THE GREAT AQUEDUCT of the Ganges canal, near Roorkee, will be opened on the 8th April next.

THE ORIENTAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY of Calcutta, have in twenty years received upon their capital of Sa. Rs. 1,25,000, dividends aggregating fifteen lacs of rupees. The excessive competition, however, has beaten them, and they are about to effect a junction with an English company. The terms, it is said, are a return of the shareholders' capital, and a bonus of Rs. 70 on each share.

CAPTAIN A. ROBERTSON.-We hear that Captain (now Major) A. Robertson, deputy commissary of ordnance at Rangoon, also in charge of the artillery park there, has resigned his appointment and has returned to Calcutta, expecting shortly to proceed to the upper provinces, where he will probably be appointed to take charge of a department. Lieut. H. Voyle, who acted in the room of Captain Robertson, during his absence on duty at Prome, has been appointed to succeed him.-Englishman, February 2. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S CAMP.-The Cawnpore correspondent of the Delhi Gazette states that the Commander-in-Chief's camp is detained at Cawnpore, owing to the sickness among the ladies and their children.

THE SHIP Margaret Skelly, bound for Singapore, is reported to have been burnt opposite Culpee.

LIEUT. J. LEVEN, of the 62nd regt. N.I., has been ordered to study the new system of accounts at the office of the auditor of commissariat accounts.

BANKIPORE.-The following is from a correspondent at Bankipore "The beautiful and lovely city of Patna, once famed for its great men and riches, and now for its filth and poverty, has for several days past been in a state of feverish excitement. To be brief, the committee of public instructions, was liberal in the number of their invitations to the inhabitants, in which they were politely asked to attend the monster meeting purposed to be held at the school-house. This paper having omitted to mention the object of such a meeting, served to give ample play to the fruitful imaginations of the people; the guesses of the purpose were, you may imagine, many-but unanimity existed in one point, namely, that money was required from them in aid of the institution. In this they were not wrong, as you will soon learn. The meeting did take place on the 12th January, and was well attended by topewallahs and pugreewallahs-in short the room was full. The excitement was now at its highest, hearts throbbed and faces grew pale. Our excellent judge broke the silence which prevailed by a very appropriate speech, I am told, in Hindostanee; I much regret my unacquaintance with that language, as it deprives me of the pleasure of giving you a full account of it. A friend however explained to me that the speaker sang the praises of education and learning, lauded the native gentry for having thrown aside all prejudices, and for swelling the ranks of the scholars by sending their children to the school. He pointed out the benefits the country would eventually derive by the extension of schools, and followed it up by a well-directed hit, which could not fail to reach the dull comprehensions of the natives. They were told that as a school in future will be the only portal through which the people can enter the Government service or other public employ, not to lose a moment in causing their children to be trained for usefulness. The speaker adverted to the liberality of Government in having spent large sums of money for educational purposes, and he thought it but fair that since the people will enjoy the fruits which these schools will yield, they should render some assistance for the support and extension of these institutions. (Great uneasiness and rolling of eyes in the crowd). A few shorter speeches followed; thanks were voted to the chair, but before the meeting separated, some conversation took place as to the manner in which the leach should be applied to the patients, who had been suffering from the feverish excitement I have mentioned. One proposed that each visitor should be desired to walk up to the chair and there, in the presence of the magnates, put his name down on a slip of paper for a specific snm of money: another suggested that paper, pen, and ink, be circulated in the room; a third remarked that it would be a great bore to sit in a cold room and look at a crowd of people scratching their names in all sorts of characters, and he therefore proposed that a committee be formed who should be empowered to draw up a list of required donors, and the sum each was expected to pay. An older, and probably a wiser head, overruled these suggestions, stating it as his opinion that it would be impolitic to use compulsion, and he proposed that the European members and visitors do return home for their tiffin, and the paper be left on the table to be filled up in the manner the native visitors pleased. This having been carried nem. con., the sahibs made their exit, followed by some of the dark gentry, who loved their coin more than their country. The voluntary subscription, I am happy to say, amounted to about Rs. 3,000, and more is expected from absentees. The number of youths on the school list is near 200."--Englishman, Feb. 2.

LIEUTENANT FORLONG, of the 1st regiment M.N.I., has been appointed superintending engineer for constructing a road across the Tiergoop Pass, on a salary of Rs. 500 per month, and Lieutenant Oakes, of the Madras engineers, assistant superintendent for conducting the topographical survey of the province of Pegu, on a salary of Rs. 300 per mensem.

CHOLERA has entirely disappeared among the men of the 47th N.I., which are encamped on the esplanade of Fort William. THE SHIP Sir George Seymour, Captain Naylor, fell in with the Kestrel yacht, thirty miles to the southward of the floating light, out thirty days from Moulmein, and in distress for water and provisions. She was relieved by the Sir George Seymour.

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. ARBUTHNOT EMERSON.-We have been favoured with a sight of some very handsome silver plate presented to Mr. Arbuthnot Emerson, the late agent of the Peninsula and Oriental Company, on the occasion of his departure from India. The plate consists of four pieces,-a jug, presented by the bench, the bar, and the principal members of the mercantile community; a wine-cooler, the gift of Parsee and other native gentlemen of Calcutta; a salver, without inscription, and a tankard given by the European artisans of the Peninsula and Oriental Company. It must be a proud satisfaction to Mr. Emerson to find that he has won the good-will and esteem of every class of society, and his unfailing courtesy and universal attention towards all with whom business brought him in contact, fully entitled him to these tokens of approbation, and will cause him to be long remembered in Calcutta. The testimonial, which would be most acceptable to us, although, as might be anticipated, the least costly, is that coming from the artisans, for it shows that he to whom it has been presented, while he has won the respect of the wealthy and great, has achieved the still more difficult but grateful end of securing the regard of those over whom he was placed in authority,—Bengal Hurkaru, Jan. 20.

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.-The Commander-in-Chief was at Merun-ke-Serai on Saturday and Sunday last, and in due course was to have marched into the cantonment of Futtygurh this day (Wednesday). His Excellency saw the 63rd N.I. under arms at Poorah on Thursday morning, the regiment having halted there that day for the purpose. The weather is described as still mild; the mercury not mounting higher than 89 degrees in the middle of the day, wind easterly, generally a sign of rain; but none apparently expected. About the 11th or 12th proximo the camp will be at Bareilly, and visions of a trip to Kemaoon had begun to present themselves.-Ibid.

LIEUTS. BLAIR, TOVEY, and MOFFAT, of the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers, were being tried by a court-martial, which commenced its sittings on the 4th Dec., for their reported assaults upon the Jewish merchant at Moulmein.

LADY GOMM has paid a visit to Lucknow, and has taken her abode at the resident's house. It is rumoured that Sir William has purposely abstained from visiting the royal city, with a view to mark the displeasure of our Government towards a king whose illgovernment and systematic rejections of its representative's advice are so notorious.

THE 8TH IRREGULAR CAVALRY, under the command of Major C. Becher, left Benares on the 27th of January, and will be at Sussram 2nd, Shergottey 7th, Burhee 11th, Govindpoor 18th, Mungalpoor 21st, and Burdwan 26th February; Hooghly 3rd, and Calcutta 5th March. If they arrive at Calcutta on that day, the regiment will have marched from Cawnpore to Calcutta with only one halt.

BURMAH.-A correspondent, whose statements may be relied on, writing from Sittang on the 5th January, says :-" On the morning of the 23rd ultimo, a large body of Burmans made a very sudden and unexpected attack upon our small garrison at this place, and caused no little alarm amongst us. The troops were instantly ordered out, double sentries and a chain of piquets were posted on the south side of the stockade, and a brisk fire was opened upon the enemy, and kept up for some time, but it was not till two 24-pounders were brought into action that the enemy thought it prudent to betake themselves to their heels. They even attempted to set fire to the buildings erected without the stockade, but fortunately their designs were frustrated. One of our sentinels received a shot through his turban. It appears that the skirmishing party, after being out some time, brought back intelligence to the effect that a band of Burmans (supposed to number about 1,000) were encamped about four miles from this; so we shall, in all probability, have some more unpleasant encounters. Sundry improvements are to be made here shortly, for which we are indebted to our active and zealous assistant commissioner, Lieutenant Holmes. The enlargement of the station is projected; 2,000 rupees have been advanced for the erection of a roofedbazaar, similar to the one in Maulmain, and a bridge across the river, together with a substantial wharf, are to be constructed forthwith."

CIVIL FUND.-The meeting of the subscribers to the Bengal Civil Fund had to be postponed, there being only six members present, whereas according to the rules nine are required to form a quorum.

THE Gazette of Feb. 1 contains a Draft Act for amending the law relative to the several banks of Bengal, Madras, and Bombay. The Act is very short, and might have been provided with another section without incurring the imputation of prolixity. The first section authorizes the secretary to draw, accept, endorse, and sign bills of exchange and notes, &c., in the course of current business, which every secretary does at present. The second section authorizes these banks to lend money on the shares of incorporated Indian railway companies, a kind of business which might have been safely left to the discretion of the directors. We propose a third section, authorizing these three banks to deal in exchange generally, as they could do it to great advantage, and their shareholders would get better dividends than they are otherwise likely to see for some years.

RANGOON is to be garrisoned entirely by Madras troops: H. M.'s 84th, the 9th, 19th, and another N.I. regiment from Madras. Bassein is to be garrisoned from Moulmein, where of course only Madras troops will be: Sitang also receives its garrison from Moulmein. Shewgyne is garrisoned from Toungoo,-Pegu from Rangoon. All the Bengal troops are to be at and above Henzadah.

MEERUT, JAN. 28.-The week has been an unusually lively one, in consequence of the reviews, and their attendant dinners. On Thursday and Friday Gen. Anson inspected the artillery, and they certainly realized his expectations; the great gun and mortar practice took place yesterday afternoon (Friday), before the largest crowd of native spectators I ever saw on a military occasion. The miniature fort was exploded at the second shot, and every missile went dangerously near to its mark. The heat of the weather is dreadful; a cloudy sky without a breath of air, has been our lot for two or three days; but early this morning, there is a brisk dust-storm, smelling of rain in the distance. People are beginning to wear their April suits, and the "oldest inhabitant's" memory knows no such season. The races commence, I believe, on or about the 5th proximo, when there will be sufficient excuse for another week's gaiety.-Delhi Gazette, Feb. 2. INSPECTORS OF JAILS. Government has for the present sanctioned, as a temporary measure, the appointment of an inspector of jails for Bengal; but the Governor-General proposes to take an early opportunity of recommending the appointment as a permanent one for the approval of the Court of Directors. In according his sanction, his lordship remarked, that the position of the inspector in Bengal should not be different from that of the inspector of the North-West Provinces in respect to salary. The Bengal inspector, he believed, would have to exercise a wider control, and perform far more arduous duties than his colleague in the North-West Provinces; and if the union of the offices of magistrate and collector should hereafter take place, as his lordship contemplated, the Bengal inspector's position will, in all respects, be precisely similar. The monthly cost of the establishment allowed to the North-West Provinces inspector was Rs. 307, and his lordship would sanction the same scale of establishment for Bengal, with the exception, that instead of the inspector's drawing a consolidated travelling allowance of Rs. 250 per month, he shall receive a daily allowance of Rs. 10 for the time actually spent in travelling away from his head-quarters, which will be ordinarily fixed at the Presidency.-Englishman.

KOHAT. A friend writing from the Trans-Indus States says:"I heard from Kohat the other day, and was surprised-as you will be to know that the Afreedie Pass was again closed. So the last Kothul campaign, from which so much security and good were expected, has, as usual, turned out to be mere child's play! The pass had been sealed for a fortnight up to the date of my letter. The people of one village only, situate in the centre of the defile, are understood to be the evil-doers. Be this as it may, it seems to be quite enough to cut off the communication between two important posts, and the last treaty, if treaty there was, has been dishonoured. I have been in that niche in the world yclept Kobat, and do not wonder that some "sauce" has followed the chops "which were eaten at Akhore the other day. An Afreedie, like every other mortal, has his virtues. You may slake your thirst at his door and share his meal one day-but beware! on the next, lest he prove a chap-at ee too hard for digestion! Negotiations would appear to be thrown away on such savages. They have hitherto been allowed to act with impunity. Large bodies of troops have visited their fastnesses, but visited them only to retire precipitately. What next will be done to bring the Afreedies to order remains to be seen. It may not be generally known, that the remains of an old road leading up to the Kothul are in existence. When and by whom this road was cut, tradition has not handed down.

It is called by the people "the Hindoo road," and was built with as scientific an eye as that which recently marked out the highway which is to connect Hindostan with Thibet. I once strayed along this ruined line of road; it is perhaps two miles or more long, and as level as any Jehu could wish. But in too many places it was not walking, but hopping from rock to rock, whilst in others, where there are extensive land-slips, some perilous climbing was required. The day may come when this old Hindoo road will re-awaken the echoes around, and the ghosts of a past century be startled-by the sound of the modern locomotive ! Just now, the direct road up the Kothul is of course preferred, as the old line is too unprotected; to say nothing of the cost for repairs. Indeed, the work and expense would be equal to opening a new road-with the simple advantage of having the base line already traced, perhaps by Alexander.-Delhi Gazette, Feb. 2.

MILITARY ON-DITS.-The Hurkaru states, that Col. Stuart has officially intimated that he does not intend to resume his appointment as military secretary. Col. Birch will of course be confirmed.-H.M.'s 51st regt. are to embark at Moulmein direct for England.-The Englishman's correspondent in the vicinity of Meerut states that the Commander-in-Chief has been called upon to appoint Lieut.-Col. Horsford, of the 8th battalion artillery, to act in the room of Lieut.-Col. Huthwaite, as president of the committee ordered to be convened at Futtyghur to inspect and report upon the stocks, &c., in the gun-carriage agency.The left wing of H. M.'s 29th regiment are to leave for Rangoon in the Berenice, on Jan. 28.-The 47th regiment N.I., now encamped on the Esplanade, commence their move towards Burmah in the Tenasserim steamer.-The head-quarters of H. M.'s 80th regiment go home in the Blenheim.-General Anson was expected to arrive in Delhi.-The Commander-in-Chief having reached Futtyghur, was received by the usual guard of honour, band, &c., of the 2nd Grenadiers.-Colonel Mountain, c.B., lay very dangerously ill in the head-quarters' camp (Feb.). Our latest accounts are very unfavourable, and state that even should he rally and get over the attack, he will have to proceed to England. -The 41st N.I. marched out of Mooltan on Feb. 3. They expect to be at Ahbar about the 15th, Ferozepore 22nd, Kurnaul 10th of March, Delhi the 18th, Allygurh 26th, Etah 31st, Mynporie (where they will detach the left wing) 3rd of April, and Etawah about the 6th or 7th of April.-The 14th N.I., completing the relief of the Mooltan force, had arrived at that station. -The 59th N. I. under Colonel Colin Troup, have marched from Cawnpore en route for Umritsur.-The 4th irregular cavalry were expected to march into Hansi on the 6th Feb., and the detachment of regular cavalry, which are doing duty there, will then return to their station. From Bareilly the camp is expected to go direct to Moradabad.

GOVERNMENT GENERAL ORDERS.

MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN BURMAH.

Prome, Dec. 22, 1853.-The Governor-General has the satisfaction of announcing to the force in Pegu, that the Queen has been graciously pleased to grant a medal to the troops that served during the war against Burmah.

The Governor-General feels a sincere gratification in thus making known to the troops the distinction by which the Sovereign has marked her sense of their services, whose value has been not less fully appreciated by the Government of India.

PERMISSION OF FAMILIES OF PUBLIC SERVANTS TO RESIDE AT BASSEIN.

Rangoon, Jan. 8th, 1854.-With reference to G.O. by the Governor-General in Council, No. 543 of the 6th July, 1853, the Most Noble the Governor-General is pleased to notify that the tranquillity and settled condition of the country around Bassein are such as to permit the families of public servants to join them there. His lordship regrets that the other stations in the province are not yet sufficiently secure to warrant any further extension of this permission at the present moment.

FURLOUGHS VIA ROMBAY.

Head Quarters, Camp, Barah, Jan. 11th, 1854.-An erroneous impression being found to exist, that permission to proceed to Europe on furlough on private affairs can be accorded by the authorities at Bombay to officers of this presidency who obtain leave to visit that port preparatory to applying for such furlough, it is notified for the future guidance of officers, that the sanction of the government in Calcutta to their embarking for Europe is indispensable, and should be applied for in the same manner as though the embarkation were to take place from Calcutta, viz., through the assistant adjutant-general of the army there; but as this arrangement may possibly be productive of delay and incon

venience, the simplest and most advisable course is to include in the application for leave to visit Bombay, a further request to be allowed to proceed from thence on furlough to Europe, in order that if granted, the sanction of government to the two solicitations may be announced in one and the same order, and when no further steps in the matter will be necessary.

2. It is further notified for general guidance, that solicitations for leave to proceed to places beyond the limits of this presidency, and to visit stations within the presidency, should not be preferred in the same application :-in the one case the sanction of government is necessary; in the other it can be accorded by the commander-in-chief, and the indulgences should therefore be applied for in distinct and separate applications.

The following rules are prescribed for the examination of the newly appointed members of the Bengal civil service in the languages of India prevailing in the presidency of Fort William, for their guidance and control until declared qualified for the public service by knowledge of those languages, and for the discharge of other duties heretofore performed by the secretary and examiners of the college of Fort William.

I. There shall be a Board of Examiners in Calcutta, consisting of a president, and as many members, ex officio or otherwise, as the Government may from time to time appoint, with a secretary, who 'may be also a member of the Board.

II. The Board, in addition to the duties hereinafter enjoined, will perform those now devolving on the central committee for the examination of assistants.

III. For the more convenient despatch of business, the Board may form itself into sub-committees, each consisting of two or more of its members, and the president shall appoint a secretary to each sub-committee from among the members of the Board and its secretary. There shall be one sub-committee for the examination of civil servants by the qualification test and for honours, and for the performance of the other duties heretofore discharged by the examiners of the college of Fort William; and another subcommittee for the examination of assistants. The correspondence and miscellaneous executive business of the Board shall be conducted by the secretary acting under the orders of the president. IV. The president of the Board shall be the president of each sub-committee, and the act of each sub-committee shall be, and be described to be, the act of the Board.

V. Every person appointed by the Court of Directors a member of the civil service on the Bengal establishment shall, immediately on his arrival in Calcutta, report himself in person to the secretary to the Board.

VI. Every such civil servant on his arrival in Calcutta, and until he is either attached to the public service, or directed or permitted to proceed to the interior, is under the orders and authority of the president of the Board of Examiners, and is bound to obey all orders, general or special, which he may receive from the president, either direct, or through the secretary to the Board. All such orders shall be regularly entered in an order-book to be kept by the secretary.

VII. The standing-orders of the college of Fort William so far as they consist with the rules now promulgated, shall continue to be binding on the young civil servants in Calcutta; but the Board will take immediate measures to revise and consolidate these standing orders, and bring them into conformity with the new system.

VIII. The newly-appointed civil servants of each term shall be allotted to the public service as they arrive, in such proportions

Letter dated 24th June, 1853, No. 137.-86. Report that Ensign James Purvis Cock, 53rd N.I., is absent without leave, and is supposed to have proceeded to England on the steamer Queen of the South.

as may be determined from time to time by the Government of India. For the present, one-half of the civil servants of each term (including the odd number when there is one) will be allotted to the lower provinces, and the other half to the north-west provinces and the Punjab.

IX. Of the civil servants of each term, those who first report themselves to the secretary shall have the preference, until the number to be allotted to one or other division of the presidency is complete. But if two or more arrive at Calcutta in the same ship, and report themselves to the secretary within twenty-four hours after arrival, the preference as between them shall be given to the senior in rank.

X. Every civil servant must qualify himself for the public service by knowledge of two languages according to the prescribed test. Those allotted to the lower provinces must qualify in Bengalee and Oordoo. Those allotted to the north-west provinces and the Punjab must qualify in Persian and Hindee.

XI. The allotment of civil servants to either division of the presidency shall be reported to the Government, and no change shall be made in the allotment without the special sanction of Government in each case.

XII. Every civil servant shall be examined, as soon after his arrival as possible, in any language or languages he may have studied at the college of Haileybury, and a report of this initiatory examination shall be made to the Government.

XIII. There shall be a general examination at the commencement of every calendar month, at which all unpassed civil servants resident in or near Calcutta are required to attend, and the result of every such examination shall be reported to the Government. Intermediate examinations may be held for those who are studying for honours, but not otherwise, except under peculiar circumstances, and with the express sanction of the president.

XIV. Every civil servant is expected to pass the test of qualification in one language at or before the third general monthly examination after his initiatory examination, and in a second language within three months from the date of passing in the first. Failing either of these expectations, a civil servant will not be allowed to remain in Calcutta, but will be sent to complete his studies under some civil authority at a station in the interior.

XV. On good cause being shown, a civil servant will be per mitted at any time after his initiatory examination to prosecute and complete his studies under some civil authority at a station in the interior.

XVI. A civil servant who fails to pass the test in two languages within eighteen months from the date of his initiatory examination (allowance being made for duly certified sickness) will on the expiration of that period be finally removed from the service.

XVII. No civil servant will be permitted to study for honours except in Calcutta, and unless he pass the test of qualification in two languages within four months from his initiatory examination.

XVIII. No civil servant will be permitted to continue studying for honours of whom it is not certified by the Board in the general examination report of each month, that he has made good progress during the month, and is likely within the prescribed time to obtain either a certificate of high proficiency or a degree of honour, as the case may be.

XIX. Twelve months from the initiatory examination is the extreme period allowed for obtaining honours in one language, and eighteen months from the same examination for obtaining honours in two or more languages.

XX. No civil servant who fails to obtain a certificate of high proficiency within eight months from his initiatory examination, shall be permitted to study for honours in a second language.

XXI. The first language in which a civil servant will be permitted to study for honours is the vernacular language of the greater part of that division of the presidency to which he is allotted, that is to say, Bengalee for the low provinces, and Hindee or Oordoo for the North-West Provinces and Punjab. After obtaining a degree of honour or a certificate of high proficiency in any one of these languages within the prescribed term, a civil servant may apply himself to the study of any other of the dead or living languages of India.

XXII. The following is the test of qualification in the several languages :

1. Construing with readiness and accuracy from the undermentioned books :

Persian.-Anwari Soheilee (first three chapters), and Gulistan.
Oordoo.-Bagh-o-bahar and Ikhwanus Safa.

4. Translating in like manner a paper of English sentences. XXIII. The following is the test of high proficiency :1. Construing with readiness and accuracy from the undermentioned books:

1. In Arabic.-1. Alif Laila; 2. Ikhwanus Safa; 3. Nafhatul-Yarman.

2. Persian.-1. Gulistan; 2. Bostan; 3. Anwari Soheilee. 3. Hindoostanee or Oordoo.-1. Bagh-o-bahar; 2. Ikhwanus Safa; 3. Gooli Bakawullee; 4. Baital Pachisi.

4. Sanscrit.-1. Hitopadesha; 2. Mahabharata.

5. Hindee.-1. Rajneeti; 2. Prem Sagur; 3. Bagh-o-bahar. 6. Bengalee.-1. Bangalar Itihas; 2. Betal Panchabinshati ; 3. Purush Parikya.

2. Translating from and into English as prescribed for the test of qualification; but from papers of a more difficult nature, and with greater accuracy of idiom and neatness of expression.

XXIV. The following is the test for a degree of honour:1. Construing with readiness and accuracy from the undermentioned books :

1. In Arabic.-1. Nafhat-ul-Yaman; 2. Talmiur Namah; 3. Muqamati Harri.

2. Persian.-1. Akhlaqi Julali; 2. Inshai Abulfuzl; 3. Sikandur Namah; 4. Dewani Hafiz.

3. Hindoostanee or Oordoo.-1. Bagh-o-bahar; 2. Ikhwanus Safa; 3. Khirad Afroz; 4. Kaliyati Souda; 5. Prem Sagur.

4. Sanscrit.-1. Hitopadesha; 2. Mahabharata; 3. Raghu Vansa; 4. Sakuntalla Nataka.

5. Hindee.-1. Prem Sagur; 2. Sabba Bilas; 3. Ramayan, by Tulsi Das; 4. Bagh-o-bahar.

6. Bengalee.-1. Purush Parikya; 2. Betal Panshabinshati; 3. Bangalar Itihas; 4. Mahabharata; 5. Probodh Chandrika.

2. Translating into English with accuracy two passages, one in prose and the other in poetry, selected from some difficult work, not being a test-book.

3. Translating a difficult passage from English with accuracy, elegance, and neatness of expression, and perfect correctness of spelling and grammar.

4. Conversing (in the vernacular languages) with accuracy and fluency.

The examination for a degree of honour will be of a searching nature, and the exercises, both oral and written, must be performed with such excellence as distinctly to establish a claim to eminent proficiency.

XXV. To every civil servant who gains a certificate of high proficiency there shall be awarded a donation of eight hundred rupees, and a certificate under the signature of the president of the Board.

XXVI. To every civil servant who gains a degree of honour, there shall be awarded a donation of one thousand six hundred rupees, and a diploma under the signature of the head of the Government of Bengal.

XXVII. But two pecuniary rewards for the same language will not be given; and if, after obtaining a certificate of high proficiency, a civil servant becomes entitled to a degree of honour in the same language, he shall on the second occasion receive only the difference between the rewards attached to these two several distinctions.

XXVIII. To every civil servant who passes the test of qualification in any language with marked proficiency at or before the third general monthly examination after his initiatory examination, there shall be awarded a medal of merit; and to every one who passes the test in two languages within that time with similar proficiency, there shall be awarded a medal of merit, and a donation of one thousand rupees.

XXIX. Certificates of high proficiency and medals of merit shall be delivered to those entitled to them by the president at a full meeting of the Board. Degrees of honour will be conferred by the head of the Government in person.

XXX. When a civil servant has completed his course of study, and has been attached to one or other division of the presidency, for employment in the public service, he shall receive from the secretary to the Board of Examiners a certificate specifying the proficiency he may have acquired, the rewards adjudged to him, and the general tenor of his conduct while engaged in his studies. XXXI. No civil servant unattached shall leave Calcutta or its vicinity, including a circle with a radius of five miles from Government-House, without the permission of the Government. Every instance in which this rule is transgressed, shall be reported to the Government by the secretary to the Board.

XXXII. Any young civil servant who may be guilty of any irregular or indecorous conduct, which may not appear to call for a report to Government, shall be admonished by the president. But serious instances of wilful disobedience, or of disorderly and

unbecoming conduct, shall be reported for the information and orders of the Government.

XXXIII. Whenever it may appear to the secretary, or to any member of the Board of Examiners, that a young civil servant is likely from expensive habits, from idleness, or any improper indulgences, to incur debt or otherwise disgrace himself, and set an injurious example to others, a report shall be made to the president, and the president after admonition, shall, if he thinks necessary, report the matter for the information of the Government.

XXXIV. The contracting of debt by the civil servants of the East-India Company is prohibited. Those who enter the public service under pecuniary embarrassment, implying the contraction of habits of prodigality, will be held to be disqualified for employment of trust and confidence, so long as those habits and embarrassments continue.

XXXV. The young civil servants will, on the same conditions as heretofore, be allowed the use of the Oriental books belonging to the library of the late College of Fort William, which library will now be in charge of the secretary to the Board of Examiners. XXXVI. The accounts of the office of the secretary to the Board of Examiners will be kept, audited, and rendered, in the same manner as those of the late College of Fort William.

XXXVII. Civil servants who are not qualified for the public service, but are permitted or ordered to reside in the interior, will be placed under the authority and orders of the commissioner of the division, or the judge of the district, in which they severally reside, and are bound to obey all orders they receive from him. They are not permitted to quit the station and its vicinity without the sanction of the Government.

XXXVIII. The examination of unpassed civil servants in the interior will be conducted as at present by means of written papers prepared by the board, and forwarded under seal by the board's secretary to the chief civil authority of the station.

XXXIX. Civil servants will receive from the date of their arrival in the country until they pass the test of qualification in one language, a salary of 250 rupees a month; and so long as they remain in Calcutta, an allowance of eighty rupees for house-rent. After passing the test in one language, they will receive, until attached to the public service, a salary of 300 rupees a month; and while they remain in Calcutta, eighty rupees as house-rent.

XL. Native teachers will be allowed to the young civil servants at the public expense. In Calcutta each civil servant will be at liberty to entertain a moonshee or a pundit, according to the language he is studying; and every such teacher will receive from the secretary to the Board of Examiners the authorized allowance, on the production of a certificate duly attested by the student on whom he may have attended. An examination for admitting moonshees and pundits will be held by the board in the months of February and August, and only such as gain testimonials of qualification to teach shall be eligible for employment by the students. A testimonial is to be given for each language in which, on examination, qualification is established; the test for such examination being the same as that laid down for a degree of honour, including a fair knowledge of English. One moonshee or pundit will not be allowed to draw pay for more than three students in one month.

XLI. In the interior, the choice of the moonshee or pundit will be subject to the approval of the chief civil authority; and on the production of a like certificate, the authorized allowance will be paid by the collector of the district, and debited in his accounts to the secretary to the Board of Examiners.

XLII. So much of the foregoing rules as relates to the time at which unpassed civil servants are to pass the several examinations for qualification and honours, will apply fully only to those who have not yet arrived in India. In the case of those now in India, the general monthly examination held in February, 1854, shall, for the purposes of these rules, be taken in respect to those who have not yet passed in one language, to be their initiatory examination; and in respect to those who have passed in one language, to be the date on which they passed in that language. But no such unpassed civil servant shall thereby acquire any advantage, or be permitted either to study for honours, or to remain in the service longer than he would have been permitted under the rules heretofore in force.

The Board of Examiners is hereby constituted as follows:PRESIDENT:

Sir Robert Barlow, Bart. MEMBERS:

Fort William, Jan. 27.-The Most Noble the Governor-General in Council is pleased, subject to the approval of the Hon. the Court of Directors, to authorise the directors of the Bengal Military Fund to carry out at once the resolution of the subscribers for increasing the donations and subscriptions of members from the 1st of July last.

Paymasters and others are accordingly directed to deduct the increased rates, commencing with the pay for January, 1854, leaving the arrears of the increased rates to be recovered by instalments at the discretion of the directors of the Fund.

THE HYDERABAD CONTINGENT.

Fort William, Foreign Department, Jan. 27, 1854.-The Most Noble the Governor-General in Council is pleased to direct that the force heretofore known as the Nizam's army, which has become, under the provisions of the treaty executed by his Highness the Nizam on the 21st of May, 1853, a part of the forces of the Hon. East-India Company, shall henceforth be designated the "Hyderabad Contingent.'

The Hyderabad Contingent will consist of four field batteries of artillery, four regiments of cavalry, and six regiments of infantry. The Most Noble the Governor-General in Council is pleased to make the following appointments in the Hyderabad contingent :Northern Division.-Brigadier W. Mayne; Capt. H. D. Abbott, brigade-major and paymaster.

Southern Division.-Brigadier C. Mackenzie; Capt. H. Hoseason, brigade-major and paymaster.

1st Cavalry.-Capt. H. J. C. Shakespear, commandant; Lieut. G. Nightingale, second in command; Surg. D. McPherson, M.D., medical charge.

2nd Cavalry.-Brev. capt. A. W. Macintire, commandant; Lieut. W. Murray, second in command; Lieut. G. A. Harrison, adjutant; Assist. surg. W. B. McEgan, M.D., medical charge.

3rd Cavalry.-Capt. S. G. G. Orr, commandant; Capt. R. A. Doria, second in command; Assist. surg. T. L. Bell (on special duty); Surg. J. H. Orr, medical charge.

4th Cavalry.-Capt. S. G. Clagett, second in command; Lieut. H. Fraser, adjutant; Surg. W. Mackenzie, A.M., medical charge.

Artillery.

1st Company.-Brev. major G. F. C. FitzGerald, commandant. 2nd Company.-Brev. major W. K. Lloyd, commandant (on leave), Lieut. J. DeC. Sinclair, acting commandant. 3rd Company.-Capt. W. A. Orr, commandant. 4th Company.-Brev. major W. Ward, commandant.

Infantry.

1st Regiment.-Capt. W. J. Hare, commandant; Ens. E. Hill, adjutant; Assist. surg. J. K. Ogilvie, M.D., medical charge.

2nd Regiment.-Capt. C. V. Swinton, commandant (on leave); Capt. J. Daniel, second in command (and acting commandant); Lieut. C. S. Fagan, adjutant; Assist. surg. G. F. H. Primrose, medical charge; Assist. surg. J. Donaldson (on leave).

3rd Regiment.-Capt. D. W. McKinnon, commandant; Surg. G. Morrogh, M.D., medical charge.

4th Regiment.-Capt. A. Wyndham, commandant; Assist. surg. T. W. Whitelock, medical charge.

5th Regiment. Capt. G. Hare, commandant; Lieut. T. Frankland, second in command; Surg. W. Bradley (on special duty).

6th Regiment.-Capt. S. P. Scott, commandant; Assist. surg. J. Maitland, M.D., medical charge.

THE FIVE PER CENT LOAN.

Fort William, Financiol Department, Jan. 28th, 1854.Notification.-Notice is hereby given, that all the notes of the five per cent. loan, bearing date 30th June, 1841, which have not been already advertised for payment, and are still outstanding, will be discharged at the General Treasury in Calcutta, on the 29th of April next, on which day the interest thereon will cease.

Proprietors of the notes hereby advertised for payment are permitted, on or before the 29th of April next, to transfer the

amount of their promissory notes into the four per cent. loan of 1854-55.

Proprietors who may transfer their promissory notes into the loan of 1854-55, through the government agent, shall not be subjected to the payment of the fees prescribed in the rules of the government agency for transferring notes from one loan to another.

All officers, authorized to receive subscriptions to government loans, are hereby required to receive applications in writing from individuals who may desire to transfer the amount of their notes into the four per cent. loan.

These applications, together with the promissory notes in reference to which they may have been received, shall, without fee or expense of any kind to the proprietor, be transmitted to the deputy accountant-general at Fort William, who will forthwith cause to be prepared and issued to the parties entitled thereto, promissory notes in the four per cent. loan of 1854-55.

Prompt settlement of the principal and interest, at the rate of five per cent. per annum, to the date of advertised discharge, will be made with proprietors who may tender their notes for transfer into the new loan; provided, however, that the principal only will be transferred, and that the interest at the rate of five per cent. up to the 29th of April inclusive, as well as anticipation interest at the rate of four per cent. up to the 30th of June, 1854, will be discharged in cash.

It is further notified that the Most Noble the Governor-General in council has, for the accommodation of proprietors who are not in India, authorized the deputy accountant-general to allow the conditional transfer of their notes to the four per cent. loan of 1854-55, on the applications of agents or friends, leaving it optional with the proprietors to confirm the transfer, or to require payment in cash; provided, however, that no notice disallowing the transfer will be received after six months from the present date.

Published by order of the Most Noble the Governor-General of India in council,

C. ALLEN,

Sec. to the Govt. of India.

FURLOUGH REGULATIONS.

The following communication from the Hon. the Court of Directors to the Governor-General of India in Council is published for general information :

Military Department. Copy-paragraphs which will form a No. in the next list of packets to the Governor-General of India in Council.

1. The law as affecting the absence of our servants from India having been revised by a recent Act of the Legislature, we have had under our consideration the regulations for furloughs to Europe, and for leave of absence at the Cape of Good Hope, New South Wales, and elsewhere out of India.

2. Our officers avail themselves of these regulations to a very large extent, as will appear from the following statement of absentees (excluding regimental colonels), prepared from the latest official army lists received by us, dated in July, 1853 :Numbers of military and medical officers on furlough to Europe, on private affairs... On furlough to Europe, on sick certificate On leave to sea, the Cape, New South Wales, &c. Besides large numbers absent on sick certificate, and on private affairs in India.

157

641

125

3. With the view of adapting the regulations to the present increased facilities of communication, and to correct as far as possible any tendency in them to deter officers from resorting to the places which may be most conducive to the restoration of their health when a change of climate is required for that purpose, we have resolved to adopt the following rules, to have effect from the date of their promulgation in general orders, in substitution for the existing rules, viz. :

4. Furloughs or leaves of absence, on sick certificate, to be granted for a term not exceeding eighteen months, whether they be to any place in Europe or elsewhere out of India. The regimental allowances of his rank for a term not exceeding six months to be granted to the officer receiving such leave, from the date of his departure from his presidency; regimental pay to be drawn during the period of his absence.

5. Extended leave may be granted as at present, on production of medical certificates, for further periods not exceeding eighteen months in the whole. During this further time regimental pay to be continued, but under no circumstances for a longer period than three years altogether, from the commencement of the absence.

6. Furloughs on private affairs to be allowed for a period of two years at the expiration of ten years' service, and for a second period of two years after twenty years' service in India. Officers who have taken the benefit of the regulation for the grant of fur