The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-29

rubi cund committee of directors, but from
Downing Street, by her majesty's Score
tary of State for India. The governor gen
eral will be responsible to the home gov
eminent alone and the great monopoly
which for so long gave one corporation the
opportunities of deriving wealth from the
wonderful Oriental peninsula lie broken
down finally and forever. This company
OF mere traders became more than kings,
for they were the lords and masters OF
kings. It was originally formed towards
4 the last of Queen Elizabeth's reign, by a
few merchants of the city, who, attracted
by the stories of brakes discoveries, the
success Of the Dutch and Portuguese trad
ers in the Eastern waters, and the enor-
nous profits gained by the few English
who had made commercial ventures in
that direction, scraped together some thir-
ty thousand pounds as starting capital,
and sent agents out to the Hoogly. They be-
gan to export English goods and import tea,
beginning modestly, for their Importation
OF tea was one hundred pounds, Gas sam
ple." Their vast political as well as COM
mercial power, and ascendency over foreign
rivals, dates from the conquest of Give,
rather more than century ago and these
advantages were confirmed and increased
by the policy of pillage aud contiscation
adopted in succession by Warren H ,stiugs
ana the Marquis CORVALLIS. The fall of
Iipoo Saib may be said, perhaps, to have
marked the acme of the company's gran
deur and power for now the state became
jealous of its extent, and some thirty years
after-for they move slowly in England
took virtual possession both of its authori-
ty and its estates, leaving. tho company
trustees of the latter, however, on behalf
of the crown. This was not the first in
reference of the government with the
company. for, in the last year of Warren
Hastipgss reign as governor-general-Ma
!7s4.the Board of Control, new admin
Ilf Ipa1 don rtr
troll and superintend the British posses.
slons in the East Indies. and the affairs Oft
1.-THE United Company of Merchants" trad
ing Herewith which board continued in
operation down to the period, not many
years ago, when the cabinet Office Of Secre-
tary of State for India superseded it. Pitt, |
Oundas, Granville, and Lord Mulgrave,
among its presidents, who always sat in
the Cabinet, were Canning, Castlereagh,
Tierney, Lord Melville, Lord Ellenboroush
lafterward governor generaD, Sir J,hn
and Charles Grant from which
names the importance of the place may be
Judged: Since 1884 the company has been
under the direct supervision of the Board
OF Control and the Secretary for India,
while the prime-minister has always NOM
mated the viceroy. The powers of the
latter pOtentate are still nearly as despotic
as were those of Warren Hastings a century
ago; re" Orlentai sovere1Sus live in greater
splendor, or WELD a more absolute SWAY.
He is only guided by the India office at
Whltehall in matters of general political
and commercial policy. The details of
government are left to his control, with
inc army to back his edicts if they are re-
sisted.
Its somewhat singular that the possess
non of India should be threatened from an
'ther source, just as the crown is assuming
o Itself the last remnant of the East-India )
;ompany's title and authority. Russia has
ong been suspected ofdesigns upon that ter Q
ltory, so exhaustless in its yield of spices.
reclous stones, fruit, and man ufactured
roducts; and not a few Englishmen look a
pom the conquest of Khiva as preliminary C
D holder aggression toward the frontier
the Indus itself. Northern India, the .
unJab, and the provinces around Cash s
lere, have long held themselves almost
dependent of British rule, and are known
, be in state of smouldering discomfort. r
hould Russia really have designs upon T
Ida, and feel herself strong enough to 0'
tempt their execution, war would pro-
ably ensue, the ravages, horrors, and issue
which no one would be bold enough to
'edict. That England is ready to defend
sr Oriental empire there can be little
,ubt; for even the modern commercial
irit could not resist the thought of losing
treasure won with such difficulty, de-
nded by the sacrifice of thousands, and
tanned against such formidable and con-
obstacles.-Appletou.
AND MARRIAGE OF YouNG
poSO