Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-09-27
Progress Of the English In India.

published at Serampore,) of the 10Th OF
June last, the following remarkable article
on the progress of the English in India.
1t gives vivid picture Of what has been
done, and sets forth with startling clear
ness what has not been accomplished
Tomorrow is the centenary of the mas.
sacre of the Black Hole. 1t was on the
goth of June, 1856, that Suraj -ood- Dowlah,
after triumphant entry into Calcutta,
permitted "that great crime memorable
for its singular atrocity. memorable for the
tremendous retribution by which it was
followed"
From that day forward. SO unbroken
has been the course of British conquest,
so unceasing the growth of British power,
that its events have passed not only from
recollection, but almost from belief. The
Imagination refuses to realize the picture
of a governor of Fort William Sinking to
his boat, and every European in Calcutta
trembling for his life, at the advance of a
Nuwab Of Moorshedabad at the head of a
rabble of Bengalees. There is no hope
Of dominion however wide, no dream of
progress however visionary, which is not
justified by the history of this hundred
years. five were even now TO predict
that in 1856 an Anglo-Sa1on Governor
General of China would hold levees at
Pekin, that Cambodia would be Com
missionership, and Japan a province,
valued chiefly for its fertility and its re-
venue, we should be accused-most Justly
of impractical speculation. Yet that
dream would be less marvellous than the
accomplished fact.
There is a native lady yet fighting law
suits in Calcutta, whose husband must
have watched, perhaps shared in, the tri.
umph of Suraj -ood. Dowlah. Ali that we
have accomplished, the subjugation of an
empire larger and more populous than
that of Rome, the organization of Gov
eminent for an eighth of the human race.
is comprehended within the span of those
two lives. 1t has been accomplished,
too, by force which has never vet been
equal 10 one clear tenth of the population
of Presidency town. There is nothing
in all history to compare with the achieve
ment. Russia rules wilder territory,
but one-half of it fell to her by accident,
and three hundred years have elapsed since
Ivan |. freed his country from the Tartars,
and himself from the aristocracy. The
Romans conquered races as brave and
countries perhaps as advanced in civiliza-
tion, but they spent seven hundred years
in the execution of the task. Alexander
subdued territories as broad in far less
time. but his work was upheld only by the
vigor of his single mind, and persisted
with himself The Spanish Empire in
America is the only one which can for .
moment bear comparison with that of the
English in India, and the whole population
of those vast territories would not be
missed from an Indian census. |
In these days Of political effeminacy,
when the conquest of an African island is
too Gigantic % an undertaking for Great
Britain, and the press screams because
one more Mussulman kinglet is brushed
out of the path, it is well occasionally to
recall the great deeds we have already
performed. But it is not to indulge in any
feeling Of natural pride that we wish to
recall this anniversary. 1t may serve a
better purpose in encouraging US to the
vast task which yet remains to be accom-.
plished. The century of conquest may be
complete. Is the century of
to commence For as vet,
fully rs we recognize the achievement
already performed, we admit that we have
founded nothing, established no one insti.
luton which would endure if the external
pressure were withdrawn. We have con.
qoered the bodies of this great population,
but their minds are still too much EXEMPT
rom our authority. Tho rhymed SEN
ences Of Sadi have still greater influence
% India than all the philosophy Of the
West. We have placed India under one
government, but its component kingdoms
are still without the slightest cohesion, OF
iesire to cohere. The provinces Of Rome
called their severance from the Empire
he greatest Of calamities We have
created an army more powerful and better
disciplined than the army of the Mogul,
but our system still depends wholly on
ourselves. The military system of Alex.
lnder endured for centuries after his death.
! We have passed laws wiser than those
# Munoo, but we have implanted no the.
r 7