SOUTH AMERICAN STATES.
COLONIES.—INDIA.
The colonies of Great Britain, stretching over so large a portion of the globe, could not fail to attract the attention of the people and government of the British empire. The most important of all these territorial acquisitions was India. The extinction of the mutiny and revolt in the Bengal provinces of that country was related in a previous chapter. It is here necessary to point out the issue of that mighty struggle. The political power of the East India Company was abolished by an act of the imperial parliament, and the government of India vested solely in the crown. Her majesty was proclaimed Empress of India, throughout all its provinces, to the amazement of princes and peoples, with the mute submission of many, and the joyful acclamations of more.
A letter from Calcutta, in the August of 1859, thus reported:—
“Our trade returns, up to the 1st May, 1859, have just been published. They show an increase of about a million:
Year. Imports. Exports. Total. 1858-9 15,46,49,766 15,25,67,555 30,72,17,321
This total includes treasure, but the chief increase is in merchandize, especially the following articles:—
Increase. Cotton.............................. 10,37,928 Rs. Haberdashery........................ 8,18,318 Hardware............................ 5,99,185 Copper.............................. 6,51,599 White and grey cottons.............. 1,7228,679 Ale................................. 15,00,821 Twist............................... 31,20,698
The commerce of England and her friendly relations with several of the South American States were much developed during the period to which this chapter refers, although with other portions of that vast region it was impossible to hold any intercourse, so riven were they by faction, oppression, and civil war. With Brazil the commercial connections of England were important, and the amity of the two states assured. Chili, Peru, and Panama dealt largely with the European western nations, and should the liberal party in those countries succeed in checking the encroachments of the priests, it is obvious that a much further development of commercial intercourse would take place.