The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

BETWEEN the Christmas of 1957 and the Christmas of 1856 there is a
marked and melancholy contrast. In 1856 we had concluded a great war,
and we were entering, as we hoped, upon a long career of industry, pro-
sperity, and peace. Between that period and this day we have been plunged
into war with and have invaded Persia, we have become involved in a
Chinese imbroglio, we have suffered a frightful insurrection which has
deluged a distant portion of our empire with Christian blood, and we have
experienced a commercial crisis of unequalled severity. Rarely has so
eventful a year been chronicled in the history of modern times.
Where shall we search for the causes of these calamitous even is ?
That the necessity for war with Persia and with China was mainly
brought about by the misconduct of our Government there cannot be
two opinions after a careful study of the official papers upon those
transactions. The war with Persia might have been averted by the
most ordinary attention to the real position of affairs at Teheran. The
circumstances out of which it arose were not at first of that pressing
nature to justify an appeal to arms. But a war was pre-determined
by Lord PALMERSTON'S Government ; and the opportunity was used
to distract the attention of the people from domestic legislation.
Then came the Chinese imbroglio. Nobody denies that such an
insult, if it was offered, to the British flag by the Chinese authori-
ties was wholly unjustifiable; but every one feels that the suc-
ceeding complication of affairs was in the main attributable to a pre-
determined policy on the part of the Government, and to an incon-
ceivable want of foresight and precaution in being wholly unprepared
to follow up that policy with an earliest and vigorous action, so that
the question might have been brought to as speedy a conclusion as
possible.
Of the Indian insurrection, and the commercial crisis, we need
not here speak ; but we may observe, that in the one case, where
it is essential to the well-being of the empire that legislation
should be deliberate, a great and precipitate change is to be proposed
upon the meeting of Parliament; while, in the other case, where
ample discussion and full inquiry had exhausted the subject, the
responsibility of a distinct and comprehensive measure of legislation is
adroitly avoided, and the whole question once more referred to a
Select Committee.

We close the year gloomily enough; with a vast amount of opera-
tive distress in the country, and, we fear, with wide-spreading discon-
tent ; with bankruptcy and ruin on all sides of our great commercial
edifice, with an insurrection in India to quell, a vast army to maintain,
a war with China to commence, disputes with America to arrange, and
complicated questions of European policy to place on a definite basis.
The period when the industrial and suffering overtaxed people of this
country will be relieved of their burdens appears to be distant enough
under the Administration of Lord PALMERSTON.

The relief of Lucknow is a great satisfaction for the country, and
the intelligence will be received throughout the length and breadth of
the land with the most sincere gratitude. The rebels, who had
concentrated in the position their chief strength, who had enjoyed
ample time for preparation, who were collected in considerable force,
have in a series of pitched battles—for ono can call them by no other•
name—been beaten by inferior forces, and compelled to yield to
superior skill, bravery, and intelligence. On our side we have doubt-
less suffered severe losses ; but the victory is glorious, and would appear
to be complete. As a matter of course, the telegrams received at the
Foreign-office confound dates and numbers; so that, until we receive
more full details, we cannot arrive at anything like a definite opinion as
to our losses on the occasion, or as to the position of Sir COLIN CAMPBELL
in Lucknow. But, be that as it may, one fact is stated clearly—viz., that a
" constant series of severe and bloody struggles with the enemy " re-
sulted in the capture of all their strongholds and the effectual relief of
Lucknow. On the 9th of November Sir COLIN CAMPBELL crossed the
Ganges—on the 12th he reached Alumbaghon the 13th active opera-
tions commenced, and for the next six days the struggle was desperate
and bloody. As at Delhi, so in Lucknow, foot by foot the rebels con-
tested our advance, and foot by foot they were driven out, until the
beleaguered Residency was reached and relieved. That was on the
17th of November. Two days hard fighting followed on the 20th. The
women and children were sent under escort to Cawnpore, where,
let us hope, they have arrived in safety and rest, relieved from all
future peril. We say, let us hope : for it is somewhat remarkable that
the telegrams should omit all mention of their safe arrival. That Sir
COLIN should have achieved such a satisfactory result with the forces
at his command is extremely gratifying ; but that he will be enabled at
once to follow up his clearance of Luckuow by the conquest of Oude
we take leave to doubt ; and to call upon us to assume the revolt to be
at an end because the Commander in-Chief, favoured by Providence
and heavy artillery, has been enabled after six days' severe fighting to
cut his way through Lucknow, is carrying our gratification a little
beyond those bounds which prudence would suggest and recent expe-
rience dictate. In the first place, it is notorious that no credit what-
ever can be attached to the numbers reported in the telegram. The
statement that Sir COLIN CAMPBELL had 22,000 men under his com-
mand is altogether beyond belief. When he advanced from Cawnpore
he took every available man, we may rely upon it, that he could lay
hands upon. At the highest ratio these amounted to 1,500. Ther e
were certainly not more, if there were so many, as 5,000 men collected
at Alumbagh, where Sir COLIN arrived on the 11th of November ; and
yet between that date and the 20th of November, a period which
included six (lays' severe fighting, and it is only reasonable to supposo