The Governor-General of India has issued an order, dated 28th
January, which will do away with tine system of promotion according to seniority in the Judicial and Revenue departments of the Govern- ment, and substitute rigid examination into character, temper, and ac- quiremetits of the sub-officers, in place of the lax and merely formal one which has hitherto been too generally adopted. If this reform is actually enfoiced, great will be the joy and benefit to our Indian sub- jects. lthough many of the functionaries employed by the Indian Company have been and are men of very superior talents and qualifica- tions for their dupes, vet the rights and property of millions arc trifled with by mere boys, who have had the good fortune to become writers, but do not possess sufficient capacity and 'application for subaltern clerks in a merchant's counting-house. They have been promoted be. Cause it was their turn, not because they understood Hindoostanee, or were acquainted with the laws or habits of the people whose differences respecting person and property they were called upon to adjudicate. The following are extracts from the document to which we refer.
" 1. The Right Honourable the Governor- General in Council is pleasd to to determine, Ciat no officer, whatever his standing in relation to a vacant situ: ation, will be appointed to succeed to it, unless he be considered by Government properly qualified to do joatice to the tru,t about to be confided to lean; and that in the event of any deficiency in the requisite qualifications, he, as well as all others in the same predicament, will be passed over in favour of any junior on the gradation list, competent to discharge the functions of the supposed
with real efficiency.
"2. With a view to afford to Government the necessary information in regs0 to the official character and merits of every officer employed, his Lordship is Council is pleased to direct, that every officer, court, or board, to whom cove- nanted officers are placed in subordination, shall publicly report half .yeraly ara
office
their official qualifications and conduct ; that the report of the Magistrate and Col- lector upon his deputy or assistants shall be forwarded to the Commissioner, and by him with his own comments thereon, and a car respond ing statement with respect to all the Magistrates arid Collectors, and independent Joint Magistrates and Deputy Collectors, under his jurisdiction, to the Nizamut Adawlut or Sudder Beard, as the officer reported on may be subject to the one or the other : and that the superior controlling authorities, in like manner, shall review the whole of these returns, and submit them, with a declaration of their own opinions in con- rmation of, or dissent from, those expressed by the Comnris:ioners and ltlagis- arates and Collectors respectively, and a report upon the qualifications and con- .duct of all the officers of the former class, for the information of Government. The Courts of &drier Dewanny and Nizamut Adawlut will submit similar :reports regarding the civil and session judges. ..0. These reports should present, in regard to each individual, a statement of his general qualifications for the public service, with distinct reference to his temper, discretion, paiienee, and habits of applieatimi to public business, his knowledge of Me native languages, and, preeminently, his disposition and be- haviour towards the people, high and low, with whom he is brought into official contact."
In several parts of nindostan, the scarcity of food amounts to famine.
The greater part of the Poles who were lately brought to New York by two Austrian frigates have resolved to settle together in the interior of the country. They intend not only to found a free and happy colony for themselves, but to keep it open for their countrymen dispersed in Europe, who may perhaps be soon obliged to follow them: This plan is much approved, and they have sent deputies to Washington to petition Congress to give them land and means to found a colony for themselves and brethren. There is little doubt that their petition will be granted. Many generous individuals in this country have formed committees to raise subscriptions for the assistance of the Poles already arrived arid those who may be expected. Among the great towns, New York and Philadelphia take a leading part. The members of the New Exchange at Philadelphia have published a circular, stating that a paper lies at the Exchange for subscriptions for the Poles. 'fire proceeds are employed in the purchase of land in Michigan. A five-dollar note will purchase four acres of land. The subscription-paper is subscribed" The Shade of Kosciusko."—American Paper.
It is stated in the New York Gazette of the 16th July, that the beat was unusually severe. On some days the mercury had been 92 and 93 in the shade. Several men and horses dropped down and expired, some from drinking cold water. Nearly all the carpenters, masons, arid labourers employed out of doors, suspended their work.
Letters from Quebec mention, that a grand oratorio, the first ever known at Canada, was announced for the 26th of July at Quebec, .under the patronage of the Bishop and civil and military authorities ; the proceeds for the support of the Emigrant Society.
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