125 





of those public works that Government, in such 

 cases, usually presses on with more than contem- 

 plated energy,* survive but to commence the world 

 a-fresh, with a heavy debt (if not remitted) for 

 the year's revenue of th^ land, that yielded no pro- 

 duce, and for the advance received from the money 

 lender for the hypothecation of the crop, that was 

 never reaped. 



If such, then, is a true outline of the physical and 

 social condition of India of 1862, it will not occasion, 



rprise if persons interested in its welfare and 



* From a Resolution of Sir Burtle Frere, Governor of Bombay, 

 passed last month (Septr. 1862,) honorable alike to his wisdom as 

 a statesman, his ability as an economist, and his humanity as a 

 man, I make the following extracts: 



"The high prices to which grain has risen, and which, after 

 making allowance even for the effects of the recent fall of rain, 

 are 75 to 100 per cent, above the average prices of the last two years, 

 renders the provision of permanent and steady employment for 

 all who require work, essential, to prevent great distress, if not 

 actual want, during" the ensuing 1 season. * * * This state 

 thing's is aggravated by the prohibition placed by His Highness 

 the Nizam on the exportation of grain from his Provinces, which 

 usually furnish large quantities of grain to the Eastern dis- 

 tricts of the Zillas and Southern Mahratta Country. * * * As 

 it is of the utmost importance that measures for relief should 

 not be delayed, until the people are bordering on starvation and 

 have lost all heart, His Excellency in Council desires that the 

 Public Works Department will take immediate steps through the 

 R-secutive Engineers, in concert with the Collectors and local Native 

 Officers, to organize the gangs of workmen on such of the works 

 above mentioned as may be selected by the local Officers for imme- 

 diate execution. " 



