The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-08 00:00:00

(From the Daily Ban.)

• ,
HENRY HAVELOCK was a soldier of the true
ancient English mould. There was that about
him which irresistibly reminded one of the finest and
noblest officers of the Commonwealth's army. The
traditions of the Charterhouse picture the boy
HAVELOCK as sedate and reflecting beyond his years.
" Old Phial" was the name by which he was known
in those days; bat it appears to have been given
to him in an affectionate, half-reverential, not in a
mocking. spirit. His staid demeanour may have
been the cause why. his parents destined
him for the profession of the law, and
sent him to the Middle Temple to read
under Carers. Nature, however, would not
be suppressed, and like the Ovmeroxe mid
buxom before him, he doffed the legal gown to
follow the trade of arms. More fortunate than his
prototypes, he was not destined to win his military
fame in civil broil,. It was not, however, until
after Europe had been pacified for a long tract of
years by the fight of Waterloo, that he obtained
his fleet Commismon. For eight long years he vege-
tated in " country quarters" at home; and even
he, by exchanging into a regiment destined for
India, succeeded in entering upon more active
scenes, it was long ere he rose above the position of
• subaltern. Time and merit, however, brought their
rewards along with them, and in the Affghan war,
and the other Indian wars which arose out of it,
HAVELOCK be eame known to his commanders and
comrades as a valuable and reliable officer, though,
owing to the remoteness of the fields in which his
soldierly qualities were displayed, his name remained
unknown in a great measure to the general English
public. But a life of unostentatious heroism and
conscientious discharge of duty, though passed for
the tar greater part of it without eclat, was destined
to a splendid close. The brief time which has
elapsed since HAVELOCK was appointed to the com-
mand of the force sent westward to Allahabad
Cawnpore, and Luoknow, has been filled by him
with more heroic deeds than would have sufficed to
illustrate a long life. The precocious sage of
the Charterhouse had matured into • man,
singularly undemonstrative, but of profound
feeling and resistless energy. His habitual deport-
ment might have impressed strangere with the
notion that he was an apathetic unobservant man.
But when the moment for action arrived, it at once
became apparent that nothing had escaped his
notice. He kindled into an intenser life; he in-
stinctively assumed the command, others as in-
stinctively making way for him ; he did exactly
what was required to be done, and he did it
effectively and with electric speed. His work ac-
complished, he relapsed at once into his .self-
centred deportment. These flashes of inspired
action, contrasting with his normal repose,
and, perhaps, something in his figure, earned
for him among his most attached friends
the soubriquet of " the galvanised ramrod."
But the intense vitality which only revealed itself
to ordinary observers in the moment of action was
ever burning within. HAVELOCK was one of those
searching minds which look through men. His
discernment of character was unsurpassed. Yet
though he knew men, he ever judged and spoke of
them as kindly as truly. When asked by a friend
in whom he had confidence what was his opinion
of any one, his estimate was ever correct yet always
lenient. There was an inexpressible beauty in
the quiet smile which usually lighted up his face
on such occasions. But the grand characteristic
of ILiveLocit was, the deep religious feeling and
conviction which animated and directed all his
thoughts, emotions, and actions. Religion was the
basis of his character : all his principles were rooted
in it; all his actions emanated from it. There
was as little of display in his discharge of religious
duties as his other actions, but there was an utter
absence of concealment. " Out of the fulness of the
" heart the mouth spoke," and by him every action
was conceived to be an expression of devotion to his
Goa. His life may truly be said to have been one
long hymn of praise to his Creator. Every one
who came into contact with Havntoex felt that
he was sincere ; and even those least accessible
to devotional sentiment, sympathised with and re-
verenced it in him. Havetoea's earnest, incessant
desire, like Sr. PAUL'S, was that all men might be
not only almost, but altogether such as he was ; and
yet no one was ever known to be offended in him
with what might have been deemed importunity in
others. It was felt to be simply the overflow of
the redundant benevolence and earnestness of a mind
ever possessed by the idea of Deity. Such was the
man who for a few months back has held nations
watching his rapid career with breathless interest.
With his small but gallant band he struck
swift and home as the lightning. Gathering
and organising his force as he advanced, he
marched from victory to victory. Conqueror in
three successive tights he reached Cawnpore.
Pausing there for a moment he struck down the
enemy at Bithoor. Crossing the Ganges he broke
through every obstacle till his waning numbers warned
him to fall back for reinforcements. Even while
retreating he turned and dealt a deadly blow to the'
presumptuous enemy, who pursued too closely. The
condition of the garrison at Lucknow allowed him
no sleep. With a force barely sufficient he resumed
his advance, and struggling on through out-number-
ing foes, strong entrenched, penetrated into the
Residency. In the battle field the missiles of death
seemed to turn aside from him; but no mere mortal
frame could endure the physical toil, the anxiety,
the mental labour crowded into the brief space of
his closing months. He sank under the consequences
of his exertions, but not before he saw the garrison
of Lucknow relieved, and those to save whom
he had dared do so much placed beyond the reach
of danger. That he died betbre he could learn with
what a full heart his grateful country loved and
reverenced him is oar loss, not his. He was truly one
of GoD's soldiers, and the consciousness that he had
done his duty to the utmost of his power, that he had
made the most of his tr lent, was enough for him. Be it
ours—the English nation's—to show ourselves worthy
of him by making all possible efforts to console those
who were dearest to him as far as consolation is pos-
sible ; and by respectfully tendering to them those
honours which he has not survived to wear. In him
WORDWORTII'S sublime conception of " The happy
" warrior" has been more than realised.

Tad CROWN iterdim.—The New Honorer Ga-
mete, *whin al • restitatica of diamonds sad other jewels
which the crows of Bagismd was to inks to the mown of
HANOTer, is It is gotta trot that a ommetheiom owe-
posed of high kid authorities has adjudged to Samovar a
wain of the jewels which Norge 11. had tam to
la 1714, bat the papers have greatlysi
vela*, the Mimes being iOO,OOOL, and sot I,drais4 001."
VICTORIA STATION AND PIMLICO RAILWAY.—ThS
sethented east ciShis undertaking, is canned I. pa/Basest
by Mt. Amide" the angiaesr, is 576,0004
BORDEN. COUNTIES RAILWAY ErriMeiMm.—The
cost et the proposed
d taismsica of this coraperty's Idaa Is oil-
related st 90,000
Boosos RAILWAY.—The cost of the proposed line
dross oho Wroodoks station of the Brighton sad Booth Comet,
is estimated by Mr. Bird, the meager, at 26,0004