The Sun. — 1861-08-23 (London, England)

THE BOMBAY MAIL.  By the arrival of the Bombay mail we have received our private correspondence and files of papers from Bombay to the 27th of July, and from Calcutta to the 16th of July. We take the following heads of intelligence from the Bombay Gazette of the 27th of July : Rain is falling abundantly throughout India; cultivation is every where progressing most actively; and the prospects of the country as regards the fruitfulness of the season are of the brightest and most cheering character. Throughout the famine districts there is still an amount of existing distress demanding continued and most earnest efforts for its relief. There cannot be any considerable diminution in the number of persons relieved by the Famine Fund before the end of October. Deaths from starvation only occur in those villages to which it has been found impossible to extend relief. Cholera is now ravaging the famine districts, and threatens to decimate the population. The Finance Commission, appointed to examine the state expenditure of the Nizam, have commenced their operations in earnest at Hyderabad. Considerable reductions, both civil and military are to be effected. Mr. Ellis, of Madras, in an elaborate report on  the Income-tax, has recommended a poll-tax, ranging from 10r., the highest, to lr., the lowest, per annum. It is believed that Government have the recommendation under consideration. The Chambers of Commerce of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay are to transmit to Galle, in time for the steamer leaving that port every fortnight, commercial messages to be published for general information on arrival in England. The British ship Louisiana, 1,264 tons, Captain Clever, and belonging to Charles Sanders, Esq., of Liverpool, was totally wrecked off Alibaugh on the 16th inst. Five seamen were lost. The Semiramis, 1.N., Commander Worsley, arrived in Bombay from Zanzibar on the 17th July, and brought intelligence of the dangerous illness of Syed Majdid, the rtler of Zanzibar. All hope of his recovery was abandoned. The French are still making encroachments on the African coast. There seems to be none of the entente cordiale between the naval officers of the French and English squadrons. The French are said to have made claim to the protection of the whole island of Madagascar.  Camps of exercise, or larger assemblages of troops, are to be formed at different stations in the upper provinces next cold season. Considerable changes are about to be made in the Bombay Native Army, which, on their completion, will consist of 30 regiments of infantry cf six companies each. The regular line army is to be augmented by the two Belooch battalions, Jacob's Rifle Regiment, and the Marine Battalion being brought on the strength. A large number of Indian officers have recently been elected for the Staff Corps. Mr. W. J. Turquand, of the Bombay Civil Service, committi d suicide on the 12th inst., at Poonah, by shooting himself. He had been on Dewanee allowance for two years for insubordination. Indications of insanity were lately observable in his demeanour. He arrived in India in 1838. The Governor of Bombay is residing at Poonah. Extensive portions of both lines of the Great Indian and Peninsular Railway have been washed away by the heavy rains. Loud complaints are made by the public against the engineers. About 70 inches of rain have fallen in Bombay. The health of the town is improving. The English mail of the 3d July arrived in Bombay in the evening of the 24th July. The previous mail brought us the Indian Bills of Sir Charles Wood, with which people generally express decided satisfaction.