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6. The objects to which his attention should | produce, the causes of the superiority of the be directed will include a careful condensa- Coimbatore and Tinnevelly country cottons, tion of the whole of the documents, and of with the history of the introduction of the the replies to such enquires as he may address Bourbon cotton plant into these districts. to the several Revenue Officers, who will be directed to afford every information in their power; with the results of his own observation on the methods of cultivating the country and exotic cotton, tobacco, senna, &c.

5th. With respect to tobacco, the methods of preparation and the qualities for which it is valued in some parts of this country are by

no means the same as those that will render it a lucrative article of trade with Europe; 7. To secure the fulfilment of the views of the statements on this subject founded on Government, it is resolved to furnish Dr. native opinions are, therefore, to be received Wight with the following general instructions with some reserve, and the real extent to for his report, but these are not to be consider-which they apply must be ascertained by pered to exclude the communication of useful sonal enquiry. As this is an article nearly information on points not specially adverted to. unknown to Indian foreign trade, and which 1st. The circumstances in which the ex-few experiments yet made in a proper manfrom the great success that has attended the periments with the American cotton and tobacco seeds sent out by the Hon'ble the Courtner, promise to be very advantageous to the of Directors, were made, are to be stated in effects of any regulations now in force, by country, it will be requisite to attend to the

detail.

2d. The causes which led to their failure should be ascertained; and those which may appear to have been accidental, and not such as to justify an unfavorable opinion in more advantageous and skilfully conducted trials, are to be pointed out, with a view to their being avoided in future.

3d. When any thing in the soil or climate appears to be unfavourable, attention should be paid to the opinions expressed regarding them; but when these are only founded on analogy with other products supposed to require the same soil or on the failure of the first trial from the apathy of the Natives, injurious modes of culture and preparation, or from inadequate encouragement, additional enquiries should be instituted, to ascertain as far as possible the real value of the facts; and whatever may remain doubtful should be pointed out as a matter to be hereafter investigated.

which the extension of the cultivation, its manufacture, consumption and export may be obstructed or embarrassed; and to the most eligible means by which the extension of the cultivation may be secured. This being an object of almost equal public importance with that of the introduction of the finer kinds of cotton, it is probable that, the result of the enquiries now in progress may point out the propriety of granting liberal encouragement, certain number of years, the removal of modiin the shape of moderate remissions for a fication of taxes at present levied either on the production or transport of the improved products, or by other methods; and it is expected, that the examination of the reports and the additional enquiries founded on them where the information they afford is imperfect, will enable Government to do so, in the most effectual and economical manner.

6th. The condensation and correction of the information contained in the reports and 4th. When notwithstanding the various replies on the above subjects, will necessarily great difficulties attending first experiments, contain references to the nature of the soils, success either partial or complete has attend-in which the various productions are most ed them, the information communicated on the advantageously cultivated; and as the natives following particulars cannot be too minute, viz, have long been familiar with these distincthe kind of seed and the circumstances under tions, it is believed that much benefit would in which it was obtained and sown ; the nature result from a careful comparison of the inof the soil, and method of agriculture adopt- formation regarding the products usually ed; the quantity and quality of the produce raised on the several soils, with their nature and its adaptation for the foreign and home as ascertained by an examination of the sammarkets; its value and the expenses incurred ples furnished by the Collectors. For this the first instance; and as far as can be as-purpose, they should be arranged into classes, certained, those likely to be incurred when the differences in physical and chemical the management is better understood, with the qualities of each of which should be clearly returns that may then be expected to be ob-stated. Under each principal division, the tained. In this investigation the methods of varieties should be arranged and their differgathering and preparing the produce should ences stated; and from a careful comparison be clearly explained, and such suggestions of all the soils, their local names and quali communicated as are calculated to improve ties over the whole of the territories under 'those at present practised. This will necessa- this Presidency, will easily be referred to rily lead to the description of the mode of cultivating the country plants, the defects in the manner of gathering and preparing their

*Kind of seed, as Sea Island, &c.; the time of its being receiv ed in India, and sent into the district; the season when it was sown, &c,

those, whose characters have been ascertained. An abstract statement can afterwards be constructed, so as to exhibit in one view much important information on the various products

See Notices on this subject in the Bombay Gazette for 1835,

page 360.

for which they are severally best suited, on the returns received from each, the expenses of cultivation and the value which should be assigned to lands of different kinds in revenue surveys. It will not only be useful to Officers in the Revenue Department and to the public to have exhibited in one view the names, characters, qualities and productions of the numerous kinds of soil, on which the nature of the agriculture of particular districts depends; but it will materially assist individuals engaging in raising any of the staple productions of the country, to know without the expense and disappointment of unsuccessful experiments, the kinds of soil in which they may expect to cultivate particular plants with success. For example; that the Bourbon Cotton plant, which produces the finest kind of Cotton wool, is most successfully cultivated in a soil similar to that most congenial to Coffee in Malabar and Wynaad; but that the rich black cotton soils" in which the annual plant is cultivated causes it to shoot into luxuriant branches which do not produce a crop. In this comparison, however, the nature of the climate as to temperature, and the quantity and distribution of the moisture must be held in view. 7th. In estimating the amount of the several kinds of produce from the different soils the expenses of cultivation and the profits of the cultivator, many sources of error will have to be considered, and different statements will probably be furnished by the ryut, and the servants of the Collectors. To guard as much as possible against these, in addition to the abstract statements to be prepared form the whole of the documents, a copious selection of the original detailed statements will be given in an appendix, to each of which, such remarks as may appear necessary are to be annexed; regarding the source from whence the information was obtained, the degree of authority which they may appear to possess, when anomalous or contradictory statements occur their investigation will lead to the correction of the tables or to the elucidation of facts of importance.

9th. It has long been considered of great importance to ascertain the causes on which the remarkable difference in the quality of the cattle of different provinces under this Presidency depends, with a view to their improvement in these districts in which the climate and soil are not unfavorable; and to their preservation in seasons of drought, which are of such frequent occurrence and, under the present management, so destructive to agricultural stock of all kinds. A careful comparison of the information contained in the reports, with the specimens furnished by the Collectors, of the most remarkable grasses and other plants used as food for cattle, cannot fail to lead to some important general conclusions of a practical kind.

it will be necessary to ascertain the scientific 10th. For a full illustration of the subject, with the native names by which they are fanames and characters of the various plants, miliarly known in different provinces, their qualities as stated by the ryuts, and the soils in which they are found to thrive. It will be convenient to give this detailed information in a separate report, to be accompanied with drawings of the most valuable plants, which if thought expedient, may hereafter be lithographed for general use, and to enable those ignorant of botanical science to prosecute the enquiry.

11th. The districts in which the proposed enquiries are to be conducted, contain several ranges of hills of great elevation and possessing many natural advantages for the cultivation of other valuable productions, besides those above adverted to, a scientific examination of which, would develope their capabilities to furnish additional articles of commercial importance, and by increasing the general resources of the country, indirectly promote the cultivation of the finer kinds of cotton, tobacco, &c.; of these the Cortallum and Pulney hills appear to afford the greatest facilities for successfully prosecuting the enquiries referred to in the preceding paragraphs, as their examination can be conducted at the same time, with those relating to the cultivation of cotton, tobacco, &c. on the plains.

As these statements will exhibit the various kinds of grain and other produce raised on different soils, and will embrace the result of unconnected enquiries made over the whole 12th. The principal objects to be attended of this Presidency, it may be confidently in this survey are the history of the spice expected that the documents, when subjected gardens of Cortallum and the probability of to the proposed scrutiny will afford data, these valuable productions being profitably from which the real profits of the occupiers cultivated in that soil and clime; the faciliof land may be more correctly estimated than ties for the production of sugar in the neighhas yet been done. bourhood of Bulsumdrum and other places 8th. Similar principles are to be attended in the Pulney hills, where it has long been to in the examination of the answers to the raised with success for the supply of the queries regarding coffee, senna, dye stuffs, neighbouring country; and the measures &c.; and to prevent the misapplication of necessary to improve the quality of the cane capital or enterprise that might be more ad- and to introduce more productive varieties, vantageously employed, it will be useful to such as that of the South Seas. Attention record such facts as may appear to shew that should also be paid to the manufacture of any article, supposed to deserve attention in saltpetre carried on in the same neighbourcommerce, is not likely to succeed, either for hood; the facilities for the growth of coffee some defects in its quality, or the expense on the hills; the quality of the hill pastures and difficulty of producing it in sufficient resorted to by the ryuts of Madura, and the quantity and of good quality. character of the more valuable breeds of cattle

brought to Pulney for sale from Dorpoory | families of plants,) of a district of a moderate

and other places; and the state of agriculture generally in the neighbourhood and on the hills, with the probability of the successful culture of the productions of colder climates, such as tea, madder, cinchona, &c. on the more elevated tracts where wheat, and flax are now grown. The characters and qualities of the timber trees with which the hills 14th. This information is the more desiraare covered, and the facilities of turning them ble as the state of the atmosphere and the to account are also to be ascertained by per-specific effects of each variety of soil and clisonal enquiry, and by collecting specimens of the woods, for examination by the superintendent of the Gun Carriage Manufactory or other competent judges. Should any woods not generally known, and having valuable qualities not possessed by others found in India, be discovered, drawings should be made of the trees, and the native and scientific names and characters detailed.

extent and well defined geographical limits; in which the transition from the vegetable forms characteristic of the plains of the Carnatic, to those found at great elevations or in more temperate climates, can be conveniently | observed.

13th. The examination of this object of immediate utility will afford opportunities for the investigation of others of a more speculative character, but bearing more or less directly on questions of practical interest. It is only requisite to refer to the imporant additions to science, particularly to geographical botany on which success in experimental husbandry in a great measure depends, that will result from the examination, in detail, of the geological structure and of the climate, (as ascertained from meteorological observations, and an examination of the distribution of various

mate as modified by elevation or other local causes or vegetation and the productions that may be profitably raised on the hill ranges of the Peninsula, cannot be inferred from the observations made in those of Hindoostan, which from their higher latitude enjoy twoseasons, during one of which European and during the other tropical plants can be cultivated.

15th. The prosecution of these enquiries, however, is not to interfere with the earliest practicable completion of the examination and condensation of the important information contained in the reports of the Revenue Officers and to be collected by a personal examination of the cotton districts of Tinnevelly and Coimbatore.

(A true Extract.)

(Signed) HY. CHAMIER, Chief Secretary. Fort St. George Gazette.]

PRISON DISCIPLINE.

We learn that the condition and arrangements of the Allipore jail are now under the consideration of Government. In the year 1808, as may be seen in the public documents, Mr. G. D. Guthrie, the Superintendent of Police, proposed to Government the following arrangements regarding this jail.

The subject of Prison Discipline has been the penal arrangements of this Government, in raised by the improved spirit of the age to the correspondence with the economy now adoptdignity of a science. In ancient times the tor-ed at home. We trust the result of their ment of the offender was the first end of Cri- labours will speedily be laid before the public, minal Law; the means by which it was attain- and that we shall be enabled at no distant ed were simple, and required the exercise of period to resume the subject. no ingenuity but that of cruelty. In our days it has been admitted among established principles that the reformation of the culprit, and the benefit of the community are the chief objects of punishment. Having adopted this enlarged principle, we require a combination of skill, experience and judgment to work it into practice. The internal economy of jails, which was formerly abandoned to the hard-hearted jailor, has now become an object of national investigation, and some of the ablest minds in Europe and America have been for a considerable time employed in maturing an enlightened system of Prison Discipline. The feeling which pervades the European world on this subject has spread to the shores of India, and our local Government, anxious to keep abreast of the civilized communities in England and America, have appointed a Committee composed of some of the most eminent characters in India, to examine the subject and to offer such suggestions of improvement, as may bring

"That a jail be erected in the immediate vicinity of Calcutta for the reception of all persons sentenced to imprisonment and hard labour for any considerable period of time, in the different Mofussil Zillahs.

"That a spacious area be attached to the jail calculated to admit of the prisoner being employed in preparing soorky, khoa, and such other suitable labour as they may be required to perform. The chief advantages which I anticipate from the adoption of this plan is, in respect to the punishment of the delinquent which may be

strictly enforced, because, as the kind of labour in which it is proposed to employ the convicts, will admit of the labour imposed on each person respectively, being proportioned to his ability to permit, he can be compelled to execute his task, and as that being accomplished, he will be permitted to leave off work, any undue severity on the part of the overseers will be effectually prevented. The task assigned, may be more or less heavy as the circumstances, and behaviour of the prisoners render necessary or proper.

will preclude all improper communication between the sepoys and the prisoners, and, as the Mofussil jails will be relieved from the most dangerous prisoners immediately after they receive sentence, the number of the guards now required there may be reduced.

"5. A reduction may, by these means, be eventually effected in the expense at present incurred in the erection of Jails in the interior of the country."

In consequence of the great outlay which "The chief end of the criminal law, viz., the was likely to be incurred in the first instance, punishment of the delinquent, being thus in- the plan was not fully acted upon. The presured, I am of opinion, that the result of the sent jail, however, is still the receptacle of proposed plan, considered with a view to "ex-prisoners from the various districts, and it is ample," for which it is the next object of the to this place that the Thugs, who though conlaw to provide, is likely to produce superior victed, have not been executed, are sent. It advantage, as it may be expected that the im- contains from ten to twelve hundred prisoners, pression with which the convicts will leave many of them the most desperate characters jail, will not only withhold them from the in India, to whom crime is become a habit. In repetition of crime, but that the reports they will this jail there is no farther classification of pricarry with them to the different parts of the soners than that the Thugs are separated from country to which they belong, of the hardships the rest. Those who have been convicted of they had experienced during their imprisonment, the most ignominious offences, are confined in will be the means of deterring the evil inclined the same chamber with those who are charged from the commission of acts that may reduce with less heinous offences; the most hardened them to the same predicament, whereas, at pre- have thus an opportunity which they seldom sent the constant exhibition of the convicts on neglect, of bringing all down to the level of the public roads, especially as they do not ap- their own vice, pear to suffer any other hardship than that of being in chains, has, I conceive, an opposite tendency in the way of example, for it is well known, that even capital punishments lose the effect of inspiring terror in proportion as they become more common, and at last are looked upon merely as common occurrences.

:

It is

It is among the fundamental principles of prison discipline that the prisoners shall provide the means of their support from their own labour. Whether the object of confining them be their improvement or their punishment, this principle is equally essential to success. clearly recognized in Mr. Guthrie's paper, in "The further advantage which I conceive which he says, that the produce of their labour will result from the proposed plan are secon-may be made fully adequate to the reimbursedary to those already mentioned, and chiefly ment of Government in the expense of their respect the convenience of Government; they maintenance. But this important principle has are as follow: been completely overlooked for many years in the management of this Jail. The only labour "1. By collecting together the convicts into which the prisoners are subject is the spinthe vicinity of Calcutta as soon after they re-ning of twine, which is subsequently made up ceive sentence as possible, they will be ready into gunny bags. This labour is so light that for transportation whenever opportunities oc- the day's task is usually completed before midcar of conveying them to Fort Malborough, or day, after which these convicted felons have to Prince of Wales' Island. the whole time for the indulgence of that indolent repose, that dolce for niente, in which consists the heaven of a native's existence. The criminals whose crimes have rendered them unfit to associate with human society, are thus shut up in a comfortable lodging, comfortably clothed in winter and summer, comforta"3. A constant supply of the necessary bly fed without toil, and with very little spinning articles of khoa, soorky, and brick-dust, for and subject to none of the anxieties or vicissithe repair of the roads, and other public works tudes which embitter life ;-and this is called which is now purchased by Government at a punishment! They are thus lodged, fed, and heavy expense, will be prepared by the con-clothed at the expense of the industrious comvicts, and it is certain, that the produce of munity. After having preyed on the peace and their labour, may be made fully adequate to comfort of society abroad they are locked up the reimbursement of Government in the for life to prey on the public revenue. Their expence of their maintenance. support costs the public at the lowest computation, from 36 to 40,000 rupees a year. Their "4. The jail being in the vicinity of Cal-labour yields 2,500 rupees. An attempt was cutta, the guards can be more frequently made by the late Mr. Richardson to increase relieved than in the interior of the country, which their productive labour, and they barbarously

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2. The escape of prisoners and particularly of the most dangerous description, which so frequently occurs at present at the different jails, will be effectively prevented.

put him to death in the precincts of the prison their support. To make honest men labour and from that day to the present the attempt that rogues may revel in indolence, is to reverse to make them support themselves has been the order of society.-Friend of India. dropped, and they have enjoyed the desired immunity from all toil, but such as gives additional relish to pleasure.

We trust we shall be pardoned by those of our readers who do not feel any immediate inThe first reform therefore which ought to be terest in the subject for devoting a large portion introduced into this establishment, and prose- of our space to the consideration of the imcuted with a degree of vigor becoming the Bri-provement practicable in the present system tish character is, that the criminals shall sup- of jail discipline which we are sensible is a matport themselves. If it be the rule of Holyter of the utmost importance to the country at Scripture, given generally to all mankind, that large. We are extremely anxious that the if any will not work, neither shall he eat, it fullest attention should now be given to it, becomes not a Christian Government to create because there appears to be a desire on the an exemption in favor of the most abandoned part of Government to obtain the fullest part of society. There is no want of objects information regarding it, with a view to to which the labour of the criminals may be pro- remedy the crying defects of the system now in fitably applied. To a man of any observation practice. and spirit, a hundred branches of industrious labour will suggest themselves, by which men constrained to work eight or ten hours a day; may amply provide the expenditure incurred in their keeping.

quiring into the feasibility of introducing seThe object of the Court of Directors in encondary punishments appears to be, to obtain some plan for lessening the great expenditure of the present establishments, if it be possible to do so without detriment to their efficiency. We have heard a faint whisper that it has This, therefore, becomes in the consideration been represented to Government, that these of the question a point of primary importance; men are desperate villains, very much inclined but we confess that if this were the only obto indolence and very averse to work; that ject to be attained by a change, we should they have already murdered one Civilian who leave the matter entirely in the hands of those attempted to constrain them to work, and may whose duty it is to be more zealous to see it attempt the life of another; and that the safest secured. We trust, however, to make it applan is to abolish the jail, and transport the parent that not only may a saving be effected, felons beyond seas. Would not this be, to but also that at the same time a great improveuse a vulgar saying to " jump out of the frying ment may be produced in the whole system. pan into the fire?" The objection to the pre- The great use of punishment is the prevention sent system of discipline in the Alipore Jail is, of crime, and if the sufferings of the offender that the public funds are charged heavily with be of a nature to moral reformation in himself, the support of able bodied men who might the system by which these are obtained, must, support themselves, but do not. Would the apart from minor considerations, be as nearly expense of these felons be lightened by trans- perfect as can be desired. No proof is reporting them? Even supposing them to be quired of the utter inefficiency of that which conveyed to the penal settlements without any now obtains for producing these great ends; enormous expenditure, would not their ex- and if there were a determination to extirpate penses at Penang, Malacca, and Singapore, the evils produced by it, the safest and most places beyond the vigilant eye of Government, certain method of doing so would be at once greatly exceed that of their board at Allipore, to adopt the plan pursued in the penetentiaries where the monthly charge is subject to a of America and several parts of Europe. This, monthly revision? For the few felons in exile however, is impracticable as long as the imat the three places above named, the Govern- mediate object of the Court of Directors is to ment outlay is already great; we have heard it lessen expense, for the erection of penetentistated at 25,000 rupees a year. It is certain aries for about fourteen thousand prisoners that the expense of a felon beyond seas must would incur an outlay of money infinitely exbe greater than incurred by keeping him in ceeding any value which the Honorable Court Bengal, while the chance of relieving that would allow to the moral improvement of the - expenditure by the product of his labour must country. It is necessary therefore to ascer be proportionately less. If it be a fact that tain some modification of the superior plan, such a proposal has been gravely made to Go- by which the utmost good can be effected withvernment, we trust they will turn a deaf ear to out sacrificing the approbation of those in such chicken-hearted advice. Should it be whose hands the destinies of the country are adopted, it will be tantamount to charging the placed. public funds with a heavier expenditure that some of the public functionaries may be relieved from that attention and labour, for which they are amply paid. The most judicious, and The first of these is the want of any induceat the same time the most courageous plan ment to reformation. The employment of the would be, to keep the prisoners where they prisoners is rarely of a kind by which they can are, to classify them according to their guilt: learn any thing that will be useful to them after and to constrain them to labour as many hours their liberation, and the only effect of exposing in the day as shall yield a full equivalent for them in irons on the roads is to render them

We proceed briefly to notice the defects of our present system of Jail Discipline.

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