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At a Quarterly General Meeting of the Subsbribers to the Civil Fund held at the Town Hall, on Monday the 25th day of April, 1836

Mr. H. T. PRINSEP was requested to take the Chair. Read and approved the proceedings of the Meeting of the 25th January last.

Moved by Mr. D. C. Smyth, seconded by Mr. C. Morley-That the Proceedings of the last Meeting be confirmed which being carried, the Secretary was directed to record upon the Proceedings' Book, the following minute by Mr, Rattray, Mr. French and Mr. Houston in reference to the above Resolution.

"In subscribing to the confirmation of the proceedings of the last Meeting (of the 25th January), the undersigned desire that it may be distinctly understood, that in the

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STEAM NAVIGATION FUND.

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Remitted to Bombay 7th Sept. 1833,
Paid for Bill Collector's Wages,
Printing Charges and Petty
Disbursements,
Balance of Cash in hand,.

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19,536 14 2

10,000 0 0

120 3 2

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That since making up the accounts there had been received, rupees 2076-1-0-amount of subscriptions received by Messrs. Perry, Dare and Co., with interestso that the fund stood at present as follows

Amount of Government Securities, Rs 19,536 14
To be received from Bombay......
Paid by Messrs. P. D. and Co.....
With the Treasurer,..

2

10,000 00 2,076 1 O 741 9 8 Total Rs 32,354 8 10

....

Less voted to Mr. Waghorn by the Meeting held on the 26th March, 1836,...

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7,000 0 0

Balance R 25,354 8 10

besides interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum on the 10,000 remitted to Bombay on a hill, and such interest as may be due on the money vested in Government Securities.

The purpose for which the Subscribers had met was then brought forward; viz. the appropriation of the 10,000 rupees, set apart at a former Meeting, to be disposed off on the present occasion, and various suggestions were made; when-to a proposition from the chair

* Voted for the Resolution.

"That the 10,000 rupees should be rateably returned to such of the subscribers as may require its return within a given period; after which, the amount not applied for to be made over to the new subscription

Mr. ARBUTHNOT moved as an amendment-"That the 10,000 rupees should be made over to the new subscription which had been opened for the purpose of forwarding the objects of the public meeting-and this was subsequently modified, to meet the views of such of the meeting as considered it should be left with each of the subscribers to give or not, a portion or the whole of their respective subscriptions, as they should feel disposed to the

new fund.

Mr. CATOR contended that the meeting had not the power to apply it to any other purpose than that of advancing Steam Communication, and argued that it would be an imposition upon the public to apply it to any other purpose; for which, and similar expressions in which he was indulging, he was called to order, by

Mr. NORTON-Who submitted, that applying to the meeting the terms practising deceit and imposing upon the public were not expressions which ought to be indulged

in.

It appearing to be the wish of the majority that it 8 should be left with each subscriber to apply his portion of the fund as he should feel disposed.

The following resolution was moved by Mr. Smollett and seconded by Mr. Dare.

"That with the exception of the sum of rupees 7,000 which it has been determined to present to Mr. Waghorn as a remuneration for his services in the cause of Steam Navigation, the remainder of the Steam Fund be returned to the original Subscirbers, leaving it to the discretion of each gentleman to devote such a portion of his former donation as he may think fit, for the furtherance of the Petition agreed to at the Meeting held on the 26th ultimo, or any other object he may feel disposed."

To which Mr. Arbuthnot moved an amendment, but it not being seconded, the sense of the Meeting was taken on Mr. SMOLLETT's motion, which was carried by a majority.

There being for the Resolution,.....6
Against it,....

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Mr. CATOR was requested to take the chair.

Mr. ARBUTHNOT informed the Meeting that the sum collected by the subscription was rupees 4,800, which was remitted in pursuance of the orders of the Committee, to Messrs. Rickards, Mackintosh and Co. of London, in terms of the following letter.

Messrs. Rickards, Mackintosh and Co. London. Madras, 10th July, 1829. GENTLEMEN,-A sum of Rs. 4,800 having been collected at this presidency, in aid of the funds for promoting a communication by steam navigation between this country and England, it has been determined by the Committee of Subscribers to remit the amount to you, for the purposes of being added to the funds collected in Bengal for the same object.

I have accordingly the pleasure to enclose the first of a set of bills, granted by this Government on the Court of Directors of the Honourable East India Company, at forty-two days sight in my favour, and by me endorsed to you for £445, 14s 3d., which sum 1 have to request you will do us the favor to appropriate towards the above object, under the same guarantee injunctions, and conditions as have been established by the committee of subscribers in Bengal, and which have reference principally to the scheme of Mr. Waghorn, who, it is hoped, will succeed in establishing his claim to the funds in question.

I shall be obliged by your favouring me with an acknow-
ledgment of the receipt of this remittance, and by your
informing me of the steps that may be taken to give effect
to the wishes of the subscribers.

I remain, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
(Signed) J. A. A.

No claim having been established to the fund, the Co. became involved in their failure in 1833-Dividends money remaining in the hands of Messrs. Richards and Arbuthnot's Agents in London, and invested in Excheto the amount of about £ 180 have been received by Mr. quer bills, and Mr. A. lately directed the amount to be remitted to the treasurers in this country.

Resolved. That when the remittance shall be received, shewing the proportion of each subscriber's original a statement be published in the Fort St. George Gazette, subscription which may be realized, and that the same be returned to those subscribers who shall require it, provided, their application be received by the treasurer, within a period of three months from the date of the publication of such statement.

Resolved 2d.-That the amount of the uncalled for subscriptions at the expiration of the three months, be paid over by the Treasurer to the Friend in Need Society. Madras Courier.

STEAM COMMITTEE.

At a Meeting of the Steam Committee held on the 5th, moting Communication with India by Steam, have sub

April 1836.

Mr. A. D. CAMPBELL in the Chair.

Read the Draft of Memorials to the Court of Directors and to the India Board, which were unanimously approved of.

Resolved that the Chairman of this Committee be requested to transmit the fair copy of the same to the Chairman of the General Meeting, for his signature and transmission by him to these authorities repectively. A. D. CAMPBell, Chairman.

MEMORIAL.

To the Honorable the Court of Directors,

of the East India Company. The respectful Memorial of the inhabitants of Madras assembled at a Meeting held on the 26th March 1836.

To Bombay Govt. 14th
March, 832.

Your Memorialist being very thoroughly impressed with the important advantages which would result to the state, to the Mercantile Community, and to the Public at large, from the Establishment of a regular and speedy communication between Britain and India, by means of Steam Navigation, have seen with much satisfaction, that your Honorable Court have expressed an opinion that such Communi"cation would open the way to other improvements, and would ultimately redound to the benefit of both Countries," and have stated that, if the finances of India were in a flourishing condition, you might consider it a duty to incur even the enormous outlay which you calculated would be necessary for its accomplishment; and that while you hesitated on account of the magnitude of the estimated Cost, to engage immediately in any project of this Character, you directed enquiries to be carried on to ascertain the practicability of effecting the end in view at a reasonable expense.

Since your Honorable Court expressed the above sentiments, the Select Committee appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the means of pro

mitted to the House resoluDated 14th July 1834. tions declaring the opinion of Charge of effecting this object which is recognized as of the Committee, that the net great importance both to Great Britain and to India, should be divided equally between His Majesty's Government and the East India Company, and that by the experiments hitherto made, may be materially proper arrangements the expense which has attended

reduced.

Your Memorialist have therefore been encouraged to make enquiries into the practicability of establishing Steam Communication at a more reasonable expense than was calculated by your Honorable Court upon the estimates you had before you in 1832; and, having compared those estimates with the probable cost at present, and calculated the probable returns from Postage and Passengers, the results, as exhibited in the Appendix to this Memorial are so favorable, that they are confident expectation that they will satisfy you, that the induced to submit them to your Honorable Court with a cation, divided between H. M.'s Government and the net expense of the establishinent of Steam CommuniEast India Company, will impose a burden upon the considerable when compared with the advantages which finances of India far less than you aniticipated, and init is calculated to produce, advantages which the late Governor General thought "would be cheaply bought at any price."

In this expectation your Memorialists earnestly pray that your Honorable Court will in concert with His Majesty's Government take efficient measures for the complete establishment of Steam Communication between Britain and India by monthly Packets to and from the Red Sea to be in connection with the line of Packets between Falmouth and Alexandria. And your Memorialists venture to suggest that from its central position, and other circumstances the Port of Galle in the Island of Ceylon is the fittest place to be fixed as the point of arrival and departure for the Steam Packets inIndia, and that Suez is the fittest place in the Red Sea.

APPENDIX TO MEMORIAL.

In the despatch from the Honorable Court of Directors to the Bombay Government dated 14th March 1832, the annual expense of one Steam Vessel, including the Capital Sunk, is estimated at £26,800, and supposing the 'employment of 4 Steam Vessels to be necessary to keep up a monthly communication the total cost per annum is estimated at £1,07,200. This estimate was framed with reference to the cost of the Hugh Lindsay and the heavy expenses incurred in her voyages to and from the Red Sea,

On examining the estimate it appears, First, that a Vessel in every way better fitted for the Service can be procured now at a much less cost. Secondly, that the charge for fuel is greatly beyond the cost at which it may now be obtained in India, and at which it is reasonable to suppose it may be supplied in the Red Sea when the demand becomes certain. Thirdly, that as it will not be necessary to keep more than three Steamers employed at any time and probably not more than two during six months of the year, although it may be expedient to keep up four Steam Vessels to guard against accidents, the estimate is needlessly increased by providing for them all as if in actual employment.

First, with respect to the cost of the Vessel.

The Hugh Lindsay is a Vessel of 411 Tons with engines of 160 horse power. Sir

Evidence before Select Cominittee fol: 158 and 159.

P. Malcolm from his experience in the Mediterranean recommends Vessels of 450 tons with 2 engines of 50 horse power and Morgan's paddles. He estimates that three such Vessels might be placed at Bombay for about £55,000 or about £18,333 each. Mr. M + Evidence fol: 71. Laird+ states the cost of a Vessel of 400 tons suitable for this Service fitted with engines of 180 horse power to be £18,700. There can be no doubt therefore that Vessels well adapted for the Service can be procured at the cost of 20,000£ each.

The estimate by Mr. Morgan given in by Sir P. Malcolm is as follows.

£ A Vessel of 435 tons cost 8,500 2 Engines 50 Horse Power4,400 Copper Boilers .4,200

17,100

with the Estimate of the Court of Directors.

Cost of a Vessel of 450 tons and 180 II. P. £20,000

Cost of Hugh
Lindsay 411
tons and 160
II. P. £35,600.

It thus appears that the aunual charge of maintaining a vessel of great size and with engines of greater power than the Hugh Lindsay will be £2,333 less than the Estimate of the Court of Directors.

It is supposed to be unnecessary to make any allowance for the cost of bringing the vessel to lidia, as it will of course be used for the conveyance of Troops or Stores the freight of which will most probably cover the charge. Secondly, as to the cost of fuel.

The estimate of the Court of Directors amounts to £13,684 (exclusive of £ 2312 calculated as the expense

Evidence before Select Committee.
Mr. Field fol: 82 Q. 831.

2210 or

Ib. 80 per hour for 10 Horse Power.

18

of landing, ware-housing and reshipping on the Red Sea) for 2628 tons

1440 from do. for 180Horse Power. being at the

24

2100)34560 (near 15

tons.

18

days per month.

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rate of 5 £4s.

ld. per toa

on the average. The calculation is for 1824 days consumption at 24 hours to the day and 84lb.per hour for every 10

horse power. But it would

appear that 80lb.per hour

is a sufficient allowance for this power: at this rate the daily consumption with engines of 180 horse power will be about 15 tons, which at 8 days consumption per mensem or 216 per annum amounts to 3348 tons. Of this it may be assumed according to the estimate of the Court of Directors that or 837 tons is the proportion to be supplied in India and or 2511 tons the proportion to be supplied in the Red Sea.

From statements of actual transactions furnished by the Mercantile Houses here, it appears that we are warranted in taking 30s. as a fair price for coals in India at present.

The following statement shews the annual charge of likely rather to fall than to rise since, when there is a The general opinion of the Merchants here is that it is maintaining a Vessel purchased at that cost compared certain demand, every vessel coming to India, without a full cargo, will bring coals for ballast in the expectation of a very small advance upon the cost in London. Assuming then 30s. to be the price in India, there seems to be no reason to doubt that an increase of 100 per cent., raising the price to 60s., on the average, will be sufficient Estimate of Court of £ to ensure a supply equal Directors,.... 13,684 to the demand in the 8,789 Red Sea. The cost of 837 tons in India will be 4,895 £1256, and the cost of 2511 tons in the Red Sea less than the estimate of

Capital sunk annually on Ves

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18644

Thirdly, as to the number of vessels required to keep up a monthly Communication. It appears that the average of 7 voyages of the Hugh Lindsay was 20 days 21 hours steaming,at the aveEvidence p. 85 rage rate of 6 miles per hour -while the average rate of the Mediterranean packets is 74 miles-and the difEvidence p. 79, Q. 787. ference is attributed to the unfitness of the Hugh Lindsay. With a fit vessel therefore we may calculate upon a saving in time of about 1-6th, or say that the voyage is reduced on the average to eighteen days.

The stoppages amounted on the average to 9 days 21 hours; but with good arrangements there can he no doubt that these may be reduced one half, say to 5 days. The voyage then, including stoppages, will be made in 23 days, and there will be 7 days to prepare for return. In the favourable season therefore 2 Steamers will probably be sufficient-in the unfavourable season 3 will probably be necessary: but the expenses of the 3d as a sea going vessel will continue for 6 months

only.

It may be expedient to have a 4th in reserve to supply the place of any of the others that may be disabled. The estimate will then stand as follows.

Deduct

Sea going Vessel.

2,883 Expenses of keeping?
up the Vessel.
15,761 Sea going expenses.

£18,644 Total expense of one

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Madras, Bombay, and Galle in Ceylon, to be 300,000 as started in the Memorial of the Inhabitants of Calcutta, and supposing that only two-thirds or 2,00,000 will be sent by the Steam packet when a regular monthly communication is established, which, if the postage is fixed at a moderate rate, say 12 As. or 1s. 6d. a letter seems to be a fair expectation, the return even at that low rate will be £15,000 per annum.

Newspapers and Parcels. Madras as per account fol: F. 1834-15...

25,843

There will be a further return for Newspapers,

Calcutta say double of Madras 51,686 parcels, &c. say Bombay say...

..20,000 65,000 at 4d

each, which will

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Now supposing only 1-5 or 632 per annum to prefer a passage by the steam packets, this would give for every trip 26 passengers, but say only 20. As the moderate charge of 400 Rupees, or 40 £, the receipt will be 800 £ allowing 300 £ or for the cost of providing for the passengers the net profit will be 500 £ per voyage or per 24 voyages 12000 £. That 480 passengers out of 3160 will prefer this route, when the communication is regularly established, and every necessary arrangement is made for

Average cost of a passage
by the Cape say..
Cost of passage to Suez....40
Expense of journey to Alex-

anderia

20

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Cost of passage from Alexandria to Falmouth, 40 100

facilitating their progress, by which they will not only gain 2 months in time but will save a sixth part of the cost of a passage round the Cape, seems to beyond a

Saving....20 doubt.

The above return from passengers may therefore be safely reckoned upon as the minimum. Revised estimate of charge,

.......

It appears then that £50,935 there will be a return

28,000

28,935

of 28,000£ per annum from postage and passenger' to be set against the expense of the Steam Vessels; the net charges will therefore be only £22,935; which, divided between His Majesty's Government and the East India Company according to the resolution of the Select Committee, will make the charge upon the Finnances of India, scarce more than 11,000£ per annum.-Madras Courier,

QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE MANAGERS OF THE MEDICAL RETIRING FUND.

Soon after the Quarterly General Meeting held on the 11th of January last the Committee of Managers submitted a circular letter to subscribers, soliciting their votes for the election of three Managers for the present year, two in the room of Surgeons J. Grant and A. Garden, the senior and junior Members, who in accordance with the regulations of the Fund vacate

in rotation, and one in succession to the late Dr. Spens. Seventy-four Gentlemen have replied to the circular, and upon a scrutiny of their votes, it is found, that Mr. Surgeon Garden stands re-elected, and Dr. J. Swiney, 2nd Member of the Medical Board, and S. Ludlow, Esq., superintending Surgeon are appointed Managers.

The Committee regret, that they are still unable to communicate to the Meeting, the orders of the Honorable the Court of Directors on the subject of their application, submitted to the Court in January 1835, for being allowed to pay off three additional annuities, or bonnuses; but they indulge the hope, that it will be soon in their power to convey to the service the court's approval, and thereby remove the suspense which its members have been placed under for more than three years; the period that has already elapsed since the projection of the Fund. In proof of the desire which continues to be manifested for the establishment of the Institution, it may be observed, that notwithstanding the recommendation of the Management to the subscribers in general, in June 1835, to suspend from the preceding month all payments until the pleasure of the Hon'ble Court was made known, a number still continue to pay their subscriptions. In the last Quarter two statements of subscriptions credited in the Civil Department of the Bengal Presidency have been received from the Accountant-General, one for the 4th Quarter of the year 1834

1835, for sicca rupees 1505, 8, 11, the other for the 1st Quarter of 1835-36 for sicca rupees 1501 4. 2. total sicca rupees 3006. 13. The disbursements for the Quarter amount to sicca rupees 79. 11.

The Committee have had many difficulties to contend with in placing the Fund in its present position, but notwithstanding the discouraging circumstances which have concurred to protract the establishment of the Institution, their experience of the support which the Members of the service generally are disposed to complete success eventually. Some few Members afford to it, encourages them confidently to predict its have withdrawn in disappointment, but others have enrolled their names in our list-that of Mr. Assistant Surgeon J. Bowron has been recently added, and the fund now embraces 2 Members of the Medical Board, 7 superintending Surgeons, 59 Surgeons and 108 As

sistant Surgeons-total 176.

H. S. MERCER, Secretary. Calcutta, 11th April, 1836.-Hurkaru.

ADDRESS TO SIR CHARLES METCALFE.

About two hundred Native gentlemen assembled yes- | gratitude from every class, but most from us, whose all terday afternoon at the Town Hall, and by arrangement among them a deputation proceeded to Garden Reach, to deliver the Address to Sir Charles Metcalfe, a copy of which will be found below. The answer was deferred with a promise to send it; this we hope to be able to publish on Monday. The Address was read by Rajah Rajnarain Roy. The number of signatures upon it, we are told, was about two thousand four hundred :

To the Hon'ble SIR CHARLES THEOPHILUS METCALFE,
Bart. G. C. B. &c. &c. &c.

of present fortune and of future hope is riveted to the
soil of Hindoosthan. We should indeed be unworthy
of such benefits, were we insensible either of the wisdom
that planned, or of the public spirit and benevolence
But when moreover we recollect,
that suggested them.
that throughout a long and active life which you have
passed amongst us, you have lived as if you looked to
no other home; that you have dealt out the emoluments
of office with as unreserving a hand, as if they had been
a mere trust for the gratification, and relief, and comfort
of those around you; that our customs have ever been
treated by you with a delicacy, which could only have
been found in one that identified himself with the country
which he was sent to govern, the fulness of our hearts
can find no adequate expression of the interest we shall
contiuue to feel, whatever be the course of your future
life. If it be abandoned to the enjoyments of a private
station, our prayers for your happiness will hover over
your retreat. If again involved in the cares of Govern-
ment, the experience of the past will fill us with the
brightest anticipations. In either event, accept, Honored
Sir, the assurance of the affectionate gratitude and high
admiration with which you will not cease to be regarded
by the millions of whom we are the feeble representa-

HONORABLE SIR,-Little more than a year has passed away since a large body of the Native Inhabitants of Calcutta and its neighbourhood presented their respectful and affectionate farewell on the occasion of your departure to assume the Government of Agra. The sense of your great public services, and the happy fortune of Hindoosthan, have since called you for a few short months to the higher station, from which you have just descended; yet has that brief period been marked by acts that will carry down your name to our children's children for many generatious. By one signal deed of necessary justice you have made the whole of India to know, and feel, that henceforth all men stand equal before the Law, and that wealth and rank will afford no protection to crime and no immunity from its heaviest We have the honour to be, Honorable Sir, with the penalty. By the issue of an uniform money for all the highest respect of veneration, your most obedient serPresidencies, a great step has been made towards the vants and well wishers,

improvement of our commercial relations, both external

tives.

and internal. By the abolition of the Chowkies in Ben- (A large body of the Native Inhabitants of Calcutta

gal, the fatal blow has been given to the vexatious system of Inland Duties, which has too long been allowed to harass the industry of the country; and though the Salt Monopoly still exists, and may for some time longer be found indispensable to supply the demands of the public service, the jobbing of public sales, and the exactions of monopoly at second-hand, have been effectually done away by the adoption of a fixed rate of delivery. But the grand measure of your administration, that on which will rest its fame in ofter ages-is the freedom of the Press, which you have been the first to place on a sound and permanent basis, and have thereby opened to our desires a boundless field of enterprize in every branch of human knowledge. These have been the public acts of your brief term of Rule; they call for

and its neighbourhood.)

LIST OF THE DEPUTATION.

Nawab Ally Acbur Khan Bahadur-Rajah Raj Narain Roy Bahadur-Umdah Rajah Bahadur-Maha Raja Bunnary Lal Jagut Ender Bahadur-Rajah Bejoy Govind Sing Bahadur-Moomtazood Dowlah Syed Meer Khan Bahadur-Mooftee Arseed Ally Khan Bahadur, Vakeel of the Nawab Nizam of BengalMahomed Hussen, alias Mirza Joun-Loke Kummun Opadiah, Vakeel of the King of Nepaul-Hadjee Merza Mahomed Mehdy Ispahaney-Syed Aboo Toraub Ispahaney-Moonshee Mahomed Ameer-Roy Chunder Sheckhur Chowdery.

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