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Intelligence has been received of a famine raging in some

of the North-west Provinces of India. The year 1860 was a year of extraordinary drought, and the autumn crop was almost entirely lost. The people ate much of their seed corn, and the remainder in many districts would not grow for want of moisture. The distress, therefore, in particular districts, particularly Agra; Meerut, and Rohil Khund, is very great ; and if the spring crop perishes, as expected, will be greater still. Government is de- spatching corn Northward, and taking on labourers to the public works, but the evil is too vast for charitable relief. A district in India usually contains about the population of London, and the three named are equal to about three Londons, with the whole population, not a mere class, wanting bread.

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