The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-03 00:00:00

storming of the advanced position of the rebels
outside Delhi, anticipated their speedy de-
struction from the weakness of their position
The Noble Lord said :
The walls of Delhi, as the House is no doubt aware, are
not regular fortifications, but are merely upright walls, not
possessing any of the defences which are usual in the case
of fortifications.

The relative positions which our troops and
the rebels have held for the last three months
is a sufficient comment upon the Prime
Minister's statement.

On the 15th July, in reply to Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, Lord PALMERSTON, admitted
that Government " should act " if there were
any real cause for alarm. Nothing appa-
rently could move these practical statesmen ;
they appeared powerless to affect anything
but mischief. They scorned the advice
of for-seeing men, ridiculed their asser-
tions as doubtful in their truth, and rejected
their propositions as dangerous in their appli-
cation. On the 16th of July the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER, on the Persian War debate,
assured us that the outbreak " had its origin
" in religious feelings of wounded supersti-
" tion," that it was " quite unconnected with
" any political calculations," that the popula-
tion at large had not joined the mutinous
soldiery, and, concluded the Right lion. Gen-
tleman, with practical sagacity :

A rising of this kind, which fails in its commencement,
and does not spread like a conflagration, may be regarded
as having already failed.
On the 27th of July Mr. VERNON SMITH
assured us " that there was not the slightest
" symptom of the mutiny being a national
" revolt ;" and the " most consolatory eiretun-
" stance " was that " uo native Prince had been
" concerned in these transactions." Nay, he
defied any one to show
that any one of the native princes, our gallant allies,
have sullied their glory by betraying ua at this juncture.
With reference to the annexation of Oude
hiving any influence upon the present rebel-
lion, Mr. V. SMITII could see " no connection"
between the two events, nor "could he imagine
that any could exist." Nay more, he expressed
the most lively confidence in " the Oude
Sepoys " proving themselves
- -

as satisfied with the measure of annexation as the rest of
the population undoubtedly are.

On the 12th of August the CHANCELLOR of
the EXCHEQUER cheered us with the gratifying
assurance that the finances of the East India
Company " were ample," and that the present
diff►culties, great and formidable as they were,
were not of a "financial kind." On the same
day, Lord PALMS nsTom, in reply to General
Sir DE LACY EVANS, who advocated the
immediate despatch of troops across the
Isthmus of Suez, informed the House
that such a measure " would be attended
" with great inconvenience and considerable
" expense," and said further, with reference to
the measures the Government " thought
necessary " to meet the difficulties with which
they had to contend, that " they were not
" going beyond ►chat they considered the ex-
" isting necessities."
Mr. VERNON SMITH also assisted the Prime
Minister in his refusal to use the Suez route
by offering an additional reason against the
despatch of troops :

believe (said Mr. Smith) the passage of the Red Sea
at this season of the year would he attended with the
most injurious consequences to the health of Europeans!
Mr. SMITH added that the Government were

" acquitted in_ their own consciences of any
" neglect to avail themselves of the best means
"of pouring troops into India." A miserable
fabrication to deceive the credulous !
We need go no further into this mass of
imbecility, ignorance, and neglect. The public
can judge from these samples of the claims to
practical statesmanship of this Cabinet of In-
capables. No one can accuse us of a desire to
hamper the Government in dealing with this
rebellion. From the first we have urged upon
them the most vigorous measures, and warned
them that the movement was not to be
despised. But they systematically depreciated
the danger, distorted facts, rejected the advice
of experience, and for months repudiated the
only means by which the insurrection could
have been restrained, and the country saved
the suffering, the affliction, and the disaster it
has been compelled through their incapacity