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as aiders and abettors in the assault committed on Mr. De Wind,—and sentenced, the Count to one year's imprisonment, the syce to six months' confinement, and the son to a slight corporal punishment.

JAVA.

A letter from Batavia of the 17th November, mentions that the Government, who are the principal holders of sugar and coffee in Java, have decided to have no more public sales of those articles, but to ship their coffee and sugar to Holland through the factory. Also that it was said, that an import duty of 75 per cent. was to be levied on foreign manufactures imported in Java, more particularly on cottons and woollens.

SIAM.

ed the boats of the Winchester in quest of them, and two prahus were shortly after captured and sent in. One of these boats, as her crew stated, turned out on trial to be the inoffensive bearer of an answer to a letter that she had brought to the settlement from the Rajah of Ligore. The other boat's crew have been remanded to prison under very suspicious circumstances.

THE NAVAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.-His Excellency

the Naval Commander-in-Chief and family, were to leave Penang on H. M.'s ship Winchester for Ceylon

on the 20th December.

CAPT. LOW.-The designation of Capt. Low, has been changed by the Governor-General of India in Council from Assistant-Resident to Principal Assistant, Province Wellesley, in order to insure the continuance of that officer, when he may be promoted, in his situation, which (by the present Regulations regarding Military officers holding civil appointments) he could not do with his

Advices from Bangkok up to the 25th November, state that the Siamese Government were under considerable perplexity as to the course they should adopt towards Cochin China. They are evidently afraid of the Co-old designation. chin Chinese, but the Siamese ruler cannot tolerate the idea of quietly bearing the defeats he has recently sustained.

A Siamese junk bound from Bangkok to China in June or July last, fell in with a boat, with a crew of twentynine men and pulling twenty-seven oars, at the entrance of the Gulph of Siam. The people in the boat enquired if they could have a passage to China, said they had twenty-five chests of opium, eight catties of camphor barus, and one or two piculs birds' nests in the boat, and proposed to give two chests of opium to the crew, and divide the remainder of their property with the commander of the junk as the price of their passage. The terms were accepted, and the crew before quitting the boat set fire to and destroyed her. The boat is said to have been from Singapore.

PENANG.

SINGAPORE.

SIR E. GAMBIER. Sir Edward and Lady Gambier and Mr. Keer, Registrar of the Court of Judicature, arrived at Singapore on the 5th Dec.

ROBBERY.-A robbery took place on board the brig Ann, a day or two before her departure for Halifax. The robbers dropped quietly under the stern of the brig in a boat and entered the cabin by one of the stern windows, from whence they succeeded in carrying off the Captain's writing-desk, containg the ship's papers and accounts, with ten dollars. The mate imagining he heard a noise on deck, got up and on looking over the stern saw a person half into the windows; thinking he was going in, he stepped aside to get a piece of iron that was at hand to throw at him, but the noise he made in doing so scarred away the thieves, three in number, who pulled away towards New Harbour with a rapidity which rendered pursuit useless,

CHINA.

PIRACY.-The pirates who infest the neighbourhood of the Straights and Penang, are becoming bolder as they find the impotency of the local Government to FIRE AT CANTON.--A destructive fire broke out in Cancoerce them for their depredations. Four or five fast ton on the 22nd and raged with unabated fury until the pulling boats, armed and well manned with these san- evening of the 23d November, when it was partially supguniary and merciless corsairs, have recently been pressed. At one time it was expected that the wind prowling about the passage between Penang and the would have driven the flames towards the British factomain land, and kidnapping the passengers from small ries, and the crews of the vessels in the harbour were boats passing to and from Province Wellesly, the neigh-kept in readiness in consequence to remove the property bouring islands and the different fishing towns of the on the approach of the fire, but it was fortunately quenchisland, many of whom have been taken away and, it is ed before it made its way beyond the walls. supposed, sold into slavery. Several Chinese fishermen have also been captured and taken away from the fishing stakes, and numbers have in consequence abandoned their occupation. It is reported that the pirates were rendezvousing in a small bay on the west side of the island of Teluk Coomba, and that they might have been extirpated by a small land and sea force, but nothing was attempted to effect this desideratum, as the Government seems to be unable, from the want of power "to disburse one farthing", to adopt any effectual measure for their suppression, without permission from Bengal.

The depredations of the pirates having been brought to the notice of the Admiral, his Excellency dispatch

Canton papers to the 15th December, give very faVorable accounts of the opium market. Patna is quoted at from Spanish dollars 760 to Spanish dollars 790, and Benares at 720, at which rates some of the importations per Water Witch had gone off.

Captain Landers of the Forth fell in with a rock in the China Seas, seen twenty years ago, which Captain Ross afterwards in vain searched for, and ascertained its position to be lat. 9 47,' long. 110. 19' East, twenty-two leagues east of Pulo Sopato, and in the track of ships going down the China Seas in the north-east monsoon. The rock is not larger than a long-boat keel up, and probably only visible in a heavy sea.

REVIEW OF THE CALCUTTA MARKET.

(From A. E. Kuhn's Monthly Price Current, January 31, 1836.

The pressure of shipments of Indigo and Silk, and the unusual scarcity of arrivals from England during the last quar ter, have so far reduced the quantity of available tonnage as to have occasioned an extraordinary increase in our rates of freight. This precarious state of things have strongly affect ed our market, in regard to the activity which prevails usually at this season, and with exception of shipments of Indigo,

Opium, Silk and Silk Piece Goods, the general transactions have been during the whole month of an uncommonly limit ted scale. Dead weight is not obtainable, for Indigo and Silk to London Est. 11 a 12 per Ton are asked. The rates of the day may be considered nominal, as the scarcity of available tonnage subjects the scale to modification. The limited transactions we have to report in the general Bengal staples,

are with exception of Indigo and Silk chiefly for the French and American markets. 13 vessels are at present loading for these two countries, while there are only 4 upon the list for England.

INDIGO. The importation of produce up to this day is reported at fm. 101,645 against fm 89,870 to a correspond ing date last year, showing an increase this year of 11,775 maunds: 10,000 maunds are still expected to arrive Should this quantity not be exceeded, the crop of this season would fall shorter than was anticipated 3 or 4 months ago, and be under the average of the last 10 years, which we reported in one of ou previous numbers, to be 1,18,850 maunds. The ninterrupted very dry weather, which followed immediately the cessation of the rains, may have influenced in some degree this reduc. tion in the produce.

We have had five more public sales at Messrs. Moore, Hickey and Co's. New Indigo Mart, whose reports we copy.

6th Sale, 6th January.-Considerable private Sales have been effected during the last eight days, and a public sale beld at the New Mart of 270 chests of Indigo, went off with great animation at prices fully higher than any obtained this season,-ranging close on those of last year for simi. lar qualities.

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RAW SILK AND SILK PIECE GOODS. - Shipments toLoudon of Raw Silk by private Agency have been upon a very 'imited scale during the last four months, scarcely above 1000 maunds. The importation from the interior by the Honorable Company, being since It May 1835 only 2894 last, the total exports of this article for England will fall considerably short of the former years. This circumstance may affect the prices in England. Shipments to Bombay have been on the contrary rather heavy. The November bund is now arriving in the market, but inferior to last year's produce.

The Market, therefore, may now be considered as opened:aunds, of which 1349 maunds were shipped in December buyers of all classes having bid freely for the French, Ameri can, and English Markets and the Gulphs, notwithstanding the reported gloomy accounts of the home prices, brought out by the Oriental from Bordeaux up to the 4th September.— Abou the time that vessel sailed, accounts of this season's crop had arrived in Europe, leading parties to expect at least

1.25 000 to 1,80,000 maunds: -under that impression it is not
to be wondered that prices should be unsteady, if not fall;
yet in a London Price Current, dated 21st August, it is stated
that Importers accept buying in prices of late sales.
except for picked parcels for which advance of 3d paid,
good business is bought in lots of last sale, at Auction, 10
chests of Manilla went 28. ild, to 4s. 2d. per lb."
7th Sale, 11th January. -311 chests of Indigo were put up
for public sale this day, the whole of which went off freely
at prices equal to any obtained this season.

There was great competition amongst the buyers for the French, American and English Markets, all parties being evi dently resolved to purchase at the rates of the day.

8th Sale, 15th January.-372 chests, the whole of which went off with great spirit, prices ranging fully ten or fifteen rupees higher than sales of last month.

There is evidently a brisk demand, particularly for the French Market, whilst sellers hold firmly under the belief that the crop will not exceed 1,10,000 maunds.

The 9th Sale, 19th January, has gone of much the same as the last, the biddings for all but a fine mark J A S were animated and general.

In Silk Piece Goods we have to report a greater activity, the Americans having purchased freely and shipments to England having been also during this month on a rather extensive

scale. The fabrics continue in active operation, and prices are well supported.

COTTON.-The unfavourable accounts received from China, and the scarcity of available Tonnage for England have greatly affected the prices of the several descriptions.

SALTPETRE.-Operations in the purchases of this product have been very limited, owing to the scarcity of Freights.

SUGAR.-27,003 bags were shipped during this month, of which 11437 are destined to the home markets.

LAC. The demand for products of this classification continues limited, and prices experienced no alteration.

RICE. The crop having been extraordinarily abundant in all quarters of our neighbourhood, and the scarcity of Fonnage for England and the Mauritius so uncommonly sensible, the transactions have been during the whole month of a proportional limited scale, and prices of all descriptions are greatly on the decline.

WHEAT.--Shipments have been confined to New South Wales, and sales very limited; prices are, however, well supported.

The 10th Sale took place on the 26th January. Very exten. sive purchases have been made by private contract at an advance on former prices, and the sale at the Mart fully maintained the advance; the lower qualities selling much higher in proportion than the finer descriptions of Indigo. HIDES.-The scarcity of Tonnage in the Port has partienThe principal purchases were made for the French and Eng.larly affected the demand for Hides, and our market may be lish Markets. reported in regard to this product, without any alteration.

There was also a public sa'e held by Messrs. Mackenzie, Lyall and Co at the Exchange, of about 300 chests, and another is advertised by Messrs. Jenkins, Low and Co. of about 156 chests on account of the estate of Messrs. Cruttenden, Machil lop and Co.

Foreign agents, and particularly the French, who had held back during the last month have come forward and purchas ed freely, the market may therefore now be considered as established, and continues in a very animated state. Prices range now 10 to 15 Re per maund higher than at the same time last year. One well known mark, 1. A. S. 134 chests were bought in at 160 Rs per maund at the public sale held at the Exchange, and Rs 165 per maund has been refused for 230 chests out of 257 of whole cakes of a favourite Kishnagur mark.

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LINSEED. The market continues as represented in our last, and not a single sale has come to our notice.

GINGER. Has continued in steady demand, and prices have experienced a further increase.

METALS.-The Copper market continues depressed notwithstanding the very reduced importation. A sale of 4500 maunds Peruvian Slab, at an increase of 1 Rupee per maund of our last month's quotation, is the only transaction of importance we have to report. Although there is not much business doing in Iron, the market is firm and prices steady. Spelter has advanced a few annas, purchases are confined to local wants. No transaction of importance has transpired in Lead. Quicksilver continues to be wanted, and has further increased in price The market in regard to the articles under this head appears to want firmness in respect to price. TWIST.-A supply of about 400 bales is reported per Montrose from Liverpool. We mentioned in our last num. ber, prices of the assortments well supported, but since the market has receded.

COTTON PIECE GOODS.-The market althongh not unfavourably disposed, is at present rather inactive, arising from the absence of orders from the interior and from neighbouring ports.

OPIUM. Notwithstanding the very large quantity brought forward at the first public sale this season on the 5th instant, considerable animation prevailed and the biddings were brisk. WOOLLENS.-Very few sales applicable to this division 140 lots were run of consecutively to one buyer at the price of I appears on the returns for the current month.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

[FROM THE BENGAL HURKARU.] The subject of the Municipal Government of the City of Calcutta, the nature and extent of its proper local funds, and their disputed sufficiency for the purposes for which they were established, have often been discussed; sometimes with reference to the circular letters of the Chief Magistrate, calling upon the inhabitants to take sometimes part in the management of their own affairs; in noticing the proceedings of the Court of Quarter Sessions.

These discussions have, however, led to no practical result, partly from want of co-operation on the part of the public, arising perhaps from deficiency of information on the subject; partly from the disinclination of individuals to devote time to a subject which, although interesting and important to all, affects none so directly as to induce them to take much pains, where the result of their trouble is not, in their opinion, likely to be successful.

We willingly respond to the call which has been made upon us, the subject being perhaps more familiar to us, than to most of the inhabitants of Calcutta, as we have for some years given it much of our attention, and have frequently discussed it in these columns.

We submit the subjoined abstract, exhibiting the constitution and duties of the Court of Quarter Session, and the amount and application of the various municipal funds, to which we have added Tables of the income and expenditure of THE ASSESSMENT for 1832-33, and 1833-4. We have annexed an extract from the Hurkaru of 1833 which gives some particulars of a discussion on the subjects above noticed at the Town Hall on the 1st November of that year.

We trust all interested in the subject (and who is not?) will support by their signature, a petition to Government on the subject, praying that all Local Municipal Funds, may be placed at the disposal of the inhabitants of Calcutta, to be administered either through a reformed Court of Quarter Session or by Commissioners elected by the inhabitants. Such a petition we will engage to prepare with aid of " Counsel, learned in the law" if a sufficient number of inhabitants express their wishes to that effect. We are confident such a petition, supported as we hope and expect it would be by the Bench, could not fail of success.

The other branch of the subject, the revival of the Court of Quarter Sessions, as an efficient legal tribunal, for hearing appeals from Police Magistrates and trying cases of misdemeanour, we should be disposed to treat as a secondary matter-one, too, on which there is much difference of opinion and which might be safely left to the Chief Justice and the Legislative Council; but on

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the question of the local funds and their administration
there can be but one opinion on the part of the tax-
the tax-receivers until the point be conceded to them,
payers, who ought with might and main to strive with
which it will not be, without much entreaty-if at all.

THE COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS.

The Court of Quarter Sessions is known to the people of Calcutta, only through the medium of an advertisement in the newspapers, which appears quarterly in the following form:

"Notice is hereby given that a General and Quarter Sessions of the Peace will be holden by His Majesty's Jus tices of the Peace, in and for the town of Calcutta and day Factory of Fort William in Bengal, and the places subordinate thereto, at the Office of the said Justices, in the said Town of Calcutta, on Wednesday, the instant, at the hour of 12 o'clock in the forenoon of Clerk of the Peace. 183 ." -day of of the same day, for the purposes of the Assessment. Clerk of the Peace Office, the The Court meets nobody knows where, and few understand why. Some indeed have asserted that there is no such Court that it never assembles, and if it does, that transact and no authority to enforce its decrees. In all it is only as a matter of form, and has no business to or most of these respects they are wrong-the last line of the advertisement shews why it meets, and its place of meeting is stated, though where the office of the Justices is, may not be clearly understood ;-sometimes it is at the Town Hall-sometimes at the Police. The Court certainly has no building of its own, nor any particular place permanently assigned for that purpose. semble quarterly, however, and not only has important business to transact, if its duties were understood, but has ness and to enforce its decrees. full authority by Act of Parliament to perform that busi

It does as

As so much ignorance appears to prevail as to the constitution, nay the very existence of this Court, without the assembly of which no Assessment whatever can be levied on Houses in Calcutta, we shall offer a brief history of the establishment and subsequent recognition of this Court, from the act establishing it in 1753, to the latest act affecting it, the 9th Geo. IV., commonly called the Indian Criminal Act.

This explanation is the more necessary, as it is desirable in the first instance, to shew the powers and constitution of the only Municipal Tribunal we possess, and by virtue of whose decrees, the principal of our Town Duties-the House Assessment-is levied.

The Calcutta Courts of Quarter Sessions and Requests were established so far back as the reign of Geo. II., by Charter, dated 8th January, 1753, which also established a Corporation, consisting of a Mayor and nine Aldermen, and made the Mayor's Court of Quarter Sessions a Court of Record.

By the Act of the 13th Geo. III., which established a Supreme Court at Calcutta, so much of the preceding Charter as made the Mayor's Court a Court of Record, was abrogated, and the Justices ceased to be CommisBy another Charter of 14th Geo. III., dated 26th sioners of Oyer and Terminer: but nothing further. March, 1774, the Court of Quarter Sessions and Court of Requests were especially made subject to the Supreme Court.

By the 33d Geo. III. the Governor-General in Counpreme Court, had power to nominate as many_coveother British cil, by Commissions issued under the seal of the Sunanted servants of the Company or of the Peace-the Governor-General, Members of Couninhabitants, as they may think qualified to act as Justices cil, and Judges being at the time and previously, the only Justices of the Peace.

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The Criminal Act (9th Geo. IV.) also recognizes the to be taken according to their literal meaning without Court of General Quarter Sessions; it likewise directs reference to the other clauses of the Act which precede certain cases to be referred to it for adjudication by the them. Whichever may be considered the right construcPolice Magistrates, and a right of appeal to it in all tion to be put on these sections, it is clear that the Charcases of summary conviction, under this act or other- ter under which we act, expressly recognizes the Court of Quarter Sessions as instituted under the proceedings wise. Sir Edward Ryan, in his charge to the Grand Jury by writs of mandamus, certiorari, &c. If therefore any on the occasion of the introduction here of the new Cri- party felt himself aggrieved by a summary conviction unminal Act, commented on this subject. He showed der this Act, against which owing to no Court of Quarter that General Quarter Sessions established under the Acts Sessions being held, he was unable (though entitled) to which preceded the constitution of the Supreme Court appeal, he would have a right to institute proceedings in could still be legally held, and that THEY WERE ABSO- this Court to compel the Court of Quarter Sessions to assemble and hear, and determine his appeal."

LUTELY NECESSARY FOR CARRYING INTO EFFECT THE
PROVISIONS OF THAT ACT.

We subjoin the Chief Justice's remarks, as they are quite decisive on these subjects.

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powers and a due admixture of unpaid Members, the Court of Quarter Sessions would be a respected constitutional authority, influential for such and many other useful purposes.

The legality of assembling the Court of Quarter Sessions being thus established, the question arises-What its duties, judicial and municipal, are, and ought to be? There is no doubt but that such a tribunal ought, BY I am fully aware that it has not of late years been usual to hold any Court of General or Quarter Sessions, LAW, to sit and try commitments for misdemeanours, except for the purposes of making assessments on the &c. ; to hear appeals from sentences passed by the Police owners or occupiers of houses, according to the provisions Magistrates; to regulate the Assessments; and either of the 33d Geo. 3. 52. s. 153. I find, however, from the directly, or by means of Officers specially appointed tor ininute book of the Sessions, that Courts of this descrip- that purpose, to superintend and control the appropriWith such tion have been held by the Governor-General and Mem-ation of all local and municipal funds. bers of Council; and that Grand Juries have been summoned and charged by the Chairman to enquire, though no persons appear to have been tried. I can have no doubt of the power of the Governor-General and Council to hold a Court of Quarter Sessions. The Charter of 1753, expressly empowers the Governor or President of Fort William and the Council, for the time being, or any three or more of them, to hold a Quarter Sessions of the Peace, four times in the year, and they are authorised to do all acts that Justices of the Peace in England By section may, under a Commission from the Crown. 36 of the Letters Patent of 1774, the power given to the Governor and Council under this clause to act as Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer was, and is, repealed; but their jurisdiction as a Court of Quarter Sessions is expressly recognised by the 21st section.

"The 38th sec. of the 13th Geo. 3. 63, also expressly enacts that the Governor-General and Council are to have authority to act as Justices of the Peace, and to do all matters and things which appertain to that office, and are empowered to hold Quarter Sessions within the settlement of Fort William four times in every year, and the same shall be at all times a Court of Record.

The revival of the Court of Quarter Sessions, not merely as a matter of form necessary to legalize the Assessment, but as an open, efficient, and constitutional tribunal, is an object greatly to be desired; and as we have the authority of a Judge of the Supreme Court for asserting, that the provisions of the Criminal Act cannot otherwise be carried into effect, and have also experience to prove the expediency of its revival, it is difficult to discover why it is not awakened from its slumber and being first properly constituted, then required to do its duty, as directed by Act of Parliament and explained (as above) by our present Chief Justice.

LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL FUNDS.

We now come to the enumeration of the Local Funds over which we think the inhabitants of Calcutta, either through the Quarter Sessions, by means of District Committees, Commissioners of Conservancy, or other competent Municipal Court, ought to possess full and entire control.

"I know that it has been considered a question of some doubt and difficulty, whether any of the Statutes enable The first and best understood of these funds is the AsJustices of the Peace under Commissions from this Court to hold a Court of Quarter Sessions, for any other pur- SPSSMENT which is levied under the sanction of the Court I will not of Quarter Sessions, as will appear by the following expose than those of making an assessment now enter into the difficulties to which the various Sta-tracts from Acts of Parliament. By the 33d Geo. III. the Justices, in Quarter Session tutes relating to this subject give rise. "appoint Scavengers for "I can only say that whatever may be the inconveni-assembled, are authorized to ence (which I should have thought would have been pre-cleansing the streets, and to nominate and appoint such sent to those who assisted in the framing of this Act) it persons as they may think fit, in that behalf, and also to will be absolutely necessary that a Court of General or order the watching and repairing of the streets as they Quarter Sessions should be held, in order that the direc-respectively shall judge necessary: and for the purpose tions of this Statute may be complied with. This neces- of defraying the expenses thereof, from time to time, to sity is the more apparent from the provisions of the 48th make an equal assessment on the owners or occupiers of houses," &c. and 49th sections.

It is further directed that all" and every such Assess"The 48th section provides that in all cases (not limit ed to conviction under this Act) where the sum adjudged ment or Assessments shall, and may, from time to to be paid on any summary convition shall exceed Fifty time, be levied and collected by such person or persons Sicca Rupees ; or the imprisonment adjudged shall exceed and in such manner, as the said Justices, by the r order one calendar month; or conviction shall take place before in Session, shall direct and appoint in that behalf; and one Justice only; any person who shall think himself ag- the money thereby raised, shall be en ployed and disgrieved by any such conviction, may appeal to the next possed of, according to the orders and directions of said Court of General Quarter Sessions. The clause goes on Justices in Session respectively, for and towards the reto direct the notices, &c. which the party appealing shall pairing, watching and cleansing the said Streets, AND FOR give, and provides for his discharge, if in prison under NO OTHER PURPOSE." the conviction, on his giving sureties, to try the appeal. The Court at such Sessions is to hear and determine the matter of the appeal.

The present ASSESSMENT of 5 per cent. amounts, nominally, to about three lakhs of rupees; but after deducting non-payments and the expenses of collection "The 49th section provides that no such conviction or (say 30,000 Rs.) it yields only about two lakhs of ruWe ask, is this sum, or the net proceeds, adjudication made on appeal therefrom shall be quashed pees net. for want of form; or removed by certiorari, or other- whatever they may be, exclusively appropriated to " the wise, into any of His Majesty's Superior Courts of repairing, watching, and cleansing of the Streets of Calcutta?" Record.

Another Municipal Tax, levied under the title of If the two sections to which I have just referred, are to be construed as applying only to convictions under this TowN DUTY, yields about 2 lakhs of Rupees. For statute, there can be no doubt that a Court of Quarter what purposes was this imposed? and how is it approSessions should be regularly held, the necessity for priated? Is it devoted to the improvement of the Citywhich would be still more apparent if these sections are as in all British and foreign free towns is the case-or

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is it paid into the General Treasury to be remitted to England towards defraying the expenses of our duplicate and triplicate Governments in London! It was given to the town in 1823, as a Municipal Tax applicable to local purposes, not only in Calcutta, but all over the country-but was resumed in 1829!

(the Quarter Session's) proceedings, but admitted that the Quarter Sessions was solely composed of Police Magistrates, who could be discharged at the pleasure of the Government. Mr. Smith then remarked that the left to its disposal, for the tax-payers had no voice in it Court was a mere nullity, even as to the little that was The profits of the LOTTERIES, which are avowedly and how could the Police Magistrates be expected to adso doing they might give offence to the Government, and What for the improvement of the City of Calcutta," yield, vocate the rights of the inhabitants of Calcutta, when by we believe, at least a lakh of rupees per annuin. becomes of this trifle? The Sub-Treasurer can pro-get discharged from their situations. He maintained bably inform us? The Lottery Committee can perhaps that the people of Calcutta had an undoubted right to improvements" have been suspended for control the disposal of their own money, a right which say why all most despotic countries. several years past? Is it that the funds formerly devoted was acknowledged and practised even in some of the to this purpose have been for some years pounded to repay a grant of a certain sum towards the improvement of the Town, made by Lord Hastings, out of the surplus fees (we believe) of the Court of Requests, which grant not confirmed" by the Honorable the Court of Directors, but ordered to be repaid. When this will be Who is the comptroller of the done who knows? Lottery Fund? and are the accounts a sealed book or how?

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The ABKARRY, a tax on licenses to liquor-shops, is another local fund; it yields about two lakhs and a half per annum, and as it is raised at the expense of those most likely to break the peace, it should surely be devoted to keeping the peace-it would form a very neat item to the credit of the General Fund, and would cover the Thanadaree establishment and all incidental charges. In a statement of the Town disbursement of 1828-29, we find this item given, under the head of receipts at 2,59,152 rupees; may we not hope to see it brought to credit in the next audit of the account of the Quarter Sessions?

He

Mr. McFarlan said he did not wish to prevent any
gentleman from expressing his opinions on any subject,
but it would be as well perhaps to confine themselves to
the duty, which they had assembled to perform.
had willingly given what information he possessed on the
points on which he had been questioned, but it would
"for the purposes of the assessment."
perhaps be as well to recollect that they had met there

Mr. Smith admitted the justice of the chairman's remarks, but stated that he had very quietly waited till the conclusion of the business for which they had met before starting any new subject. That the special business of the day having ended, he took advantage of the opportunity to ask, in open Court, for information that might be refused if applied for privately. He had put a few questions to Mr. Mc Farlan and he had very kindly answered him, for which he (Mr. Smith) was extremely obliged. conversation, and the questions he had asked had been What he (Mr. Smith) said was merely in the way of Here then are four local taxes, yelding about nine put with a view to elicit information for the benefit of Jakhs of rupees per annum; we know who pay and who the community. Perhaps Mr. McFarlan was not aware receive them; would it be very unreasonable to ex- of it, but it was pretty generally believed that the Quarter pect to know how they are spent? or would it be out- Sessions had the disposal of all the funds he (Mr. Smith) rageous to ask that some of the tax-payers should have had named, and it would therefore be advantageous to a voice in the disposal or application of them? We are them to have those retaining that opinion undeceived. far from implying that there is any misappropriation; Here were they (the inhabitants of Calcutta) obliged to but it would be satisfactory to the inhabitants to know pay all the enormous expenses of the whole Thanadaree as specified in the abstract, out of the Assessment fund that they do get "value received" for their money; and Establishment in addition to the Conservancy of Calcutta, that it is applied to purposes of which they approve. If the Government give up the Abkarry and the Town alone, while the proceeds of all the other Funds he had Duties, the Lottery profits, the Fines, Surplus Fees, &c. mentioned went into the pocket of Government; and had no control whatever. He thought the inhabitants -the General Fund will then afford to support the even over the expenditure of the assessment Fund they Thanadaree establishment, and all Police expenses, of Calcutta ought to come forward and petition the GoMagistrates and Constables included-a perpetual stop vernment to place all those funds he had named at the need not be put to all improvement and necessary repairs, disposal of the Quarter Sessions, and he also thought &c. as at present-the Government would be doing an that that Court ought to be differently constituted-its act of justice -the people of Calcutta would be grateful members ought, to a certain extent, to be appointed by and, we are sure, would cheerfully join in their endea-election of the inhabitants of Calcutta, so that the expenditure of their funds might be controlled by Magisvours to make these funds go as far as possible, if entrates of their own choice. trusted to their management, as we think it will be conMr. Robison said, if we understood him rightly, that ceded they should be. This would form the first most popular step in self-government, and as it is widely rumoured that important alterations in all departments of the act of Parliament constituting the Court of Quarter the State are under consideration, we hope we do not Sessions required that it should be composed of Magislook in vain, for the efficient re-establishment of the trates: and that the Governor-General, being the repreCourt of Quarter Sessions and the delegation to its ma-sentative of the King, enjoyed the royal prerogative of nagement, or to that of popularly elected Commissioners displacing any of the Magistrates, if he thought fit. of all local municipal funds.

COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS,
CALCUTTA, 1ST NOVEMBER, 1833.

Mr. Smith remarked in reply that the King had no au thority to displace the Aldermen of London, and he di not see why the Court could not be composed of Magistrates of a similar description. All he wished to urge was that it ought to be composed of independent persons. Captain Steel remarked that the honorary Magistrates had been appointed here and mentioned the names of three or four.

After the proceedings of the Sessions had closed for the Mr. Smith replied.-Then they have not done their day and the Chairman was about to rise, Mr. Samuel Smith inquired of Mr. McFarlan whether the assessment on house-rent was the only fund over which the Quarter duty! Why are they not here? It was high time that a Sessions had control? whether it had not also control new Commission of the Peace were issued, and that over Town Duties, the Abkarry, the surplus of the Petty proper persons were selected who could, and would, Court's receipts, the profits on the Lotteries, and other fairly represent the inhabitants of Calcutta. In concluMunicipal Funds of various descriptions, Mr. Mc Farlan sion Mr. Smith stated again, that the Court of Quarter replied that they had not, and in reply to several other Session was not properly constituted, and referred to the questions stated that the surplus of those items went, he supposed, to the credit of Government; that the total expenditure entered in the above abstract was defrayed by the inhabitants of Calcutta, out of the assessed house taxes, that the Government had no right to control their

I 2

act, by which it appeared that it ought to be composed
of the Governor-General, the Member of Council, the
Police Magistrates, and such other of the inhabitants of
The Quarter Session were then adjourned.
Calcutta, as were Justices of the Peace.

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