actual dividend of 16 per cent. for the last half-year, independent of a reserve fund. A resolution of the President in Council (p. 171) directs the substitution, in the districts of the Bengal division, of the vernacular languages of those districts for the Persian, in judicial proceedings and in proceedings relating to the revenue, to take effect prior to the 1st January 1839; progress to to be reported on the 1st July next. His Honour, recognizing the necessity of caution in introducing a reform, which involves the complete subversion of an old and deeply-rooted system, vests the various heads of departments with a discretionary power to introduce it into their several offices by such degrees as they may think judicious. The judges of the Sudder Dewanny and Nizamut Adawlut have preferred Hindustanee to Bengalee, as the vernacular of the Presidency, and propose to substitute the former for Persian. The introduction of an English Government pleader in the Revenue Courts (p. 140), is an innovation which has caused some discussion between the Government and the Special Commissioners of the Presidency. The arguments for and against the measure deserve attention. If it be the forerunner of another innovation, namely, the introduction of Europeans into the Mofussil Courts, to the supersession of the vakeels or native pleaders, it will be recollected by those who read the discussions on the late Charter Act, that the impolicy of this measure was a good deal pressed. Mr. Tucker, in an able paper of dissent from the resolution of the Court, on the 12th August 1833, observes: "To admit English practitioners into our Provincial Courts, would be virtually to supersede the vakeels, or native pleaders, at a time when we are professing great solicitude to bring forward our native subjects into public employment; but this wrong to a particular class would be as nothing, when compared with the evils to which the native population at large would be exposed by the introduction of the lower order of attorneys amongst them: they are already too prone to litigation, and are accustomed to resort to a court of justice as an arena in which they can give vent to their bad passions." At the same time, the argument used by the Deputy-Governor of Bengal, that the employment of European skill and talents will raise the standard of qualification of the native pleaders, and create a good bar, is not without force. Two of those affrays which have of late frequently happened between the two great classes of natives, on the occasion of their festivals, took place last April in the streets of Calcutta, and at Bombay, during the Mohurrum: both were attended with loss of life. The better informed classes of natives in Calcutta and its vicinity are gradually acquiring the notions and habits of Europeans. A Zemindars' Society has been organized amongst them. This is an association of landholders, for the protection of their own interests, and also, as stated in the prospectus (of which a sketch is given, p. 139), "to promote a cordial and friendly communication between all classes interested in land, without distinction of colour, caste, birth, place, or religion; to diffuse information on all subjects connected with the interest of the soil; to compose and settle differences and disputes," &c. The very mention of a project of this kind a few years ago would have excited alarm; and some of its objects are, perhaps, liable to be abused. But under proper and vigilant supervision, which is indispensable, such a society ought not to be discouraged. Associations of well-informed and influential natives, acting under the eye of Europeans, will prove valuable auxiliaries in the work of native amelioration. For a long time to come, the mind of the native races can be advantageously reached only through the medium of those of their own countrymen, to whom the bulk of the people look for advice and example, and such associations as the "Society for the Acquisition of General Knowledge" (p. 138) will more speedily and effectually overcome the ignorance and prejudices of the people than any other expedients. Of the obstinacy of those prejudices, and of the peculiar manner in which they obstruct the current of improvement, we have a pregnant proof in the alarm taken (p. 186) by the Hindus of Calcutta, at the report that some of the ingredients used in the manufacture of sugar at the Dhoba works are taken from the cow. Abstinence from the use of all sugar and sugared confects has been the consequence. The laborious and unpopular inquiry into rent-free tenures, which threatens to be of great length, and to enlist the hostility of large classes against what is termed "the resumption measure," is likely to be shortened by a very judicious order by the Court of Directors, to effect compromises with the zemindars. "The simultaneous examination of every such tenure throughout the country," says a judicious commentator on this order (p. 137), "gives birth to so much actual misery, and produces a general impression on the minds of the people so unfavourable to Government, that it must be an object of solicitude to abridge this period of anxiety, even at a small sacrifice of prospective revenue. But the negligence of former administrations has so greatly augmented the difficulties of the settlement, that one can scarcely calculate on the successful result of these inquiries. In one district, more than half the revenues are alienated by private individuals, whose ancestors took advantage of the confusion of the times to appropriate the property of the state to their private use. In another, these tenures have been multiplied by the most unblushing fraud." Persons in this country, habituated to the ordinary action of the machinery of Government, cannot appreciate the peculiar difficulties which beset our Indian administration, which has, in this matter, to choose between a large sacrifice of revenue, which might be employed for the benefit of the governed, instead of going into the pockets of individuals by means of fraud and forgery, and the creation of a vast mass of discontent, which may be suddenly lighted up into extensive combustion. It is satisfactory to observe (pp. 148, 150, 151) the increased exertions making to improve the roads and facilities of intercommunication between the remote parts of our immense Indian Empire. This will prove a prodigious benefit to the Government as well as to the community, at the same time that it must entail a heavy burthen upon the revenue. Roads in India will require a large, constant outlay, in order to be kept in proper repair, the climate operating as a solvent of almost every substance that can be used in their construction. From the native states of India, the intelligence presents few features worthy of notice. The condition of Oude seems to portend a speedy annihilation of the few relics of its independence. The new prime minister, Gholam Yehiah Khan, whose appointment we noticed only the month before last, is dead, as supposed, through poison (p. 187), and a nephew of the former minister, the celebrated Hukeem Mehndi, has been installed in his stead. Indications of an approaching crisis are observed; the presence of all the military officers is required; a fanatic has predicted the downfall of the reigning family, and such vaticinations in the East have generally much surer foundations than the seers' knowledge of futurity. It appears that, owing to some point of etiquette, the Governor-general, when at Delhi, did not visit the King: whence it would seem, that the concession refused to Lord Hastings, and made to Lord Amherst, by the late King, had been denied to Lord Auckland by the present. Accounts from Cabul, via Lahore, published in the Delhi Gazette, represent that a fracas had occurred between Capt. Burnes and a Russian vakeel, in the durbar of Dost Mahomed Khan. The Russian agent, provoked at the attention which the ruler of Cabul paid to Capt. Burnes, cautioned him against the designs of that gentleman and of the English. This led (so says the reporter, who is no less a person than the cazee of Cabul) to "a long conversation, which ended in very angry words." It is not difficult to infer the degree of influence acquired by our countryman in that quarter from this displeasure of the Russian agent. A disturbance has taken place in Assam (p. 188), where it would appear that a local corps, under a British officer, owing to the cowardice of some irregular auxiliaries, has suffered some loss, and been forced to retreat. Nepaul is reported to be making some warlike preparations, the object of which is not apparent. From the Madras presidency, we learn (p. 150) that the Mysore Province is in a generally improved and flourishing state. The system of extortion and irregularity, from which the ryots have so long suffered, has entirely disappeared, and they express themselves fully sensible how much the change of rulers has been to their advantage. A similar representation is transmitted from Coorg a person who has recently visited Mercara, the capital of that state, and several other parts of that country, gives (p. 150) a very favourable account of its appearance, and the feelings of the inhabitants towards the British Government, who are represented as infinitely more contented and happy now than they formerly were under the ex-rajah. The intelligence from Bombay is scanty-the discontinuance of nautches by Sir Robert Grant, by not permitting them at his dur bars, or at his public entertainments, is commended not only by the European but the native press. A noble instance of native liberality is recorded at this presidency, in the offer of a Parsee merchant to advance a lac of rupees towards founding an hospital. We give this month a further portion (p.153) of the new tariff of duties in Dutch India, which affords manifest proof (says the Singapore paper) of hostility to the trade of that settlement, in several important particulars, and to favour the operations of the Maatschappy, or Dutch trading company. The French appear to be active in endeavouring to place their relations with Madagascar on an advantageous footing. It is melancholy to find (p. 163) that this fine island, under its female Julian, instead of enjoying the fruits of Christian civilization, is consigned to the horrors of a civil war. Nothing worthy of remark occurs in our intelligence from China or Australasia. The Cape papers confirm the intelligence of the massacre of the emigrant boers, by the African chief Dingaan. The rashness of these discontented men tempted the cupidity of the savage. The excitement respecting the result of the late action of "Stockenstrom v. Campbell continues, and we perceive by the Zuid-Afrikaan, of the 20th April, that the judges, on the application of Captain Campbell, have granted an interdict, restraining the publisher of the South African Advertiser from circulating its report of the trial, on the ground of its being a partial and unfair report, and calculated to prejudice him, the case being appealed to the Privy Council. THE CONQUERORS OF THE WORLD. CANTO THE FIRST. KALIDASA was distinguished by the epithet Kolijita, Conqueror of Millions.-Asiat. Res., vol. ii. A tempest flaming up the sky, Shaking towers and gates asunder; A shout of mingling joy and wonder; Tossing above the blaze of spears; Dear Muse of Poetry! in thee, The ever-beautiful and strong— A gentle, bloodless conqueror thou! Its dread shield flash'd upon the sight- Gilding the solitude behind. Thy feet from the resplendent strife In the calm twilight of the day: Or where, along the moon-lit lane, His radiant plume of triumph flow'd; From his wide nostrils breathing fire, The milder beauty of thy strain : Now Fancy in her palace sleeps; Around its odorous lustre; mute A chain hangs on the Charmer's lute; Silent the radiant Genii lie! No more into the sunshine clear, To note of softest melody, The alabaster domes they rear; Or paint the rose-empurpled floor; Or shower jewels on the wall; Or through the shady gardens pour The glittering water-fall. |