not do for me to adopt the happy-go-lucky tone, and to pooh-pooh what professes to be information.  To preach common sense from a safe distance is equally futile.  It therefore occurred to me that the only thing practically to do, would be to go to the head- quarters of the panic, surround myself by native troops, and put a stop to the nonsense by example.

If I had been anywhere else except in India, I should have acted upon this determination at once; but here there are such enormous physical difficulties in the way, that one is obliged to think twice before setting out on such an expedition.  However, I have not abandoned the intention, and shall certainly carry it out, if this sort of thing goes on.  We cannot afford to have the progress of the country arrested by such miseres.  The alarmists succeeded in bringing down the price of our stocks a few days ago.

    By the bye, last night was fixed upon by my anonymous correspondents
    for my own assassination.

* * * * *

    To Sir Charles Wood.

    Calcutta, June 22nd, 1862.

[Sidenote:  The murder of a native.]

I have had, this week, a very painful matter to deal with.  A man of the name of Budd, a soldier who had obtained his discharge in order to accompany an officer of the name of ——­ to Australia, killed a native in the Punjab some months ago under the following circumstances.  He was desired by ——­ to procure a sheep for him.  He went to a native, from whom he appears to have procured sheep before, and took one.  The native protested against his taking this particular sheep, because it was with lamb, but said he might take any other from the flock.  Budd paid no heed to this remonstrance, put the sheep on the back of another native, and marched off.  The owner followed, complaining and protesting.  On tins Budd first fired two barrels over his head, then threw stones at him, and finally went into the house, brought out another gun, fired at him, and killed him on the spot.  Besides imploring that his sheep might be restored to him, it does not appear that the native did anything at all to provoke this proceeding.

The perpetrator of this outrage being a European, the case could not be tried on the spot.  It was accordingly transferred to Calcutta; witnesses, &c., being sent 1,000 miles at the public expense.  Before it came on, however, the counsel for the defence requested a postponement in order to obtain further evidence.  The request was granted, and the trial deferred till another term.

[Sidenote:  Punished by death.]