The Indian mail reports the Sontal insurrection unsuppressed. The insurgents,
indeed, appear to carry on their conflict rather as a riot than as a conspiracy against the Supreme Government. Perhaps they dream of a purely local independence; as the ad- herents of Thom or " Courtenay " welcomed a divine mission which was to render Kent independent of the United Kingdom. Their example is noticed as tending to incite other Native races to disbelieve in the absolute stability of the Supreme Government ; and the many ebullitions of native insubordination are consi- dered proofs that our Government is weak and inefficient. We may remember, however, that the present state of India is be- queathed to us by the system under the late Charter. The new In- dia Act has materially altered our organization, but it has not been., in operation long enough for the ultimate results to be shown. There may be treacheries and hostilities working among the Natives ; but we are convinced that the power of India was never greater, nor ever so likely to take root in a Native civilized and organized population.
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