Jumna by the British Government has been 1,566,500 rupees, and the annual amount levied as water rent is 258,826 rupees, or more than 16 1-2 per cent. While the outlay has therefore been in the whole 15 1-2 lacs of rupees, the returns up to the end of the year 1840 had been 21 1-2 lacs. In restoring the Dooab Canal, the cost to the Government was 5 lacs and 80,000 rupees. The direct return in rupees up to the end of 1840 has been 5 lacs and 13,000 rupees. At the end of the official year, the whole sum expended by the Government had been reimbursed to the public coffers, and an annual income of 6,000 rupees might be expected for the future. The tolls on the Nuddea rivers produce a clear annual surplus of 1 lac and 12,000 rupees. And now, adverting more particularly to what has been done during the official year of 1840, we find that in the department of canals the Government has sanctioned an outlay of 23,000 rupees for deepening a canal in the Hidgelee district for the express object of facilitating the transportation of salt. The other expenses in connexion with canals have been incurred partly in reference to those near Calcutta, and partly to those on the east and west of the Jumna. The former appear to have cost in necessary repairs a sum of about 14,000 rupees, independently of an iron suspension bridge at Ooltadanga, over the circular canal, amounting to 12,000 rupees. On the Dooab canal has been expended 71,500 rupees in the construction of aqueducts, with the view to the further extension of the benefits of irrigation. The total amount of money expended in canals during the year under consideration was 2,57,813 rupees; the returns 4,69,197 rupees, being a clear profit of 2,11,384 rupees. The new roads were progressing steadily. The road from Burdwar to Benares is completed as far as regards earth-work, to its full height and width. On this undertaking there had been an outlay of 6,00,000 rupees, and it will require an equal outlay to complete it. The road from Patna to Gya would have the benefit of a grant of 70,000 rupees, and for the road to Darjeching a revised estimate of 28,000 rupees would be appropriated. The proposed road from Agra to Bombay had been negatived from the fact of the enormous expense it would entail. The total outlay in public works for that period was 9,69,6×6 rupees, which produced a return of 4,69,197 rupees, thus learing 5,00,489 rupees as the difference between expenditure and return. On this the India journals remark, that it is an expenditure of less than one per cent. on the land revenues of these provinces, and that however much the public may be grateful for these improvements, it exhibits much niggardness as compared with the revenue the Government au thorities derive from the territory of which they are the useful and necessary embellishment. A correspondent, who compliments us on the satisfactory account we gave of the progress of Arracan a few days ago, wishes it to be stated, and which was not noticed among the causes which were laid before us as contributing to the increase in the wealth and population of that province, that slavery was abolished there in the year 1834. He states farther, that Arracan is the only province in India where slavery has been totally abolished. FOREIGN. CHRONOLOGY. CHINA. We have news from China nearly two months later than that given in the last Number of the Chronicle, [p. 470] up to the 24th of August, on which day the steamer Atalanta sailed from Canton for Bombay, with Sir Gordon Bremer, the late commander of the fleet in the China seas, and Capt. Charles Elliot on board. The new plenipotentiary, Sir Henry Pottinger, and Admiral Sir William Parker, arrived at Macao, August 9, in the steamboat Sesostris. They made their passage, with their respective suites, from England, in the very short period of 67 days, including a stay of ten days in Bombay. The new plenipotentiary on the 13th despatched his Secretary, Major Mulcolm, to Canton, with intelligence of his arrival, and a copy of the British demands to be despatched to the Emperor. The Kwang-Chow-Foo, (Mayor of Canton,) intimated a wish to receive the despatch in person, and the Secretary had an interview with him at the hall of the Company's Factory. The Kwang-Chow-Foo a few days afterwards went to Macao attended by a linguist, for the purpose of having an interview with Sir Henry Pottinger, who, however, declined seeing him, and deputed his secretary to hold a conference. His object was said to be to offer ten millions of dollars, or even a larger sum, as an inducement to the plenipotentiary to relinquish the intention of proceeding to the northward with his military force; but the proposition was not listened to. The purport of the communication addressed by the plenipotentiary to the emperor of China is not known from of ficial authority, but the London Times states that according to a private letter from Macao, dated August 22, "which is deemed in the city very good authority," he had demanded under his instructions from the government, the assent of the Chinese government to the following conditions, as the basis of a treaty of peace between the two powers. "1st. The opening of all the Chinese ports situated on the eastern coast to all European nations, without exception, who will be permitted to trade freely, subject to a moderate duty on the entry and departure of their vessels. 2d. The abolition of the monopoly hitherto enjoyed by the Hong merchants. 3d. The appointment of an English ambassador to reside at the Court of Pekin. 4th. Indemnity to the British merchants for the loss sustained by the destruction of opium and the abolition of the trade." As had been generally anticipated, a force was despatched from Macao to act against the northern provinces, compris. ing the whole available military and naval force of the British in those regions. It sailed for Amoy, on the 21st, consisting of 9 ships of war, 4 armed steamers, and 22 transports, carrying in all about 3,000 men. It was currently believed, that Amoy would first be captured, and its fortifieations destroyed, and that Ningpo and Tinghae would share the same fate. A notification was presented to each merchant at Canton, that as hostilities would probably soon recommence at the north, they must keep themselves and property out of the way of mischief. In the inean time, the truce entered into by Captain Elliot on the 27th of May, continued in force, and down to the latest date the trade was open, and vessels went up to Whampoa. Buildings had been begun at Hong Kong, on lands lately purchased by the merchants. There were a few British and several American merchants at Canton. Business was at a stand still, the city having been completely drained of money. Of the Chinese ransom, 2,500,000 dollars were sent iu the Calliope to Calcutta, and 1,500,000 in the Convoy to London. On the 21st and 26th of July there were two most violent and destructive typhoons in the bay of Canton. The British cutter Louisa, in which Admiral Bremer and Capt. Elliot had sailed from Macao on the 29th for Hong Kong, was wrecked on the island of Kowlan. Their Excellencies, after escaping the dangers of the tempest, received some rough treatment from the Chinese, but a compassionate individual, who called himself a comprador, was induced to take them to his house and give them refreshment, and subsequently to carry them back in a small Chinese boat to Canton, where he received $3,000 for his services. MEXICO, September. For sore weeks General Santa Anna had been at the head of a military movement for effecting a dissolution of the government, and its reorganization under himself on the basis of the constitution of 1824. On the second of September he arrived at the capital and took by assault the fort of t. Francisco. Some farther skirmishing ensued, which continued for some weeks, each party having a force in the city, and each quite willing to wait for reinforcements. jured. On the 7th a tremendous rain came down, and the mountain streams carried away a boy into the sea. On the 11th the Arabs attacked the town, but were repulsed. They intended shortly to make another attempt in stronger force. SPAIN, October. In this month an extensive conspiracy broke out, which ap pears to have been directed by the queen mother Christina, now in Paris, or by her immediate advisers. It had for its object her restoration to the office of Regent. A concerted rising was planned to take place in various parts of Spain, arrangements being made that the different movements should be properly connected. The first movement was made in Pampe luna, on the morning of the first of October, when Gen. Leopold O'Donnell, whe appears to have been commissioned from Christina, in Paris, but a few weeks be fore, took possession of the citadel of that town. The citadel was regularly garri soned by two divisions of troops, who did duty on alternate days in rotation with each other. O'Donnell secured both of these by bribes and promises, and at the head of one of them, presented himself at the gate and demanded admission of the other, which was immediately granted him, and he found himself therefore at the head of one thousand men and one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, which he could probably maintain for a consid erable time if properly provisioned. Matters did not remain long, however, in this undecided state; and without the intervention of an action, Bustamente yielded the supreme power to Santa Anna. After a good deal of explanation on each side of the burning attachment to liberty which signalized the high contracting parties, and their resolution to abjure for the future all civil discord, Santa Anna, by the agreement which he himself proposed on the 28th of September, was to name a Congress for the formation of a new constitution, by which to settle all difficulties of the government. This arrangement was completed on the 6th of October, and Santa Anna accordingly selected a number of deputies, of course all attached to himself, who proceeded to act as the Congress of the different states of the republic. One of the professions Ribiero, however, the Viceroy of the by which he attained power was his zeal Province of Navarre, took no part in these for the federal constitution of 1824. It insurrectionary movements. There yet has not yet appeared how sacredly he remained a battalion in Pampeluna faithwill regard that instrument, but he has ful to the government, and at the head of sent to Yucatan certain commissioners this, the National Guard, and such other to treat respecting the return to the con- force as he could collect, Ribiero attempt federacy of that republic, which left ited to shut up O'Donnell in the citadel, nominally on account of the violation of that constitution. The following names are given as the appointments in the new Ministry: Tornel, Minister of War; Pedraza, of the Navy; Castillon, of the Interior; and Garcia, of Finance. CONSTANTINOPLE, September 23. The steamer Nile arrived from Alexandria, bringing five million piastres in tribute from Mehemet Ali. ADEN. Serious disasters have occurred in this new settlement. Our advices are to the 15th September. A fire on the 5th had burned down five officers houses and the lines of the 10th regiment. Every thing was destroyed, and some people in which is in the centre of the town, of which he had taken possession. This blockade, however, was nothing more than a close observation of the place, for whenever Ribiero attempted any force on the adherents of O'Donnell within or without the citadel, he retaliated by a bombardment of the town, which was so effective that all offensive proceedings were at once suspended. O'Donnell was in communication with Ortigosa, formerly a brigadier in the Carlist army, and at this time at the head of six hundred men near the town. On the 12th, General Ayerbe, who su perseded Ribiero in the service of gov ernment, entered Pampeluna, having with him, however, only one regiment of the royal guard, which had revolted, out had returned to their allegiance. He held some communication with O'Donnell, whose fire on the town, which had been again excited, at once ceased. The same evening he left the citadel with a considerable portion of his force, but no interruption was offered by Ayerbe, who had been assured by him, that in case of any attack the bombardment would recommence. O'Donnell's intention was said to be to join Ortigosa, recruit his forces, and obtain provisions, and then to return to the citadel. Meanwhile, the final plan of the conspirators had been to attack the palace in Madrid with some regiments whose officers had been seduced, as soon as the populace were informed of the rising in Pampeluna. Espartero, the Regent, however, received with the news, information respecting the treacherous officers, and immediately issued orders for their arrest. They were consequently obliged to conceal themselves; but not withstanding, on the evening of the 7th, an attack was made by several disaffected companies and parts of regiments on the palace, with the hope of securing the Queen. The companies of guards on duty had been bribed, and offered no resistance to the attack, and the Queen would have been captured had it not been for the gallant resistance of Colonel Dulce and nineteen old halberdiers who were on duty at the time. They defended the royal apartments from half past seven till one in the morning; at which time the division made in their favor by the faithful regiments which had arrived at the scene of action without the palace, under the command of Espartero, was so powerful, that the rebels were glad to withdraw. The Queen and suite were in great danger. Some of the apartments of her suite of rooms were pierced with balls, and the doors, walls, and furniture, are represented as appearing like so many targets, after the action was over. movements. Bilboa and a few other places declared against the Regent, but in most of these places the government authorities had entirely suppressed the insurgents, whose cause now seems to be nearly abandoned, except by O'Donnell, whose chief reliance is the citadel of Pampeluna. Don Francisco Paula, a younger brother of Don Carlos, and uncle to the Queen, proceeded from Paris into Spain, despite the interference of some of the local authorities in the south of France, and offered his influence and means in the service of the constituted authorities. Even Christina herself was in no condition to take an active part in the affair which was got up for her benefit, having within a fortnight borne a son to her second husband, Munoz. She publicly denied any knowledge of, or connexion with, the conspiracy, but no credit was attached to her disclaimers by the best informed parties. General Leon, the leader of the insurrection in Madrid, a brave and approved officer, suffered death for his attempt, by the sentence of a court-martial, on the 15th of October. Several others of the rebels were also punished capitally. It was suggested in some quarters, that Louis Philippe had connived at this insurrection from motives of policy, desiring to connect the government of Spain in some manner with that of France; but this surmise appears to be entirely unjust and unfounded. A French army of ob. servation, consisting of about thirty thousand men, was stationed for a short time on the frontier, but the greater part of it. was subsequently withdrawn. Meanwhile a self-constituted junta in Barcelona undertook the duty of destroying the fortifications of that place, under the pretence of advocating the party and views of Espartero. The regent, however, disavowed them and their proceedings entirely, sent a military force against them, and compelled this junta to take refuge in France on the 13th of November. The next day Espartero proceeded to the LONDON, Oct. 18. The buildings on palace in state, and was cordially received each side of the Thames were visited with by the people, and he immediately promot- one of the most severe inundations ever ed Colonel Dulce to the rank of Brigadier known. For several days a succession of He addressed each of the halberdiers sep-gales from the east and northeast had arately, promoted them and gave them at the same time the cross of San Fernando. Madrid, after the crushing of this attempt, was perfectly quiet. These were the most important points of the developement of the insurrectionary prevailed. On the night of the 17th the wind increased to a hurricane, and on the afternoon of the next day, the tide rose so rapidly in consequence, that the river had risen above the highest ordinary level more than an hour before the turn of the tide. In consequence, as the river continued to rise, the wharves and jetties with the streets, and the cellars and other underground apartments in the neighborhood, were submerged with water. The consequences were distressing. Some lives were lost, and a great quantity of property destroyed. It is computed that no less than ten thousand houses suffered by the irruption. The Blackwall railway was overflowed at the Blackwall terminus, and the trains stopped running in consequence. AMBASSADORS UNDER THE NEW MINISTRY. LONDON, October 19. Lord Cowley was appointed Minister to France; Lord Stuart de Rothsay, to Russia; Sir Robert Gordon, to Austria; Sir Stratford Canning, to the Sublime Porte; Lord Burgersh, to Prussia. LONDON, Oct. 25. FRAUD ON THE ExCHEQUER. There was detected this day a fraud to a considerable amount on the Exchequer, the details of which, as ascertained by subsequent legal investigation, were these: although by their numbers they professed to be. Smith was one of three clerks, whose duty it was to compare the bills with the counterfoils. As soon as it appeared that two or three of the bills were not those which had been issued regularly from the office, he took one of the other clerks aside and made a disclosure of the fraud. He had issued, as we have said, these fictitious bills, to a greater or less amount, for some years. Till recently, however, his measures had been so taken as to prevent any detection. The Exchequer bills, for the purpose, apparently, of preventing fraud, are frequently called in and others issued in their places. Smith had taken the precaution, however, in delivering his to the parties with whom he dealt to make provision that those identical bills should be returned to him; he made them special deposits, as it were, on which he obtained funds. Whenever he found that the bills were to be called in, he redeemed his own, making a new issue as soon as possi ble. On the funds thus obtained, he The exchequer bills issued by Govern- speculated, in concert with a broker ment are printed, but always bear the named Rapallo, who was the party with signature of the Chancellor of the Ex- whom he had deposited the bills, but chequer. As it frequently happens, how their speculations it appears were always ever, that some of the printed blanks are unsuccessful, and eventually, by some injured before the bills are issued, more failure on his part to redeem his bills, blanks are always printed than are actu- or by some other means not ascertained, ally needed. These blanks are placed in the bills were put in circulation, and fell the charge of one of the clerks in the Ex-back on the Exchequer office and were chequer office; for some years Mr. Beau- detected. mont Smith has had this charge. It appears that for some years this person, by means of the facilities he has thus obtained, has issued fictitious bills, duplicates in fact of real bills. It has not yet been satisfactorily ascertained whether he obtained fraudulently the real signature of Lord Monteagle, the minister whose duty it is to sign the bills, or whether the signature was forged. If forged, it is admirably well done. The amount of fraudulant issues is about £131,000. Government at once called in these bills, and about £100,000 were brought in at the Exchequer office. It has not yet appeared, however, whether the holders of them will receive their value from Government, which they declare they should do, on the ground, which is certainly tenable, that the bills had the genuine stamp upon them, which is the legal proof, or one of the legal proofs of their genuineness, and that innocent holders, as it is not doubted all the parties in question are, ought to be held free from loss. The trials of Smith and Rapallo had not come on at our latest dates; one of them was to be admitted as Queen's evidence against the other. When bills are issued from the Exchequer office, they are cut off from the printed sheet, in such a manner that a part of the paper is left in the possession of the officers issuing them; in precisely the way in which a merchant secures himself against a counterfeit of his bank checks. On the 25th of October, a num- BELGIUM, October 30. An insurrection ber of Exchequer bills were brought into was checked by the arrest of several perthe office to be converted into other Gov-sons concerned in it, which was to have ernment securities, but on application to these counterfoils, or parts of the sheet remaining, they evidently were not the bills which had been cut from that paper, broken out, according to their arrangements, on the next day. General Vaudersimpers and General Vandermere were at the head of it; they acted with |