The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-01 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

IN answer to the questions of the Earl of ELLEN-
BOROUGH, who entered into a long string of griev-
ances complained of by petitiolers at Madras, the
Government have announced their intention to take
upon themselves the responsibility of proposing a
measure during the present Session for the future
government of India. In maling this announce-
ment, the PREMIER refused to enter into particu-
lars ; but said that, while the measure they meant
to propose would greatly madly the existing state
of the government of India, it would still be founded
upon that system. The simple fact that so vast an
empire is nominally under the controul of a Com-
pany of British Merchants, is, Perhaps, the proudest
tribute that was ever paid to Cprnmerce ; but, con-
sidering the extent and importance of the charge,
and bearing in mind that the actual controul is
virtually in the Government, it were perhaps more
convenient that the ostensible management should
be vested in more responsible authority. It might
be found that under a really efficient system, the
vast resources of the :mpire of Tndia would be
much more available than they are at the present
time ; and though stuh a change would render in-
evitable an interference with the patronage so ex-
tensively enjoyed by xast Indian Directors, the ad-
vantages to the natim at large would be incalcu-
lably augmented. A the same time it must be
admitted that so extensive a change demands the
most serious deliberation.

RUMCCRS OF WAR.

!le Times of yesterday (Monday) says:—it is said,
with what amount of foundation we are unable to state,
that the Austrian G:vernment has resolved to demand
the extradition, or af least the expulsion of KOSSUTH,
MAzziNt, and the oher foreign refugees now fomenting
revolution abroad unler the shelter of British hospitality;
and that, on the anicipated failure of this demand, the
'Governments of Prussia and of France are prepared toad.
dress a joint note p the same effect. In the event of a
continued refusal (ft our part, we are threatened, so it is
said, with a withctawal of the Ministers representing
these three Power at this Court, and with such further
inconvenience as Pay arise from the destitute condition
in which England,it is supposed, will thereupon be left.
That the Austrian 3overntnent,with revolt in Lombardy.,
with assasination at home, and sanguinary manifestoes
fulminated from Otis metropolis, should just now be in a
state of consideralle excitement, that Prussia should have
caught the infection, and that the Emperor of the FRENOM
should be glad t) express an unaffected sympathy for his
brother of Austria, aie circumstances natural enough,
and if anything :ould induce us to discredit the rumour
we have mentioned, it is its plausibility.

DEFENCE CF .LIVERPOOL.-ARRIVAL <OF
A WAR STEAMER IN THE MERSEY.

Yesterday thr Majesty's war steam-ship Encounter,
carrying 14 guns, arrived in the Mersey from Portsmouth.
We understand that the has been sent to Liverpool, pur-
suant to orders issued-by the Government, and will remain
in the Mersey, off •the battery at the north end, as a
marine station guard for the port. 'lt is understood that
in a few weeks another vessel of similar capacity will be
sent round fron Portsmouth.

THE DUTI OF/GIVING TOR .RELIGIOUS

PURPOSES.

•
Yesterday morning a meeting was held in the Claren-
don-rooms, at eleven o'clock, to receive a statement of
the Rev. A. Gather. of the north of 'lreland, respecting
the publication of 'Prize Essays relating to the duty, of
giving for reli:ious purposes. The prize essays were
originated by acommittee of gentlemen in Belfast, who
felt that the support of religious objects and institutions
fell upon a very few, and that the effect was only a small
per-centage of what might be produced. 'Five essays of
co-equal merit were produced, each taking a different
aspect of the subject ; one, for instance, regarding the
matter in a logical, and the others in a legal, scriptural,
moral, and practical point of view. The successful com-
petitors embraced 'laity and clergy, English, Irish, and
Scotch, Churchmen and Protestant Dissenters of different
kinds. One of them is the Rev. Robert -Spence, a well-
known Dissenting minister in this town. A. subscription
edition of the whole five, in one volume, is about to be
issued, and nearly 5,000 copies have been already ordered.
An interesting conversation took place after the subject
had been laid, before the meeting, in which. Mr. Work-
man, of Belfast, Messrs: Groves, Macfie, G. 'Casey. the
Rev. Dr. Raffles, Rev. Dr: Hmse, Mr:Birrell, Mr. Kelly,
&c., took part. A sub-committee was formed, consisting,
in the first instance, of the requsitionists who had con-
vened the meeting, for the purpoce of forwarding the views
of the promoters.