Sir Charles Wood produced the Indian Budget on Friday, keeping
it back as usual to the end of the Session in order to have as little comment as possible. The House felt no temp- tation to talk, for the general result is a surplus of a million and a quarter, and the speech is a weariness even to men who can enjoy blue-books. The revenue of India for the year ending 30th April, 1863, was, according to calculation,. 45,105,0001., and the expenditure 43,825,000/., leaving a surplus of 1,280,0001., which is exceedingly satisfactory, India, being, in fact, the third power in extent of pecuniary re- sources, and the second in surplus of receipts over outlays. Three-fourths of that improvement, amounting to some twelve millions a year, is due to Colonel Balfour, whose services the India House, with an unusual and inexplicable ingratitude, has left without acknowledgment. Sir Charles Wood stated that he would do everything to promote the culture of cotton, which is surplusage ; that he had done a great deal towards the introduction of quinine, which is true ; and that settlers did not buy lands because settlers could not get maps, which is trash. It was a sensible speech usually, but he should stick tp English, except in confidential despatches. What he thought he meant by talking of the "land sayer abkaree re- venue" it is difficult to imagine. One does not usually levy spirit duties on soil.
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