25 OCTOBER 1873, Page 1

The latest news from India is very serious. The rainfall

in Bengal and Behar has been barely half the usual average, and. famine is beginning to make its appearance in the granary of India. Fortunately it does not extend to the Eastern districts, which can be emptied of their rice by railway and river for the supply of Calcutta and the metropolitan counties; but Behar and Tirhoot grow wheat, and an adequate supply of food can hardly be brought down from the North-West and the Punjab, which will suffer also. The Government has apparently decided upon the Madras plan, that of employing the population on pnblic works ; but if Bengal Proper is really stricken —we can hardly - believe it—it will have to face a problem as severe as the Irish famine. Colonel Nassau Lees will then be enlightened as to the use of heavy balances, even if the Goiernment has not in addition to raise a loan.