Burlington Free Press

BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN INDIA
The existing troubles with China may, or may not, lead to a long and costly war; but it is certain that Russia looks earnestly at every difficulty which may break out in the East as opening a prospect for undermining the British power in India. The war now prosecuting against Circassia, and the assemblage of a formidable Russian squadron in the Black Sea, all tend to the furtherance of the great object which Russia has so much at heart. Indeed it may be said—and it is a singular fact—that war only exists in the East, and great events may grow out of the troubles in India, Egypt and Turkey.
The power of England in India is too formidable to be easily endangered. It is a most remarkable increase of power, influence, and territorial limits springing up, it may be said, from a mere commercial company. We hear the glory of England frequently spoken of, but the little island is a very small portion of that glory—the gigantic power is in India.
The British Empire in the East Indies now includes one hundred millions of people, and extends over 1,250,000 square miles of all climates, from the snows on the mountains of the Gaut and Himalaya, to the burning sands of Hindoostan, and twelve hundred miles of the navigable rivers Indus, Gunga, Sutledge, Ganges and Bramapootra, with large cities Calcutta, Delhi, Benares, Lucnow, Poona, Madras, and Bombay. They hold the Great Mogul and all the reigning princes as their captives, and can bring into the field an army full as large as Russia. Europe cannot, by a combined effort, dislodge England from her vast possessions in the East Indies: and as to the Chinese war. it is evident that if it is protracted, it will be merely to sea fights with the junks and coasters.