The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-01 00:00:00

adopted from delusive sources ; that the conduct and policy
of England cannot furnish Russia with any motive for hos-
tility ; and that this great Power has already territory
enough to satisfy the most inordinate appetite for dominion.
He will be the more convinced that he has formed erro-
neous conclusions on the subject, if he calmly reflects upon
the consequences likely to result to Russia herself from the
ruin or the depression of Great Britain.
Hitherto, experience has shown that, whilst the natural
enemies of Russia are the Continental Powers, our insular
empire can prove far more useful to her as an ally than for-
midable as an antagonist. True it is that the Russian
Emperor covets the possession of a navy, and our maritime
power is (or rather was) supreme. There may be some
jealousy on this score, but it can be felt in no higher degree
by Russia than by France or America. A rational and
politic sovereign of Russia would rather uphold than re-
trench the power and influence of this country, assuming
always that he does not cherish the absurd and chimerical
hope of establishing his dominion over the entire globe.
Let us look a little at the circumstances in which Russia
would be placed, supposing England to be reduced to in-
significance.
She would be without the resource which our advan-
tageous position offers for restraining any combination of
the Continental Powers against her existence or her inte-
rests. On the other hand, if the reduction of England were
accomplished by Russian means, it would rouse the appre-
hensions of every other European State, and sharpen its
jealousy against the Northern Potentate. The erasure of
England from the list of great Powers would require that
the whole frame of -European politics' should be re-con-
structed, and this could not be done without a succession
of general wars, and a dissolution of the great European
system,from which Russia would have more:to fear than
to hope. Those who draw such ready inferences, from the.
conduct of the Russian Government,- of the- perils which
menace this country, seem to,have fortintten that our qpar-
rel would be espoused, from a feeling of common 'danger
alone, by all the principal States of Europe, and perhaps
by America.
But it may, perhaps, be alleged, that the designs of the
Russian Cabinet are directed simply to the possession of
India ; 'that it has no views upon this island, nor any
wish to derange the machinery of European politics as
adjusted at the Congresses ; that it merely desires to ex-
tend its influence and possessions in the East.
Those who imagine that the Russian ruler contemplates
the acquisition and the incorporation with his vast terri-
tories of such a country as India, must believe him to be
insane." It is morally impossible that, if such an empire
could be put together, it could subsist for a year. If it
did not crush by its own weight, the jealousy 'of other
States would provoke a crusade, against .it. Though they
might be content to see us despoiled of India, they would not
endure thegreaterevil, its transfer foßussia. Theonly rational
object he could have in view by the invasion of British In-
dia, is to damage our power and resources, and to gain
some petty commercial advantages fqr his subjects.
In discussing political questions it. may, perhaps, appear
puerile to press moral considerations into the argument.
But they may have some weight in a doubtful caee ; and if
it be not clear that Russia has a strong impelling interest
or urgent motive to possess herself of India, is it too much
to suggest that she may appreciate the benefits which our
rule confers upon the people of Hindustan, and be unwil-
ling to intercept them ? Whatever be its faults and defects,
there-never was a government imposed up7i-in a conquered
country less oppressive in its effects upon the people, more
paternal in its spirit, more benign =wand ameliorating in its
operation, than the Anglo-Indian. The captious voice of
party feeling in this country, which proclaims only the
errors of Government, and the petty criticism of the press
of India, whose office it is to hunt out and expose every
blemish, do not disguise from foreigners the fact; that our
Eastern rule is a kind and just one. What says M.
Jacquemont,4: a recent French traveller in India, who
went thither imbued with a thorough dislike both of
the Governors and Government of that country, in-
stilled into him in England, and by Englishmen ; who con-
sidered the former as " old drivellers," and the latter as " a
nuisance whieh:. ought to be abated?" He bad been
but a short Aline in India before he acknowledged that
lie had to unlearn all he had learned on this head, and
he discovered that the British Government in that country,
instead of being " a nuisance," was " an immense blessing
to the provinces subjected to it," and " though requiring
some reforms, merited many eulogiums." What has been
said by a French writer, a few days back, in one of the
Paris Journalsse in an article which expressly treats of the
very question we are now considering ? " The English,"
observes this writer, "guided by a wise policy, have known
how to respect the religion, the manners, and customs of
the country of which they took possession ; treaties have
always been religiously maintained, and the people are
more happy under their Government than they were under
the native princes. The defence of the country is confided,
, in a, great measure, to the inhabitants, who, formed to
milittay jjlpl ne by 4EnifiSh officers, aided by native ones,
compose al army of 250,000 men. Hindus and Mussul-
mans serve, with zeal,.devotion, and courage, the Govern-
ment which pays them, and they are treated with kindness:'
The writer.,- concludes a string of reflections on the- hope,.
lessness of any attempt upon India, as much on moral as
on physical grounds, by stating, that they are " the result
of a long -Stay in India, which it is necessary to hesve in-
habited, to.appreciate the resources, and to form a just idea •
of the colossal power of England, of her wise policy, and
her excellent administration." This is a consideration
which, moreover, appeals to the prudence of an invader of
India, whose chance of success is diminished in proportion
as the country is well governed.
And what would India become if its present rulers were ex-
pelled ? A vast chaos of disorder and confusion. In ordinary
cases, when a state is invaded and subjugated, the vanquished
Sovereign gives place to the conqueror, and the
machinery
of government works with the same springs, in
ringps;ctuhloiaurgh c
couvmed
by a different hand. But such are the
stances of India, that a change of rulers
would dissolve
the entire political fabric ; all the elements of discord and
contention would be let loose, and every vestige of orderly
government would disappear, like
Dews exhaled from morning glades.
Melting snows, and fleeting shades.
We have now explained, with all the brevity and per-
spicuity in our power, the grounds of our belief that there
exists no probable motive on the part of Russia for a rup-
ture with Great Britain, or her invasion of our Indian ter-
ritories. If this proposition be admitted, it supersedes the
necessity of an inquiry into the practicability of a conquest
of India by that power. Still, this is by no means an unim-
portant element in the question ; if the facility of ex-
ecution has suggested schemes of conquest, its difficulty
may, on the contrary, deter a projector, who has the
strongest motives for an undertaking, from attempt-
ing it. Now the utmost that has been contended for
by those who profess the clearest conviction of the
" designs of Russia," and who give the most exaggerated
estimate of her power and resources, is the bare prac-
tic
ability of an invasion of India by her—they have acknow-
ledged that it is an enterprize beset with peril and diffi-
culty, and the fruition of which can only be obtained by
immense sacrifices. And who that looks upon the map
with other eyes than those of a theorist, and reads the de-
tails given by Captain Burnes, in his recent travels, of the
Political state of some of the countries that must be traversed
by the Russian armies, can contemplate such an undertak-
ing as other than one morally, if not physically, impracti-
cable for all rational objects The disorganized condition
of those countries—the mutual antipathies of the people,
which would render any attempt at general combination
futile—the nature of their military organization, which pe-
culiarly fits them for attacking an invading force, when
cooped in defiles or exhausted by a desert-march ;—the cli-
mate, want of supplies—without any active hostility on our
part, would throw every species of impediment in the way
of military operations, and the invading army, reduced in
numbers and weakened in its morale, even if it entered the
Punjaub as friends, not as enemies, would have to dispute
the possession of India with 300,000 fresh troops, true to
their salt, fighting on their own soil, and led by British offi-
cers—an army which the great captain of the age has pro-
nounced one of the finest he ever saw.
* Letters from India, 1834. j- Journal des Debats.

About half- past twelve o'clock yesterday morning
the schooner Harriet, lying off Carpenter's Wharf, Bermond-
sey,t was discovered to be on fire. On the arrival of the Mor-
gan's-lane engine it was ascertained that the deck over the
cabin was the part on fire, which was most fortunately extin-
guished before it had attained any great ascendancy. The
damage done is but slight. The vessel is not insured. The
fire originated throught the overheating the cabin stoves.
Last night an inquest was held at the King's Arms,
Queenhithe, on the body of Mr. James George Fisher, a re-
spectable master lighterman, aged 34 years. It appeared
from the evidence of several witnesses, that on the afternoon
of Friday last the deceased and his partner were assisting in
loading a barge from the William, of Newcastle, which wag
t the oar slipped
erdvbeorddyic was.
t
oipnptohe siteactt of heSguertrteing yCtahne balaergnterasnteraeigath i
Rotherhithe, paid
while
and the unfortunate man fell overboard. Five boats came to
his assistance, but were unablyeesttosaay save hi
found at Cuckold's Point morning.mheT
" Accidental death."

An inquest was held yesterday in St. Pancras, ors
female,n name unknown, which was found
Friday last. The body was disco-
vered by one of the lock-keepers, who deposed that, having
in the
thebo dßyeg o fen a
Regent's
young
Canal
u seen a bonnet lying on the banks, he commenced dragging the
canal, and in about ten minutes succeeded in bringing up the
body of the deceased. She was quite dead, but did not ap-
pear to have been in the water any length of time. Her dress
and in her bonnet were t'ne initials
was most respectable.,
H. C. Sh" fila not appear to witness to be more than 20
~."
year, Of age. He did not observe any marks cif violence un
tier person. Verdict—" Found Drowned." The body has
not been owned.