The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

occurrence. sooner or later. and its final result.
are both events that may be counted upon. If
Ilurmah be permanently occupied, it must be
annexed, let the expense and trouble of the '
process be what they may. " But why not
march to Ava," say some, "if that measure of
intimidation be necessary ; hold it for a few
weeks it. terrurem, and then retire ?" We
answer, because, in all likelihood, such a step
would result in nothing except renewed hos-
tilities, with increased exaspt ration. A mere
foray on the Burmese capital proves nothing
as regards our power. It must he held, if
only for a time. But once let an occupation
by at foreign army begin, and two parties are
immediately formed among the natives of the
country occupied. The prudent and time-
serving speedily make their terms with the
new comers. he more patriotic hold aloof.
anti devise plans of liberation and vengeance.
Between these two a deadly feud arises. When
the occupying force retires. those who have
taken its part remain destitute of defence, and
exposed to the most terrible retribution.
COllllllOll justice. common humanity. forbid
that they should be left unprotected. An
illustration is not far to seek. Our enforced
retreat from Afghanistan caused the death,
torture, or plunder of every Afghan chief who
had sided with our protege, Shah SOOJAII. In
Seinde, until lately, the return of the Talpur
dynasty was dreaded for the mune reason.
Hence the impossibility of a short occupation,
not to mention that, in Asiatic eyes, to retire
from a point once (templed is always and
neeessanly a sign of weaknes. The conclu-
sion follows readily. Invasion is useless with-
out occupation—occupation will do more harm
than good to our influence unless it be permit
neat—permancut occupation implies a pro-
tectorate—and a protectorate, under whatever
Willie it begins, must end in unne%ation. To
this we have come, almost without option or
alternative ; fur, be' the justice of the quarrel
what it may, claims of self-preservation are
pantmoant, and 111Ac,:alAVE1.1.1 WKS right when
he counselled his prince either to eonciliate
by kindness one whom he had injured, or else
utterly to destroy him. Fur the former course
it is now too late; the second alone remains
We are tighting—it is idle to deny it—in a
cause as bad as that of the Russian Czar ; yet
the English nation may find some partial ex-
cuse in its habitual apathy where Indian ques-
tions are involved, in the studied secrecy of
its diplomacy, and in the still defended and
prolonged irresponsibility of the India-house.

CUSTOMS REFORM, AND "A FORMER
CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER."
IN the City article of the Times on Thursday last
a statement was made commendatory of the report
which the committee of merchants have issued on
the subject of Customs Reform. Our contemporary
remarked that this report showed the unwillingness
"of a former Chancellor of the Exchequer " to adopt
improvements. " The leading journal of Europe"
takes pride in exactitude : its columns are always
open to correct mistatements which have appeared
la its pages. May we suggest that the latitude
expression in which it has indulged on this occasion
is almost equivalent to a mistatement y " A former
Chancellor of the Exchequer " is rather indefinite ;
it may mean any one of those Ministers who have
flourished within " the wide and comprehensive"
limits of this generation. We will dispel our con-
temporary's studied ambiguity. The following is the
passage to which he refers
" In the month of June, lM 11, a deputation from the St.
Katharine's Dock Company, including some of the first
names in the City, waited upssn the then titans...llov of the
Exchequer, to ripest the request of r thorough investiga-
tion of the charges against that company. awl were told
with considerable sharpness by Sir I -hails* wood, that
the Case was with the law °Meets of the ers.wn, and must
go to a juts.•''
From another " former Chancellor of the Exche-
quer" the committee received different treatment..
Him also we will take the liberty of identifying :
"The deputation had the satisfaction of learning from
Lord I►,'rl,y, and Mr. Itisraeli, then t•haneellor of tits. Ex•
cherp►er, that the consolitintion of the law was in proitremN.
and that a Treasury minute upon the Customs would, in
all probability. be laid upon the table of the House before
Christmas. The Ministry, howe‘er, defeated on the
budget. ►reigned, and the ezpeettt' of the committee of
being able AO anon to congratulate the eommervial com-
munity upon the fultilment of the laborious trust they hail
undertaken was disappointed."

747

Into the revolt we will not enter; its length pre
vents us doing it justice, 111141 it 41111 lie obtained
gratuitously ; I it, we may rein Ark that the gentlemen
from whom it emanates are a isominittee appointed
by eight hundred nierehants and traders, repre-
ss every party in polities." (If the xerdict of
such a jury in favour of the administrative capaeity
of the late 0.0-eminent their leaders may well ha
prowl. sir Cii ss with considei able
r,lerreil the committee to his Attorney -
front Lora 111.:It14%. and Mr.
" the% haul the satisfaction of hearing that the eon-
- of ills law was in progress." Well, "the
" Chairmen ot Quarter Sessions " hail, alter all,
aomething ill them ;at lea-t they could attend to
figues, Ai-vomits, tea, sugar, tobacco, and ledger,.
They could attend to the wants of the mereatitilo
community. This the point in whit+ a man
of genius" CitAitt.r.s Wool, ! is always de-
ficient. lint he has so much to 114. pnanl of that tha
Tinter mig.it mimed hits. The present fees'
dent of t'i s It.uiril is as easy to print as
" a former of the Exelietier;- emelt 110.1
the merit of alliteration, and, as a iiittetititin of literary
eiimisisition, there is not 1111101 to elloOse littgiVeen
; besides, ill the midst Of share lists and vulgar
frael .11s critical niceties are out of phiee. 'l',l a Man
of genius like Sit' CH 1111.1.% Wt.tli,, the brilliant au
thor of 111:111% eolliposed ill %ii %holt
.parr aif lime, to be 4ietivielll in I: d. and I 3
WOlll.l I.i• no discredit --it is what inight lie expected ;
whereas it would hate liven only justice 10 whim
that his successor, it' he could not vie with Sir
Cii %it'll illit.lteA elotillellee, could prove
himself, ut all et ems, a man of hnsinrss com)ietent
to itimiliirge tho of chancellor of the Exche-
quer in a great mereantile