The Press. — London, England, 1858-01-23 00:00:00

VP prtiv ITITI ~-„,-„,__, f,` • • - fir No. 247.—V0L. VI. tte Mess. LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1858. THE marriage of the eldest daughter of the Queen of ENGLAND to the heir of the Prussian Throne is an event suggestive of more nume rous reflections than come within the scope of the journalist. There are, however, three aspects under which this auspicious occasion presents itself, upon which it may not be inappropriate to offer some remarks. Eschew ing the general question of royal alliances, and the numerous theories which have been pro pounded on the subject, we may safely congra tulate our fellow-subjects on certain special considerations which the impending nuptials are calculated to awaken. Observing the existing situation of conti nental Powers, their past and present relations to each other, and bearing in mind the pos sible contingencies of the future, we shall see no small cause for rejoicing in a closer con nection with the House of Brandenburg. That there are certain features in the Prussian system of government with which the people of this country do not sympathise, it would. be futile to deny ; but they are such as no continental kingdom can at the present mo ment abolish, without serious danger to the stability and welfare of Europe. In Prussia. they are less pronounced than in any of the more Southern States ; and we may fairly hope that the infusion of English thought and increased knowledge of English life which the approaching marriage cannot fail to accom plish will gradually succeed in robbing them. of all vital evil. In individuals the stronger character subdues to itself the weaker, and in nations, though not to the same extent, the same law of nature is at work.. In the coming connection between the two countries, we may expect that Great Britain will exercise a far greater influence upon Prussia than Prussia. will exercise on Great Britain. It cannot, in the next place, be denied that to strengthen the hands of this country in the north of Europe is an object of the utmost im portance. Upon this topic it would just now be invidious to dwell. But we may express our satisfaction that we have now allied our selves with a people predisposed to the recep tion of English ideas, and already in the de partments of literature and philosophy pos sessing so much in common with the most cultivated English minds. If we turn from the foreign to the more purely domestic aspect of this engrossing event, our cause for satisfaction is in some respects greater still. The time has been when a royal marriage was the certain provo cative of much angry and disloyal agitation. But had the daughter of Queen VICTORIA a mother in every British matron, the joy and sympathy with which her coming nuptials are regarded could scarcely have been more gene ral or intense. It is in the contemplation of this happy state of public feeling that her Ma eaty must reap the best reward of that purity of purpose and patriotic conception of her LATEST EDITION. LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23,1858. duties which have for twenty years endeared her to the people whom she governs. We learn from occasions such as these that loyalty still lives, and that beneath the apparent coldness and the utilitarian professions with which an undemon strative people conceals its deeper emotions there still flows an undercurrent of chivalrous sentiment; as the vivid frescoes of our an cient churches still glow beneath the surface with which modern hands have overlaid them. It is impossible but that such ebullitions of feeling should be welcomed with peculiar pride and pleasure by that great historic party which has ever been famed for its personal attachment to the Sovereign and hereditary respect for the Crown. That there are other and more worldly reasons why the great event of next week should affect all Englishmen with complacency is sufficiently obvious. The singular and almost Arcadian security with which public fes•ivities are conducted in this country, is so familiar to us all as to require but a passing allusion. Yet it is a source of legitimate satis faction that a ceremony of so peculiarly peace ful and joyful a character should be marred by none of those uncongenial precautions which are elsewhere demanded for the preservation of public order. We may add, in conclusion, that the marriage of her Royal Highness is free from any of those painful circumstances by which the, sunshine of similar ceremonies is too often clouded. It is, we believe, a happy marriage as well as a splendid one ; and the youthful wife will leave the shores of her native land not only with the warmest good wishes of her countrymen, but with a fairer prospect than usual that their wishes will not be vain. That such may be the case we, in common with all her Majesty's subjects, most fervently desire. May the marriage of her eldest child prove as fortunate and as happy as her own. And may the Prussian people long continue to admire in the consort of their future Sovereign both the virtues which pro duced and the graces which adorned the hap piest reign in English history since the days Of Queen ELIZABETH THE LAST NEWS FROM INDIA. Tun telegram published yesterday gives us no news whatever from Oude. Two battles were stated to have been fought with the mutineers of Furruckabad, in both of which our troops had been victorious, capturing in the latter all the rebels' guns. On the other hand, another regiment, the 11th Cavalry, had mutinied, and though pursued had escaped with a loss of only fifteen men. The 17th Regiment of Native Infantry was to be shipped for China; whither, however, we think it much to be doubted whether it will consent to go. The plan is a good one if the Government are quite sure of their men; but, otherwise, it seems injudi cious to add to our complication by a measure of this kind. In. regard to Oude, we hope that no news will be found to be good news, as the old adage says ; but it is not agreeable to be without some information respecting it, considering the position in which our army, according to the latest advices, stood. We had retired from Lueknow, the mutineers had appeared in force at Fultehpore, a civil station that lies about NOial - 4xoo* STAMPED ....SIXPENCE. lINSTAMPED ..FIVEPENCE. midway between that city and Cawnpore, and their presence there was a thing calculated, according to every military principle, to throw great difficulties in our way. It would en tirely cut off Sir Cow; from his base of opera tions, and he would, of course, he unable to proceed with the subjugation of Oude till this impediment had been removed. To remove it, however, supposing the enemy to be as strong as represented, he would have to fall back upon Futtehpore and attack them him self; for it would be very unwise in such a case to send a mere detachment against them, and nothing could be done by the troops on the other side. It is not by men straggling up the Great Trunk Road to join the army in batches that the mutineers, if in strength, could safely be met; and it would be a useless risk, and probably sacrifice of soldiers, to make the attempt. But Sir Cotis CAMPBELL cannot afford at the present juncture to waste any, and therefore we have little doubt that unless the mutineers move off of themselves, he will fall back and attack them at Futtehpore, and perhaps afterwards adopt as his starting point the strong and, as far as a native foe is con cerned, the impregnable fortress of Allahabad. There is no doubt that if he should be com pelled to do so, this will give considerable heart to the rebels; but, after all, the position he is placed in leaves him but a choice of evils, and perhaps this may be found by him to be the least. One thing is certain—namely, that he will require all the science he is master of to make up for the inefficient manner in which both as to men and materiel he has been equipped. It is this inadequacy of the means at his disposal that has been, and will be, Sir Coutes chief difficulty throughout. He is, perhaps, the most admirable workman that the nation possesses at the present moment, but the best workman can do little if not supplied properly with materials and tools. Now, as to these, Sir Cour; has been left by far too scantily provided; indeed, considering the magnitude of the task he has to perform, it may be said. that there has been no provision made for him at all. The whole of North and Central India, from Dacca to Nassick, and from Nagpore to Meerut, is in a state of tumult ; in some places the revolt assuming a milder, and in others a more malignant type. The area of disturbance, excluding altogether the Mah ratta country, may be said to be about four hundred thousand square miles ; and we would put it to any man of common under standing whether the means at the Comman der in-Chief's disposal are anything like ade quate to restore order over such a space of country as that. He may beat the mutineers whenever they choose to encounter him, • but his successes will produce very little fruit, unless he can succeed in awing them into sub mission, and securing the ground that he has won. B' being the the very reverse from the since eno, readers,—that of the frui natives towards they may any hesi; again the The reason arises from on —namely, .. ... lit, so far from this being the case, the erse is the fact. All our intelligence e camp confirms what se 7 itaxe,long ndeavoured to impreimf.... upiht 'our , —that our viotorieciartisotprdttosiva. m l t. slit they ought to . to • lee. hal m the are not yet humhted 4,0 i *AC submission; and °wat g., y fly from us one da,y ll shO. -, itation on their yet in . ... .e next. '"- u ~, aason of this is a iracr 9 We-ilk W. mom the error we Eave ofte elt aely, that the exertions oft e overn-