Page:The Marquess of Dalhousie.djvu/204

196 the old staples enormously increased, but new articles of commerce poured into the markets, under the influence of improved internal communications and open ports. The total exports of merchandise rose from 13⅓ millions sterling in 1848 to over 23 millions in 1856.

The vast increase of productive industry, represented by these figures, enabled the Indian population to purchase the manufactures of England on an unprecedented scale. The imports of cotton goods and twist into India rose from 3 millions sterling in 1848 to 6⅓ millions in 1856. The total imports of merchandise and treasure increased during the eight years from 10½ to 25¼ millions.

The Parliamentary statistics speak themselves so eloquently as to the results of Lord Dalhousie's commercial policy, that any comment of mine would only weaken the force of the bare figures.

The great Pro-consul was not content, however, to bind together the Empire of India by the iron lines. He also introduced two other powerful instruments of consolidation into India — the telegraph and a half-penny post. His cheap universal postal rates for India will be treated of in the next chapter. The creation of a telegraph system seemed like a dream of the genii to the Asiatic imagination, and appeared almost an impossibility in India to the practical European mind. To