EAST INDIA (OUDE CLAIMS).

Copy of a Letter from the Governor-General of India in Council dated the 7th of September 1861, in reply to a Letter from the Secretary of State for India, dated the 26th day of May, 1860, on the subject of certain Claims against the late Native State of Oude, and of any reply thereto, from the Secretary of State. (Colonel French.) 14th February, 1862. (34.) In answer to a despatch of the Court of Directors, dated the 17th June, 1857, respecting certain claims upon the late Government of Oude, the Governor-General in Council wrote that as soon as it was practicable, they desired Sir Barnes Peacock, then the fourth ordinary member of council, to deliver a sound and impartial judgment of the question; and they enclosed a minute by Sir Barnes Peacock, first on Colonel Frith's claims. This was a claim alleged to be due to Mr. Frith as representative of his late grandfather Colonel Robert Frith upon the bond entered into by Azoff-ulDowlah, dated July 31, 1785.

It appears that the debt has been actually and finally repudiated by two nawabs, and one king of Oude, and it has been virtually repudiated by their successors, all of whom have dealt with the revenues of the State as if the claim had never existed. If the debt ought to have been satisfied at all out of the State which accrued after the death of Azof-ul-Dowlah, it ought to have been paid by Saadut Ally or his son Ghazee Oodden Hyder out of the treasure saved by the former from the revenues of the State to which the latter succeeded, but they both repudiated the debt, and applied those funds to other purposes. Sir B. Peacock did not think that the British Government, by reason of their acquisition of the revennes of Oude, were in any way bound to enter into the consideration of a question which has been finally decided by the former rulers of that State who have dealt with the revenues upon the footing of that decision. Even admitting that their decision was wrong, and that Saadut Ally was morally bound to pay the debts of Azcf-ul-Dowlah, the British Government are no more responsible for his shortcomings in this respect, than they are for any of the delinquences or omissions of the former rulers of the State.

If Azof-ul-Dowlah having sufficient funds from the revenues to enable him to discharge his debts, had applied those funds to his own private purposes leaving his debts unpaid, the British Government would surely not have been bound to pay those debts in consequence of their obtaining the possession of the revenues seventy years after the debts were contracted, and if not, there does not appear to be any valid ground for contending that the people of the present generation ought to bear the burthen of those debts, which, if they had not been repudiated, might have been paid out of Saadut Ally's savings from the revenues during the period of his rule. The people of Oude gained nothing by his amassing the great wealth which was inherited by his son, nor would the State have been injured if he or his son had appropriated a portion of his revenues to the payment of the debts of Azof-ul-Dowlah, instead of appropriating them as they did; but, as rulers of the State, they repudiated the debts, and applied the surplus revenues in a manner wholly unprofitable to the State.

It cannot be urged that if the province of Oude had never been annexed, the alleged creditors of Azof-ul-Dowlah would have been paid by the native government to which the British Government succeeded. The native

government had absolutely repudiated the debts, and it is quite clear that they never would have paid them.

In 1790 Mr. Frith claimed 1,00,000 rupees only of the principal due on the bond. In 1798 he claimed 1,50,000 rs. as his share. His son and grandson have increased the demand of principal due on the bond to 2,70,000 rs. Notwithstanding these variances, important under any circumstances, but still more so when interest at 12 per cent. from 1785 to the present time is claimed, Sir B. Peacock thought it was clear that Colonel Frith's share of the principal of the bond did not exceed 1,00,000 rupees, and which he claimed at first. It is also clear that he received that amount upon a tunkah, and that the rest of the European creditors, with the exception of Mr. Bruce, compromised their claims in 1795, by receiving the principal without interest, and that they received better terms than the native creditors; that a great portion of Colonel Frith's share in the principal of the bond was not for money advanced, but for arrears of salary of 5,000 rupees a month, to which Colonel Frith, though only a captain at the time, having been aidede-camp to Warren Hastings in 1782, 1783, and 1784, was appointed just previously to the latter's leaving India (a salary which appears to have been exorbitant for a captain in the army); that Colonel Frith was not included in the list of creditors made out by the minister, Rajah Tuckatt Roy, and sent to Mr. Cherry, the resident, in 1795; that no sufficient explanation is given why, if he considered that Azoff-ul-Dowlah was his debtor, Colonel Frith did not bring forward his claim when Azoff-ul-Dowlah was settling his debts in 1795, but waited until 1798, a year after his death, Azoff-ulDowlah having died in 1797; that this claim has not been brought forward in a manner calculated to afford much confidence that any portion of the demand remains fairly due. As to the second item of the demand, viz., one year's allowance, 60,000 rupees and interest thereon at 12 per cent., the Governor did not think that the Government in 1857 was called upon to pay salaries which became due to officers in 1785, either with interest at 12 per cent., or without interest, even if it were clear that the salaries were just and equitable. But still less ought such salaries to be paid when the circumstances under which the appointments were made, lead to the conclusion that the interests of the officer rather than those of the State were considered in the arrangement.

In 1790 a claim was brought forward by Major Darell for arrears of salary due to him from the Vizier, amounting to 98,000 rupees; the Government determined "that as it came in every respect under the description of a private debt, it would be no less improper with regard to the Vizier than derogatory to the dignity of the Government, to take any concern in soliciting the payment of it, and of this decision the Court approved."

The claim of Colonel Frith was considered by the Committee of Correspondence to be similar in its nature to that of Major Darell. If the debt was a private debt, it could not, Sir B. Peacock thought, constitute a valid claim against the revenues of Oude, in the hands of the East India Company, looking upon them in the character of successors, and still less so if they are to be looked upon as the paramount power.

For the above reasons Sir B. Peacock recommended that Mr. Frith's claim be rejected altogether.

COLONIAL STATISTICS.

Statistical Tables relating to the Colonial and other Possessions of the
United Kingdom.

INDIA.

Area and Population.-The total area of British India was 933,722 square miles, with a population of 135,634,244. The native states comprised 629,225 square miles, and 51,542,930 inhabitants. The foreign states 1254 square miles, with 517,149 inhabitants.

Finance. In 1860, the revenue amounted to 39,705,8221.; the expenditure, 44,622,269.; leaving a deficiency of 4,916,447., which, added to 7,239,451, made a net deficiency of 12,155,8987. The net receipts consisted of-18,429,3367. from land, excise, sayer, abkarry, and moturpha; 199,7127. from the Mint, 180,8687. from the Post-office, 699,6711. from stamp duties, 3,701,210l. from customs, 2,313,2187. from salt, 5,169,778%. from opium, and 4,656,767. from miscellanies, including tributes, subsidies, interest on arrears of revenue, &c. The expenditure was as follows:Civil and political establishments, 3,834,8381.; judicial and police charges, 3,810,3637; military charges, 29,900,556.; marine and pilotage charges, 791,179%; interest of debt, 3,123,3281.; other charges, comprising collection of revenue, 12,153,065l. Home charges-payments in England, 5,853,4137.; value of stores sent from England to India, 1,386,0381. The public debt of India was-Indian debt, 71,969,460l. ; interest, 3,123,327; in England-bond debt, 6,809,000; debenture, and other loans, 19,320,000l.; interest paid, 766,864l.: total debt, 98,107,460l.; interest paid, 3,889,1917. The principal amount of the registered debt of British India bears interest at 4, 41, and 5 per cent.

Shipping.-In 1860, the total number of vessels entered was 21,190, of 2,574,969 tons; and cleared, 20,458 vessels, 2,523,983 tons: total, 41,648 vessels, 4,898,952 tons; of which 6872 vessels, 3,635,565 tons were European and others not native; and 34,020 vessels, 1,263,387 tons native, exclusive of those engaged in the coasting trade of the British States. Of the European, 6426 vessels, 2,918,001 tons were British; and 793 vessels, 361,492 tons were other Europeans. The number of vessels entered and cleared in each presidency was as follows:-In Bengal, 3640 vessels, 1,796,361 tons; in Madras, 14,432 vessels, 1,453,977 tons; in Bombay, 23,576 vessels, 1,648,614 tons.

Railways.-The total amount of railway guaranteed capital paid up to 31st December, 1860, was 32,367,0901.; interest due thereon, 1,613,3471. The length of line open was 752 miles. The number of passengers was 3,887,944. The receipt from passengers, 221,8691.

Commerce.In the year ended 30th April, 1860, the amount of imports was 40,622,103., and of exports, 28,889,210. The imports included— 24,265,140%. merchandize, 16,356,9631. treasure: total, 40,622,103. The value of imports at each presidency was as follows:-Bengal, 20,717,598%; Madras, 3,000,846.; Bombay, 16,903,659. The merchandize imported consisted principally of cotton twist and yarn and piece goods, metals and machinery, and military and naval stores. The treasure consisted of 4,288,0371. gold, and 12,068,9261. silver. The exports consisted of 27,960,2031. merchandize, and 929,0071. treasure, the latter principally to

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Ceylon. The exports of merchandize comprised-cotton, raw, 5,637,6247; opium, 9,054,394l.; grains, 2,588,5621.; shawls, Cashmere, 1,548,7217; sugar and sugar candy, 1,031,9441., &c. &c.

CANADA.

The area of Upper and Lower Canada was 242,482 square miles; the population, in 1861, 2,507,657; viz., Upper Canada, 1,396,091; Lower Canada, 1,111,566.

Finance.-In 1860, the net revenue was 7,932,5881., and the expenditure, 7,499,114. The public debt amounted to 12,144,264l., bearing 656,6087. interest.

Shipping. In 1860, including sea and inland navigation, there were entered 4,645,594 tons, and cleared 4,427,569 tons. The sea navigation comprised 831,434 tons entered, and 821,791 tons cleared. There were built in 1860, 74 vessels, 23,993 tons; and registered, 130 vessels, 36,207 tons. Commerce. The value of imports was 7,176,653., and of exports, 7,214,978. The imports from the United States amounted to 2,629,6614 of produce of the United States, and 968,8861. not produce of the United States. There were also passed through the United States under bond, goods of the value of 633,7241. The total value of the goods enumerated in the Reciprocity Treaty, being the growth and produce of the United States, and imported into Canada, was 1,472,7291. The value of imports from sea, via the St. Lawrence, was 2,822,638l. There were in Canada 1892 miles of railway open.

NEW BRUNSWICK.

The area of this colony was 27,037 square miles; and the population, in 1851, 193,800. In 1860, the revenue was 178,6647., and the expenditure, 174,419. The public debt was 1,035,6147.

Shipping. In 1860, there were entered 631,779 tons, and cleared 665,595 tons. There belonged in that year to the colony 825 vessels, 147,083 tons. The value of imports was 1,446,740l., and of exports, 916,3721. The produce of 1860 was--wheat, 206,635 qrs.; barley, 74,300 qrs. ; oats, 1,411,164 qrs.; buckwheat, 689,014 qrs. ; Indian corn, 62,228 qrs. ; peas and beans, 42,663 qrs.; turnips, 539,803 qrs.; potatoes, 2,792,394 qrs.; other roots, 47,880 qrs.; hay, 225,093 tons. There were in 1860, 22,044 horses, 106,263 horned cattle, 168,038 sheep, and 47,932 swine. The wages of labour were-domestic, 2l. 10s. to 31. per month, with board and lodging; predial, 27. 108. to 4l. per month, with the same; and trades, 5s. to 8s. per day.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

The area was 2173, and the population in 1861, 80,857. In 1860, the revenue was 28,7421., and the expenditure 41,1967.; the public debt was 52,7301. The shipping entered was 1161 vessels, 82,376 tons; and cleared, 1153 vessels, 91,420 tons. In 1860, there were built 66 vessels, 8837 tons. The amount of imports was 230,054l., and of exports, 201,4341. The rates of duty in 1860 were:

Dry goods, ad valorem, 7 per cent.

Hardware and cutlery, ad valorem, 7 per

cent.

Leather, harness, ad valorem, 64 per cent.
Ditto, sole, per lb., o§d.

Ditto, ware, ad valorem, 10 per cent.

Spirits, brandy, per gal., 3s.
Ditto, gin, per gal., 2s. 8d.

Ditto, rum, per gal., 18. 10d.
Tea, per lb., 2d.

Tobacco, manufactured, per lb., 34d.

The rates of wages were, domestic and predial, 20l. per annum; trades, 50l. per annum.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

The area of the colony was 38,850, the population in 1857, 122,638. In 1860, the revenue was 133,608., and the expenditure, 120,728/; the public debt amounted to 182,139. The shipping entered was 1421 vessels, 207,271 tons; and cleared, 1296 vessels, 197,023 tons. There were built in 1860, 52 vessels, 2252 tons. The value of imports was 1,254,128, and of exports, 1,271,712l. The principal articles exported consisted of codfish, dry, 1,138,544 quintals; oil cod, unrefined, 4574 tuns; refined, 426 tuns; seal, 4865 tuns; and skins, seal, 344,202. The rates of customs' duties were as follow:

Beer and cider, bottled, per doz., 9d.
Ditto, unbottled, in casks, per gal., 3d.
Biscuit and bread, per cwt., 3d.

Butter, per cwt., 3s.

Coffee, per lb., ld.

Leather, manufactures of, ad valorem, 10 per

cent.

Molas-es, per gal., 2d.; 1859, 24d.

Salt, per ton, 6d.

Spirits: brandy, gin, cordials, per gal., 4s.
Ditto, rum, per gal., 1s. 6d.

Sugar retined, per cwt., 12s.

Sugar, unrefined, per cwt., 7s. 6d.
Tea, per lb., 4d.

Ale and porter, in wood, ad valorem, per
gal., 7d.

Ditto, in bottle, ad valorem, per doz., 1s. 8d.
Bacon and hams, ad valorem, per lb., 1d.
Blankets, ad valorem, per pair, 2s. Id.
Butter, ad valorem, per lb., 2§d.
Clothing, ad valorem, 10 per cent.

Tobacco, manufactured, 3d.

Wines, bottled, per gal., 4s.; 1859, 5s.
Ditto, unbottled, viz. port, madeira, hock,
burgundy, and claret, per gal., 4s.
Ditto, sherry, per gal., 2s. 6d., and 124 per
cent.

Ditto, other wines, per gal., 4s.; 1859, 2s.
Goods, ad valorem, 5 to 7 per cent.

Goods imported into St. John's, 10 per cent.

The wages of labourers were-domestic, 25l. to 35l. per annum; predial, 251. to 30l. per annum; and trades, 8s. to 108. per diem.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

The area of the colony was estimated at 200,000 square miles. In 1860, the revenue was 53,3271., and the expenditure 47,171; the public debt was 52001. The shipping entered was 337 vessels, 31,551 tons; and cleared, 224 vessels, 31,418 tons. The imports amounted to 257,389, and the exports to 11,400. The principal articles exported were:-Furs, 10,000l.; ice, 20 tons, 2007. value; lumber, 264,322 feet, 5287. value. The customs' duties imposed were :

The rates of wages were-domestic, 8l. per annum; predial, 127.; and trades, 201. per annum.

BERMUDA.

The area was 20 square miles; and the population in 1851, 10,982, of whom 6413 were coloured. In 1860, the public revenue amounted to 15,616, and the expenditure to 17,406. There were entered in 1860, 187 vessels, 38,871 tons; and cleared, 180 vessels, 36,969 tons. The value of imports was 152,8887., and of exports, 23,4671. The principal articles exported were-arrowroot, 40 tons; onions, 269 tons; potatoes, 25,548 tons. The rates of duties were-malt liquors, 15s. per hogshead; spirits, 28. 6d. per gallon; wine, 20 per cent. ; unenumerated goods, 2 per cent. The wages of labour were-domestic, 1s. 6d. per day; predial, 38.; and trades, 6s.