:It/No.—Heavy rain has fallen in the Upper Provinces, and the
dread of a continuance of the famine is over. Colonel Baird Smith sent to examine into the famine, reports that at 100 sepa- rate centres not fewer than 80,000 helpless poor have been fed and otherwise relieved. As these crowds are being constantly changed by the passing onwards of many, at first helpless, to work as
they gained strength, and from other causes, it is probable that at least 250,000 persons in all have felt the substantial benefits of this part of the relief ,system. It has further been shown that through the agency of special works of relief about 140,000 more have been supplied with the means of subsistence, and to this average number, too, the succession of persons, no doubt, makes a sensible addition. By relief houses, relief works, and employment on ordinary public works, not fewer than half a million of the population must have benefited directly-. The spontaneous relief sought in emigration has influenced nearly half a million more, and, if account be taken of those tribes who have hitherto struggled on without accepting other relief than that from public demands on account of land revenue, the great body of sufferers can scarcely be less than from one and a quarter to one and a half millions,
The expenditure incurred in various forms, including among them the remissions of the Government revenue, which have been or will he granted, falls, not much short of three-fourths of a million sterling. The adequacy of the supplies of grain in districts adjoining the famine tract, and in the tract itself, to meet any demand likely to be made upon them, has been adverted to, and attempts have finally been made to estimate approximately the losses caused to the proprietary commimities in the bad sections of the tract by the influence of the drought. These have been estimated approximately at about three millions sterling. The volunteering into the Queen's Army has been remarkably suc- cessful. Of 8500 European soldiers 7220 have volunteered for general service. This leaves the officers almost without the privilege of choice.
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