The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-06 00:00:00

INDIA.

By the arrival of the Bombay mail we have ad-
vices from Bombay to April 13, and from Calcutta
to April 4.
The Viceroy's "progress " still continues. His
Excellency made his entry into Umballah, Punjab,
on the 27th March, and was received in great state
by the chivalry of the Cis- Sutlej. The troops of Put-
tiala, Jheend, and Nabah, and a large number of sir-
dare and followers, made a great show. The popular
demonstrations with which the Viceroy was received
amounted to an ovation. His Excellency left on the
Ist of April for Simla.
Lady Frere left Bombay by the present mail for
England. Her ladyship gave a farewell" at home,"
on the Bth April, at Government-house, which was
very numerously attended.
" The English mail of March 19 (says the Times
of India) brings the welcome news to India that the
Ministry has determined to appoint a royal commis-
sion of inquiry into the grievances of the Indian
army, Sir C. Wood will have the warm thanks of
the Indian army for this concession ; it is all that
the army ask for. The speeches of the Duke of Cam-
bridge and the Duke of Argyll on the subject were
calculated to produce infinite harm in this country,
and no wiser step could possibly have been taken
than the appointment of this commission. If no in-
jury has been inflicted by the amalgamation of the
local army, the fact can easily be made plain; while
if injury has been inflicted, we must all b anxious
to see it redressed."
The Government of India is confident of the d
eification of the north-eastern districts. Captain
Morton has been ordered to realise all arrears of
revenue due by the rebels.

Reports are current of some serious disturbances
in the Garrow Hills.
News has been received from Cabool to the 12th
March, to the effect that the Herat business would
likely be settled about the Persian Nourozo (new
year). All sorts of supplies were abundant in the
Ameer's camp, but money was scarce. The Hera-
tees were badly off for supplies of all kinds.
Cotton from Egyptian seed has been successfully
grown near Poona, in the Deccan. It is of very
good quality.
The Cotton Frauds Bill has been passed by the
Bombay Legislative Council, and only awaits the
sanction of the Viceroy in order to its becoming law.
The health of the town and island of Bombay is
far below par. Fever is very prevalent. The hot
season has set in, and the citizens are escaping to
the Hill stations.
The Calcutta Englaliman of April 4 says :—" A
number of Manchester capitalists, we have heard,
propose to purchase from the Indian Government
the Ganges Canal; to apply to it skilful engineer-
ing work and superintendence; and, having made
it what it was intended to be, but never has been,
an efficient canal of irrigation and boat traffic, to
raise from it a large revenue profit. The Ganges
Canal cost the Government, or the public, the large
sum of two millions of money sterling; but as a
public work, except for the patronage and profit
involved in its construction, it has been almost use-
less. Should it, however, pass into the management
of private English enterprise,
it may yet become
an institution of vast utility in the districts through
which it passes ; and we should be glad indeed to
see it change owners as proposed."
Certain officers of the Bengal army en route to
England, who served at the siege and captureoof
t
Delhi, intend to lay before the home Government
to
the claim of the Delhi army to a year's service
who
so
count as service, as was accorded to those
the mutinies.
first distribution of the pro-
The orders for the
gallantly defended themselves in Lucknow during
issued in the Calcutta Gazette. The
ago have been
distributedl s. 335 211, as
total sum to be
,
ceeds of the booty captured Pegu many yeses
follows :_To the land forces, rs. 2,55,280.0.2 ; to
the naval forces in the services of the late East
India Company,
'es. 41,531.13.8 ; to the naval forces
of her Majesty s service, TS. 38,378.9.2—t0ta1,
re. 3,35,277. Each share is 2 rupees to the land
forces, and 1 rupee 6 annas to
the naval forces. It
will not be very valuable--a major-general has
1,500 shares ; colonel, 600 ; captain, 120; subal-
tern, 60; privates one
Naik to Bhe tee
es , two-thirds of a share.
His Excellency the Governor of Bombay in coun-
cil has huthorised the immediate issue of a first dis-
tribution of the Dhar prize money, at the rate of
400 rs. each share. The Government order states
that instructions for the preparation and submission
of claims for Delhi prize motley, published in Go-
vernment general order No. 8, dated Jan, 6, 1862,
will apply equally well to claims on account of
Dhar prize money.
The troops of the Rajahs of Puttiala end Jhcend,
who joined the British army before Delhi in 1857,
and took pert in the siege and captui e of the city;
and also the men of the Nubha contingent, Who
were engaged with the Jullundbur mutineers at
the
Looniana, have through their chief 3 petitiiloued
Goveruraent to 1,;r.-int them the Indian met,
. 'the
Government has divided that they are entitled to
-
the decoration, and has ordered the requisite medal
rolls to be sent in.

Mr. Collinson,
'erffie'syt that a petition THE SUNDAY CLOSING BILL.—At the usual
meeting of the vestry of the parish of St. George
the Martyr, Southwark, held in the Vestry-hall, Borough-
road, ,G
slams toevveednainresaovittorleistiod presided
took place, and finally the motion was rejected 1, nbe
presented to the House of Commons from the vestry in
Mr. gash seconded the motion, and
favour of the bill for closing public-houses on Sundays,
considerable discussion
of nine against eight, 'Y a majority

The Weather---Sun Office, May 6, 1863.

THERMOMETER.

Highest since Noon yesterday
Lowest during the night
This day at Noon . , 59
Wind—S.-W. ; light, with fine weather.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tia DAY.—Morning, 3h. 42m.—Afternoon, 4h. sm.
To-mounow.-Morning, 4h. 26m.—Afternoon, 4h. 50m.

*-R
gigr
3 (V>

-I --
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1863.

Another jumble of news has been brought to us
from the opposite shores of the Atlantic, this time
by the City of Baltimore. It comes dropping in
upon us confusedly, driblet by driblet, telegram
after telegram. The upshot of it all proving to be,
when the whole is scannel, utterly inconclusive.
The human pawns are moved about, there, upon that
vast chessboard by the two chief players—Presi-
dent ABY LINCOLN and President JEFF. DAVIS
—now to this square, now to that, still
seemingly with no plan at all upon
the side of the former, and a very obscure one in-
deed on that of the latter. An adventurous dash is
at one moment made in one direction, Another
moment, in another. As yet no headway to speak
of has been effected either by the Fedetals or by the
Confederates. Turning to the chaotic heap et
telegrams fluttering in flimsy upon our table
from the pouches of Mr. REUTER'S boy-emis-
saries turning to them as they flatter
down there before their eight up to the
printers, we may here except a fragment or two
from the news having a little more of fltvour about
it than the rest—the residue being in truth remark-
able only for its insipidity.

The Federals, then, appear to hava really run
the blockade of Vicltsbarg. A group of seven
of their gunboats, a ram and two or three
transports of Admiral PORTER'S fleet seem at least
to have made the attempt to join Admiral PARRA-
GUT below Vicksburg. All being successful, ex-
cepting two of the transports, one of which,
the Henry Clay, was sunk, the other, the
Forest Qaeen, being disabled by the fira of the
Confederate batteries. Again, says the next
scrap of a telegram, heavy firing in the
vicinity of Warrenton was subsequently heard,
'warranting the supposition that the gunboats were
operating against that:point." It is added that the
Federals had eleven gunboats between Vicksburg
and Port Hudson, and that probably one or the other
of those strongholds would be immediately attacked.
Se that still the main news is that of expectancy !
-Whenever a vessel arrives from the seat of war, we
81waYB—it has been thus with us :from the com-
mencement of the lamentable conflict—We always

turn as it were instantly from the intelligence just
brought to us—to look out with increased eager-
ness for the next arrival !

Anything like a hint even of " the beginning of
the end" of these deplorable troubles—of this
direful strife between Federals and Confederates
—never is, but always to be, brought to us!

The replies of Russia to England and Franca are
at last published. They are of considerable length,
but of course nothing satisfactory. The Moniteur
declares that these documents are most conciliatory,
and " contain the bases of negotiations likely to
lead to a common understanding
,between the
different Courts now seeking the means of uphold-
ing the legitimate interests of Poland." Doubtless,
it is convenient to appear satisfied with the state
of things officially, and therefore the French
organ contrives to see things couleur de rose just
now. In the first place, Prince GORTSCHAKOFF
informs Baron de BUDDERG that he has placed the
despatch forwarded from Paris before the EMPE-
ROR, and that " his august master has derived
therefrom the conviction that the views expressed
in the name of the Emperor NAPOLEON are in
entire accordance with those of his Majesty." This
is a very questionable compliment to pay the
French EMPEROR, and it seems both absurd
and unmeaning to make such an assertion.
How can there be any unity of sentiment between
the two Emperors when. one is appealing to the
other to stop the cruel persecution of his subjects
towards the unhappy people of Poland. Not con-
tent with this extravagant assertion, however, the
reply goes on to state that "there cannot be a mo-
ment's doubt of the profound affliction that this state
of things has caused our august master." Really we
may expect to hear anything after this. After some
unmeaning phrases about the impossibility of making
experiments that are sure to fail ; in other words,
implying that the Government of the CZAR do not
intend to take any advice from foreign Power; how
to manage their own affairs, the despatch winds up
by an invitation to the French EMPEROR to assist
the Russians to put down all future chance of re-
volution by arresting the course of its operations
abroad. Prince GORTSCHAKOFF goes so far as to
invite the Emperor NAPOLEON'S " moral concur-
rence" in this worthy task, and thus admonishes him
regarding the duties that are imperatively imposed
upon him of giving assistance to the good
work of crushing down all attempts at
freedom. "He will certainly acknowledge that with
the elements of cosmopolitan revolution spread
throughout almost all countries, and which rush
from all parts to all points which offer chances for
disorder and overthrow, the care of bringing back
calm and peace should not depend on the efforts of
a single Government, and that to demand of us to
extinguish a fire which receives from abroad inex-
haustible aliment would be to continue the question
in a circle without issue."
It would be a novel mode of aiding the patriots
to prevent their ever again being able to
assert their rights and to make known
their wrongs. The Moniteur would have hard
work to prove how, by coming to an understand-
ing of this sort, the Great Powers would uphold
the " legitimate interests" of Poland. Prince GORT-
SCHAKOFF i s no happier in his reply to our Go-
vernment; He begins by flatlycontradicting all that
Lord RUSSELL hes said in reference to the
interpretations of the text of the treaties, and
states that "they have the right of not ad-
mitting without reserve all those which can be
given to it." This remark speaks volumes for
the intentions of the Russian Government. We
do not meet with much " moral concurrence" on
their part to assist in adjusting the vexed ques

on of Polish affairs. After a few more remarks

on the matter, it is summarily and arbitrarily dis-
posed of in these words—" For the rest, ail has
been said on both sides in this discussion ; its pro-
longation on this ground would be a sterile la-
bour. These are strong terms to use towards the
English Foreign Secretary, but the meaning of
them is true, and it is sterile labour to endeavour
to persuade those who will not hear reason, and
are deaf to the claims of justice. As to the next
question, the best means of affording peace to
Poland, Prince GORTSCHAKOFF becomes yet more
determined in his negatives to Lord RUSSELL. He
says that the misunderstanding arises from the fact
of the English Government persisting in maintaining
that keeping to the constitution of 1815 is the sole
panacea for Poland. In reference to this, the
despatch states :—" But the Government and the
British nation, of which the practical good sense
has founded the greatness of England, will not pre-
tend that there is only one single form of govern-
ment for all peoples, whatever may be their history
and their development. Before reaching that

political maturity, of which England affords an
example, there are many steps to pass, and each
nation should proceed in the path pointed out by
its own instincts. It is just and natural that a
Sovereign animated with the most benevolent in-
tentions, calculates the bearing and extension of
institutions destined to place his subjects in more
favourable conditions of existence."

It is really astonishing how any statesman can
have the effrontery to write like this. It is true
that Poland has a long way to go before she reaches

:he present position of England, 'out she has not

:akin one step in that direction under the

management of the present EMPEROR, nor

can he prove what is asserted in this docu-
ment, that he is adopting the best means of
fecuring the welfare of Poland. Finally, Prince
GORTSCHAKOFF adopts a to quoque argument
and declares that Lord RUSSELL may look at home
for the causes that conspire with other events to

produce a revolution. When the English Govern-
ment wishes Russia to fulfil her duties, he declares
that " she has not received a scrupulous recipro-
city."

Surely it would be very difficult to imagine any
replies that could be less satisfactory to well-wishers

of Poland than these here referred to. They breathe
the spirit of in tolerance,they lay down arbitrary rules

they deny common obligations, and they repudiate
the right of other nations to interfere, while they
disown any intention of really ameliorating the

condition of Poland. For any good result to en-
sue from such an interchange of sentiment is
impossible, and it would have been as well,

for the sake of freedom and the cause

of humanity had no despatches been written on

either side. It is a deplorable calamity to reflect
on the bitter sufferings in store for the distracted
kingdom of Poland, and the utter apparent inability
of the other States as regards the power of ren-
dering assistance makes it doubly painful to con-
template. Besides this vexation there is the ad-
ditional mortification of finding that the strongest
remonstrances only call forth answers that are
couched in covert satire, and contain arguments
that are completely subversive of the wishes of
the mediators,

The subject of national education is one both
wide and deep, one whoseimportance is appreciated
by most men, and whose results are felt to be of vital
consequence to the community. Unfortunately it is
also a matter on;which every man has his peculiar
crotchet, and on which he is most unwilling to sur-
render an iota of his convictions. Earnest men of

peculiar views may submit to the regulations of
trade, or the restrictions of civil law, bat the edu-
cation of the young is a point which concerns their
principles, and it is never difficult to muster a strong
opposition to any particular measure or clause,
whether:it be a gathering of Mr. NEWDEGATE'S fol-
lowers to deprecate a wise and enlightened toleration,
or of Dissenters objecting to the influence of the na-
tional Church. The question brought up last
night in the House of Commons by Mr.
WALTER did not, however, touch upon
religious grounds. His proposal was that
the national grant should be made applicable
to all the poorer schools throughout the country
not being private schools or carried on for profit.
To this he added a declaration, that the employ-
ment of certified or pupil teachers by school
managers as an indispensable condition of their
participation in the grant is unjust and inexpe-
dient. The extension of the grant to all poorer
public schools not carried on for profit is certainly
a reasonable demand. The poorer schools are the
very ones that need assistance the most, and pro-
vided that the results of the instruction given are
tested and found to be satisfactory, the Government
should surely show a readiness to come forward.
Mr. WALTER'S proposal was that the capitation
grant of Bs. should be open for all children whose
examination should satisfy the inspector. This seems
fairenough, as, if the children come up to the required
standard, the Government ought to be satisfied with-
out demanding certificates from teachers whose
competency has been proved in the most satisfactory
and conclusive manner. The question is, where the
standard of necessary education should be fixed, and
whether there has not been of late years a tendency
to forget the requirements of practice in the dogmas
of theory. It is certainly very unnecessary that
the children of our small shopkeepers, artisans, and
mechanics should be instructed in the rudiments of
a sound plain English education by teachers who
are familiar with history, ancient, modern, sacred,
and profane, with pure and mixed mathematics,
with a dash of the classics and sciences. The
attempt to inculcate a quarter of this information
into the head of an ordinary country boy
or girl during the short time which they spend at
any educational establishment, unseconded by any
home influence. must necessarily be a hopeless one.
There is no reason why the system of granting cer-
tificates of knowledge to pupil teachers should be
suspended or interfered with, but it seems hard that
a man of middle age, who is well qualified by
general information and habits of discipline
to train and educate children of the lower
classes, should be restrained from such an
undertaking because in the days of his youth
certificates of knowledge were things undreamt of.
Experience, sound sense, and general knowledge
are qualifications more important than an acquain-
tance with the history of the liturgy or inorganic
chemistry. There should be a wise discretion
exercised in these matters, and due regard should
be had to the probable requirements of the children
in after life. The higher class of public schools and
training colleges might be open to those who from
natural aptitude, or promising circumstances,
wished to go further on the high road of learning
But there should be a class of schools for the eh

dren of respectable artisans, peasants, and others of
the same standing. It is absurd to say, in nine
cases out of ten, that such children will be any the
better or the fitter for their trade for having ac-
quired, at the cost of much time and labour, a dim
perception of the higher branches of education.
But if pure mathematics and ancient history are
not likely to be profitable to them, that is no reason
why they should not be thoroughly instructed
in the rudiments of education. They may learn to
read, write, and cipher with substantial advantage
and comparative ease. Book-keeping might super-
sede algebra with advantage, and the practice of
the plain rules of grammar and spelling would be
preferable to the study of English composition.
With regard to the girls we should wish to see
some other branches of useful household knowledge
added to the list. Some of us rr ay remember Mrs.
SEWELL'S amusing narrative of the lady in search of
a workwoman visiting the village school, and being
amazed at the proficiency of the pupils in the
most recondite branches of knowledge. Their
geographical and scientific acquirements over-
whelmed the astonished visitor, who listened

.12 awe—

" While bihions and quadrillions ran in easy numeration."

Coming to the point i❑ hand, however, she found
that not one of these female sages could make
a shirt ! There is no doubt that every
care and pains is being taken to open
the highways of knowledge to all who will go in.
The question is, whether there is a sufficient sub-
stratum provided for that very large class whose
educational wants and wishes will never soar beyond
" the three R's."

CHELSEA SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.--Last
evening a selection from Handel's Oratorio,
" Samson," was given by the members of this society at the
new vestry hall, King's-road, Chelsea. The solo parts were
sustained by Madame Andrea, Mdlle. deVillar, Mr. Montem
Smith, and Mr.Lawler, and Mr. Holdernesse. the conductor,
had a band and chorus under his command, numbering
nearly 150 performers. As might have been expected, there
was a little unsteadiness in the opening chorus "Awake the
trumpet's lofty sound," but as the oratorio proceeded, thanks
to the conductor, this defect was in a great measure reme-
died, and if we cannot say the choristers were, as a body,
quite up to the mark in some of the pieces, we at least can
compliment them for the very creditable manner in which
they gave the splendid chorus at the conclusion of the first
part, " Then round about the starry throne." The great
solo for the tenor, " Total ec;ipse," was finely sung by Mr.
Montem Smith; " Honour and arms" won for Mr. Lawler

loud applause, but the great feature of the whole perform-
ance was tte execution of the magnificent contralto air,
"Return, 0 Lord of Hosts," by Madame Andrea. It was
given with the most exquisite taste and feeling, and called
forth deserved and enthusiastic applause. The hall was
well attended, and the members of the society may fairly
congratulate themselves on the success of their perform-
ance.

A CRUEL HARDSHIP.—A writer in the Times
says —I had a presentation for Christ's Hospital
on " Travers's Foundation," only eligible for sons of
lieutenants in the navy. I took the boy to London, and,
,as it was not convenient for me to go on to Hertford, I
addressed myself to a stranger whose son was also just
admitted. " I make no apology," said I, " for introducing
myself to you, as you must be a lieutenant in the navy. If
you are going to Hertford, will you take charge of my boy
as well as your own ?" He readily assented. I then re-
quested to know to whom I was indebted for this act of
courtesy. "My name," said he "is Pollard." Are you
related," said I, " to the Pollard mentioned in :-outhey's
Life of Nelson' as having shot the man by whose un-
erring aim Nelson felt ?" " I am the Pollard," said he,
" then a mate in the Victory, that you allude to." I never
saw him before or since, but I see by the Navy List he is
still a lieutenant, and in Greenwich Hospital. He, at any
rate, is not ruined by promotion, thcugh 58 years have
nearly passed away since, in the execution of his duty, he
performed an act which has entitled his name to be handed
down to posterity in association with our great naval
chief.

THE SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF " OUR LADY OF
M ERC Y."—" Nemo," in a letter to the 7 znies, says:—
Your correspondent " J. O.'. claims assistance for the Sis-
ters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul on the ground of the
good deeds of these sisters on behalf of our wounded soldiers
and seamen. The Roman Catholic "Sisters" in the British
army in the Crimean war were eight Sisters of the Order of
" Our Lady of Mercy" of Bermond, cy, some ,f whom, wi'h
their admirable "reverend mother" went out with the first
and remained to the last; ten Sisters of the same Order
from Irish houses, with a reverend mother" from Kinsale ;
and five "Sisters" of an educational Order which shall le
nameless, as, being fund totally useless, they were sent
sent home. In the French and Sardinian armies there
were, of course, " Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul." But
these, so far from assisting our soldiers and seamen, ac-
ci.epetheedelyveasihllinfegrlythaendogrreactelyfuelarnly ledargietstores.and much assis-
-orderat
:„,themset'vree;
fromahat
the
er nurses. A. Kaiserwerth deaconess, from the
only ask
Hospital at Constantinople, was also at Scutari.
Catholic Sisters Wh. insertion of these lines in your paper in
gratitude of the public to the nurses who de-
votedseamen in the 03,•eaaerasisatyinbgeoeu;prwesosuenddteodthsoolsdeiRerosmanand