The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-17 00:00:00

hopes considerably raised and confidence much
augmented by the victory which they obtained in
the conflict of the Gate Pah, by the unhappy miss
conduct, to use the mildest expression, of one of our
own regiments, who however, we are glad to learn,
have done much in theirlast engagement to remove
the stigma to which their disgraceful panic on the
former occasion had subjected them. Still, the
state of things is very unsatisfactory. The action
is described as hard fought and hardly won, nor
does it appear that it has brought us any nearer the
termination of the war. It is only in this condi-
tion that hostilities are said to be suspended till the
spring. They are not concluded, and the colonial
papers seem to rest their hope of conclusion mainly
upon the probability of the local Government being
able between now and then, to put an end to war
by pacificatory steps or conciliatory measures. It is
singular, and as unsatisfactory as it is remarkable,
that notwithstanding the lessons we might have
learnt, one would have thought, in the old Amelia
can wars, notwithstanding our more recent ex-
periences in our long and frequent campaigns
with the Kaffirs, we have made no visible advance
or improvement in our modes of carrying on
war with savages in uncleared countries.
ft is essential, with savage peoples, to impress than
most absolutely with a sense of our power, and it
is especially important that cur movements should
be indicative of a settled purpose from which
nothing will turn us; that our blows should be
rapid, strong, and decisive. There has beets
nothing of this either in our policy or in its admis
nistration. We have sent insufficient bodies of
troops against forces numerically large and consist.
tog of men physically strong, resolute, well armed,
and possessing a considerable natural aptitude for
war. The consequence is, that when we gain 0,
victory we do it hardly and with but little to spare,
and that we do not seldom fail in our object, and
sometimes are positively defeated. What ought to
be a short, decisive campaign, thus degenerates
into a war dragging a weary length along through.
a aeries of unsatisfactory conflicts, which damage&
our prestige, giving the native population a very
erroneous idea of our real power and resources,
and takes a great deal of money out of our pockets,
with comparatively small results in exchange for
the expenditure. We sow a good deal in the
aggregate, but we sow the seed in driblets, and
we naturally reap a very small and unsatisfactory •
harvest. This defective mode of conducting our
wars arises partly from the unfortunate circumstance
that we have never been able to make up our minds
as to the principle upon which our colonial adminis
stration ought to be conducted, and more particularly
upon the very important question of the amount of
aid and protection which it is right or politic that
the Mother Country should afford to her dependen-
cies. Our opinions and our conduct on this point
are for ever in a state of fluctuation. Sometimes
we blow hot, sometimes we blow cold; now We
assure a colony that it cannot walk without
"go-cart" provided by the Parent State; then we
repudiate all claims to assistance, vow the colony
has attained to years of discretion, or is a second
Minerva issuing forth at once all-armed and all'
wise, and button up our pockets with a look of
grim determination against responsibility and long
bills. We do these things alternately, to the lima"
derment of nation and colonists, placing sometimes
one and sometimes the other in ascendancy ; or we
do worse—we adopt and carry out a policy of cora-
promise—a very favourite way of getting through
a difficulty with representative Governments—and
we send to the colony an insufficient assistance,
under pretest. We despatch a handful of troops,
just enough to keep the war alive, but quite incom-
petent to bring it rapidly to an issue of such absolute
success as to make pacification conclusive, and to
render the superiority of the European race a matter
of universal and proverbial recognition. Thus have
we been acting in New Zealand. Indecision in
Parliament, absence of interest and lack of knoW'
ledge in the country, produced half action on the,
part of the Executive. Driblets of soldiers, found
insufficient, reinforced from time to time with other
drib!ots, supplies with reluctance, and a sort of in-
definite hope, like Sir Anthony Absolute's in the,
play, that " perhaps the fire would go out of itself,'
hare, after a series of struggles very inglorious;
expensive in valuable life and costly in outlay 01
money, landed us on a sort of debatable land, where
we may talk of victory without being contradicted
perhaps, but from which we may certainly see
vista of new contests in the distance.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

LIVERPOOL-FRIDAY.

_ .
There was a fair attendance of millers and dealers to-day,
and we have to report rather a better consumptive inquirY
for wheat, at about ld per cental decline on the week•
Flour very unsaleable, and nearly 61 per barrel and sack
down since last Friday. Oats and oatmeal were steady'.
Beans, peas, and barley unchanged in price, but not so
saleable, Indian corn is still offered freely, and must be
quoted 6d per qr cheaper,

STAMFORD—FRIDAY.
The supply of wheat at to•day's market was limited,
and sales took place at about the previous week's prices•
—White wheat, 42s o 43s ; red, 39e to 40s per 36 stone.
Barley, malting, 32s to 363; grinding, 33s to 36s per qr.
Oats, 22s to 26s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 40s to --5 Per
qr.; new, 42s to 455.

WAKEFIELD—FRIDAY.
The demand for wheat was slow to-day, and the prices of
last week declined is for old and is to 2s for new sorts.
New barley is cheaper,
Averages for the week :
Wheat 712 qrs., at 4ss 19d
Oats
8ar1ey......... 160
Peas
Beans

LINCOLN—FRIDAY.
White wheat new, 42s to 47s Barley, grinding..2Bs to 305
Red do. 39s to 43s Oats ;old . 2lB to 235
Old white 42s to 47s New do 20s to 215
Red do. 39s to 43s t Beans 38s to 435
Barley, malting.... 32s to 358 1 Beans, new —s to --41

CORK—TxURSDAY.
- fled
The following were the quotations this morning
wheat, 8s Od to 8s 6d ; white, 8s 3d to 9s Od barley, to
Id to Os Od ; oats, 5s 10d to 6s 3d ; black do., 5s Gd
63 Od ; bere, 6s 10d.

BRISTOL SUGAR—FnIDAY.
The sales of this week have been very small, and at
further decline of Gd to Is per cwt. Refined is again lovic'
and slow of sale. Bum in good demand at full prices•

COAL AL
Prfoes of Coal per Ton at

JtKET.
the close of the market.
s. e,

B. d.
Eden Main l2 0

Walls -End.
East Hartlepool ...... 20 9
6
South ilartlepool...... 20 6
silos
Cassop 20
a., 22 ; sold, 22,

Walls End.

Hatton 19 6I
H.etton.
Ships at market

Foreign Mail Packet List.