The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-08 00:00:00

duties of the British Indian Government. Expe-
rience has told us, in unmistakeable accents, the
nature and extent of the success attendant
upon the last great experiment. As the New
Quarterly Reviewer observes, very truthfully,
and earnestly—" The trial has been a fair one ;
and failure—continuous, signal, hopeless failure—
is still the miserable result." It is notorious.
" Surely," we may say with the writer here
quoted, " its time has come at last, and the great
work of reparation which, in the face of much
intrigue, calumny, and prejudice, the Coalition
Ministry of 1783 attempted, but were too feeble
to perform, Lord ABERDEEN and Lord JOHN Rus-
SELL, if so minded, may easily and satisfactorily
accomplish." If so minded !—a rather con-
siderable proviso ! Let us hope, however, that the
administrative ability concentrated upon the pre-
sent Cabinet may in this matter counterpoise by
its beneficial influence the evil effects of certain
wide differences of political principle. Let us
cherish that conviction. Time is permitted us yet
for reflection--•for deliberation—for preparation.
That time must not be thoughtlessly squandered.
The Coalition Ministry of 1853 may if properly
urged, in this important matter, effect trium-
phantly what was vainly attempted by the Coali-
tion Ministry of 1783. The contrast presented by
those two Cabinets yields us, we will admit at
once, very welcome encouragement. Another
consideration unites with this to render us san-
guine of the happy consequences of the present
movement towards the reform of the whole system
of British Indian Government. Besides the
good auspices discernable in the union of eminent
statesmen such as the Earl of ABERDEEN, and Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, and Viscount PALMERSTON, and
Sir JAMES GRAHAM, and the Earl of CLARENDON
within the limits of a single Government--we can-
not fail to bear in remembrance the truth that
the arguments in favour of the projected changes
have, since 1783, been marvellously multiplied.
The cruel tyranny wielded over the Oriental races,
first by the almost irresponsible Company, and
afterwards by the blending of the powers of the
Board of Control and of the Court of Directors has
already been of too long and disastrous continu-
ance. The blighting frost has been followed by
the thunders and the lightnings.

" Jam satis terris nivis atque dire
Grandinis misit pater, et rubente
Dextra sacras jaculatus arces
Terruit urbem."

It is a quotation old and hackneyed, but at the
present moment is not, we believe, unworthy of
being repeated ; for in this matter of the despo-
tism displayed by England towards Hindostan,
the words have, in truth, a really frightful ap-
plication.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.-(THIS DAY.)

LEICESTER.

The committee to inquire into the petition against the
return of the sitting members for this borough sat this
morning for the first time in committee-room No. 5 ;
Mr. Divett, chairman.

Mr. Sergeant Kinglake appeared in support of the
petition, and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins on behalf of the
sitting members.
_ _

Mr-. Sergeant Kinglake, in opening the case, said that
the petition was based upon the existence of a syste-
matic course of bribery and corruption at the last elec-
tion. No fixed sums had been paid, but a large sum
had been expended in small doles. A man of the name
of Moore had been promised something handsome by Potts if he would vote' for Walmesley and Gardi-
ner, and it was hinted that it would not be less than a
sovereign. The learned Sergeant was proceeding with
his address when our report left.