The Nizam of Hyderabad has offered a splendid gift to
the Indian Government. Impressed with the idea that the ex- penditure of the Indian Empire goes on growing, mainly in consequence of outlay on the defences of the frontier, and wishing to resist the aggressive designs of Russia, his High- ness, "as the oldest ally of the English in India," proposes to give 2200,000 a year for three years towards strengthening the Northern border. His Highness, we imagine, has an eye to investment, and has an intention of asking once more for the restitution of the Harare, which, he thinks, would be greatly facili- tated by a display of practical loyalty. There is no reason to doubt, however, that he is heartily opposed to a Russian invasion— though, his people being Sheeahs, he is not exactly the grand Massulman Prince the Times chooses to believe—and it is neither generous nor wise to inquire too closely into motives. The gift is a great one, and we trust will be accepted with warns thanks, and employed to construct forts to protect our second line of defence, the Endue River. If those forts can float and move, so much the better. We are too slow in commencing this work, probably because the ruling soldiers are all in favour of advancing beyond our proper _;boundary, seizing Candahar, and fighting the great battle within Afghani- stan itself. That might be the wiser course if our business in India were not governing ; but the Viceroys have to think of sparing English soldiers, and keeping the burden on the Treasury within reasonable bounds.
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