INDIAN INTELLIGENCE.

A Factory Bill for the whole of India is to be introduced into the Supreme Legislative Council, and opinions have been desired as to its provisions.

An Agricultural Class (a three years' course of study) has been attached to the Civil Engineering College at Poona, and the Governor of Bombay proposes to establish agricultural schools in some of the high schools in the several districts of the Presidency.

Some cotton mills near Calcutta, under a company called the Empress of India Cotton Mills Company, were publicly opened last autumn. They are managed by a Parsee, Mr. R. D. Mehta, and Mr. H. Watson, who came to England a few months ago to purchase the necessary engines and machinery. The mills contain over 20,000 spindles, and are worked according to the latest improvements.

A "Higher Class English" School for boys, called the City School, was announced to be opened on January 6th at 13 Mirzapore Street, Calcutta. In the advertisement of the school, signed by Mr. A. M. Bose, it is said that while the utmost regard will be paid to all the requirements of the University examinations, the Committee will attend earnestly to "the enforcement of proper discipline, the healthy development of the mental faculties, and the improvement of character of the pupils entrusted to their charge."

The Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal is urging on magistrates and road committees to encourage the planting of indigenous fruit-bearing trees along the roads of every district, and he desires that the subject may receive special notice in the annual reports. It is thought the income from the trees would well repay the cost of tending them, and that in times of famine they would materially add to the resources of the district.

A new series has been started of a Bengali Journal, called Abala Bandhub, or the Women's Friend. The editor, Mr. D. N. Ganguli, states in the first number that he undertakes the work in order to urge the importance of a more liberal education for

women and because he wishes the broad question to be discussed as to how Indian ladies can be enabled to take a higher position and thus help to improve domestic and social life. The second article is founded on some facts related by Dr. Knighton in the August number of this Journal. The third relates to Kindergartens and the desirability of introducing them into India. The "learned Roma Bai" is also one of the subjects. The second number begins with "How to teach and what to teach," and contains popular accounts of some of the recent scientific inventions. In the miscellaneous information approving mention is made of the activity of the Hon. Sec. of the Bengal Branch of the National Indian Association, Mrs. J. B. Knight, in regard to literature for Bengali ladies and secular Zenana teaching. The Journal states that one of the ladies studying in the Boarding Department of the Bethune School, Miss Kadumbini Bose, was to present herself for the Matriculation Examination.

At a meeting of the new Society, called the National Mahomedan Association, held in October last at Calcutta, it was proposed to establish a Serai for the convenience of visitors to Calcutta of the middle and lower classes. The want of such an institution was said to be greatly felt. The President, Nawab Amir Ali Khan Bahadur, suggested that other societies, such as the British Indian Association, should be asked to join in the undertaking, and this proposition was agreed to. It was also decided to found and collect funds for fifty scholarships to enable deserving Mahomedan students to prosecute their studies at some College after passing the University Entrance Examination.

Dr. Atmaram Pandurang has been made Sheriff of Bombay for this year. The appointment gives great satisfaction to his many friends.

PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following gentlemen have successfully passed the Examination in Common Law, Equity, and the Laws of Real and Personal Property, held in Hilary Term:-Mr. Rishibar Mukerji and Mr. Wopendro Mohan Das, of the Inner Temple, and Mr. Nanda Lal Haldar, of the Middle Temple, and they have also been called to the Bar this term.

Mr. Mohammed Hossein Hakim has satisfactorily passed an Examination in Roman Law.

MEMBERS of the National Indian Association will learn with gratification from the announcement made at the Annual Meeting that Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has graciously consented to be their Patroness. Her Royal Highness' Secretary was directed to write to the Committee that the Princess, anxious to repair as much as possible the loss which the Association have sustained through the death of their late President, is ready to lend her name to the undertaking as Patroness, in the hope that her doing so may contribute to the objects of the Association. The visit of the Prince of Wales to India had the effect of uniting him to the people of that country by strong and lasting ties of mutual friendship, and it is very gratifying that the Princess, whom India would have so warmly welcomed on that occasion, should give this kindly proof of interest in Indian progress, and should thus help forward by her influence the cause of female education and social reform.

ANNUAL MEETING.

THE Annual Meeting of the National Indian Association was held at the Langham Hall, Great Portland Street, W., on Friday evening, February 7th, at 8 p.m. There was a good attendance of members and friends of the Association. Lieut.-General Sir Henry W. Norman, K.C.B., occupied the chair, and was supported by Sir William Muir, K.C.S.I., Sir Arthur Hobhouse, K.C.S.I., Mr. G. S. Fitzgerald, Mr. J. J. Gazdar, Mr. Hodgson Pratt, Mr. Satyendra Nath Tagore, B.C.S., Mr. Massey, Mr. Tyssen, Abul Hassan Khan, Mr. P. N. Bose, &c.

The CHAIRMAN, who was received with applause, began by referring briefly to the excellent objects which the Association had in view. He then spoke of the heavy loss that the Association had recently sustained in the loss of its President, Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse, who had been mourned by the English nation, and by thousands in another land. Her Royal Highness took a deep interest in the operations of the Association, and it would be long before its members ceased to mourn her loss. Within the last few days another loss had been sustained in the death of Lady Anna Gore Langton, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Association, who had recently spent a considerable time in India with her brother, the Duke of Buckingham, the Governor of Madras, and who had the objects of this Association deeply at heart. Having performed the mournful duty of calling attention to these sad events, it was now his

(the Chairman's) pleasing duty to announce that her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales had consented to become Patroness of the National Indian Association, and had joined it as a life member. He was sure that nothing could be more gratifying than that one so beloved and respected as the Princess of Wales should thus give countenance to the Association. Her doing so would have a good effect in India, for it would show the kindly feeling which she feels towards that country in common with the Prince of Wales, who had derived so much pleasure from becoming personally acquainted with India through his late visit. The Chairman then called upon Miss E. A. Manning, the Hon. Sec., to read the Report.

As the Report has been circulated among members, we will only summarise its contents. The main objects of the National Indian Association were stated to be, to encourage and promote by practical means educational and social progress in India, and to spread a knowledge of India among English people, and thus to increase mutual sympathy and goodwill between the two countries. The work of the Committee was described: 1st, as it regards Indian students in England; 2nd, in the encouragement of female education and other movements bearing on social progress in India through the agency of the Branch Committees of the Association; and 3rd, in the diffusion of knowledge and opinions about India through the Journal, lectures, &c. In regard to Indian visitors to England, the Committee explained that they had continued to give information and friendly help to students and others having introductions, who applied to them, and to try and render their stay in England agreeable and profitable, encouraging them in visiting our institutions, &c. pamphlet of information published as to professional examinations, was mentioned as having proved useful in India. In regard to education of women in India, the Committee

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