extra quantities of flannel and blankets, will be highly useful, together with books, stationary, umbrellas, parasols, and all knickknacks for decorating a house. Much furniture is unnecessary, as there are seldom more than three rooms in a house, together with the sleeping apartments, every requisite for which must be conveyed thither. Brass pins for hanging hats and cloaks on, are also desirable.'

FATAL AFFRAY IN PERSIA.

Tabreez, February 20, 1829. 'Knowing you to be much interested in Persian affairs, and a circumstance of great political importance having occurred at Tehran ten days ago, I thought I would have the pleasure to communicate it to you myself, and shall be glad if it renders my letter acceptable to you. Mr. Grybydoff, the Russian ambassador, with his suite and guard of Cossacks, in all, I believe, thirty-five people, left this place for the Court of Tehran, about two months ago, on a mission, from the emperor, of congratulation to the king, on the late treaty of peace between this country and Russia. This treaty, which you have no doubt seen, grants a power to the subjects of the respective kingdoms to go to and fro unmolested; but the ambassador on his way thought fit to collect all the Armenians he could find, even such as were slaves in the time of Aga Mahmoud Khan. At Caobine he interfered in those matters so much as to give great offence amongst the people, by punishing very severely a Mohammedan, who was the neighbour merely of a man that had bought an Armenian slave, of which he was accused of being the accessory, although he was perfectly guiltless; this excited the indignation of the people so much, that he was seriously advised to depart, or they would not answer for his personal safety. Arrived at Tehran, every attention was paid him, a guard of honour being appointed him, and greater respect shown, I understand, than even to the splendid mission of General Yermouloff. But he chose to raise every possible grievance respecting those claims of the Armenian and Georgian subjects. The king's eunuch, Aga Yhacoub, formerly an Armenian, but now a Mohammedan more than twenty years, having plundered the king to the amount of 40,000 or 50,000 tomauns, fled to the Russian ambassador's for refuge, and he protected him against the claims of the king, and in contempt of his authority. He also granted refuge to two Armenians who had murdered a Mohammedan: but even this the Government overlooked, and compromised the affair with the relatives of the deceased. Many other instances I could name of his interfering in the affairs of the Georgians and Armenians, even in contempt of the Persian Government amongst others, he required two Armenian women being given up to him belonging to Allaya Khan, who were formerly Turkish slaves, brought from Van during the last war between this country and Turkey: these women did not seek his protection, but, on the contrary, wished to remain at Tehran, but he chose to con

sider them as Armenian subjects, and that they should return to their country. The king remonstrated, and even condescended to send the women to the ambassador's residence, under the charge of one of his eunuchs, in order that they might be questioned by him as to the fact alluded to; but he refused to question them in the presence of the eunuch, whom he very ill treated and sent away, detaining the women by force, and contrary to the king's orders. From what I can learn, by the accounts already received, these women were treated very barbarously by the Russians. In the morning they made their escape, and ran through the streets crying aloud for vengeance. This excited the indignation of the populace, who advanced, with menacing threats, to the residence of the ambassador. His house was then protected by about 100 of the king's guards, and from 20 to 30 Cossacks. These were ordered to fire upon the populace, and they killed six men. This exasperated the mob to the greatest height. The bodies of these men were then exposed in six different mosques, and the moolahs excited the people to fury, calling upon them for revenge on the murderers. The populace was then increased to about 30,000, inflamed by strong religious feeling, of the sacrifice of six Mussulmans by the Muscovite infidels; nothing could stem their rage, and they went forward, resolved upon their utter destruction. The king, in the mean time, hearing of the tumult, ordered out 2,000 of the troops, or Tonbosses, to the rescue of the Russians, and sent his son, Ali Shah, to their personal assistance. The prince, at the risk of his life, succeeded in saving one of the ambassador's secretaries and two Cossacks; with these exceptions the whole of the Russians were massacred, the exact number of which I cannot ascertain, but they are estimated to be 30 at least. Such was the violence of the mob, that, to save young Maltzoff, they were obliged to carry him in a box through the street for protection, to the palace. Mr. Grybydoff, it is said, was killed by a blow from a stone in the temple: the people, seeing him fall, then rushed into the house, and murdered every Russian they could meet with. This horrible event has caused great consternation in the two Governments, both here and at Tehran. The king has sent to say that he will offer every indemnity to Russia which she may require for so horrible an outrage, over which he had no controul, and did his utmost to prevent. His Majesty overlooked many provocations of the Ambassador, that nothing might occur to disturb the peace with Russia; and so tamely did he submit to them, that it excited great indignation amongst the people, and it is a general opinion, that had the King gone into the midst of them during this insurrection, they would have sacrificed him to their fury as it was, he was obliged to keep the door of his ark* shut. That the Russians brought upon themselves this horrid catastrophe, there can be no doubt: not that this is offered for an

The fortified part of the palace.

excuse for one of the most barbarous and outrageous deeds which has ever disgraced the annals of this or any other country. Messengers are immediately going off to the Court of St. Petersburgh, and it will soon be seen what steps they take to revenge this outrage on the dignity of the sovereign and the murder of his people: but I hope this deplorable event will not involve this country in any costly consequences, though the result of it can by no means be anticipated. His Royal Highness is plunged in the deepest grief on the occasion, and has ordered a general mourning amongst the people; and I never saw him so deeply afflicted. I had the honour of an audience with him yesterday, and mentioned my intention of writing to you, which he particularly wished me to do. You had heard, perhaps, of his Royal Highness's intention to visit St. Petersburgh this spring, which I need not say is for a time postponed.'

TRADE AT SINGAPORE.

The following is an extract of a letter from a commercial house at Singapore, dated January 13:

Since we had the pleasure of addressing you per Scipio, a very important change has taken place in the demand for cotton twist in the China market. It has now been introduced into the interior, (formerly it was confined to the province of Canton), and the merchants from the northern provinces had purchased every bale in the market of low numbers at 48 dollars, paying the duty also. Our correspondent from China writes us, that they have no doubt but it will now become an extensive article of trade. The East India Company have ordered out 1000 bales this season. The Americans in your port will no doubt take an early advantage of the rise in price and demand, they having it in their power to take it direct to China. Our produce continues at the same price as when we last wrote, with the exception of sugar, of which the price is merely nominal, there being little or none in the market. English iron is in fair demand at 157. per ton. We sold about 200 tons per Francis Watson at this price, and nail iron at 171. Swedish steel is in great demand at 14 and 15 Spanish dollars per tub, and Swedish iron at about 217. per ton. Freights still continue low. The Jacob loaded at Canton, and transhipped her cargo here at 10l. per ton. The shipping charges at this place amounted to about one per cent. on the value of the goods.'

The trade in cotton twist or yarn referred to in the above letter is entirely new, and has been increasing from year to year. In 1816, two years after the opening of the East India trade, the quantity exported was only 624 lbs. Even in 1823 it was only 121,500 lbs. In 1826 it was 919,387 lbs., and in 1827 it was 3,063,556 lbs., and the declared value 273,9901. The trade down to that year was confined to our own possessions, and China was not tried until last season on account of the Company's monopoly, although it was obvious that

the trade was far better suited to that country than to India,-raw cotton being an export from the one, and an import into the other. It is amusing to see the East India Company, after neglecting to supply the market for at least 30 years, now following the example of the free trade at an humble distance. With respect to iron, we have only to observe that a commodity, which is worth in England only 61. or 71. per ton, is selling in India without difficulty at 157. In 1827, we find that India, chiefly through the free trader, was supplied with no less than 17,127 tons of British iron, while the East India Company supplied China, having twice the population of India, and four times its wealth and industry, with no more than 1973 tons, or less than one-eighth part of that.

MR. WARDEN.

From the Bombay Courier, Dec. 27, 1828.

Mr. Romer, Sir Charles Malcolm, Sir Lionel Smith, and a numerous party of the friends of Mr. Warden, assembled at the Chief Secretary's house in the Fort on Friday, for the purpose of presenting a farewell address to that gentleman on the occasion of his approaching departure to England. At 11 o'clock Sir Lionel Smith, accompanied by the gentlemen present, delivered the address, with the following expression of their sentiments :

'Mr. Warden, your friends now assembled have commissioned me to announce and deliver to you this farewell address. I could wish it had fallen on one better qualified to do justice to their feelings, and to your merits; but I accepted the courtesy of their selection, because I largely and sincerely participate in the intended compliment.

'Sir, these are occasions which impart alike both pain and pleasure. They bring regret on those contemplating their long separation from valued friends, and they bring pleasure, as the means of manifesting our affection for those individuals who have passed a long career in our society, marked by the exercise of many amiable virtues.

'Sir, if there are few of your original cotemporaries present to partake in the gratification of the tributes now offered you, it will give you pleasure to find their high opinion of you confirmed by those who, with less pretensions in experience, equally appreciate the sterling qualities of your character, the recollection of which we may hope will prompt many here to follow in the same good course, shewing an example of 33 years of public service, honourably recognized by Government, and an example in private life, cherished by the parting applause of a large circle of friends. I will now, Sir, read to you our recorded sentiments, sincerely hoping they may afford you that solace and gratification in your retirement, which it is our object and our wish to confer :

"To Francis Warden, Esquire.

"Dear Sir,-On the occasion of your return to England, it is impossible that those who have any knowledge of the high station you have so long held in the society of Bombay, can allow you to depart without conveying to you a proof that they are not insensible to the claims you have established on their friendship and respect. During thirty-three years which you have passed in this island, the generous hospitality of your roof, while it was enjoyed by all classes of the service, and of the community, was extended equally to the strangers who visited us, and especially to the young and inexperienced on their first reaching the shores of India.

"Your public-spirited activity to originate or promote every measure brought forward for improving and beautifying the island, our public buildings, the statuary which adorns the Fort, and the extension of our roads for salubrious recreation, combine to commemorate.

"The records of our public charities attest how much they are indebted to your liberal support; but the many instances in which you have stretched out a helping hand to merit in distress, and have dried up the tears of the widow and the orphan, are enrolled in a higher record.

“As a token that these virtues will not soon be forgotten among us, it is our desire, while we offer you the expression of our warmest personal attachment, to request your acceptance of a piece of plate, with the following inscription:

"Presented to Francis Warden, Esq., by his friends, as a mark of the high sense they entertain of his private virtues, and of his generous exertions to promote the interests and happiness of this society, during thirty-three years. Bombay, A. D., 1828.”

'We subscribe ourselves with great truth and regard, ever yours, John Malcolm, J. J. Sparrow, John Romer, Charles Malcolm, Lionel Smith, and above sixty gentlemen of the H. C. service, and of the community of Bombay.

Mr. Warden spoke in reply to the following effect:

'Gentlemen,-I receive this address, and accept the valuable token you proffer to me with sentiments of the liveliest gratitude. After so long and uninterrupted a residence in this island, after having witnessed the various revolutions which have occured in its society, during that lengthened period, and to which a community like India is so constantly exposed; after being doomed to mourn and regret, year after year, the loss, in the departure to their native land, of a very numerous list of esteemed and respected cotemporaries in all branches of the service, and not insensible to the obstacles that opposed the formation of new ties of intimacy, I thought, at one time, gentlemen, I am free to confess, that I should