The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-14 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1865.

M. DROUYN DE LHUYS has done himself honour
in doing honour to Mr. COBDEN, and many will be
interested to peruse his letter to the Prince DE LA
TOUR D'AUVERGNE. It is pervaded by a true ap-
preciation of the worth of the departed, and ex-
presses the approval in a more genial manner
than foreigners often do when commenting upon
any of our nation. M. DROUYN DE LHUYS observes
to the Ambassador at our Court that while the
English Senate paid a just tribute of respect to
Mr. CO.BDEN'S memory, the Legislstive Body of
France were not behind them in this respect ; and
one of the speakers delivered a speech full of regrets
for the loss that had been sustained, and also of
eulogy on the merits of the deceased statesman.
The purport of this letter is to desire the Ambas-
sador to communicate " officially" with the Ministers
of the QUEEN, and to intimate to them " the mourn-
ful sympathy," and the truly national regret I
which have been excited by the untimely death of
so illustrious an individual. Such a course cannot
but conduce to the satisfaction of all concerned,
and it is undeniable proof of the advanced state to
which the entente cordiale between the two countries
has progressed. True, COBDEN was, as M. DROUYN
DE LHUYS emphatically entitles him, an " interna-
tional man," but not the less do we believe this
earnest expression of good will, and this flattering
testimony in the mouth of one whom all acknow-
ledge to have been a true servant of his country.
It is gratifying to notice that the French Minister
perfectly understands the pecularities of the
English character, and as truly depicts certain
results as if he were a citizen of this country—
which he addresses indirectly in his despatch.
'Thus we find that he says Mr. COBDEN was " one
of the rarest examples of the solid qualities inherent
in the English character." This is strictly true, as
is the observation further on, that there are some
mental qualities that only belong to those who have
learnt to struggle with embarrassments in the course
of their careers. In the severe but strengthening
school, as the Frenchman truly styles it, the mind of
RICHARD COBDEN was trained to its after pitch of
triumph, and he thus acquired a power and influence
among his own set that gradually extended itself
to the country generally. It may be said of this
letter that had Mr. COBDEN seen or heard of it
he must have been delighted ; and it is surely
an appropriate sentiment to the departure
of one who toiled on strenuously to en-
able the two leading nations of the
world to live on terms of amity, and to promote the
interchange of commerce between them. M.
DROUYN DE LHUYS has shown an appreciation of
the English character which is surprising to observe,
and which speaks strongly of the benefits which
have accrued from increased intercourse. It is a
change of days to peruse such a document as this,
and to reflect that it has been written by a French-
man. The true instincts of our race, the signifi-
cant tokens of our character individually and na-
tionally, are all set forth in due order, and proper
attention is directed to them in this testimony of
the French Minister to the worth of the
late disciple of Free Trade and inter-
national communications. Mr. COBDEN did a great
deal to initiate the French into the style and man-
ners of our commercial men. Perhaps it may be
said that they had had less experience of them than
of any other class among us, and in his own person
he was a shining example of English integrity and
industry, besides holding out a proof of how the
self-made man can rise among us by the power of
his perseverance. The sincerity of M. DROUYN DE
LIMY'S testimony is proved by his admitting frankly
that Mr. COBDEN entertained views that were not
practicable. This is no flattery, put forth by a
complimentary writer, but rather a fair summary
by one who is qualified to judge of the chief
characteristics of one who, in his day,
was instrumental in changing the tactics of
French policy, and has left us a precious legacy
of his foresight and cosmopolitan interest to
the future generations of France. Such a tribute
cannot but be grateful to the friends and admirers
of the departed ; such a trophy of success is another
proof of the zeal and ability which animated his
labours, and shed so bright and enduring a lustre
on his career. Of course, a communication of this
kind could not conclude without particular stress

being laid on the great work which has id entified
Mr. COBDEN'S name among French recor as, and
connected him with the indissoluble interests of the
land. Hence, in the final paragraph we find an
apt allusion is made to the Treaty of Commerce,
which, as here described, " will have for effect not
only the development of the material interests between
England and France, but also aid powerfully in
strengthening their friendly relations." The good
understanding already prevailing to so great an
extent between the two countries cannot but be
more strongly cemented by such cordial expressions
of goodwill and such earnest indications of sym-
pathy, as those which already pervade this letter
and animate the tone of its writer. In this deliber-
ate resolve of the Government of the EMPEROR to
pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of the
late RICHARD COBDEN, and to offer through their
ambassador at our Court the sentiments so
worthily expressed in this document, we may
recognise an epoch in the annals of diplomacy.
The truly great may claim kindred with all
climes, they belong to humanity, but more espe-
cially in the case of such men as Mr. COBDEN does
it seem right and fitting that a peculiar recognition
should take place, for they have striven with might
and main to do away with national prejudices, re-
move old jealousies, and induce the civilised nations
of the world to act in unison. Among the many
offerings to the memory of the late Mr. COBDEN,
there is none more appropriate than this, none more
genially expressed and gracefully given, and it de-
rives an additional value from its significance. It
was meet that one who did so much for France
should receive honourable mention at her hands
when be passed into the shadows of that night where
no man can work.

It might naturally be supposed by the " intelli-
gent foreigner," who takes so much interest in our
affairs, if he inquired into the method in which our
naval and military prize-money is distributed, that
the system was originally intended to disgust and
irritate, to harass and disappoint the members of
both services. SOLOMON has told us long since that
" hope deferred maketh the heart sick," and we have
most of us become convinced of the fact by painful
experience. Suspense and disappointment are two of
the most wearing and disheartening feelings which
affect the human mind ; why, therefore, they should
be selected as the special rewards of those who have
prominently distinguished themselves in the service
of the country is not very clearly apparent. Yet
the complaints about the withholding of prize
money indicate a very old and long-stand-
ing grievance, and one, too, which no amount
of remcinstrance or indignation appears in the
slightest degree to affect. If ever there was a cam-
paign in which generals, officers, and men earned
their respective honours, hardly and heroically, it
was in the suppression of the Indian mutiny, and
certainly what little came to them in the way of
reward was very dearly purchased. England would
hardly have begrudged to those gallant sons who
fought her battles so well and so wisely, without re-
gard to personal health or comfort, treble the
amount which, by the law of military nations, be-
longed of right to them. Yet it is nearly seven
years since many of the most important captures
were made, nearly seven years since the pacifica-
tion of India was triumphantly accomplished, and
yet the prize-money remains undistributed, to
" shame the eyes and grieve the hearts" of those
who have all these weary months been looking for
it in vain. To the officers it may be no more
perhaps than a temporary annoyance, but to many
of the rank and file, invalided perhaps in conse-
quence of that trying service, or having indeed been
forced to abandon their profession altogether, the
hardship is a very great one. They need all the
money they can lay claim to to lighten the burden
of years and infirmities, or to assist their families.
They may indeed have been induced to incur ex-
penses, and to reckon on the receipt of the money
which has been so long withheld from them. The
correspondent of a contemporary states that seven
years ago the Central India field force under Sir
HUGH ROSE captured Jhansi after a siege of three
weeks, during which the besiegers, rather than the
besieged, suffered great hardships. After taking
Jhansi, the force marched on, recovering Calpee
and Gwalior, although it was then in the heat of
the year. The official despatches, in de-
scribing the state of the weather, mention
that at Koonah the thermometer stood at 115, and
at Calpee at 118 in the shade ; while during the
march to Gwalior it burst in an officer's tent at
130 deg. It seems that notwithstanding the ex-
treme heat the cavalry were often on the saddle
from one o'clock in the morning till four or five in
the afternoon, so that these were no carpet soldiers,
but gallant men, who shrunk from no toil, exer-
tion, or exposure, in the performance of their duty.
It is certainly disgraceful, that after seven years
the large amount:of prize money to which they can
lay claim remains undistributed. Whether it is
withheld with the pious hope that the claimants
may decrease in number by the inevitable
action of years upon the weakened frames
of those who have thus toiled under an
almost tropical sun it is hard to say. If such is
the benevolent design of the authorities, argument
and appeal are alike useless, since their object will
most likely have been attained. If they further
wish to disgust men with the Indian service they
will be equally successful. By a series of adminis-
trative blunders our Anglo-Indian forces have been
estranged and irritated ever since the Mutiny, and
the very inauguration of the directly Imperial
Government was signalised by a mean and short-
sighted piece of economy which cost us a good many
tried and trained veterans. But the prize-money
is a thing which every one can at once appreciate,
and the loss of it was certainly not a condition of
their accepting or resigning the QUEEN'S service.
Sir CHARLES WOOD had better look to his laurels,
for when Parliament re-opens, he will in time, we
trust, have a good long catechism to reply to in re-
gard to his sins of omission and commission respect-
ing the Indian army. The right hon. baronet may
not be especially to blame inthis particular instance,
but the system is so greatly in fault that some one
must be to blame. The very same thing is carried
on in the navy to an equal extent, and it is no un-
common thing to hear of five, six, or eight years
elapsing before the prize-money is paid. Officers
in expensive regiments, or captains of ships who
have nothing-to look to but their pay, and who may
be quartered in expensive situations, look year by
year for this inaccessible prize-money to relieve
them from all their difficulties, but look in vain
until it suits the humour of the War-office or the
Admiralty to dole it out. It is difficult to perceive
what
possible excuse can be found for such long
delays in
paying money whose value has already
reached the authorities ; but so long as seven years
elapse between the capture of a prize and the dis-
tribution of the prize-money to the claimants have a
grumble, and the public to censure the
neglect.

PROFITABLE INDUSTRY IN WINCHESTER GAOL.—
The last report of the visiting justices of Hampshire states
that the receipts in cash for industrial labour during the
first quarter of the present year amount tot against £47
in the corresponding quarter of last year, the receipts for
the last three quarters having togather amounted to £717
apinst £B4 for the three corresponding quarters of the
preiriM year.