HUNTER, the lady of Walter, c.s. at Poona, s. Jan. 28. MANISTY, the lady of Assist. surg. F. at Ahmednuggur, s. Feb. 8. NORRIS, the wife of W. W. at Mhow, d. Jan. 21. MARRIAGES. BIRD, James, Insp. gen. of hosp. to Georgina Elizabeth, d. of the late G. Taylor, at Poonah, Feb. 27. DANIELL, Lieut. E. Com. H. Co.'s st. Cleopatra, to Eliza Clinton, d. of the late Maj. gen. W. C. Baddeley, at Byculla, Feb. 20. DE COSTA, F. to Miss Josephina, d. of D. Gonsalves, at Belgaum, Jan. 27. JAMIESON, John, to Margaret, d. of the late George Lindsay, at Colaba, Feb. 3. WHITE, John, to Joana Leith, relict of the late F. De Silva, at Colaba, Jan. 27. DEATHS. SINCLAIR, Capt. W. A. 13th, Prince Albert's, Lt. Inf. of cholera, at Colaba, Feb. 20. son and 2 children, Lady Thackwell and 3 chilldren, and 2 native servants; Miss Thackwel; Mrs. Hunter and infant, with a European servant; Mrs. N. Kirkland and 3 children; Mrs. Smith and 3 children, with a European servant; Mrs. Dearie; Mrs. Ovans and a native servant; Mrs. Wemyss and 2 children; Mrs. Col. Saunders, Mrs. W. Crawford and 2 children; a lady and child; a child of Capt. G. K. Erskine's and a European servant; Major gen. Sir Joseph Thackwell, K.C.B. & K.C.H. H. M.'s 3rd light drags.; C. M. Harrison, Esq. c.s.; Capt. C. Hunter, 16th N.I.; N. Kirkland, Esq. c.s.; Maj. George Tremlow and a native servant; Maj. George Smith, invalid establishment; Charles Dearie, Esq. merchant, Lieut. col. C. Ovans, 1st fusiliers; R. B. Morgan, Esq.; W. Crawford, Esq. barrister supreme court, Bombay; Lieut. col. J. Saunders, 24th N.I.; Surg. M. Lovell, Bengal army; Capt. C. J. Westley, invalid establishment; Thomas Lancaster, Esq. merchant; Rev. D. Egan; Capt. F. Wemyss, engineers: J. A. Hulbert, Esq. from China; Lieut. W. H. Baynes, 3rd Madras It. cavalry; J. Jefferson, Esq. attorney; Lieuts. H. Breedon and J. Head, H.M.'s 13th It. infantry; Ens. F. Macgowan, 10th N.I.; Lieut. R. W. Wade, H.M.'s 13th It. infantry; Enss. G. H. Tyler and M. Browne, do. ; Capt. F. Ditmas, Madras engs. And the following passengers have engaged berths in the steamer of April.-H. G. Gordon, Esq.; Mr. A. B. Collett, and child; H. E. Goldsmith, Esq.; four children of Captain John Campbell's; Mrs. Denys, and a child; Dr. Mellis, and family; Rev. Charles Jackson, and lady; a lady and two children; Lieut. Colin Campbell, 1st Madras Cavalry. SHIPPING. ARRIVALS. FEB. 2. Regina, Quinton, China; Charlotte, Leibehwager, Manilla.-4. Ja hangier, Ballingall, Calcutta.-12. Duchess of Clarence, Birch, Calcutta; Jamseljee Jeejeebhoy, Conner, Singapore.-13. H.C.S. Cleopatra, Daniel, Suez.-16. Isabella Thompson, Kitton, Point de Galle: Imaum of Muscat, Riches, Liverpool; Recovery, Johnson, Batavia.-17. Steamer Auckland, Carless, Vingorla; steamer Acbar, Leeds, put back fr. sea.-28. H.C.S. Sesostris, Young, Vingorla; John Moore, Whittycombe, Liverpool. PASSENGERS ARRIVED. Per Regina.-Mrs. Quinton. Per Charlotte.-Mrs. Scott and family, Mrs. Smith and Miss Leibschwager. Per H.C.S. Cleopatra. - Mrs. Pennefather, Mrs. Rawlinson, Mrs. Leckie, Mrs. Clarkson, J. L. Ross, Esq.; Major Hunter, Capt. Younghusband, R. Leckie, Esq.; Mr. Clarkson, T. S. Smith, Esq.; Dr. Smith, Mr. Kneller, Colonel Pennefather, Mr. Dudman, Mr. Tawse, Capt. Jackson, Mr. Warden, Mr. Onslow, to Aden; Capt. Grant, to Aden; Mr. Inglis, Lieut. Marriott, Mr. Williams, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Pope, Mr. Green, Mr. Scudamore, Mr. Todd, H.M.'s 86th regt.; Mr. Mackeson, Sayd Hassun, Hyder Alli, Capt. Maughan, Mr. Blackwell, 2nd class; Senor Siri, Mr. Brown, Mr. Turner, 1 child, 2 European servants, 2 native servants. From Aden.-Shapoorjee Manockjee, Dorabjee Eduljee, Norowjee Edulgee, Byramjee Cowasjee, Nusserwanjee Ruttonjee, Jeeva Hemraj, 1 native servant, 1 European, and 31 native troops and camp followers. Per steamer Auckland.-Assist. surgs. Ritchie and Cruickshank, Lieut. James, and detachments of 2nd Queen's and 17th regts. DEPARTURES. FEB. 6. Anna Eliza, Grainger, Hong Kong.-7. Lady Sale, Coster, China.-8. Futtel Currim, Borrer, Calcutta.-11. Westmoreland, Brigstock, London.-12. William Gillies, Clark, London; Assam, Currie, Calcutta.-15. Steamer Acbar, Leeds, Kurrachee; Palmira, Daniell, Calcutta ; Argyra, Rees, London; Actress, Conry, Bushire; Ursula, Mundle, Liverpool; Childe Harold, Willis, London; Mor, Baxter, China.-17. Steamer Sir James R. Carnac, Duverger, Ceylon; Jehangier, Ballingall, Calcutta.-19. Steamer Semiramis, Hamilton, Goa.-24. Herefordshire, Richardson, London.-26. Sterlingshire, Rattray, Calcutta; Eleanor Lancaster, Baker, Colombo; Constance, Ford, Persian Gulf; steamer Phlox, Sarsfield, Surat. PASSENGERS DEPARTED. Per Lady Sale:-Capt. and Mrs. Case, Mr. Hoffland, and seven servants. Per Palmira :-Lieut. J. A. Oldham. Per Actress:-Mrs. Coury, Master J. Coury, two Persian ladies, Per Ursula:-Dr. D. Davies and his family. Per Childe Harold: Mrs. Whitehill, Capt. Edwards. Capt. Bellasis, Capt. Dowell, Ensign Nicol, eleven children, four European servants; and Mr. Stephenson. Per Mor -H. Williams, Esq.; H. Dudman, Esq. Per Herefordshire:-Major Gilland, Capt. Wakefield, Lieut. Wade, Lieut. Mitchell, Lieut. Williams, Capt. James, Major Kennett, 2 boiler-makers, and 366 invalids. Per steamer Atalanta, for Suez.-MARCH 1. Mrs. C. M. Harri COMMERCIAL. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGES. Bombay, March 1, 1845. Government Securities, 5 per cent. Loan of 1825-26, 109 to 110 Rs. 5 per cent. Loan of 1841-42, Rs. 110 to 110}. Bank Notes, per £ Rs. 11. 2nd Foot. A wing of this corps returned yesterday morning to Bombay from field service in the Southern Concan. Major Gilland permitted to proceed to England on M.C. 9th do. Lieut. Elmhirst, appointed aid-de-camp to Major general Sir E. K. Williams, K.C.B. 10th do. The Commander-in-Chief has accepted the resignation of the commission of Ensign A. Angelo. 13th do. (L.I.). This corps is under orders of embarkation for England. Lieut. Parker appointed to act as adjutant, vice Speedy proceeded to England. Capt. W. A. Sinclair deceased at Bombay, on the 20th February. 17th do. Lieut col. Croker, c. B., permitted to proceed to England on M. C. Capt. Barnes, major of brigade H. M. Forces Bombay, permitted to proceed to England on furlough for one year. 18th do. (Royal Irish), Capt. Edwards permitted to proceed to England on M.C. 21st do. (Fusiliers), Capt. Adamson, lieutenants Shawe and Lamb, permitted to proceed to England on furlough. 31st do. Capt. Longworth permitted to proceed to Simla for 8 months on M.C. 53rd do. Lieut. R. Spring, appointed to act as interpreter. 62nd do. Lieut Sinclair permitted to proceed to England on M. C. 63rd do. Major Neville permitted to proceed to England for the purpose of retiring on half pay. 94th do. Lieut T. Jones, promoted to captain by purchase, pend ing her Majesty's pleasure, vice O'Brien retire. Ensign R. W. M. Vaughan promoted to lieutenant by purchase, vice Jones. 78th do. This corps is under orders to return to India from Scinde. CEYLON. MISCELLANEOUS. THE CEYLON RIFLE REGIMENT.We understand that arrangements are being made with a view to allow the early despatch of a portion of the Ceylon rifle regiment, for the purpose of doing garrison duty at Hong Kong. A recruiting party is about to proceed to the eastward, and as soon as the strength of the rifles has been reinforced, the China detachment will proceed to its destination.- Ceylon Herald, January 31. We have to announce the death of the Kandian Adigar Mollegodde, which took place on the 26th instant, at his residence, Four Korles.-Ibid. REVIEW OF H. M. 97TH REGT.-His Excellency LieutenantGeneral Sir Colin Campbell reviewed the 97th regiment on the Galle-face, on the evening of the 29th January. The troops were on the ground at five o'clock. At half-past five the commander-inchief appeared, attended by a numerous staff. The regiment was immediately formed into column, and marched past his excellency in admirable order at slow and quick time, and then executed a variety of field manoeuvres with consummate reguJarity and precision. These were terminated only by the approach of night, and must have given to all who witnessed them a high idea of the efficiency and discipline of this corps. FATAL EPIDEMIC.-A fatal epidemic is at present raging at Colombo. A few sporadic cases of the same disease have been at all times usual, but a fresh stock of infection seems to have been imported by the Tigris, for since the arrival of that ship some of her passengers have fallen victims to the complaint (as our record of domestic occurrences testifies), and communicated it to several residents, for whose safety the greatest apprehension is entertained by their friends. A medical gentleman, who is himself suffering, describes the symptoms to be at first an uneasiness, which soon increases to inability to attend to business, study, or other ordinary occupation-sighing-want of sleep-loss of appetite-predilection for the society of some individual, on whom the thoughts of the unhappy sufferer dwell day and night. These symptoms increase in violence until the final catastrophe takes place. Some persons of experience say that the disease, like small-pox, generally attacks people but once in their lives, and leaves indelible proofs of its having been endured; but, as with the small-pox, persons are also known to have twice, and even oftener, suffered from its ravages.- Colombo Observer, Jan. 13. THE "BENTINCK."-The Bentinck arrived at Galle yesterday morning, having on board 130 passengers. Among the passengers for Ceylon are the Right Hon. Lord Elphinstone and Mr. Lock. Lord Elphinstone will remain a few days at Galle, after which he will proceed to Colombo.-Ceylon Herald, Jan. 14. DOMESTIC. BIRTHS. ANSTRUTHER, the Hon. Mrs. at Colombo, d. Jan. 4. CRISTOPHER, the lady of Lieut, I. Navy at Newpark, s. Jan. 31. MILFORD, the lady of E. L. at Colpetty, s. Jan. 22. MARRIAGES. PALM, the Rev. J. D. to Miss Louisa Anne Wells, at Colombo, Jan. 20. CLARKE, W. to Martha, s. of J. Armitage, at Colombo, Feb. 4. LANGSLOW, R. W. late dist. judge of Colo nbo, to Elizabeth Johanna 3rd d. of the late J. G. Kriekenbeck, at Jaffnapatam, Jan. 30. DEATHS. MEIER, Mrs. D. C. at Colombo, aged 23, Jan. 29. SILVA, Mrs. H. de at Colombo, Jan. 10. VINER, inf. d. of F. at Galle, Jan. 19. SINGAPORE. MURDER OF THE COMMANDER OF THE "BLACK CAT."-The schooner Black Cat left Singapore on the 23rd September last, on a trading voyage for Minto, Palembang, Sambas, and Borneo, with a cargo of sundries for sale at those ports, commanded by Capt. T. D. Robinson, a subject of the United States, it is be. lieved; Charles, an European, acting as gunner, and five Malay lascars. The schooner arrived at Minto on the 10th October; Palembang, on the 19th October. By letters from Capt. Robinson of 29th October, the last which have been received, it appears to have been his intention to leave Palembang in the course of a few days, in prosecution of his voyage for Sambas and Pontianak. We must now revert to the evidence given to the police by one of the Malay lascars, as to the unhappy fate of the schooner and the Europeans in charge of her. According to which it appears that, three days after leaving the river of Palembang, about noon, while Capt. Robinson was sitting on the break of the poop reading a book, the Malay at the helm suddenly quitted it, and, seizing a large billet of wood, used as a temporary ramrod for one of the guns, struck his commander a severe blow on the back of his head or neck. He is described as having fallen senseless down the hatchway leading into the sunk poop over which he was sitting. Here he was followed by his murderer and another man, who despatched him by repeated blows of firewood billets. The other lascars are represented as having been forced by the two ringleaders, under the threat of forfeiture of their lives, to take part in their future proceedings, which consisted of bringing the body of the captain on deck, and throwing it overboard, with a bag of shot attached to the leg to sink it. The European, named Charles, is represented as having jumped voluntarily overboard, when he witnessed Capt. Robinson's fate. This may be true, or not; and it is not unlikely, for once in the poop, the lascars were in possession of all the fire-arms, and these pointed at him, he had only the chance of death from them or a watery grave. Rid of the Europeans, but afraid of detection by being met with by passing ships, they, a day or two after this occurrence, scuttled the schooner and abandoned her, embarking on her sampan, into which they put some fire-arms, ammunition, provisions, and a bag containing 900 dollars, which they found on board, and the possession of which appears to have been the sole inducement for the committal of this brutal outrage. Having been six days at sea in the sampan, they arrived at Dye, or Linga, where their profuse manner of living, and abundance of dollars in their possession, attracted general attention and suspicion. Finally, they were laid hold of by the Sultan of that place, and brought over here by the tumunggong, and given over to the police. We understand they have been committed for trial at the first criminal session, when we trnst they may be dealt with according to their deserts. - Singapore Free Press, Jan. 9. (From our own Correspondent.) Victoria, Hong-kong, January 14, 1845. SIR, It gives me sincere pleasure, as I am sure it will be a source of gratification to our numerous well-wishers amongst your extensive circle of readers, to be enabled at the close of the year to review with so much satisfaction the events of 1844, and the advance that has been made in the prospects and the improvements that have been carried out in this most remote colony of Great Britain: never, I believe, has our colonial history exhibited such striking instances of the all-powerful influence of British exertion and enterprise, backed by the wellemployed wealth of British commercial interest, as has been the case in the small barren islet of Hong-kong; and when we consider the immense advantages of the geographical position we hold, forming a "point d'appui" for the intercourse of the whole civilized and commercial world, with a nation comprising, as our neighbours the Chinese are said to do, about one-third of the human race; no one, I think, who has the interests of our Chinese commerce, and the welfare of those who have left their homes to settle in this distant clime, at heart, can doubt that we shall continue to prosper and advance. In the month of January last year, the first sale of government lands to any extent took place, when nearly the whole of the ground now occupied by the present town was disposed of by auction on lease for seventy-five years, one condition of the sale being the expenditure of ten times the rental in building during the first year,a condition that has, in nearly every instance, been scrupulously complied with; and of course in many cases a far larger amount has been laid out. And when we bear in mind that the rental from that sale alone cannot be estimated at less than £6.000, while the whole land revenue of the colony is probably double that, all upon building leases, some idea may be formed of the progress that has been made towards the erection of a tolerably handsome town. The appearance of the place from the sea is very striking, the numbers of fine shipping laying a few cables' length from the shore, form an interesting foreground; then come wharfs and stores of all sorts and sizes, loaded with the produce of English industry; above, are residences of those favoured servants of Mammon, whose good fortune has led them to so good a market for their capital and enterprise; -while over the hill that rises precipitously in the back-ground are scattered the innumerable residences of an extensive English population, and buildings for public purposes, both civil and military. Nor is the appearance of the town, when you land and traverse its streets, less promising than the panorama view from the harbour: a road 50 ft. wide extends for the whole length of the town along shore, upon which are situated the principal merchants' residences, the European shops, and most respectable Chinese bazaars; while inclined streets ascend the hill at the back, at an easy slope, quite up to the top of the town, intersected with others of a steeper pitch in every direction; the whole rapidly becoming lined with buildings of all sorts; and although of course this part of the town at present bears the comfortless aspect, so characteristic of "half-done work," enough is evident of the appearance the town will eventually assume to assure the spectator that a few months will make a great change for the better; while the substantial aspect of the sewers and other works everywhere approaching completion, give evidence of the intention of those in authority to provide effectually for the comfort of the public during the heavy rains of the Spring, a want of which has been severely and fatally felt during previous seasons. It must be borne in mind that the whole of these works have been carried out during the last three months, while other large public works are at the same time in progress, comprising two lines of road along the shores of the island, east and west, through a most picturesque country, so rugged as at present to be almost inaccessible to an enterprising pedestrian; while, in the military department, an extensive range of barracks, with officers' quarters, and a handsome residence for the commander in-chief, are in rapid progress; a residence for the governor, and public offices for the different departments are not yet commenced, but from the very temporary nature of the building at present occupied for those objects, it is supposed Government will hasten to supply such necessary structures. A sum of about 12,000. is, I believe, already available for a church, raised by private subscription, materially aided by a Government grant; but to the discredit, it must be said, of our wealthy community, no building for the purpose of public worship, after the forms of the Established Church, has as yet been commenced. or At the period when buildings and other out-of-door works can be most effectually carried out, the state of the Wangnaichung, 'Happy Valley," is again attracting attention, and there is every hope that the unhealthy marsh will, before next season, be converted into a handsome riding-ground and racecourse for the amusement of the public. The registration ordinance, which was causing so much sensation two months ago, has not since been heard of; whether it will be suffered to fall through altogether, or be enforced in a less objectionable form as to the detail, time will shew. At present, the topic of most interest in conversation is, the non-arrival of the mails. We have English papers to September 6th, viâ Calcutta, but the August mail, by Bombay, has not reached us. The pirates still continue to annoy our small craft on the Canton river, favoured by the vicinity of their haunts and harbours, and the difficulty of detecting and bringing to punishment individual piratical vessels, where whole islands are infested with them. The Vestal has arrived from South America, and, with the Proserpine steamer, has gone to Canton to receive the last instalment of the indemnity money. The Agincourt, Iris, and Wolf, with the steamers Viren and Medusa, are still at Chusan; the former is expected here daily with Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, when the Castor, Capt. Graham, is expected to take her place at the north. The Java transport arrived on the 21st Dec., with 131 men of the 98th and three officers, and the same number of the 18th regt., Capt. and Mrs. Pain, and Mrs. McNight and family, all well, after a voyage of eight months; she lost the head of her rudder, and put into the Mauritius to refit. A small Spanish vessel lately lighted on a sunken wreck, supposed to be the Christina, lost two years ago in the China seas, and took out of her 130.000 dollars. She put in here on the 2nd, and inquiries and conjectures have been rife as to the rights of salvage, and proof of the name of the ship wrecked, which appear at present involved in mystery. Accounts from Shanghai are favourable, though trade in English manufactures is at present at a stand-still, and may be considered for this season merely as an experiment; the establishment of permanent commercial connections with the Chinese merchants was proceeding steadily; most of the large English firms have purchased ground from the Chinese, and made arrangements for erecting permanent buildings on a large scale, some of which are commenced; the exports of tea and silk have been considerable: it will be interesting to watch the result of next season's proceedings; from whence we may form some idea of the probability there is that the Northern ports may eventually draw the trade from the long-established channel of Canton; and it is worthy of remark, that at the latter place the ground that was six months since placed at the disposal of the British residents for building purposes, is still a heap of rubbish. DEATH. HARDIE, R. ch. off. of Psyche, at Kcolungsoo, aged 30. MARKETS. RATES OF EXCHANGE AND PRICES OF BULLION. On London.-At six months sight, 4s. 5d. per dollar. Government Bills at 30 days sight, 4s. 2d. in little request. On Calcutta.-Private Bills at 30 days sight. Company's accepted Bills, Co. Rs. 225 for dollars 100. On Bombay.-Private Bills at 30 days sight, none. On Madras.- Do. do. Co. Rs. 225 for dollars 100. TEAS, BLACK.-Eighteen to twenty chops of Congou have been settled for at from 18 to 26 taels per pecul. Two or three chops of middling Souchongs have likewise been purchased. The stock of Caper, Orange Pekoe, and Pekoe, is very limited, and we hear of none having been bought. GREEN. Large purchases have been made in most sorts of Green Teas, and with the exception of Young Hysons and Hyson Skins, they still command most extravagant rates. OPIUM is still very dull, and prices vary almost daily, owing to the reluctance of the dealers to make any purchases until better satisfied as to the coming supplies of Bengal drug. FREIGHTS. To London and Liverpool.-£3 10s. per ton of fifty cubic feet. To Bombay.-Cargoes are scarce, and ship pers unwilling to submit to the old rates. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are gratified by the compliments of "An Old Voyager on the Indian Seas," and hope to render our paper constantly more deserving of his good opinion. The information to which he refers is given when attainable, but there is sometimes difficulty in procuring it. ALLEN'S INDIAN MAIL, LONDON. SATURDAY, April 5, 1845. We have never heard that our fellow-countrymen in India were less susceptible of the action of provocatives to cachinnation than ourselves at home; but it seems that it has been ruled at Calcutta that no such provocatives are to be administered in courts of law. In an action for assault recently tried before the Supreme Court of Fort William, the counsel for the defendant, in his anxiety to get a verdict for his client, or if he should fail in this, to reduce the damages against him, indulged in some remarks of a facetious character. There was nothing very unusual in them, but one of the judges, in delivering his opinion, made some observations, it is stated, on the manner in which the plaintiff "had been made to be laughed at in a solemn place like the Court." Now it is clear from this that her Majesty's Courts in India are very different sort of places from her Majesty's Courts at Westminster, whose walls have so often echoed the loud laugh, in which court, counsel, jury, spectators --and we had almost said parties, though this would be a smile "beneath the ribs of Death”—have joined. What would Baron GARROW, or Sir SAMUEL SHEphard, or Baron VAUGHAN have said to the Calcutta doctrine ? It might not be right to quote living authorities against it, but we could fortify our cause by the opinion of several. But the Orientals are a graver people than we are, and upon the principle "when you are at Rome do as Rome does," we suppose we are to follow their example. No doubt the courts of the Mogul Emperor were very grave places, and no wonder, when the duration of the tenure of both the purse and the head were alike uncertain. The same cause for gravity happily does not prevail under English rule, but as we have succeeded to the power of the Moguls, we probably inherit their decorum also. This much is clear,—the Supreme Court at Calcutta is the Cave of Trophonius-he who enters it must never laugh again. THE Ceylon papers are filled with discussions respecting a recent order of the Colonial Office at home, seriously affecting the interests of sundry civil servants of the Crown in the Cinnamon Isle. Many of these functionaries have invested their available funds in plantations, and the order referred to is to the effect that they must either sell their property of this description, or resign the service of the Government. The terms of the order seem to have directed an immediate sale; but the chief authority in the island has mitigated them so far as to allow twelve months' grace previously to the mandate being carried into effect. We have nothing to say against the principle of the order in question. We do not think it either unjust or inexpedient that those engaged in the service of Government should be restricted from embarking in any concerns partaking of the character of commercial speculation, more especially on the spot where their functions are to be exercised. Supposing, then, that such an order had been issued when the island first became a British possession, or at any period before the practice which it forbids had began to exist, it would have been unobjectionable. Men would have known that they must choose between being planters and public servants, and there would have been nothing to complain of. Such would be the case now, were the effect of the order prospective only; but it does appear to be stretching power at the expense of fairness to call upon persons who may possibly have invested all they are worth, and possibly borrowed capital into the bargain, in a particular species of property, to bring that property to sale under circumstances which must render sales ruinous, or to resign employment on which they depend for their daily support. It cannot be supposed that the British Government have been up to this time ignorant of the practice which they have suddenly determined on putting down; and if no direct approval has ever been given to it, a tacit acquiescence for a very long period may be regarded as little less than equivalent to such approval. The facilities of overland communication afford time for withdrawing the order, except as far as its operation is to be prospective, or for qualifying it, by allowing a somewhat more reasonable period for carrying it into effect; and we trust that, on reconsideration, LORD STANLEY will see fit to adopt one of these two courses. A SUBJECT which appears to be exciting a strong sensation among the mercantile interest of India is a proposed modification of the tariff, the effect of which will be to increase the amount of duty on various classes of imports. The duty on British cotton goods is to be raised from 3 to 5 per cent.; woollen goods from 2 to 5 per cent.; British metals from 3 to 5 per cent.; wines and various other articles of foreign production are also affected by the changes. We are not friendly to any increase of the burdens of commerce; on the contrary, we would diminish them to the greatest extent compatible with the realization of a sufficient revenue to meet the demands of the State; but we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that England has not any fair reason to complain of the enhanced duties proposed upon British goods, seeing in what manner India goods have long been dealt with in this country. Low duties are desirable, but then the advantage of them should be reciprocal. The cotton goods of India were long subjected to an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. in this country, while the cotton goods of England were admitted in India at a duty of 3 per cent. Subsequently the duty on Indian goods here was reduced to 5 per cent., that on English goods in India remaining at 34 per cent. The duties in the two countries on the products of each other will now be assimilated by raising the duty on English piece goods in India to 5 per cent. We must confess that we should be much better pleased to see the assimilation effected in a different way-by reducing the duties on Indian products and manufactures to the rate hitherto levied on those of England in India; but if this cannot be, there is certainly no unfairness in placing the richer and stronger country in the same position with the poorer and weaker, and requiring an equal contribution from it. It is not 1 per cent. that will drive our manufactures from India, and if such an effect would follow, we should feel a very unreasonable demand made upon our modesty in being required to denounce the impost while a corresponding one is maintained against India. Whether the duty be one, two, four, or five per cent. let it be equal. Among the articles to be subjected to change is wine, which, instead of an ad valorem duty of ten per cent. is to pay one rupee per imperial gallon of every quality. The Englishman says that this will fall at the rate of about a hundred per cent. on "the trash with which the market is deluged," while it will affect the higher descriptions to about the same extent as the old duty. The result therefore will be that our Indian friends will have to drink good wine instead of bad, for the bad will not be worth importing. It is true that those who have been accustomed to imbibe the inferior qualities will find their potations more expensive; but they cannot expect to consume a first-rate article at the price of a tenth-rate; and as nothing is more injurious to health than bad wine, especially in such a climate as India, they will probably save the difference in physicians' fees. IN our last we had occasion to advert to the non-arrival, viá Marseilles, of any communication from Madras. The arrangement by which that Presidency was deprived of its share of the advantages of the most rapid means of intercourse with this country, originated with the authorities, of the British Post-office; their reasons we cannot pretend to divine. Instead of wasting time in hopeless attempts to conjecture them, we may state that the prohibition was is-sued before the agreement with the Oriental and Peninsular Steam Navigation Company was concluded, and that the injury inflicted on Madras is to be remedied at the earliest practicable period. The remedy will probably not affect the correspondence transmitted by the next mail; but by the time the following one shall be forwarded, we have reason to believe that the people of Madras will have no ground for complaint. CORRESPONDENCE. TO THE EDITOR OF ALLEN'S INDIAN MAIL. Sir, I am always sorry to see people, possessed of immense power, use it to the disadvantage of others; and of course I am sorry to see you, whose paper is so powerful, and in general, so well conducted, lend yourself to such a mean spirit as that dis played in your late article on the sugar duties, in which you say that Mr. Gladstone is going to return to office in consequence of the new duties on sugar, by which he is greatly profited as a holder of West-Indian property. Now surely, Sir, this is not very kind on your part to impute such unworthy motives to Mr. Gladstone,a man distinguished by every virtue that adorns the human character, and whose con duct ought to place him above suspicion. Supposing, for a moment, he is a holder of West-Indian property, is it likely that his conduct would be swayed by such a paltry motive as the addition of a few shillings per annum to his income? I trust, Sir, that you will correct this unfavourable opinion, which is likely to spread considerably, through the medium of your widely-circulated journal, to the great detriment of Mr. Gladstone. London. I am your obedient servant, M. L. [Although our correspondent is not very complimentary in accusing us of acting in a mean spirit," we cheerfully give his letter insertion, because we dread not inquiry into our motives or conduct. We must, however, set our correspondent right on one point. We have not said that Mr. Gladstone is about to return to office in " consequence of the new duties on sugar:" we have merely suggested the point for inquiry. We have never conversed with any one who could tell why Mr. G. left office, or why he is about to return (if he be about to return). The sugar question seemed to afford a clue, and we laid our hands upon it as the best guide which we could find to lead us out of a very dark chamber. If any of Mr. G.'s friends will give us a better, we shall be much obliged to them.-ED. Allen's Indian Mail.] NOTICE TO MARINERS. FLOATING LIGHT OFF THE ROMAN ROCKS, IN FALSE BAY. The following information respecting this light has been received at Lloyd's: A floating light has been moored off the Roman Rocks in 74 fathoms, distant therefrom one cable's length due N. (by compass). It is a bright revolving light, 37 feet above the level of the sea, and may be seen in clear weather at a distance of 10 miles from a ship's deck. It is lighted at sunset all the year round, and extinguished half an hour after daylight. The light-vessel is painted red, and during daylight will hoist a red flag, when a ship is in sight. The following are a few important directions for ships navigating False and Simon's Bays, as given by Mr. Brown, master of Her Majesty's ship Winchester:-From this light the compassbearings are, Whittle, S.S.E., distance 7 miles, on which there is only 12 feet water; Miller's Point, S. & W., distance 4 miles; Seal Island, E. S., distance 64 miles; Dockyard Jetty, W. 4 N., distance 1 miles. Ships steering into False Bay from round the Cape of Good Hope will open the light clear of Miller's Point (which is the point 74 miles from Cape Point, off which, but close to, are some rocks above water), where it bears N. E.; and if intending to bear up inside the Whittle, the light should not be brought to the westward by W. W., or to the eastward of N., until you are certain of being within 5 miles of the light, when you must be N. of the Whittle, and may bring the light, in standing to the northward, to bear N.W. by W., working up towards her by short tacks, and, passing to the N., leave her on your larboard hand a of a mile. If outside of the Whittle, do not bring the light to the north of N.N.W. W., or to the westward of N.W. by W. W., on account of Seal Island, and the rocks which lie off 1 miles to the southward; turn by short tacks until 5 miles from the light, which will insure your being N. of the Whittle. With a leading wind, bring the light to bear N. by W.; you will be well inside the Whittle, and may run up, keeping it on that bearing until within of a mile of the light, when you must open on the larboard side, and round it not less than a mile distant; when the light bears S.S.W., steer in W. for the anchorage, and come to in 14, 12, or 10 fathoms, according to the weather. Ships rounding Hanglip must bear in mind that the Whittle lies nearly in a direct line between the Cape and the lightvessel, for which it bears S.S.E. If coming up with a fair wind outside the Whittle, bring to bear N.N.W. W., or N. W. and by N., and run for it. If you pass by the southward, bear in mind the passage between Noah's Ark and the Roman Rocks is barely of way to Cairo and Suez, whence they will proceed to Jedda by the Pasha's steamer on the Red Sea. Mehemet Ali is still in the upper country, but intends to return to Cairo shortly, as the heat is increasing daily in those parts. His Highness has been rather unwell lately. The long-talked-of line of steamers which this Government has proposed establishing between this port and Constantinople, will, it is said, shortly come into operation. The river Nile has lately fallen very considerably, and as the water will probably continue to diminish for three months more, great apprehensions are entertained for the ensuing crops. The small iron steamer brought out by the Egyptian Transit Company, and appropriated by Mehemet Ali for his own private use, has recently been on an experimental trip, and the great expectations that were entertained of her were disappointed, as her utmost rate of speed did not attain eight knots an hour. Colonel Barnett, her Majesty's political agent and Consul-General, has returned to Alexandria from Cairo. Mr. Bourne is still here waiting for ins ructions to return to England. It is reported that the final orders for the furnishing of the matériel necessary for the construction of the barrage of the Nile have been given to a French house of this place. Mr. J. Galloway, the engineer, is still in the Desert, surveying the line for the proposed railroad between Cairo and Suez. The Peninsula and Oriental Company's steamer Oriental arrived here on the morning of the 8th instant from Malta and Southampton, with the London mails of the 24th of February, and twenty-five passengers. She starts to-day on her return voyage with the Calcutta mails and passengers brought to Suez on the 7th instant by the Frecursor. Very severe weather has lately been experienced in the Red Sea, and a great number of native boats have been lost there. In the beginning of last month, one boat, with upwards of two hundred hadjis, or Mohammedan pilgrims, on board, on their way to Mecca, foundered at sea, and all lives were lost. A statement has been drawn up and printed by an employé of the British Consulate here, shewing the amounts of imports and exports to and from Egypt in the year 1844. The total value of imports, of all descriptions, to Egypt, from different countries, is computed at £1,131,000 sterling. The total imports from Great Britain amount to £352,000 sterling, of which are, among other articles, the following:£. sterl. valued at 30,000 15,000 15,000 254,000 20,000 tons of coals 47,800 bundles of cotton-twist 40 tons of indigo 670,000 pieces of manufactured cotton goods The total number of merchant-ships, of all nations, arrived in this port in 1844 amounts to 1,377, of which 211 were English, of the burden of 48,000 tons. The total value of exports, of all descriptions, from Egypt to different countries is £1,302,000 sterling, of which, to Great Britain and Malta the amount is £452,000 sterling, comprising, among other articles The total number of merchant-ships sailed from this port amounts to 1,318, of which 203 are English, of the burden of 42,000 tons. Intelligence has been received from Beyrout up to the 26th of February. The establishment of perfect tranquillity in Syria is apparently a thing not to be looked for, and Turkish authority in that country cannot succeed in making itself respected. The town of Diar El Kumar, in the Lebanon, and its environs, are in a very unsettled state; so much so, that Assad Pasha, of Beyrout, deemed it necessary to repair to that place with a strong body of troops, to crush any open insurrection. The cause of the present disturbances seems to be a distrust on the part of both Christians and Druses to allow either party to place itself in a warlike state without the other being equally prepared. All the inhabitants of Syria seem auxious to provide themselves with arms and ammunition, of which large quantities are brought on the sea-coast towns, and clandestinely sent into the interior. The government has several times threatened to deprive the people of their warlike arms, but hitherto has not ventured to make the attempt. On the 19th of February, the English frigate Warspite arrived at Beyrout, to remain on the Syria station. The shock of earthquake which occurred here on the morning of the 21st of February, was also felt throughout Syria at about the same time, but had no pernicious effects. |