INDIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 8 July 1857, Page 5

INDIA.

'• A Hindu " has addressed the following to Lord Canning on the present unsatisfactory condition of India:—" This, my Lord, is the most critical time ever reached in the political administration of the Indian empire. At the two extremities—the eastern and the western—hostilities have taken an alarming aspect, which will not disappear before, a great sacrifice of blood and treasure has been made. Money, the soul of Government, is the dearest possible now. Credit, a great source of money, has gone out of the land with Lord Dalhousie, and the Public Treasury is empty. As for raising funds by loans, want of confidence is, as a matter of course, visible in every;one, from the first-rate moneyed man of the country down to a day labourer. This is especially at a time not ominous as respects the hostilities in progress, but when more gigantic public works than those hitherto undertaken by the Indian Government are being prosecuted or in contemplation. And as for assistance in the shape of money and men at the time of need, almost all the independent princes and rajahs have been so much offended at the late annexation policy, that they have begun to entertain deadly enmity towards the British power in India. Moreover, as for the internal military defence of the empire, cartridge question, &c., they have created a most strenuous movement in some portions of the Hindu sepoys, and will, if not dropped immediately, spread it through all their ranks over the whole country to the great insecurity of the British rule. Pray, my lord, give your undivided attention to the speedy adjustment of all these loose organs of this vast empire, else a serious consequence will soon follow."

In reference to the war with Persia, a letter from Bushire mentions that it was expected an advance would take place soon after General Outram's arrival. Our own correspondent (says the ' LahoreJJChronicle,') under date 23rd January :—Of the enemy and his doings I have little to chronicle. It is reported that the Prince Governor of Shiraz has come to Borosgoon with some 15,000 men and ten guns ; that the force upon which Sir Henry Leeke fired at Luigon on his way to Bombay is on its march to Chogodah, and that when these have reached their destination we are to be attacked; of this latter part of the report I do not believe a word, and do not think it is at all likely that we shall see the enemy till we go out and look after him, a course which it is not improbable Sir James Outram may adopt on his arrival, if, as it is expected, he brings any portion of the coming reinforcement with him. We have been most anxiously look for Sir James' arrival for the last four days, but no sign of the steamer as yet, and it is supposed that Outram may have taken Kurrachee on his way here to. bring Col. Jacob and some of his Scinde horsemen up with him. Cavalry is much wanted here, for the number .of patrols and piquets required around our camp makes the duty fall very heavily upon the wing of cavalry and the Poona horse, and the men I hear have little more than one night in bed,—rather serious work upon Hindoostanees in such a climate as this, for during the nights the cold is sometimes very cutting even to Europeans. No plan of future operations has as yet been decided upon so far as I can learn, but the intention is said to be to advance on Shiraz, through the mountain passes to the eastward, and to enable us to do this the commissariat are busy buying baggage animals. Our future plan must of course depend upon the view of matters which General Outram may take after his arrival amongst us. The honorable Mr. Murray is still here; he awaits General Outram's arrival.

The ' Lahore Chronicle' reports the following incident from Peshawur:—" Lieutenant Hand with three other officers rode unarmed, towards the Kyber Pass on the evening of the 27th instant ; they had proceeded about a mile beyond the Dost's camp at Jumrood, and were returning, when they were attacked by some men, one of whom fired at and shot Lieut. Hand through the body. His horse carried him on for some distance when he fainted and fell. Dost Mahommed sent the wounded officer in ; he expired soon after he reached the camp. The Dost's camp broke up on the 28th. The Chief Commissioner marched to Peshawur on the 29th. One or more officers are to be sent into Affganistan to watch proceedings.