The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-15 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

• _ _
C9l:ll3<ted with the subject of railways, the letters from
111'1,a evince a great desire that the system should be brought
into operation there, but much difference of opinion exists as
to the manner in which it should be done. On so important
a question even discussion must have some interest, and with
that impression the following extracts of letters are given:—
" The subject of railways is feebly kept before the Indian
public by an occasional letter and an occasional article in
newspapers. All agree that there is either the want of
ability or of something else here requisite for the manage—
' ment of a great undertaking like a railway. But, then, how
is a railway ever to be established? I say by an English
Company with English capital at first (though large contri-
butions will be-made here), and an Indian agency formed
under very stringent rules. At the same time large powers
of suspension and control should be given to Government
officers. 1)o you ask, was ever anything of the kind seen.
before? I answer, yes, in Government itself—the local
Government here. This Government, called supreme
over all India, is, in its practical working as to
all but details, a mere agency under the Court of Direc-
tors ; and 1 am perfectly satisfied that a 9 English
Company may work successfully by an agency. As for
placing the capital required for atrailvray at':the disposal of
an uncontrolled Calcutta Board, no one would think of doing
it who knows the history and fate of too many of the Cal-
cutta-bred Companies. The Friend of India, whose usual
blandness towards the Court and its agency here is supposed
to have earned for it an official confidence, says the Govern-
ment must take the lead, as it did in establishing river
steamers, and then private enterprise will carry on what the
public spirit of Government has begun. This flattering
phrase, 'the public spirit of Government, is a mere phrase
—as a thing to be relied on, it has no existence. Thirty
years ago the Government began the Rajmahal Canal, which
its public spirit' lately, under Lord Ellenborough, desired,
it is said, should be completed, and the project, just no*
that canals are superseded by railways, is said to be under
the consideration of the authorities at home. Such is the
spirit of the Indian Government, so far behind the public
spirit of the age and that of the capitalists of England. With
respect to its merit in having preceded private speculation in
the establishment of river steamers, it wanted the steamers
for its own purposes,and private capitalists were deterred from
speculations of this kind by the still remaining influence of
the Company's system, which discouraged the settlement of
Europeans, kept the public as much in the dark as possible
as to India, and gave no countenance to any improvements
connected with independent speculations. Bat if steamers
had now for the first time to be established, would there be
any occasion for Government to lead? Certainly not. What
is more to the purpose is, that its steamers were built and
managed ;t a maximum of cost, and have done the least
possible service to the public. Such would be the fate of a
Government railway. It would be too long a task, and I
could show from the composition of the Government that it
has too much already on its hands without undertakings of
this kind. It has roads which are almost impassable, which
are needed as much as railways, but which private indivi-
duals cannot meddle with. Let the Government mind these
ways. It has the public ferries, which are much neglected.
It has the great rivers of India, which are infested by ma-
rauders. Let it look to these, and make their passage safe
for that immense traffic which will for ever be on them; and
let it clear their beds, which it. ought to do, could do, but
will not do, or does very imperfectly. Who or what Is this
Government which, with such immense duties, is now to
undertake a great railway ?"

CAMBRIDGE, MARCH 15.—The account wu Iwo
receiv:-.1 of the health of the Bishop of Ely to-day is not BO
favourable as we had been led to look tor. ills Lordship tra3
not so well last evening as he had beef for a few days pre-
viously, The circumstance may, however, be attribnted to
the severity of the weather.— Combriflge Chronicle,