9 APRIL 1870, Page 2

Lord Dalhousie's triangular trunk railway for India is being fast

completed. Direct through cemmunication between Bombay and Calcutta is now open, and the journey may be made in 70 hours. The advocates of a Western capital for the Empire are exultant, and say that although the trade of Calcutta may increase, her political importance must diminish. We should say the effect of the railway would be all the other way. In 1848 Calcutta was 42 days from England, and Bombay 35; now Bombay is 27 days, and Calcutta only 30. On the other hand, Bombay will become more and more the great port of communication with Europe, as ships passing through the Canal will hardly cross the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal in order to avoid the expense of r,ailway transit. That Suez Canal will make Bombay.