The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-11 00:00:00

T E SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, INNUARY 11. 1811.

numbers among the men ascending the breach ; many of
the leading men were shot dead on the breach, and after
a desperate struggle to force an entrance into the fort,
they were with great judgment withdrawn by the of
commanding the party to the cover afforded by the adja-
cent ravine, where they remained till I issued orders for
their recall, intending to renew the attack when it might
be made by a combined movement against the breach,
gateway, and wicket, with better chances of success.

The
1 enemy, notwithstanding every precaution was
taken to intercept them, succeeded in escaping from the
fort before 7 e 3t., and at that hour our troops took pos-
session of it. I
am now taking measures for its destruc-
___

tion.
It is with feelings of the deepest regret that I re-
cord the loss sustained in our unsuccessful attack. The
coolness and spirit displayed by the officers and men of
the storming party demand my warmest thanks, and I
cannot express the mortification I experienced in seeing
their notate exertions baffled 'Air n on the point of being
crowned with SUCCC3S.
To Lieutenant-Colonel Tronson, commanding the
storming party, I ain greatly indebted for his gallant exe-
cution of the important duty committed to him. lie was
rif.bly seconded by Brevet-Major Kershaw of her Majesty's
13th light infantry, whose exertions to surmount the nu-
merous obstacles which impeded the advance were con-
spicuous. The crest of the breach was at one time at-
tained by four officers of her Majesty's 13th light infantry
—Brevet-Major Kershaw, Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood,
Lieutenants Edward King and George Wade, and I beg
to express my high admiration of their zeal and gallantry.
Captain Abbott and Lieutenant Warburton distin-
guished themselves in the service of the artillery, and their
performance of the duty on which they were engaged me-
rited my warmest approbation.
I beg to bring to your favourable notice the assistance I
derived from Captain Wade, of her Majesty's 13th Light
infantry, my B.igade-Major, for the efficiency and atten-
tion displayed by him in carrying my wishes into effect
throughout the service.
Captain Raban, 48th native infantry, Commissariat Offi-
cer, also gave me high satisfaction in officiating as my Aid -
de-camp during the day, and Mr. Wheeler, whose ser..
vices I have already had occasion to bring to your notice,
on this occasion was conspicuous for the steadiness and
promptness with which he conveyed my orders under a
harassing fire.
I have again to bring to your favourable consideration the
able and valuable assistance rendered me by Captain San-
ders, Chief Engineer, with the force.-_I have, &c.
IL SALE, Major-General, Commanding
Field Force in Kohistan.

From Lieutenant Colonel Tronson, Commanding her Ma-
jesty's 13th Light Infantry, to Sir Robert Sale.
Camp, Oct. 3, 1840, 8 P. M.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that having been
placed in command of the storming party this day, con-
sisting of five companies of her Majesty's 13th light infan-
try, under Brevet-Major Kershaw, and of detach-
ments of the 27th and 37th native infantry, com-
manded by Capain Rind, of the 37th, the party
proceeded with great regularity and spirit towards
the fort. On nearing the breach we were assailed
by a quick and destructive fire, through which, gallantly
led by their officers, the party rushed up the breach,
which was crowned by officers and men, in the face of a
close and deadly fire ; the crest of the breach was gallantly
held under this destructive fire for a considerable time by
Brevet- Major Kershaw, Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood,
Lieutenant Edward King, and Lieutenant G. Wade, with
Sergeant-Major Airey. The gallantry of those officers,
with their men, called forth at the moment the admiration
and cheers of all their comrades. Finding the breach
totally impracticable, I placed the party under immediate
cover, and subsequently withdrew them to a ravine, await-
ing the orders of the Major-General.

The best consolation and reward of all who were en-
gaged will be the innate conviction of each individual hav-
ing to the utmost gallantly done this duty. But as the
commander of this party, I feel bound to render my wann-
est eulogium and thanks to men and officers engaged, more
particularly to Major Kershaw, whose exertions and gal-
lantry throughout were most conspicuous. I have great
pleasure in acknowledging the exertions of Captain Ind
and his Adjutant Ensign Mayne, 37th native infantry, with
their detachments of the 27th and 37th.

I enclose a list of killed and wounded, which I very
deeply regret to find so serious, among them we have lost
our must respected and gallant Sergeant-Major, who nobly
fell at the summit of the breach.
I have, &c.,
E. J. TRONSON,
Lieut.-Colonel and Major 13th Light Infantry.

Numerical Return of the killed, wounded, and missing of
the Troops, on Field Service, under the command of
Major-General Sir R. H. Sale, K. C. 8., at the Storm
of the Fort of Julgar, on the morning of the 3d Oc-
tober, 1840.

Camp, Julgar, October 3, 1840.
Engineers—l private wounded.
Artillery-1 private, 1 horse, 1 yaboo, wounded.
H.M. 13th Light Infantry-1 sergeant, 12 privates,
killed ; 1 staff. 3 sergeants, 2 corporals, 12 privates,
wounded.—Name of the officer wounded, Lieutenant
and Adjutant Wood, slightly.
27th Regt. N. 1.-1 drummer, 1 sepoy, wounded.
37th Rogt. N. L-2 sepoys killed; 1 bavildar, 2 naicks,
7 sepoys, wounded.
Shah's Artillery-1 soobadar wounded.
Total-1 sergeant, 2 sepoys, 1 staff, 1 sooba-
dar, 3 sergeants, 1 havildar, 2 corporals, 2 naicks, 1
drummer, 14 privates, 8 sepoys, 1 horse, 1 yahoo,
wounded.

K. SALE, Major-General, Commanding
at Koliistan.

From Sir Willoughby Cotton to the Secretary to thc
Government of India.
Affghanistan, Head Quarters, Camp, Cahoot,
Aug. 22, 1840.
Sir,—l have the honour to forward, for the information
of the Right Honourable the Governor-General, the an-
nexed copy of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler,
commanding at Kudjah, reporting the attack and punish-
ment of some refractory chiefs in the neighbourhood.
I have the honour to be, &c.
W. COTTON, Major-General,
Commanding the troops in Affgbanistan.

From Lieutienant- Colonel Wheeler, C. 8., Commanding
at Kudjah, to Captain
,Douglas, Assistant- Adjutant
General.

Camp, Kudjah, Aug. 19. 1840.
Sir,— I have the honour to report that, in conjunction
with Captain Macgregor, Political Agent at this post, I
quitted camp this morning at day-break, with a six-pounder
of his Majesty Shah Shooja's artillery, a detail of the Ist
European regiment, consisting of two captains, two lieute-
nants, one ensign, five sergeants and eighty-five rank and file,
a de:ail of the 48th regiment of native infantry, consist-
ing of four lieutenants, one ensign, three sobadars, lour
jemadars, three drummers, and 319 rank and file, to
punish one of the chiefs of the Wuzaree Valley, who had
fired on Capt. Macgregor and myself last night, whilst
making a reconnoissance.
There was great difficulty and delay in bringing the
gun to the scene of operations.
We were assailed with a sharp fire from a fort on our
left flank as we advanced, and again by a small fort im-
mediately commanding the principal object of the move-
ment.

1 his fort was carried in fine style by the grenadier
company of the 48th regiment of native infantry, under
Lieut. Paterson, after which we ran the gun up to the
gate of the larger one and blew it open.
After resting the men, and serving out cartridges,
I moved on the fort which had annoyed our flank.
Three companies 48th native infantry in extended order,
moved in such steady yet rapid style that it was carried
before the gun could come up. After collecting the de-
tachment here we turned on a very strong little fort from
which we had been annoyed, but they had had such a
lesson that they would not wait for us, but fled, leaving the
gate open.
This was executed by 8 A.st., and I cannot sufficiently
express the admiration which the bold and steady conduct
of all engaged excited, the native troops fully vying w
their it uropean brethren.
To Lieutenant Combe, detachment staff, I am much in-
debted; and I beg to bring to the notice of the Major-
General Commanding, the praiseworthy conduct of Dr.
Nisbet, who was most zealous in the discharge of his pro-
fessional duties, for which I regret to say there were many
calls.

I have the honour to enclose a casualty list, and though
I regret its extent, I can scarcely pronounce it heavy con-
sidering the service performed.
Captain Macgregor will no doubt explain to the satis-
faction of the Envoy and Minister the necessity uudt r
which this movement was made; I can but add that I
most fully =cur in his views, and feel that had we not
attacked these evil disposed chiefs, they would have at.
tacked us at night, as they had threatened, and that with-
out the slightest provocation on our part.
I should be guilty of great ingratitude if I did not bear
the fullest testimony to the gallant bearing of Captain
Macgregor, who, with his usual zeal, laid the gun on every
occasion, and always with the happiest effect.

I have, &C.
H. M. WHEELER, Lieutenant-ColonQl,
Commanding at Kudjah.

Numerical Return of the Men of the Honourable Com-
pany's Ist European Regiment and the 48th Regiment
Native Infantry, who were killed and wounded at the
Storming of the Forks in the Vicinity of Kudjah.
Camp, Kudjah, August 19, 1840
Ist European Regt.-1 lieutenant, 1 corporal, 6 privates
48th Regt. N. 1.-2 havildars, 6 sepoys.
H. M. Shah Shooja's Artillery—l jemedar, 1 sepoy.
Total—l lieutenant, 1 jemedar, 2 havildars, 1 corpo-
ral, 6 privates, 7 sepoys.
N.B. One. private Ist European regiment killed, not
included ; one sepoy 48th N. I. wounded, since dead.

Sir Willoughby Cotton to the Secretary to the Govern-
ment of India.
Affghanistan, Head Quarters, Camp Cabool,
August 27, 1840.

Sir,—l have the honour to forward, for the information
of the Right Hon, the Governor-General, a copy of a
letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler, commanding at
Kudjah, giving a further detail of his operations
against the Wuzzoerces in his neighbourhood on
the morning of the 19th instant, together with
an account. as far as can be ascertained, of the loss of
the enemy on the occasian ; information which was omit-
ted in his former, apparently hurried, despatch, which was
forwarded with my letter No. 67, of the 22d instant.
I beg to state that Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler's dispo-
sitions for the attack appear to me to hare been highly
judicious, and to have been followed up with a spirit and
gallantry which has led to results highly creditable to the
officers and men engaged, and greatly beneficial to the
public interests in that quarter; and that I have expressed
to the Lieutenant-Colonel and the troops under his com-
mand, the sense I entertain of the satisfactory manner in
which this sery:ce has been performed. I beg that you

bring the same, in the strongest terms, to the notiee-cf
the Right Hon, the Goveroor-Gencral.
I have the honour to be, Sir, y(:ur most obedient ervant,
W. COTTON, Major-General,
Commanding the troops Affghanistan.

From Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler to Captain
J. D. Douglas.
reply to your CNaom. pKu
4 1 9 ofdj at
Aug.2lst 2.1,in 8t.1,140.
have
the honour to state, for the information of the Major-Ge-
ncr.ll Commanding, that I tru,t the following, with my
former despatch, will place the whole operations of the
morning clearly before him.
There is a large isolated hill about three quarters of a
mile long at this end of the Wozeree valley, its nearest
point being about two miles from my camp ; the first
fort taken is on the declivity of this h,ll at the further
end, and the second about fifty yards distant, at the ba..ae
and clear of the hill. The road or rather path led along
the bottom of the bill on the left side.
My dispositions s, 'ere as follows :—The light company
48th native infantry, under Ensign Champion, crowned
the hill and moved triflingly in advance of the column
in close order, until within 150 yards of the first fort
a hen I extended it, and it then advanced without firing,
bringing up its right so as to outflank the fort on that side.
The 6th company 48th native infantry was thrown out
in extended order on my left flank and cleared the high
corn fields, from which a sharp fire had been opened br
the enemy, and continued to advance until they reached
within fifty yards of the second fort.
The main column moved along the path at the base of
the bill. The European detail leading, followed by the
detachment 48th, dragging the gun, the bullocks having
been taken out full three hundred yards from the fort.
On the head of the column arriving within forty yards
of the forts, a heavy fire was opened by the European de-
tail, light company, and 6th company, 48th native infantry,
on the turrets and walls of the two forts, which effectually
kept down the enemy's fire ; during which I got the gun
into a favourable position on the side of the hilt above the
smaller fort. Finding that it could not be brought to
beer on the gate of the smaller fort, I directed Lieutenant
Paterson to concentrate as heavy a volley as he could close
on the gate ; this had the desired effect, shook the gate,
and enabled the grenadiers of the 48th, under that officer,
to force it, and carry the fort in beautiful style, bayone.ing
all in it.

I have in my dispatch stated how the second fort was
taken; namely, the Seepahees, DOW aided by some Euro•
peans, dragged the gun to the gateway, which was at once
burst open, and in rushed the gallant fellows I had the
honour of commanding.
The third fort, and the gardens and fields around it, were
crowded with men; the light company extended was
thrown out in advance to the right, another company to the
left, and a third in the centre. The gun and column fol-
loa (excepting a garrison of 40 men left in the forts
taken) these three companies advanced in so steady yet
brisk a manner that I found myself with them close under
the walls ; and made a dash at the gate, which was found
open, and the fort evacuated.
The capture of the fourth fort I have already described,
and I must now add two more to the list, one evacuated,
close to the second assailed, and the sixth surrendered on
terms.

The enemy was in great force, but the rapidity of our
movements induced many to remain aloof, ready to give ef-
fc ctual aid had an opportunity offered ; their loss is heavy :
as far as can be ascertained, three chiefs are killed, also
two of their near relations, and about twenty-three men ;
one chief of considerable consequence very badley wounded
and about forty men; with the exception of the chiefs, I
beg particularly to state that there is no certain informa-
-1 ion regarding the loss of the enemy, though all admit it to
bare been great.

I have now the honour to enclose a casualty roll, show-
ing two more men of the 48th native infantry, who were
wounded, but thought so little of it that it had never been
reported, even by themselves, until they were compelled
to go to hospital for their cure.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
H. M. WHEELER, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Commanding at Kudjah.
N. B. The enemy had made small round holes in the
bottom of the ramparts, opposite the gates, through which
they made their egress from the forts. The want of a
body of horse was much felt.

H. M. WHEELER.

Return of killed and wounded of the Detachment under
the Command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler, C. 8.,
in the action of the 19th of August, 1840.
Camp, Kudjah, August 24, 1840.
Ist European Regiment—One private killed ; Lieu-
tenant W. J. Parker, :severely wounded ; one corporal
slightly; four privates severely, one since dead; two
slightly.
48th Regiment N. 1.-2 havildars severely wounded ;
I sepoy mortally wounded, since dead ; 2 sepoys severely
wounded ; 5 sepoys slightly wounded.
H. M. Shah Shoojah's Artillery-1 jemedar slightly
wounded.

TI e Governor of Bombay in Council to the Secret Com-
mittee.
Bombay Castle, Nov. 30, 18-10.
The Honourable the Governor received late last night
copies of documents confirmatory of the intelligence of the
re-occupation of Kelat, without opposition, on the 2d inst.

Major-General Nott to Captain Douglas.
Camp, Kelat, November 9, 1840.
(Extract.)
. .

I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of
Major. General Sir Willoughby Cotton, G. C.B. and
K. C. H., commanding in Affgbanistan, that the troops
under my command this morning entered and took posses.
sion of the town and citadel of Kelut. The rebel chiefs
evacuated this strong fortress on the approach of the Bri-
tish force.

1,:om Sir William Macnaghten, Bart., Envoy and Minis-
ter at the Court of Shah Shooja, to the Secret Com-
mittee.

Cabool, November 4, 1340.

Co
I have the honour to transmit, for the information of your
Honourable Board, the accompanying copy of a letter,
this day written by me to the Officiating Secretary to the
Government of India in the Secret Department.
(Signed) W. H. MACNAGHTEN.

Sir Willliam Macnaghten to the Secretary to the
Government of India,
(Extract.)
I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information
of the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India.
in Council, that Dost Mahomed Khan, the Ex-Chief of
Cabool, surrendered himself to MC yesterday evening.
I was returning from my evening tide and, within a few
yards of my own residence in the citadel, when a single
hterseman* galloped up to me, and having satisfied himself
that I was the Envoy and Minister, told me that Dust
Mahomed Khan was arrived and sought my protection.
Dost Mahomed Khan neie up to me and alighted
frcm his horse ; after the usual salutations I begged
him to mount again, and we proceeded together to my
residence in the Compound, in which I have pitched a
tent for the ex-Chief, and have provided him with every-
thing necessary for his comfort. lie assured ma he had
not been off hie horse for twenty-four hours, yet he showed
but little symptoms of fatigue, and his self-possession was
vtry remarkable. He put his sword into toy hand as a
token of submission, but I at once returned it to him, and
he seemed grateful for this mark of confidence. lie asked
about his family, and at his own suggestion, and in my pre-
sence, lie wrote letters to his son Mahomed Afzul Khan,
and to his two sons, whose escape from Ghuznee was re-
cently reported, desiring them to come in immediately, as
he himself had confided in my protection, and been honour-
ably received.
Having thus briefly described the circumstances attend-
ing the surrender of Dpst Mahomed Khan, I trust it msy
be permitted me to congratulate your Lordship in Council
on the happy event, which affords the best security for the
future peace of this distracted country.
On the day before yesterday the detachment under
the command of Major-General Sir Robert Sale,
K.C. 8., fell in with Dost Mahomed Khan's army
at Purwur, and dispersed it, the particulars of
which occurrence will be teported to his Lordship in
Council, by Major-General Sir W. Cotton, G. C. B. and
K.C.H.t Dost Mahomed Khan must have come into
Cabot)l direct from the field of battle'without the know.
ledge of any of his adherents. Immediately before my
meeting with the ex-Chief, I had received a letter from
Sir A. Burnes, reporting that it was unknown in what di-
rection Dust Mahomed had proceeded, announcing the
intention of himself and Sir Robert Sale to return to Ca-
hoot immediately.
I need not say bow deeply l'feel indebted to Sir A.
Burnes for the assistance he has rendered to me during
the recent trying crisis.
To the zealous co-operation of Major-General Sir
Willoughby Cotton, I feel myself mainly indebted for the
happy result now communicated ; but I feel, at the same
time, that all our endeavours would have been vain but for
the decisive and vigorous policy adopted by the Governor-
General in Council.

This horseman afterwards proved to be Sultan Maho-
med Khan, of Najrod, whose name I have frequently had
occasion to bring to the notice of his Lordship in Coon-
cil, as an active intriguer in favour of the ex-Chief,
t 1 have to lament the loss of my assistant, 111 r. I'.
B. Lord, who was, unfortunately killed in this affair. Ills
Lordship in Council is too well acquainted with the zeal
and abilities of the deceased officer to require any culogium
from me.

HORRIBLE MURDER AND MUTILATION OF
A CIIILD.—About half-past one o'clock on Friday after-
noon, as Captain Prescott, of Park-street, Walworth, was
crossing Waterloo-bridge, accompanied by Mr. Thomas
Seymour-place, Walworth, his attention
brown-paper parcel lying on the parapet
walithin the balustrades. The outside wrapper
of
Isaac,
wasat drawn
ahce borfi to
bridge, 5.
was a piece of brown paper, the next a napkin, and then
came a stout linen sheet, which, upon being opened, dis-
covered the body of a full-grown male child, apparently
about four or five days old, and evidently born alive. 'The
andh
head was seovenreednffrothme the body,
in which the child wasody, as also were the legs
wrapped was found narked 4, W. H. No. 1." The re-
mains were conveyed in the sheet in which they were
found to the residence of Mr. flavors, the parish surgeon
of Lambeth, No. 13, Im-k-road, but that gentleman has
not yet had an opportunity of making more than a cursory
isitirsupe body
clitniroinst were
oo
futhseembut he discovered that some portions
of thenthir utmost endeavours to discover the
wanting, and the police have received in-
missing parts. Itis
wsomewhasingulart
erod ao d sthuabtseMqure.nfloyavceurst
was engaged in examining the remains of the unfortunate
tHoapnirealchesi3bryowGT who
eenacre- Up to a late hour on Friday the
police had obtained no clue to the unnatural perpetrator
of the atrocity.
We have to announce the munificent gift of 211.
by the Hon. G. P. S. Smythe to the fund now in course
of collection in Canterbury for the benefit of our poor
fellow-citizens at this inclement season of the year.—Ken-
-1 tuft Gazette.

THIERS BEFORE THE CHAM-

BERS.

(Prom the Allg;mcine Zeiteng
it is dillieult to determine, from the party rage of
he French Journals, or the endless debates in the
Chamber, the degree of imputation chick belongs to
o.ie or the other NFinstry during the different phases of
the discussion. Where truth might in some degree be
respected in the words of individual?, passion seeks to
..listort them from the plainest sense by the most arbi-
trary suppositions. Upon this comes also the purposely
listorted sense in the extracts of the Journals. It has
tiready been remarked, that one must necessarily read
he official Moniteur, for fear of finding printed the
direct contrary of what has been spoken. What, how-
ever, every where presents itself from this chaos, is the
want of principle of right. Principles of right are
relating to the France of the present day—advantage
everything ; and yet upon such a foundation only

one policy—subterfuge of the moment—is possible.
A bottomless contradiction arose in the French system
,vhen the Sultan and the Pacha were regarded In the
tiosition towards one another of Power to Power.
Mehemet Ali must first become a Power by the Tree-
ies—by the position which the Conference in London
!lad still to mediate. What would the French answer

if the same precisely similar case were applied to Mar-
shal Valee instead of Mehemet Ali—to Algiers instead
'f Egypt—to Franco instead of the Ottoman Empire?
Would a fortunate rebellion have given rights to the
Marshal, and have made Algiers his empire ? And yet
the earlier address already spoke of " new rights which
were placed under the protection of France." Facts,
but no rights. Would England perchance have been
authorised to take Marshal Valee's new rights under her
protection ? It was wished into the bargain to attain
two irreconcilable objects—the integrity of the Ottoman
Empire, for the preservation of which the collective
ante of the :29th July, 139, was decided upon
—and the independence of Mehemet Ali in the
,retire extent of his factitious possession, which ob-
ject was again renounced in London. If it is to be
.node a reproach to all the French Ministries toge-
:her, to have shared more or less in this error, of
this point de depart, the exclusive blame of having
joined to this false principle the perfidy of the means,
ielongs to M. niers alone. If M. Thiers is followed
through the meandering crookedness of his long clever

ipvecf,es, one is astonished at the cynicism with which
he lets appear, out of the confusion of sophistical dialec-
tic, the true reasons which influenced him, and for
the sake of which he played so thoughtless, not to
,ay reckless, a game with the national, feeling of
France—with its financial resources, and with the
peace of the world. if we inquire into the object of
the French measures in these weighty affairs, we seek

them in vain in the wish for the preservation of the in-
tearity of the Ottoman Empire, of the general peace,
andt of the European balance. Yes, the ground why
France alone withdrew from the wishes of the Four
Powers—why M. Thiers sounded the war trumpet, and
launched a burning torch into the world, was not even
an interest is Mehemet Ali. Hear his own words—

" France was unfortunate in her earlier diplomatic
transactions ; her policy was unfortnnate in Belgium,
unfortunate in Italy, unfortunate in Spain, and there-
fore the Egyptian question was welcome as a desirable
opportunity of recovering from the political defeats
.he had suffered." And subsequently—" Cette grande
question d'Orient ou vous vous etiez promis de briller
pour vous dedommager de vos malheurs in Belgique,
[tali*'," &c. So that, in order that France might dis-
tinguish herself, M. Thiers would run the chance of a

general war ! The hollow contortions of the foulest
national vanity grinned behind this frightful possibi-
lity—" Je savais hien que peut-etre faire
couler le sang de dix generations,"—and can any one
venture to think thus ? Nay, it is even dared, upon
such pitiable grounds, to declare it before the Cham-
bers, before Europe, and it is thought the world must
approve of such doctrines ! In reference to the inte-
grity of the Porte, which France had guaranteed by
the signature of the collective note, M. Thiers feels no
other duty imposed upon him than to take care " that
the provinces which detached themselves from the
Ottoman empire should become independent States."
M, Thiers is equally open about his objects as about
his means, and if men of action are the first to reject,
those of council will have little cause to rOnaire them.
Let us hear once more M. Thiers ipsissinta verba " la
temporisation etait le seul systeme a suivre.' After
this general confession we need be no longer surprised
that in the meanwhile the negotiations at Cairo and
Constantinople, at London as at Vienna, led to no re-
sults. It was absolutely not desired to come to a solu-
tion of the question ; it was not only meant to hold back
the Powers by dissimulation till the year 1841, till when
M. Thiers wished to put off the decision and then pre•
scribe laws at the bead of 939,000 men. These are
M. Tiller's own declarations—and in them we seek in
vain the wisdom of a great Minister. A Chatham, a
Pitt, a Canning, a Grey, would sooner have laid them-
selves in their grave than have gone before Parlia-
ment with such a niaiserie (the German word sounds too
true), and an English Parliament would scarcely have
listened to them without anger. Although in all the
stadia of the proceedings, in the premises as well as in
the consequences, we see M. Thiers in a false calcula-
tion, still we must be astonished at the thoughtlessness
which could believe that the Allied Powers would dose
away this time inactive. It was the same presumptuous
thoughtlessness that held it possible that the Powers in
London would, presume to make stipulations with each
ether to which France refused her consent ; the same
thoughtlessness which gave in to the almost wilful de-
ception, in reference to the power of Mehemet Ali, and
was of opinion that the Allied Powers would quietly
wait till M. Thiers cried out " Now I am ready."
These (the Powers) have answered to this insulting
supposition by accomplished facts ; and the long
grossesse of M. Thiers, who intended to hear his child
till May, 1841, has ended in a miscarriage—and yet is
M. Thiers cried up as a man of immense talent. Facts
have not justified this opinion. How is it to be ex-
plained that a mind, so fertile in expedients, should
in reality play so pitiable a part, for, in truth, it
would not be easy for a distinguished man to have
more wretchedly fallen ? Such, however, in the long run,
is the fate of all unprincipled statesmen who ap-
peal to the passions of the many instead of to the
judgment of men of reflection. It is a dangerous game
to play au plus
.fin even for a good head ; the momen-
tary advantages gained are usually lost in a general
bankruptcy ! For France, this circumstance is a fortu-
nate one in any case, and we congratulate her ; she has
withdrawn from a false position in which it is true she
stood from the beginning, but which M. Thiers had
rendered totally untenable. She had surmounted the
most dangerous position by the firmness of the King,
the support of the Chambers, and the dignified position
assumed by the new Ministry towards the foreign
Powers and their own factions, in placing itself once
more on the long forsaken field of right, and counselled
die Paella to accept the grace of his Sovereign. On
this ground she will meet the rest of Europe, and renew
the torn bands of union and trust under more favour-
able circumstances. If France never separates her in-
terests from this principle of right, she will never fail to
possess that weight in the European balance—to exer-
cise that influence—to obtain that regard--which her
rank amongst the great Powers forbids should be refused
to her on any occasion."

PROGRESS OF PENNY POSTAGE

The penny postage, which it was prophesied would
not pay its expenses, has yielded 441,009/. net revenue
in the first year of its experiment. So that, judging
from the revenue returns of Post-office expenses already
published, and making an allowance for increased ex-
penditure occasioned by the extended use of railways,
the first annual gross receipts under the new system
have been more than half' the annual receipts under the
old. A Correspondent of the Chronicle " presumes"—
and quite erroneously, we believe—that the receipts for
postage collected by stamps have not been included in
the quarter's returns of the Post-office revenue ; and
seems to regard the total receipts of the year with some
alarm. It is true that the net revenue has been nearly
stationary during the year, whilst the letters have steadily
increased. We believe the explanation given by the
Globe of this apparent contradiction is correct :
Everybody is aware, that under the old system few
letters were paid in advance ; but that since the intro-
duction of penny postage, owing to the additional charge
on unpaid letters, a great change in this respect has
taken place, and that now very few indeed are paid on
delivery. This change, however, has been gradual.
Immediately after the commencement of the penny pos-
tage, the number of inland letters paid on delivery was
probably about 20 per cent. of the whole : now it is, we
believe, less than 5 per cent. ; early in the year, there-
fore, 20 per cent., and at the end of the year only 5
per cent. of the whole correspondence, was charged
double postage : and it is manifest that unless the num-
ber of letters had in the meantime increased at least 15
per cent., the revenue must have fallen."
Another explanation is found in the increased ex-
penses arising from the extension of railway conveyance ;
which have diminished the net revenue. Thus, nearly
simultaneous with cheap postage, the public has had
greatly accelerated conveyance of its letters.
We hear the recent reduction in the fees of money-
orders has proved quite successful. The numbers in
London arc reported to have three folded in less than
two months.—Spectator.

THE NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE.--The com-
mencement of the erection of this new edifice may ha said
to have taken place, as, on Monday morning, at seven, the
workmen commenced laying the concrete for the founda-
tions in a large excavated spot adjacent to Cornhill. The
concrete, which is chiefly river ballast and ground lime,
will be 5 feet deep at an excavation of 19 feet, and the
whole bed, when completed, will be an area of 170 feet by
300 feet. Tho substratum is good, and no fear can be
entertained for the security of the foundation, There
were employed on Thursday 60 labourers in laying the con-
crete, 64 occupied in ground-digging, and 26 occupied in
cleansing bricks. There are also 120 teams employed in
bringing in ballasts