eaest s anal government would in all likelihood produce a
'ph a war.
tt'llaveae, Sir, are the checks that the present Governor seems
f
Ite ta: leaignedly placed on himself againsthtohaee possible, but, i
of his own tre-
uteedol JUdge from his acts, not p.robabl.
Itd(litiellas authority ; but they entail on luemath.e vast labour (in
tuatelai' to . his military duties and examination of courts-
ttiae„, which are quite separate) of readingl and cautiously
al,'°g over every trial that takes throughout all
tl° is '• and this is a fair proof, at least'', aeoef his anxiety to
411Pr0'5,,'1e,,,• but, when coupled with a civil, military,
manod.
ate, aste correspondence with two presidencies, it accu
1%0144 a fearful weight of business. on one pair of
lhis dell, and people are astonished at his endurance. In
lided e‘aire for just government Sir C.
.Napier is zealously
that .°Y all the British officers, both civil and military ; so
,thie ' all:, Point of fact, I believe it may be safely
.assertedvethra-t
tlasitr' -c,'"' 1"On:11A and substantial justice is administered e
''s here
'ratia andnotonl in cities and towns, but in the mosty
hile4'? villages of the country. That both the Governor l and
i';'l,l4.lths:nstlntserritlayi3uotccbauseihonally err in their judgment is on y
or
errors are not likely to be frequenetne.
taiinnt, because the crimes they p.ronounce.uponaarree gene-
t 'thrlis°.a. l'erYsross character, and just decisions
'aufstll pattti Ilovi, with reference
expotoettheeds,e
simprovements,
till we become
Loa „._ 1 e eau be as yetfairly
ta. t 74, t° know if any effects have been produced on the tha-
n' arc' i habits_, or affections of the three classes oflin.habait.anantsd,
it is 7' the Belooch, Sindian, and Hindoo populations ,_
themu latter
Pe....rii,...cs to contemplate the reaction amongst
SI eia; Ilse Hindoo, now finding himself equally protectes
okthZe Mahometan, ;how!' a desire to exercise over the Ilned-
this i:" same tyranny that he formerly suffered from him, a
the ZesPecially apparent in mone y matters. Th Hindoos are
the merchants and bankers of Sinde. Under he
Europe `•
asuf rre treated like the Jews of the middle ages innor urraotLer
ettoul'ade altogether is a very striking picture,
of money
Were t;t' of those unscrupulous days.
eapits;°rced from them by the Mahometan ;ea:l;a choirefse,otmhe_
t,, -.4 of Which was repaid either by instalmentst _
at
all.
sated h
thew the
-I Pr°tection, or, more frequently, not
onp id
f., tables are turned, and the Htndoo no ly demands
4 litt-41tal debt, but long arrears of compoundd tenvteeroeshtiugphoenr
PeteeP e interest of twenty, thirty, forty, an
Cios 4tage, forming cases so difficult and complicated that the
t)eerls°r was at once compelled to cut the Gordian knot, and
°L 4 1 contracts of an earlier date than that. of the battle
• (sect% e. broad
gin He, however, allowed the Hindt
eetsesaa right
to b_ evert in this, by giving the military maofrasubmitling
to their own discretion in minor cases, an
t.
e ee
and ‘ snore importance to the Governmen d The larest
erediZe°'t Puzzling of these claims was that ma e by Hindoo
4PPtahra to the Ameers, on which they made strong
°he .1 to his justice, and his answer was only
tirlie e could well have given, consistent with _ he
-Mee:1,441 circurnstances :
Were eta '.° Pay the Ameers' debts. not fight the battle of
''
I'
did
" In ract, the demands
%Ilk of all reason exorbitant; the claimants most
moment
h atro-
Lehtaiiisrlauroers, utterly devoid of principle, and to whom no
4 "" .
c
b.a urt would for a ave listened, besides
404 t any proof of their debts: The Aweers, equally

WISBE RIDAY.

A meeting was held here to-day, in pursuance of a requi-
sition numerously signed, as fellows :
""PUBLIC MEETING.

" To JOHN WHITSEI:M.D, ESQ, MAYOR. OF WISBECH.
" We, the undersigned, request you will call a public meet-
ing at an early clay, to determine upon the most advisable
measures to be taken for securing railway communication be-
tween the town and port of Wisbech and the metropolis and
the manufacturing counties.
" Wisbech, July 30."
" In compliance with the foregoing requisition, I do hereby
convene a meetinr, of the inhabitants of the town and neigh-
bourhood of Wisbech, to be held at the Town Hall, in Wis-
bech, on Friday, the Bth day of August next, at eleven o'clock
in the forenoon, for the purpose of the requisition.
" The chair to be taken at twelve o'clock precisely.
"J. WHITSED, Mayor.

" Wisbech, July 31st, 1845."
The meeting was so numerous that an adjournment to a
larger space was unavoidable, and the meeting was concluded
at the Sessions-house. :Such a meeting has never before been
held in Wisbech. Resolutions in favour of a railway were
unanimously adopted, and a committee appointed to carry out
the object of the meeting. A line of railway will now cer-
tainly be carried, and the people of Wisbech are determined
not to be any longer at the mercy of great rival companies, but
to have a substantial benefit, instead of the hopes hitherto held
out only to delude them.

REPRESENTATION OF SUNDER-

LAND.
THURSDAY, AUG UST 7.—The following letters addressed
by the late Noble and talented representative of this borough,
to A. J. Moore, Esq., Colonel Thompcon's professional legal
agent, will explain the cause of the (Islay which has occurred
in the issue of the writ for this borough :
" Howick, August 1, 1845.
" Dear Sir,—l have just received your letter of yesterday ;
in reply to it, I beg to inform you that I have not been able
sooner to take measures for obtaining my summons to the
House of Lords, because 1 could not find the patent of peerage
which it is necessary to produce. This has, however, now
been found, and I have instructed my solicitor in London to
apply to the Chancellor to issue the summons without any fur-
ther delay.

I am, yours, " GREY."
" Howick, Aug. 5, 1845.
-- Dear Sir,—T write to you one line to say, that I have
received this evening an intimation from my solicitor in
London, that the papers which I had sent up, and which I
had supposed to be all that were required in order to obtain
my summons to the House of Lords, are not considered suffi-
cient by the Lord Chancellor's secretary, and further evidence
in support of my claim has been called for. This evidence has
been sent off by return of post, and I trust there will be no
further delay. I shall be obliged to you if you will explain to
the electors of Sunderland that I regret very much that which
has already taken place, and that I have done all that is in my
power to expedite the issue of the writ, and to relieve them
from the excitement of a canvass and contested election. I
should be glad to have this known by ail parties in the town ;
as I should consider it a very bad return for the kindness I ex-
perienced there four years ago, if I needlessly prolonged a period
of suspense, which I know must be very inconvenient.
" I am, dear Sir, yours, " GREY."
The usual nightly meetings have been held, which have not
diminished either in interest or numbers ; and in addition, a
meeting of ladies exclusively was held in the Lecture Theatre
of the Athenaeum this morning, which was very numerously
awl re,pectably attended. The principal speakers were Col.
Thompson and Mr. Robert R. R. Moore.
Another diabolical attempt has been made to damage the
character of the Gallant Colonel in the estimation of the Wes-
leyans and other Dissenters, by the publication of some garbled
extracts from speeches delivered at Hull, and reported in the
Hull Packet (the Tory newspaper of that town), under the
head, " The Religious and Political Opinions of Col. Thomp-
son." There is also a quotation from Hansard of part of a speech
delivered by Col. Thompson in the House of Commons on a Bill
being introduced for the better observance of the Sabbath.
It is as follows :—" By the same right by which our fathers
protested against the doctrines and practices of an ancient
church, so he would protest, and if he stood alone in the House
he did not stand alone out of doors, that the jndicial observance
of the sabbath was not only not directed in the Scriptures, to
which all parties professed to look for authority, but was abso-
lutely prohibited." This is surely innocent enough, though it
may be regarded as a crying sin by some few Wesleyans ; its
publication, however, shows the shifts to which the Tories are
driven to prop up their sinking cause.
The " local interest" cry is still kept up, and York citizens
are buying up Durham and Sunderland Railway shares, in the
full expectation that Mr. Hudson will be returned, and that
he will do something to promote the prosperity of this line.

SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN
MARINERS' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
The adjourned general meeting of this society took place on
Friday, at the London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the
report of the select committee of three gentlemen, subscribers
to the institution, who were appointed in June last to examine
the accounts. There was a numerous attendance of the com-
mittee and general subscribers, amongst whom were Sir J.
Cockburn, Bart., Earl Manvers, Major Oliphant, Lord H.
Cholmondeley, Hon. Captain Maude, R.N., Captain Shea,
Admiral Young, Sir G. Westphal, Dr. Burnett, Rev. D.
Lain., Captain Lamont, R. N., E. Brewster, Esq., B. B. Cab-
bell, Esq., J. Leeks, Esq., J. T. Pratt, Esq., Lieut. Lane, R.N.,
Rev. J. Stonestreet, &c.
Sir George Cockburn, Bart., having been unanimously called
to the chair,
The SECRETARY read the report, which was of considerable
length, but with reference to the matter of account in dispute,
and which led to the investigation, may be embodied in a few
words. On the retirement of the late Secretary there was a
debit to the account of somebody of the sum of 280/. owing to
the funds of the Society, and the waiter in dispute was which
of two persons, the sub-treasurer or the late secretary, stood so
indebted, each charging the deficiency on the other. The re-
port presented on the present occasion, which was got up with
great care, and after much labour and protracted investigation
on the part of the gentlemen who undertook the arduous duty,
completely set this disputed point at rest. The report statedthat
the Committee found, from the great laxity that pervaded the
manner of keeping the accounts generally, the greatest diffi-
culty in arriving at any definite or accurate result, but they did
obtain the result that the late Secretary was exonerated from
all claim on the part of the Society, and that the accountant
who had on a former occasion exhibited the accounts should
have charged the deficiency to the sub-treasurer. The report
further recommended that the office of sub-treasurer, which
was grtuitous shoule abolished, and that in future there
shoulda only be, a treasud rebr, and that the secretary should be re-
sponsible for all vouchers and books of account.
Earl MarivErts, in moving that the report be received andadopted,
adopted, said that although he was a member of the Commit-
tee for a considerable time, he had not much attended ; but
when he heard that there was something wrong in the ac-
counts of the society, he determined at once to forward the
most rigid investigation. He was happy to find that that in-
quiry had ended in so satisfactory a report as that presented,
and that the whole proceedings were about to terminate in so
satisfactory a manner.
The motion having been agreed to, the report was ordered
to be printed, and circulated generally amongst the subscribers
to the institution, with the balance-sheet.
Thanks were then voted to the three gentlemen of the select
committee who had so efficiently. performed the duties assigned
to them in the production of so satisfactory a report ; after
which the meeting proceeded to elect twenty-one new members
on the committee in the room of those who in the last two
years had to retire by rotation. Amongst the new members
erected were—The Hon. W. Ashley, B. B. Cabbell, Esq.,
Sir J. Flower, Bart., M.P., Rev. C. Lane, E. Brewster, Esq.,
F. Malcomb, Esq., J. Leeks, Esq , Lieut. Lane, R.N., &c.
Resolutions were afterwards passed, pledging the Society to
continue its exertions in aid of the laudable objects for which
it was formed, and thanking the auxiliary branches in the
country for their efficient aid.
On the motion of Eail MANVERS, the thanks of the meet-
ing were voted to the chairman for his excellent and concilia-
tory conduct in the chair, and the chairman having returned
thanks, the meeting broke up.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT LAST WEEK.—AS a chaise
cart, containing a man and his wife and two children, was
passing down the Mile-end-road, an omnibus coming by at
the time upset the cart, and hurt the persons who were in it
very much. The doors of the Jews' Hospital, called Beth
Holim, were most readily thrown open to the sufferers. The
poor man and his wife were, at their own request, conveyed
home in a cab, but the two children, who had sustained very
severe injuries, were at once taken up into the wards, where
they received every attention from the medical attendant of the
institution, Dr. Snow, and from all the officers of the establish-
ment, where they have been sedulously attended to ever since.
It will thus be seen that the Beth Holim Hospital, although
intended fur the reception of sick Jews, is most willing to
render assistance, in cases of emergency, to persons of all
denominations, which reflects the highest credit on the liberality
and humanity of the establishment.
The Government contract for 60,000 gallons of
rum for the navy was again taken yesterday by Messrs. Lemon,
Hart, and Son.
WINDSOR HOME AND GREAT PARKS.—The Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests have just determined upon
several erections in the Home and Great Parks at Windsor, ac-
cording to the designs of Edward Blore, Esq., one of the archi-
tects to the Crown. An extensive lodge is to be erected at the
entrance of the Great Park, close to Cumberland-lodge. The
gardener's cottage, close to Adelaide-lodge, in the Home-
park, is to be taken down, and a picturesque building erected,
to harmonise in style with Adelaide-lodge. Flying-barn, the
residence of the fisherman in charge of Virginia-water, and the
fishery at Cumberland-lodge are also to be taken down, and
rebuilt in the Elizabethan style. Several other alterations and
improvements to the royal property are in contemplation.
We have much pleasure in calling the attention of
the public to the subscription recently opened for the purpose
of acknowledging, by some pecuniary reward, the services
which Lieut. Waghorn has rendered to the British empire,
by being the first to establish a regular overland communication
with India. When it is remembered that before this zealous
and enterprising gentleman devoted his energies to the subject,
no part of India could be reached in less than four months, and
that the mails from Bombay now arrive in London in about
thirty-four days. we feel sure that the appeal now made in his
favour will be liberally responded to by all classes of society.—
inies.
THE DESCENT or MR. C. GREEN IN HIS BAL-
LOON.—On Thursday night, when the" Albion" balloon, with
Mr. C. Green, left Cremorne Gardens, it was carried in a di-
rection, south of east, passing near Battersea-fields, when its
course was continued nearly in a straight line towards Foots
Cray, the altitude being between 1,000 and 2,000 feet. Here
Mr. Green lowered the machine for the purpose of making
choice of a spot on which to descend, and in doing which,
being about a distance of 600 feet from the earth, he found
the current more to the east. It was Mr. Green's object to
alight where he was likely to cause the least possible injury to
the produce. He made a few attempts to descend, and at the
same time displayed some Bengal lights, but which drew no
one to his assistance. About twenty minutes past eleven
o'clock he made choice of a large turnip field, about fifty
acres in extent, two miles on the other side of Far-
ningham, Kent, the property of Mr. James Rus-
sell, of Horton King, on which he fixed his grap-
pling irons, after having been in the air above forty minutes.
Having got out of the car, and observing that there was no
one near, Mr. Green immediately emptied the balloon of its
gas, the first time that he has been compelled to do so un-
assisted. After he had effected that, he made himself a tem-
porary residence for the night in his car. From five to six
o'clock in the morning he was employed in walking about,
looking for assistance, when he came to the farm•house of
Mr. J. Russell, who, upon being informed by his servant of
the visit that was paid to him, got up immediately and went
to the spot where the balloon bad alighted. He subsequently
invited Mr. Green to breakfast, expressed himself highly de-
lighted that he had landed in safety, and exhibited the most
kind attention, a respect which Mr. Green states it is not
usual for farmers in Kent to show towards him. Mr. Green
arrived at Cremorne-gardens yesterday afternoon about three
o'clock, where the greatest anxiety was manifested on account
of his long absence. He was received with three cheers. The
distance of Farningliam from Cremorne Gardens is about
twenty-five miles.
On Saturday night last the grand stand on th
Stamford racecourse was broken into, and the whole of the
bats, &c., belonging to the cricket club stolen.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
In railway shares the business has been rather extensive.
The half-yearly meetings, and in most cases their favourable
results, give a stimulus to operations. The late further reduc-
tion of fares on several of the leading lines has evidently bene-
fited traffic, and the directors themselves bear testimony to the
success of the experiment by the revenue accounts they have
laid before the shareholders. We noticed the fact the other day
of the furtber concessions proposed to be made by the Grand
Junction Company in this respect, and the Birmingham and the
Brighton Companies by their late meetings confirm the view
generally taken of the success of low fares. The body of manu-
facturers have long complained of the want of a spirit of libe-
rality by railways in their charges for the carriage of goods,
and those connected with Manchester have organized a com-
pany for the purpose of furthering their own views of the sub-
ject. The parties who support this scheme state that their own
transit of goods will pay 4 per cent. upon the required capital.
A display of competition of this description in other quar-
ters where attention is not given to representations respecting
excessive charges might prove equally beneficial to the public.
The value of the best shares in the market was well supported.
Birmingham maintain the late rise, London and York have
slightly improved, Brighton continue firm, and South Midland
have not declined. A number of new schemes have appeared
lately, and the scrip in several instances issued bears a con-
siderable premium. Foreign shares have been steady, and the
bargains in them have increased within the last few days.
A correspondent, who appears to be well versed in the gene-
ral features of the present railway mania, gives it as his opinion
that much of the fever would abate if the recent enactuunt
imposing a penalty upon the publication of the names of parties
as belonging to Provisional Committees who have not signed
the registration papers were enforced. The object of this Act
(the 7th and Bth Victoria, c. 110), is to protect the public
against deception, and to give them a legal remedy against
the parties registered, and, therefore, imposes a penalty
not exceeding 201. upon the promoters of the Company
who omit the registration, while the solicitor is also
liable immediately he is appointed. Such is the
slovenly manner in which many of the Companies have
thought proper to attend to this important proceeding, that if
steps were taken to make parties liable for the neglect, it is
understood that a very large sum of money would be recover-
able. People seem to be little aware of the immense amount
of responsibility incurred by temporary connexion with public
companies ; and in all cases where names are published with-
out authority, the individuals aggrieved should immediately
take the proper proceedings to relieve themselves from the
legal consequence provided by the recent Acts for regulating
joint-stock companies. This is intended as a general warning,
for the practice is now very common of advertising the names
of respectable merchants and others as committee-men and
directors without authority—a system continued even after the
parties so advertised have disavowed their connexion with the
schemes put forward. It will be seen, under these circum-
stance, how necessary it is that scrupulous regard should be
bad to the possession of a regular authority and a regular regis-
tration before the hits are advertised.—. Times.;

RELATIVE CLOSING PRICES OF RAILWAY SHARES

IN THE

PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND.

London. Lpiev:ir.-

chester. B

Aug. 8. !Aug. B.lAu,

91/2 94
/ 1

- I 9
251 q I 261/8

- I 12

10% I io% I 1

344

-
IN

4
201 A

861 A I 85%

2%

41,4 -
- -

225. 1245. 6d
I 265.

53
23%

13 12%
15% 14%

261,4 26%
13 10%
118.-3 d. 15
41s :3d. 2 3-16
3% 3%
51/2

6%
251

P 2%
LIO
14

:% l 5% I 5m

!‘, I -4
I-04

B', 18 3-161

4% 2634
- 113

58s. 6d.

York.

B.lAug. 7.

3%

Leeds.

lAug. 6.

105%
231,4

5% 1 5%

28%

261,E

214

Hull.

lAug. 8.

1356,6. p.

1235. 6d I
375. p

243/4

335. p 1

243/4

'Hudders-ISheffield
field.

Aug. 7.lAug. 7. Auos g.
I

i
% 9

(1 4% 4%
%
. 200-

3%

-12 s. 1 i P
_ IA

47k 1 7-7-16

351% 36
-5%
5% -

21%

111 h

6%

245.
38s.

1383. 6d.1

14 I -
15% --

- 1 56%

7% 1 -

1225.6d.pl

2514

15s.
415.

558.

•Is.6d,

171:3d,

14s.
38s.

Dublin.

'77 12%
gO2
3f(i

3%

7, !Aug. 7.

84s.

5% 15 15-16
4.714
16
84

375.

8%

525.
335. I

20s.

6d.1

1 - I isx
A i _

35%

435. 6d.

1814

3%

-2%pl

58s. 9d. -
3% -
_
3%
.
14% 15

3%p
3%

30% 1 -
4% P 5/.

196 T. 3d,

303.

,271 g
15
124

4%

3L 17s.

18%

6/. 61s.

VA

151,E

50s.

15IA

268.p'

6s. 6d.

25%