The latest news about the Bengal famine is not reassuring.
The Times' correspondent states that prices are rising and the new crop being sent to market, while thousands of labourers are already employed upon the relief works. He says that five civilians have already been told off to meet the anticipations of famine—that means five establishments each presided over by a civilian—and that although Central and Eastern Bengal will probably be self-supporting, Behar, Dinajpore, Rungpore, Bograh, Goruckpore, and South Mirzapore, and as we know, Rajshahye, are " hopeless." The North-West crop is good, and Chittagong and Orissa are exporting, but Oude and Rajpootana are in straits. That gives about six millions of sufferers, but as we are still far off the pinch, the numbers cannot be estimated yet.. We note that a London correspondent affirms that his private telegrams precisely bear out those of the Times, which are collected from better sources than those at Reuter's command. The latter obey the mot d'ordre not to exaggerate alarm. Mr. G. Bowring, a competent authority, accepts, apparently in principle the storage of grain by Government, but wants it stored in pits. Any way would do, but that is the cheapest, and as natives have used it for ages, probably the beat, where there is no danger of floods.
