The news from Bengal is no better. It is reported
indeed, on good authority, that Lord Northbrook does not as yet affirm or-admit a famine in Bengal, but only in Behar and Rajshahye-3,000,000 population—but the Times' correspondent reports that news from the threatened districts is "despairing," that the Government will import food for minors' estates and relief centres when necessary- thus-admitting that the distress may be as widely scattered as the minors' estates, to which the Board of Revenue acts as the Chancellor does to his wards—and that the opium crop in Behar is in serious peril, which means serious peril to the budget three or four years hence. The crisis cannot fully arrive till March ; but in March, as we have endeavoured- to show -else- where, three millions of people will be on our hands, most pro- bably nine millions, and possibly thirty millions. The official mot d'ordre is,—Do not exaggerate ; but Lord Northbrook, invested with plenary powers, is working as hard as ever he can, and in the right direction, namely, to get food together. Our only fear about him is that he may be a little late with contracts which of themselves must strip the provinces to which he can appeal, and run freight up to famine rates.
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