The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-11 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1855.

Sir ERSKINE PERRY has entitled himself to the
thanks and gratitude of the community, for the
masterly manner in which he treated the im-
portant subject which he last night brought under
the consideration of the House of Commons and
the nation. He has already amply avenged the
slight cast upon himself, and the gallant and dis-
tinguished body of men, of whom he was the
faithful and efficient advocate, by the " count-
out "of Tuesday fortnight. The just claims of
the Indian army can no longer be shelved by a
Ministerial trick, or even by a Ministerial sneer.
They have recently► received a small instalment of
justice ; but, trivial and insignificant as was that
instalment, taken per se, it might be regarded as
the introduction of " the sharp end of the wedge,"
by means whereof the defences of ignorance
and prejudice—by which a full measure of
)nstice was obstructed and delayed will
speedily be rent in sunder. Within little
more than a fortnight the House readily gave the
required hearing ; and, although we cannot but
deplore the decision arrived at, we feel that the
discussion was eminently useful, and that it has
paved the way to the full and complete success,
at some future and not very remote period, which
the proposition so pre-eminently merited.

DA us now look to the result of the division of

last night. By a very decided majority of nearly
three to one (l'a to 62), the representatives of
the people of Great Britain resolved that it was
not expedient or proper to appoint a select com-
mittee to inquire how the army of India might be
made most available for war in Europe, or the
steps necessary to be taken if it should be deemed
advisable to constitute the army of the East India
Company a Royal army. Matters are so exceed-
ingly auspicious just at this moment—the po- '
litical atmosphere is so perfectly cloudless, that
Parliament can repudiate the services of several
hundred thousand .veterans rather than wound
the too tender susceptibilities of those who, having
purchased their commissions, have a right to de-
mand that nothing should be done to depreciate the
value of the commodity for which they have paid
down hard cash. These gentlemen, or their
friends, earnestly protest against " Free Trade"
in military appointments. They must be pro-
tected against the competition of the tried and
experienced veterans of the Anglo-Indian service,
the Secretary for War gravely remarked, it is
only fair that they should have their turn for
acquiring a knowledge of military affairs, and

that they may have the chance, the country is to
submit to the loss of the services of men who could
have avoided the mischances that more than
quadrupled the losses occasioned by the War—and
who might have led to its termination long ere this
had they been employed. In other words, we have
had to submit to an addition of sixteen millions to
the permanent debt, an annuity of 116,0001. for
thirty years, as well as an addition of more than
fifteen millions to our taxes, with a prospect of
an early and considerable addition thereto, in
order to preserve the venal system of military pro-
motion intact, and to keep the patronage of India
in the hands of a few elderly gentlemen, who ob-
tain ample interest for the money they invested in
what was originally, and ever ought to have been, a
purely mercantile speculation. As the time may not
be distant, when Nobl• Lords (by courtesy) and
Right Hon. and Hon. Gentlemen will have to
render accounts of their respective stewardships,
it is well that their several constituents should be
thoroughly cognisant of the nature of the votes
given in opposition to Sir Ensirrsii PERRY'S
Motion.

What is it
and,
We
regret , then, that has been thus summarily,
be obliged to add, contumeliously
rejeetea
ie:id. of 457,000 trained men and
12,000 e .e
these
! ! It is true that a
large proportion of
se men belong to the na-
tive populations, but teh
e reexaliso
offi-
cered, have ever proved themselves
when well
and there aeniseives bravo and
efficient soldiers ;
some 50, 000
or 60,000 European soldiers,
included in the list. It needed not
of officers,
whelming testimonials adduced by sir th
over_
to prove the practical efficiency of this .inPEI`EY
cent army. It is universally recognised, save paegrill
aPe
-
by some feather-bed warriors, who, in right of
aristocratic blood or considerable wealth, think
themselves entitled " to play at soldiers," and to
warn veterans from coming " between the wind
and their nobility ;" and yet, through some at.
rd Precis of red-tapisn), the nation is to eschew
the
:ed in this practical
and suited for any
bad, It is a piece

of folly that must be speedily got rid of, so that
England may be enabled to show the mistake
made in asserting that she is not a military na-

Lion.
Nearly two years ago, when Sir CHARLES WOOD
was striving to perpetuate the government of "the
Company," we pointed out the propriety of amal-
gamating the Company's and the Royal troops.
We proved that there was no necessity for retain-
ing the complicated machinery in Leadenhall-street,
and that the government of nearly 150,000,000 of
her subjects should thenceforward be conduced
in the name of the British Sovereign. An in-
competent Minister and a truckling and apathetic
and prejudiced majority thought otherwise. We
now have learned some of the evils arising from
the India Bill of 1853. We shall know more on
the subject, if Parliament be not warned in time.
Unless it speedily pursue the course on which it
should have entered two years since, ourselves
and our children, and our children's children, will
have to lament in sackcloth and ashes the legisla-
tive blindness or corruption which prevents us from
availing ourselves of our most important resources
during a life-and-death struggle against such a
Power as Russia. We cannot with impunity suffer
such a continued drain on our resources, for under
the existing system India is a drain on, in place of
becoming, as it would be, the right arm of, the
empire. We are now fighting with that arm tied.
We should free it, so as to bring all our force to
bear against our gigantic and formidable opponent.
If we had the services of the Indian Army we
should rot be obliged to truckle to Germanism,
or suhmit to discreditable terms in order to look
for the assistance of Austria.

The nation has every reason to complain of
the mode in which public business is transacted
in the House of Commons, and its results. There
is far too strong a tendency to palaver, and too
little dignity, order, and resolution discernible
in its proceedings. If Honourable Members
have only opportunity to display their oratorical
powers, can further their private interests, or
glide easily through the Session, they appear to
be contented. The result is, towards the con.
elusion much remains undone that ought to have
been done, and much of what has been done has
been done badly. It is said to be a sign of weak-
ness in an individual to be perpetually in arrears ;
if so, the weakness of the House is most con-
firmed and distressing. It is always behind-band.
The close of every Session finds it up to the neck
in business that might have been done as it ought
at an earlier period, but was left to be disgrace-
fully hurried through at last.
The House, in fact, is deficient in business
talent and public spirit, and what it has is over-
laid by Ministerial influence and routine. To be
saved trouble Members permit themselves to be
led by Ministers in anything but a creditable
manner. They will suffer measures of the utmost
importance to be hurried through committee
without deliberation, and will daudle over and
over again, by way of show, with measures of no
importance, or measures that notoriously cannot
pass. How well their business and moral calibre
is appreciated by Ministers sufficiently appears
from the history of the "Education (Scotland)
Bill." When first introduced, the- House saw
reason to reject it, and did so in a sufficiently
marked manner. Nevertheless—and when we
say it we mean it—to all intents and purposes
the same bill was re-introduced to be again con-
demned. It was sufficiently disrespectful to have
brought forward the bill a second time without
alteration of its provisions. To do so a third
time would be disgraceful ; and yet, in point of
\ fact, the same bill was brought in a third time.
Government had so little respect for the House,
to say nothing of being so indifferent on the
subject of the bill, as to suffer the Lord-
Advocate to repeat the offence, and the
House submitted patiently to the infliction.
We have nothing to say at present respect-
ing the merits or demerits of the bill. It may be
a good bill, one in every way calculated to effect
its purpose, or it may be a bad one, hateful to the
Scottish people, and likely to , prove injurious ;
but whether good or the contrary, we say it was
too bad to have the time of the House, now grow-
ing daily more valuable, taken up by the intro-
duction of a measure on which it had once and a
second time pronounced a decided opinion by re-
jecting it. The House, however, has itself to
thank for the impertinence. If it chooses to earn
a character for indecision, want of earnestness
and self-respect, it ought not to feel any surprise
if it is treated accordingly. -
It is not, however, by Ministers only, and in
this instance the House has been so treated. The
evil has extended further. Individuals are to be
found who, session after session, pursue the same
game, if in a less audacious manner. Look at the
attempt so strenuously made to obtain the sanc-
tion of the House for the enclosure of Hamp-
stead-heath. On this measure the House has ,

most rightly, and by a large majority, pro-
nounced an unfavourable verdict, and yet,
in one insidious shape or another, it has
session after session been reproduced, and is again,
we understand, to be presented. We are far from
wishing a verdict of the House in all cases to be
deemed final. Far from it. We are too well
aware to what such a principle would lead. What
we object to is the time lost to the country at this
serious crisis, and the disrespect shown to the House
by the reintroduction of measures to which the
House is opposed, measures backed by no popular
opinion, and that can only be carried by sheer im-
portunity, and against the better judgment of
Honourable Members. We have indicated where
the fault lies, and if the House will not set to
work to remedy it we earnestly trust the public
will set to work to reform the House.

In a previous article we have noticed the at-
tempt which, for some time past,-has been made
to have Hampstead-heath enclosed. A bill, it
appears, is shortly to be brought before the House
with this object. Need we say with what feel-
ings we are disposed to regard it ? Need we call
on Honourable Members at once and indig-
nantly to reject it ? Whether we need or not,
we cannot refrain from doing so. The measure
is so unwarranted and of so pernicious a character,
and the attempt to forward it has been so insidi-
ously and perseveringly pursued, that silence
might be dangerous. Here we are, denizens of
London, breathing an atmosphere of smoke and
dust, some of us—poor clerks and artizans more
especially—daily panting for fresh and wholesome
air, a want the public parks but imperfectly sup-
ply, and yet Parliament must be pestered and
its valuable time wasted with an impudent attempt
to get it to do what would earn it deserved indig-
nation if it did—enclose a breezy wide-spread heath,
which, by a recorded will, is ever to remain open.
to make.
That, differs an enclosure which the owner has a legal right
Tha widely from that of preventing
tlve
adm t
might, save under ex-
treme circumstance
in
this
will onlcy inter-
ference, but
be
to prevent
the violation of a tes--
tator's intention, and the
d
!ic of a roans of health gad
enjoy/11,0a.

MONEY MARKET

AND

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLoCK.

The Cotton Market at Liverpool yesterday
closed very firmly, but with more offering. The
sales were estimated at 10,000 bales (1,000 of
which were taken for export, and 2,000 on
speculation), comprising 160 Pernam and Maran-
ham at sid. to 61d., 300 Egyptian at 4id. to
7d., and 1,500 Surat at 2/d. to 4d. per lb. The
Railway Share Market was steady.

There has been a moderate business done this
week in colonial produce, but the purchases aril
still for immediate wants only. Sugar has gene.
rally been at full rates, with a good inquiry, and
although the aggregate transactions in coffee have
not been numerous, the rates have slightly ad-
vanced. Rice has ruled heavy, and saltpetre has
been dull of sale. Spices have sold slowly at for-
mer values. Tea has rather improved in demand,
and cotton has been brisk. Tallow has declined,
and hemp as well as flax have been dull. Indigo
is firmer since the first day's sale.
The ships Ellenborough and Kate have arrived
from Sydney. The amount of gold they bring is
not yet known.
Messrs. D. Bell, Sun, and Co. report that the
market for American Stocks has been quiet during
the past week, with but little alteration in
prices :
Redeemable. Per Cent.
United States 6 per Cent. Bonds 1868.-1061 1071
United States 6 per Cent. Inscribed
Stock 1867-1868...106 107
New York State 5 per Cent. do 1858-1860.- 90
Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. do.
Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds 1877... 84 85
Massachusetts.s per Cent. (Sterl. Bonds) 1868...100 102
Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) ... 92 93
Alabama 5 per Cent. (Sterl. Bonds) 1858-9-66... 83 84
irginia 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 1888... 86 87
Virginia 6 per Cent. Bonds 1886... 87 88
LOANS OF CITIES.
Montreal 6p. Cent. (Seer. Bondi') _1857-1865 83
New Orleans 6 per Cent. Bonds 1893... 80 82
Do. do. do. 1874...7x3
Do. do. do. 1884... 72 74
RAILROAD BONDS.

Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Bonds 1875... 67 68
Michigan Central 8 per Cent. Bonds
Panama 7 per Cent., Ist Mortgage (Ster-
ling Bonds) 1859... 94 95
Pennsylvania Central G p. Cent. Mortgage
Bonds 1880... 88i 89
New York and Erie 7 p. Cent., 2d Mort-
gaga, Convertible 1859... 90 92
New York and Erie 7 per Cent. 3d Mort-
gage; Convertible 1883... 81 86
N. York and Erie 7p. Cent. Convertible 1862... 79 81
N. York and Erie 7 per Cent. Sinking
Fund ...78 80

The English Stock Market has been dull, and
from the shortness of the present account, the
speculators are not likely to enter freely into trans-
actions. Consols have been 881 1, and since
88i g. The New 3 per Cents. have been
87i to 88k, and the Reduced 871 Bank Stock
is rather heavy at 209, and India Stock at 2304.
Exchequer Bills are at Bs., and India Bonds at 15s.
pm. The Omnium is at sto IT pm.
Foreign Securities have been very inactive.
Mexican Bonds have been steady at 201 to 21,
and Brazilian Old Stock is supported at 991.
Spanish Deferred have been supported at 181 11,
and the Certificate is at 4. Turkish Bonds are in
request at 74. to 75k. Dutch 2i. per Cents. are
at 63.

The following are the nominal prices of foreign
stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds Gi to 7 ; Mexi-
can, 20/ to 21 ; Peruvian, 67 to 69 ; ditto Three
per Cents., 47 to 49 ; Portuguese Four per Cents.,
41 to 43 ; Russian Five per Cents., 98 to 100 ;
ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 87 to 89 ;
Spanish New Deferred, 18k to 18i ; Ditto 3 per
Cents., 36/ to 37/; Ditto Certificates, 3 to 4 ;
Ditto Passive, Al to 4.
For Railway Shares there has not been much
inquiry and the quotations continue firm. In
foreign shares less is doing.

The Foreign and Colonial Mines are neglected,
the Joint Stock Banks are steady and the Miscel-
laneous Shares without change.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
( From the Official liit. I

Business done
Stink Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Alumni e 5........
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities - 981
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
Lonepiainuities, Expire sth Jan., 18E0
Ditto, 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 3 11-16
India Stock ..... 2301
Lidia Bonds, £lOOO .........,.. ..............
Ditto, under tlOOO l5 17
einsolg ,'or Account, 30th May £3Bq i 9 81
Omnium
'!xefiequer Bills, 21d.
£l000
%al, 9 11
i;xchequer Bonds 1858, 3} per Cent. 94
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent 994
dexican 3 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 45 per Ceut —
Ditto Small
Spanish Bowls, 3 per Cent lrli
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lBi
Ditto for the Account lBi
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 4
Curkish Bonds, 6 per cent
Ditto for the Account....
Ditto Small .. 754
nividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Guil 63
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols BBi i
Ditto, May Account

MARSEILLES, May 9.—The quay of the Joliette is
encumbered with cannon, gun carriages, bomb shells,
and a troop of very fine artillery horses, which are being
embarked on steam-vessels and transports, to reinforce
the army in the Crimea. The quantity of gunpowder
shipped and to be shipped for the East is incredible.
One of the Rhone boats alone brought down 150 tons of
gunpowder, 100 tons of bomb shells, and 100 gun car-
riages.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Verdi's long-promised
opera, Il Trovatore (the "Troubadour") was produced
last night, in the presence of a crowded and brilliant
audience, with great success. Madame Viardot Garcia
made her first appearance this season, as Azucena, the
gipsy, and was received with enthusiasm. The other
par's were sustained by Mademoiselle Jenny Ney, Sig.
nors Tamberlik, Graziani, and Tagliafico. The opera ie
splendidly put upon the stage. 11 Trovatore is to be re-
peated to-morrow.
ROYAL VISIT TO THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—
Last evening her Majesty, the Prince Consort, the
Duke of Saxe Coburg, Princess Hohenlohe, Princess
Royal, Princess Alice, Princess Adelaide Hohenlohe,
Princess Feodore Hohenlohe, the Prince of Wales,
Prince Alfred, Prince Victor Hohenlohe, accompanied
by Lady Gainsborough, Lard Camoys, Baron Tre3kow,
General Buckley, Captain du Plat, Mr. Gibbs, &c.,
honoured this institution by a visit. The building was
closed throughout the day, in order that the necessary
preparations might be made for the reception and ac-
commodation of the royal party, her Majesty having ex-
pressed a particular desire that the visit should be per-
fectly private. Prince Albert expressed his high
gratification and that of her Majesty at the varionn
entertai:aments which had been provided for them, and
the royal party left the institution shortly after eleven
o'clock.

LATEST NEWS.

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCH

FROII

FIELD MARSHAL
LORD RAGLAN.

WAR DEPARTMENT, MAY 11.

Lord Panmure presents his compliments to the
Editor of The Sun, and has great pleasure in
transmitting the enclosed intelligence, which has
this day reached him from Lord Raglan.
"SEBASTOPOL, MAY 10.

" The Russians made a sortie with a large
body of troops on our right advanced trench this
morning, but were driven back immediately. A
second and similar attempt shared the same fate.
"Nothing could be better than the conduct of
the troops who took part in the affair. The loss
of the enemy was serious."

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