Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-02
From the London Quarterly Review.
Thes British Possessi Ons IA, ,dia.

Our territory is equal to all continental Europe,
Russia excepted Peshawur is as far North of Tan
lore as Stockholm is of Naples; Chittagong as far
East OF kufrachee as Athens is of Paris. Germany,
Italy, France, Spain. Holland, Belgium, Denmark and
Sweden unedy do not equal either our territory or
our population. The report of the grand trgonome-
trcal survey which has lately been printed for Par
lament, gives the tota-area in square miles, $685.
1l3; population. ISL .l44,902 And corrected copy
with which we have been favored, adds seven nil
lions and halt to this population, most of which is
in our own territories but part in the native States,
making the total 158,774065. But the fact is. that
even from our territories many of the returns
better than guesses. and from the native States few
are to be relied unon. 1t has, however generally
proved that accurate returns give higher population
than previous estimates. and after considerable
ton to the subject for years, should not be
prsed 10 find the official statement gradually coming
up from It's present advanced figure, to neatly two
hundred millions.
This splendid empire is distributed into four govern.
mens or presidences-Ben Madras, Bombay, and
Agra The first is the of the Governor General
and the supreme council the next two have each a
Governor and council! and Agra is administered by
Lieutenant Governor, without council The army
is-Queen's troops, 90, 4e0; Company-s European
troops, $685. Company's native troops, 24O121.=-
Total, 289 500. Native contingenis, commanded by
British officers, and available under treaties 35 600
total at the disposal of the Governor General, 32l,
500. This is great army, yet its proportion to the
extent OF the empire presents forcble comment on
the nature of the British rule. Compare it with the
proportion which the armies of the Continent bear
10 the population of the respective countries and you
light imagine that they were holding conquered ma
lions, and governing our hereditary soil Forty
nine thousand out of the whole are EngiShmen IA
less number than is generally found necessary in gar
rison the city of Paris. Even the native raiahs
with population of 55,OOO,0OO, have 100000 SOL
dlers; while we, with double the population, have
/ 1000 less, though they guaranteed against ex-
ternal war, and have to take all risks. Then our
100000 native troops strength or a weakness,
just our authority popular the reverse. Were
their attachment lost, how formidable would they be,
taught in mode of war; and five times as numer.
Gus as the English soldiers Were they and the
troops of the rajahs united against US, it would be
$4,000 against $4,000. You may travel through In
din for days together without coming on a mi ary
station. You may pass through Kingdoms with three
millions more inhabitants, containing only post
of European troops. You may find great cities with.
out soldier; the remains Of vast Notifications,
which not uniform is visible. Facts such as these
when contrasted with the constant display of military
force In the countries of civilized Europe forci.
bly, prove that the power of the English has ounda
TONS In the homes of the people, well in the
cantonmeEts of the sodiery In the native regiments
the officers to numbers, about half native, hall
English but no native officer rise higher than &c
a sort of captancy majority. and even then is
der the youngest European ensign--a position much
worse than that enjoyed by Hindoos in the armies oil
the Musselman Bengal, Madras. and Bombay have
three distinct armies, and three commanders nchief
LAeoNtc CEREmoNt.-Abe rdeen is the Gretna
Green of Ohio On some occasions it becomes ne
cessary for the mag strate to perform the interes
ting ceremony of marriage with all possible dispatch
and this is the way he does it
Justice-John, do you take Nancy to be you,
wife
John-Tes
Justice Nancy, do you take John to be your hus
band
Nancy-Yes.
Justice-Then pronounce YOU man and wife
and may the Lord have mercy your souls
Amen.