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of the "Calcutta Journal of Natural History," desires to be impartial, I claim from him the circulation of these papers to his subscribers, with additional notes with which I will supply him with pleasure, as extra limites to his Journal. All expenses of printing, postage, &c. I will cheerfully defray. His subscribers will then see that I have never opposed the attachment of conductors to Powder Magazines— that I freely admitted their value, but contended that under such peculiar circumstances, they should be erected in a greater number than Mr. Daniell recommended, and at a certain distance from the Magazine.

In conclusion, I have to acknowledge the kind exhortation of your correspondent that I should conduct this discussion with moderation, and that I should refrain from indulging in a spirit of injustice to Mr. M'Clelland and himself. All this is very amiable in gentlemen who are endeavouring to fix upon me an imputation of falsehood, and who would hide from the world, that in consequence of the Griffith and Wallich controversy, and of another public occurrence of some celebrity, I have not for some time had the happiness of being numbered among the friends of my commentators on this occasion. The remembrances of past collisions has never yet mingled honey with a critic's ink, the strongest impulse of nature would, on the contrary, urge him to dip his pen by preference in gall or acid. How far this feeling has operated on the present occasion, those who know the relative positions of the parties can readily conclude; to others I shall commit my arguments and facts, (if Dr. M'Clelland will allow me to do so) in the confidence that they will be dispassionately considered, and in the feeling that if I fail, there is no disgrace in being worsted in a controversy with an antagonist of Mr. Daniell's deserved reputation.

CALCUTTA,

1st March, 1841.

I am Sir, with much respect,

Your obedient servant,

W. B. O'SHAUGHNESSY, M. D.
Assistant Surgeon.

Report by Captain FITZGERALD on the accident by Lightning to Go

vernment House, Calcutta.

TO CAPTAIN Sanders,

No. 563.
SIR,

Secretary, Military Board.

I have the honor to report for the information of the Military Board, that the Government House was struck by lightning during the storm which occurred early this morning. The lightning seems to have been attracted to the building by the iron at the point of the spear attached to the figure of Britannia on the top of the dome; after demolishing the spear, it pursued its course down the external copper of the dome, without apparently doing any injury, and forced its way into the ball room in three separate places. It has left its traces on the ceiling and wall of the southern division of the room, where it has injured one of the pier-glasses, and then passed out at the adjoining window. Again, on the eastern side of the central division it has pursued a similar course, injuring a pier-glass, and again passing out of the adjoining windows. On the western side of the central division it has done the most injury, for after passing through the ceiling it has broken one of the pier-glasses at its corner, then running down into the marble hall, has escaped out of one of the windows, breaking in its exit, as the others also did, several panes of glass.

2nd. I requested Dr. O'Shaughnessy to inspect the effects of the lightning, and he has expressed his surprize that so little comparative injury has been caused by it. The sharp point of iron at the end of the spear, and the studding of the shoulders of the statue with iron nails (intended to prevent birds from sitting on it) has served in the first instance to attract the lightning, and that it has never been struck before, he attributes to the protecting power of the four conductors, which, however, he considers to be twice as far from each other as they ought to be.

3rd. In repairing the statue, he recommends that the spear should be made of metal, and that it should be connected with one or more of the corner conductors by means of a continuous metallic rod. It would perhaps also be advisable, under the circumstances above men

tioned, to affix four more conductors to the house, to render it more secure from a similar visitation.

4th. With the Board's permission, I will, in rectifying the damage, carry the improvements above suggested into effect.

FORT WILLIAM,

30th March, 1838.

I have, &c.

Civil Architect.

(Signed) W. R. FITZGErald,

Memorandum on the Trade between the Towns of Shikarpore and Candahar.-By Lieut. J. POSTANS, Assistant Political Agent, Shikarpore, Sindh.

As it is of importance in connection with the prospects of trade with the countries bordering on, or accessible by means of the river Indus, to ascertain what return commodities may be looked from these quarters, their value and quality as suitable to the European market, I have availed myself of the arrival of the annual Kuffillahs at Shikarpore from Candahar, to obtain the following information on the various articles composing the investments from the latter place, shewing the return trade for English piece goods, metals, groceries, &c. transmitted from the former.

I have ascertained, from good authority, that the market at Candahar for European fabrics of the usual manufactures suitable to the habits and tastes of the people of these countries, is at present unusually brisk, and the demand far greater than the supply; moreover, that there is every reason to believe from the increase of security to the merchant, decrease of transit dues, impulse lately given to Candahar as a mart for the N. W., and the influx of population, that this demand will not be likely materially to decline. To the fabrics in demand, profits derived, and other particulars, I will refer hereafter.

The insecure state of the Bolan Pass, has this year retarded the arrival of the Caravans, and decreased their number. I shall quote the following list of articles received by one:

No. 1.-Turquoise Earth-mds. 14-price from four rupees to twelve rupees per b. This article is an important one in the trade to

Shikarpore from Candahar, but it is doubtful if it would be adapted to the European market. The mines are situated at Nishapúr near Meshid, and the Persian Government has of late years placed agents to prevent any large or valuable stones from being exported to Herat, whence they find their way to Shikarpore viâ Candahar; there is therefore a great scarcity of the large Turquoises, which are so much prized, the smaller are sufficiently plentiful to be worn by all classes.

The stone is polished from its rough state by means of a vertical wheel of baked clay, set in motion by the hand and moistened, the value of the stone being entirely determined by the depth of its colour, and absence of white flaws.

2.-Raw Silk (kokanee)-md. price rupees 9-9-0 per lb.

See memorandum already furnished on this article.

3.-Churus from Bokhara-5 mds.-price 3 annas per lb.

An intoxicating drug prepared from hemp seed (Bang), and used in these countries for the same purposes as opium elsewhere.

4.-Gum from Candahar-46 mds.-3 lbs. per rupee.

This gum appears of the same description as that which is
known as
"Gum Arabic," and is in most extensive use for
dyeing, &c.

5.-Silk-Manufactured fabrics from Herat of various kinds— pieces 1854: prices not fixed.

None of these would be adapted for the European Market, being entirely manufactured to suit Asiatic tastes, and principally used in the wealthier Sindee harems.

6.-Dried Fruits of various kinds, kismis-prunes, dried black grapes, walnuts, dried apricots, almonds, and dates, in great quantities:-prices not quoted, as not probably adapted for trade. 7.-Tinsel Thread for embroidery.-2 mds.-price 1 anna per tolah. 8.-Khund Seah, preparation from the sugar cane of Jellalabad—1 mds.-price 1 lbs. per rupee.

9.-Broken Copper and brass vessels-4 mds.-copper 1 rupee 8 annas per lb.-brass 1 rupee 7 annas per lb. These are returned to Shikarpore to be re-manufactured, for which they do not apparently possess the means at Candahar.

10.-Rodung. Madder dye-40 mds.-price 8 rupees per md. This

is an important article in this trade, and brought down in con

siderable quantities. There are two descriptions called "Rodung kukree," and "Rodung phurreeah." The latter is cultivated at Candahar, is of a larger size, and valued at 16 rupees per md., or double that of the other.

11.-Saffron Bakooee-md.-per lb. 15 rupees. "Bakooee" so

called from its being produced at Bakwa, to the west of Candahar.

12.-Safflower from Herat (quantity not known) price 37 rupees per

lb. about 10 boxes annually, of from 6 to 10 lbs. per box. 13.-Gum Salop from Herat (quantity not known)-5 Rs. per lb. Small quantities only of this article are brought down, but it is in great request at Shikarpore.

14.-Sir Khisht, a species of manna, price 5 Rs. per lb; from Herat, used medicinally, and about 10 mds. imported annually. 15.-Musagh, dye from the walnut tree; Cabool-8 mds-14 lb. per rupee.

16. Antimony from Beila in Lus-mds. 15-price 14 lb. per rupee. An article in great demand, from the constant use made of it by the natives of these countries. If adapted to the European Market, it should find its way to Bombay viá Soumeany and Karrachee.

17.-Old paper 6 mds.-price 2 lbs. per rupee. Sent to Shikarpore to be re-manufactured.

18.—Punvieer (not known)—20 mds.-9 lbs. per rupee. Used medicinally, and produced from some wild shrub in the hills. 19.-Podeneh-dried mint-6 mds.- -5 rupees per maund. 20.-Hingozeh-Assafœtida-60 mds.-1 rupee per lb. This is

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an important article of this trade, being produced abundantly in Khorassan and the hilly country of Beloochistan.

21. Carraway seeds from Khorassan (quantity not known)-2 lbs. per rupee-about 70 or 80, mds. imported annually.

22.—Airmah, a very fine description of cotton from Herat, about 80 mds. imported annually-price 1 rupee per lb.; used in embroidery, and highly prized.

23.-Cochineal from Khorassan (quantity not known)-price 9 rupees per b. The amount of annual import may be about 8 or 10 mds., and its price is occasionally from 18 to 20

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