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LJAT U indi lanters holders of landed ro...
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blocking upi. an. important route, while...
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BOMBAY JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. Amon& the ...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Irish Peasantry Until The Exodus Which F...
Are go p generally ]> roperty ? — -Yes , both as zemindars and as izarahdars ( leaseholders ) , and as putneedara ( perpetual leaseholders ) ;• every sort of interest in the land they acquire ; It gives them a position of safetj * . The principal object of the indigo planter is security in holding the land , -which produces the indigo ?— -O f coarse ; that is his primary object . And that lie has not got at present ? - —Not to the extent desirable . Of course everything that puts capital to hazard , even theoretically , diminishes the -value of the security . If you want to borrow money upon your interest , a lawyer looks at your title ; and if he sees that it is dangerous , although the clanger may be very small , yet , owing to the defect of the security , abstractedly it has a diminished Value fox the capitalist .
The following cross-examination of the same - \ vitne 3 s by Mr . Mangles relates to the above evidence : — You said that there is danger to capital from the revenue system ia Bengal ; -what is the danger ?—In stating that , I also referred , as a proof of it , to Mr . Grant ' s view on that question , andl -who , in consequence of the -view which the Government has taken , brought in a bill for the purpose of so amending the revenue system as to give proper security for capital . , You said that Lord Cornwallis was unjustly charged with having made the permanent statement precipitately ; are you aware that Sir John Shore , then the senior member of Council , afterwards Lord Teignmonth , earnestly pressed upon Lord Cornwallis not to make the permanent settlement without more carefulinquiry ?—
There was some difference of opinion in . Council , I believe , about it , but Lord Cornwallis -was supported by all the most eminent men of the East India Company ' s service , by the Court of Directors , and I presume also by the Parliamentary statesmen ; and that that was the case I think is also corroborated , by this circumstance , that the next settlement was in the Northern Circuit ; and although that -was only a . settlement for a term of years , it -was made professedly -with the object , and under a sort of promise to the parties concerned in that settlement , that it should be a permanent settlement ; but it was a mere question of trial as between Lord Cornwallis and any of the Council when it should be made permanent , and I liave no doubt Lord Cornwallis took a vise resolution , and that the settlement was a wise one the result has shown .
Do not you think it was precipitately made ?—Approving of the measure , I think it was not precipitate . Do not you think that . there was a great sacrifice of all subordinate rights to the zemindar ?—No , 1 think it was the salvation of the country ; for if the Government se ttlement had not been established there , We should have been under the influence of those opinions which led to th « ryotrwarree settlement ; and fhen Bengal would have beea under the ryotwarree settlement . Did not tlie thirty years settlement in the
North-West Provinces result in very "beneficial effects ?—Not such beneficial effects aa the permanent settlement ; and I rather think that the civil rebellion which has supervened upon the military rebellion is very much to > be ascribed to the effects of that revenue settlement . The old talookdars were displaced by that settlement ; they -were the persons analogous to > the zemindars in Lower Bengal , and they are now returning to their lands , having the affections and respect of the people , and are resuming : the place -which they had before we took possession of their provinces .
Ljat U Indi Lanters Holders Of Landed Ro...
LJAT U indi lanters holders of landed 814 JL ?_^^^^ jg ;!_____ ^ ° - jgg » -4-TOtTST , 1858 .
Blocking Upi. An. Important Route, While...
blocking upi . an . important route , while the expenditure of the requisite sum . by the English commissioner -would open the route , and repayment of the outlay would be effected , either by a slight transit tax or by increase of the general revenues of the settlement . In many cases the frontier stations have such a direct interest in opening up the country beyond ; that they can afford the outlay in improving the roads beyond their bounds . There must , however , be the authority to effect this , and it is very difficult to obtain it from the supreme Government of India , absorbed in great wars or in great
ad-THE THIBET TitADE AND TREATY . The attention of persons in this country has naturally been much , directed to tlie trade of India by its seaports , but that trade , which is carried on by its long land frontier , has been far from leceiving due notice . Some endeavours have been made to open trade with Tartary , Western Thibet , and Central Asia , by our Punjaub provinces , and witli considerable encouragement , though not carried to the required extent . There la some trade with Nepaul , and from . Darj eellng a small trade with Sikkim , Bootan , and Eastern Thibet . The whole line of frontier , however , leads to districts beyond , more or less productive , and the intercourse with which , would , under careful adminfetTatlon , bring a great addition to the resources of India .
"We say under careful administration , because the obstacles are considerable , and it is by care and by steady action that they are t « be removed . In this country it ¦ would be scarcoly credited that there are many of our towns and ports on our Indian frontier where an English trader and traveller cannot go beyond a few miles , and ¦ where the countries even in sight are not allowed to be trodden by hia foot ; the impediments to his access being porhapa some potty hill clan , or the distinct action of a Chinese mandarin .
These impediments , however , are such as to be overcome by steady action , although in some plac e * they liave stood in oar wo . y for half a century . They arise cither from physical difficulties , from immediate causes , or from some distant influence . A small stream , whjtah tho local tribes cannot bridge , may be tho means of
ministrative questions ; and yet there are stations where a hundred a year laid out in this way -would materially strengthen English power and the resources of the people and treasury . There are avenues to be cut through jungle- ' , mountain-bridges to be carried across ravines , roads to be cut along precipices , tunnels to be made through necks of hills , halting-places to be built in desert passes , and one of these works will perhaps throw open twenty miles of road before tracked only by men , and will enable it to be traversed by pack beasts , or by wheel carriages .
Tfce exactions of mountain tribes , but still worse their animosities , close not only their own districts to traffic , but the intercourse of very distant countries . It sometimes happens now that there is no provision , and systematically there is no provision , for making the necessary arrangements in such cases . The hill commissioner or superintendent may not be able to leave his station for years , nor can he perhaps give the time needful to reach the distant chief , nor the weeks to be passed in childish negotiations , and there are few resident commissioners , as there ought to be , in the nature of consuls or assistant commissioners , dispersed among the hill tribes , and systematically placed at station after station on the great routes of trade . The exertions of such , assistant commissioners -would be directed to form conventions with the hill tribes , and to maintain their execution , to obtain commutation of transit duties , and generally to keep the routes open .
One constant effort of our Government in its foreign relations should be to throw open the countries now under the paralysing influence of China . This is particularly the case with Eastern Thibet and the neighbouring countries , with which we communicate by way of Darjeeling . This hill town was formed for the sole purpose of being a sanatorium for Bengal invalids , but its situation is so favourable that it has not only become a thriving settlement , but a seat of trade . It was formed on a portion of territory obtained from the petty Rajah of Sikkim , and the territory lias since been increased by that obtained in compensation from the rajah for his imprisonment of Dr . Campbell , superintendent of Darjeeling , and Dr . Hooker , engaged in scientific explorations . The Rajah of Sikkim is now a recognised dependent of England . Sikkim , English and native , runs up from the Bengal Presidency into the Himalayas , between Nepaul and Bhotan , and touching Thibet .
The political position of Sikkim is , therefore , important , not only as commanding an independent route to Bhotan , but by placing a barrier between Nepaul and Bhotan . Our ambitious neighbours in Nepaul , balked for a time in their designs on Bengal , have turned their attention to Bhotan as a field of conquest , and Jung Bahadoor will give any price for permission to march across Sikkim and occupy Bhotan , when we should have a long frontier of Ghoorkas ranging along the nortli of the Bengal Presidency . The late advance of Ghoorka allies into the Bengal Presidency during the mutiny was an unhappy concession forced on the Governor-General by public opinion in England , and was too well
calculated to keep up the self-coniidencc of the Ghoorkas , and to create a moral impression as to their military prowess among tho population of the plains . Tho Ghoorkas are now back in the hills of Nepaul , never , we hope , to return , and Jung Bahadoor may , perhaps , consider tins a suitable time to press for the small favour of demanding honourable satisfaction from B ho tan , but , we hope , to be refused , as he has been heretofore refused . Hefore leaving the subject of Ghoorka troops , we may observe that any Ghoorka recruits that are wanted can be obtained at Darjeeling , where Dr . Campbell enlisted them by hundreds in a few days , aud where they are obtained from various hill regions , aud are ifldepeudoat of their allegiance to Nepaul .
It is aa an avenue to Eastern Thibet and to tho interior of China that Darjeeling is particularly valuable , but unfortunately Lassa and the whole of that region , formerly open to us , are now closed . Tho Rajah of Sikkim , perhaps , because weak , has given no cordial assistance in promoting our intercourse with Thibet , but ^ on the contrary , has impeded our access to his own territories , although always suing for pecuniary aid . The imprisonment of the officials , already referred to , is a notable proof of his indisposition to give free access to
our citizens and subjects . Thus , in order to obtain the necessary freedom of intercourse -with Thibet , wo have first to overcome the indisposition of the Sikkim Rajah , and then the indisposition of the Chinese authorities , whoso influonco closes to us tho frontier of Thibet , although within sight and within roach of our own territory at Darjeeling . This matter is so important that Mr . 'William Ewart , tho member for Dumfries , brought it before the attention of the Government in tho House of Commom , with the view to maice tho free
communication by land , and the withdrawal of Chinese m t " ~ sions in Thibet , a part of the negotiatio ns of Loi » i ri ° " at Pekin . Although no satisfaction was at that time ™? we have every reason to believe some impression Uas £ ' made on the Government , and that Lord El 2 in » jn m due notice of the matter . . * " WlU take It is , however , with the Indian Government fl , a chief responsibility rests , and the first thin ' Jl 1 ? tain a clear and distinct recognitiaa of ^ our " tion in Sikkim . It is in the highest decree , « r \ that the Kajah should not be auowed to trile S us , but that his promises shall be made effectual t that English travellers and traders may enter Sitrick freely and reside in it , and that aur ^ Se ^ i ^ may have the same opportunities . We must als » obS the assurance that no difficulties shall be interVoSS X our intercourse with . - Nepaul , Thibet , and Bhotan t * is true that we have routes from our part of Sikkini into Nepaul and Bhotan , but in many instances it is desirX to pass over the Rajah ' s frontier . desirable
* The « t ^ UBl » taT » c « s - of the Sikkim Rajah are vor v favourable for bringing him to ierms , as he is constantly m debt , and difficulties , and a small increase of the allowance made to him would obtain such a recognition of his duties as will admit of enforcement . The Station of Darjeeling is yearly making progress , and there can be no doubt , from the reports made to the Indian Go vernment , that it is one of the chief countries in India suitable for European occupation , and on the completion of the railway will be more rapidly settled . We shall then require greater scope for the energies of our settlers and there can be little doubt every available site in Sikkim -will be occupied for industrial purposes , and that the trade of that district will be greatly expanded by the application of greater capital and enterprise .
j If it were merely on account i > f Darjeeling , the negotiations with Sikkim and Thibet are of importance , but it is on account of Bengal generally tliat they are more particularly to be regarded ; for not only may a great trade be created with the interior of Asia , corxespoiKling to that which the Government has fostered in otir Western Provinces , but Darjeeling will be strengthened as a barrier against Ghoorka ambition .
" We press this matter forward , because if Is essential it should not be lost sight of , and the home Government should at once renew its instructions to Lord Elgin , so as to secure the recognition of our right to free access ¦ with China and its dependencies on tile southern border . However difficult at present the communication is witli the south-west countries of China , the progress of Darjeeling and Assam is so rapid that it is safe to predict a very material and favourable influence will be
exercised on those remote and now little-known regions of the world , containing the upper valleys of the great Indo-Chinese and Chinese rivers . The -question is pressed in reference to Darjeeling , because Darjeeling is better known to English officials and travellers , but Assam has , perhaps , a deeper interest , because Bhotan , lying between it and Thibet , and in some cases only the narrow territory of mountain tribes intervening , many of the paths and routes over the mountains debouch on the Assam territory , aud will become natural channels of trade , as that by Durruug and Khcgtunlia to Lassa . for instance .
Bombay Joint-Stock Companies. Amon& The ...
BOMBAY JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES . Amon & the means of progress witli whicli India has been endowed by the English , not tlte least important will prove to be the system of joint-stock companies for the aggregation and distribution of capital , and for which of late years the Indian legislature has afforded greater facilities . This will be in time an instrument for carrying out more extensive enterprises in Imlia than all that the Government with the resources at its disposal can bo expected to effect . The system is as yet in its infancy , but is rapidly working its way .
In Bengal , besides banks and railways , partly of home origin , steamboat , coal , and gaa companies arc in operation . In Bombay there ia another variety , and in each city there is . a regular share liat , the herald , we presume . of a futnre stock exchange . The last list wo have seen of Bombay companies includes several banks , the railway , - various press companies , a land company , and a steam navigation company . Most of those , undertaking ! are at a premium , for cotton-presses have born found 0
vevy romunorntive , and in this way one moans of r " moting the cotton trade has been effectually established * The Colaba Cotton-proas Company is in shares of 700 / . each . Tho last quotation was 2650 / . Tho Apo " Press Company ia in shares of 200 W . each , mid its shares are quoted at 2800 / . The Hydraulic l ' resa Company " in shares of 4 G 0 J . each , and the price la 710 / . l » e Cotton Spinning Company is in 400 A shares , which arc quoted at 650 / ., and tho Oriental Weaving nnd Spi «» ln f 5 Company is in 120 ? . sharesquoted at 170 / .
, . , The Celaba Land Company i 3 not so flourishing >» * market , for its shares of 1 OO 0 / . onch are sit 850 / . l » c Bombay Steam Navigation shares arc barely at pfti \ ftna of the Groat Indian Peninsular Railway shares tho same is to fee remarked . Still there Is a local market forslocK paying only 5 per cent ., a feature encourag ing f ° l" tuo
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 14, 1858, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14081858/page/22/
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