The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-23 00:00:00

EVENING, DECEMBER 23, 1847.

• DINNER TO LORD HARDINGE.
Sant, OCT. 26.—Lord Gough's farewell dinner to
Lord Hardinge took place here yesterday evening,
when when about fifty gentlemen of the society at
Simla assembled to do honour to the occasion.
On the cloth being removed, the following toasts
were given by the Commander-in-Chief ;-
Ist. "The Queen—God bless her."
2d. " Prince Albert and the Royal Family."
3d. " The Honourable the Court of Directors—our
enlightened, just, and liberal masters."
4th. The COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF next rose to pro-
pose the toast of the evening. His Lordship com-
menced by expressing his conviction that the toast
would be received with enthusiasm, and regretted his
inability to do it the justice his feelings dictated, but
he felt persuaded it would he hailed with an animated
warmth that would compensate for any deficiency of
language on his part. ' Gentlemen, the Commander-
in-Chief said, I am about to propose to you the health
of a nobleman under whose wise and firm government
this mighty empire has been consolidated and raised to
a pitch of glory such as it never attained to under any of
his Lordship's predecessors, glorious as are the deeds
recorded in Indian history. The most formidable
enemy with which we have had to contend, equally
gallant and brave as formidable—has been completely
subdued, and the supremacy of British power, all
over this vast hemisphere, has been so firmly esta-
blished as, humanly speaking, not to be shaken. A
rich acquisition of territory has been added to our
possessions, and the glory of the army of India stands
pre-eminently forward, and shines brighter than at
any former period of its history. I am aware, gen-
tlemen, his Lordship went on to say, that some have
questioned the policy of my Noble Friend in not
having annexed the territory of our late powerful
but now fallen foe, to our already widely extended
dominions ; such, undoubtedly, would have shed a
lustre on the conclusion of a war long looked for by
both the politician and the soldier ; but, gentlemen,
a self-sacrifice such as Lord Hardinge's policy dic-
tated, founded on enligtened principles, is amongst
the most commendable of human achievements.
His Excellency remarked that these great results
had been obtained by Lord Hardinge when separated
from, and unaided by, the advice and experience
of his able colleagues of the Council of India. He then
proceeded to advert to, as coming more immediately
under his observation as Commander-in-Chief, the
benefits conferred on the army of India, and which he
said were too numerous to particularise in prefacing
a toast. But, said the Noble Lord, they are such as
will long live in the memory of the Indian army as
proofs of his Lordship's philanthropy, policy, and
liberality. These acts, gentlemen, have not only be-
nefited the living, by raising the character and posi-
tion of the native soldier, and by giving the native
officer, when wounded, those advantages previously
restricted to the European, but the philanthropy or
Lord Hardinge has also taken within its sphere the
widows and the orphans of those officers and soldiers,
European and native, who have fallen in the service of
their country on the field of glory. These, gentle-
men, his Lordship continued, are no ordinary boons—
they will not lose by comparison with any that have
been before granted to this noble army. Referring
to the campaign on the Sutledge, his Lordship
said, it is known, and will be recorded as an act
of which only such characters as Lord Hardinge
are capable, that his Lordship did me the ho-
nour to act as my second in the battle of Ferozeshu
hur. In my public dispatches I faintly attempted to
express my weight of obligation to the Governor-
General. I say faintly, because no language could
adequately convey my sense of the assistance I ex-
perienced from his Lordship, not only on that mo-
mentous occasion, but throughout the whole of the
military operations on the Sutledge, which reflects
such imperishable renown on the army of India.
Gentlemen, Lord Hardinge and I have campaigned
together in Europe, under the leading of the great
captain of the age—side by side in India we have
shared the same dangers, the same privations, and
the same anxieties—and side by side we have passed
the night on the battle-field, when the fate of British
India was the stake at issue. These, gentlemen, are
no common bonds of union between my Gallant
Friend and myself ; and I will venture to assert that
our official relations with one anather have been
characterised by a cordiality as thorough as
ever existed between any of our predecessors
in office. But not to detain, to too late an
hour, the Noble Lord, who would leave Simla early
in the morning, Lord Gough said he would confine
himself to the relation of one fact, but little known,
that it was to Lord Hardinge his gallant comrades of
the Company's service owed their admission to the
distinguished and honourable post of Aides-de-Camp
to the Sovereign ; and he (Lord Gough) ventured to
predict, that if antecedent to his connexion with India,
his Noble Friend Lord Hardinge had so successfully
exerted himself for the advantage of his countrymen
in the East, the Indian community of all classes and
of all services would have in his Lordship, on his re-
turn to England, an effective, a zealous, a warm
advocate. Gentlemen, his Excellency concluded, 1
call on you now to drink, with all the honours, to the
health of our honoured Governor-General, Lord
Hardinge ; may he in safety reach his native land,
here may even higher honours yet await him than a
generous Sovereign and a grateful country have yet
bestowed upon him ; and may health, happiness, and
prosperity, through life attend him and all who are
near and dear to him.
After the deafening cheers with which the toast
was received had subsided, the GOVERNOR GENERAL
rose and commenced his reply by stating that he felt
very sensibly the honour which the Commander-in-
Chief and the officers present had conferred upon him,
by the cordial manner in which his health had been
proposed and received, and he sincerely thanked
them. He observed that this was the last evening
he should pass at Simla; that separations were inevi
table, and that he could not pass this evening more
happily than in the society of his gallant comrades of
the Army of the Sutledge. The Commander-in
Chief had alluded to the annexation of the Punjaub.
Without entering upon the policy of that question,
he would merely say that as an object of persona.
ambition, he had cheerfully made the sacrifice which
his duty required, although it would have been high].)
satisfactory to him to have planted the British sten
dard on the banks of the Indus. General tranquillity
prevailed throuhout the Punjaub, and in the memors
of man that country had never been so quiet. Ile
looked forward with confidence, that this state
of peace throughout India gained by the valour
of the army, led by their intrepid Commander-in.
Chief, would be permanent, and would produce results.
which would rapidly advance the prosperity of this
great empire ; and if this be so, said the Noble Lord,
You, gentlemen, as British officers and enlightened
men, will rejoice with me that the triumphs of was
have been made subservient to objects of civilization
—that your exertions have promoted the happiness of
your fellow-creatures, and that the safety, or, l
should rather say, supremacy of British India, has
been secured by the heroic deeds of the army ; and
her Majesty's dominions placed in the proud position
of being able to defy all aggressorsßut where is
the aggressor to come from ? The Gwalior army no
longer exists, and the Seikh army is reduced to 20,000
regular troops and 8,000 irregular cavalry, and these
troops, formerly so mutinous anc arrogant, are now
as subordinate as our own ; and are patiently per-
forming all the outpost duties beyond the Indus.
This day he had received a report that a Seikh force of
1,000 men under Major Lawrence had subdued some
refractory tribes in the mountains beyond Peshawur,
on which occasion the Seikhs conducted themselves
most admirably. On this frontier, his Noble Friend
the Commander-in-Chief has under his command
50,000 men, and 120 field guns, an army renowned
for its achievements throughout Asia ; and this force
is most efficient, after very large reductions have
been made, exceeding 50,000 men of all classes ;
the redaction in expense exceeding one million
sterling a year, exclusive of half a million which the
ceded territory pays. He therefore trusted that
before twelve months passed over the heads of those
who heard him, to see the commencement of a rail-
way from Calcutta to Delhi, and other great works
in rapid progress, which the preparations for war, and
the war itself, had so long arrested. The Noble Lord,
the Commander-in-Chief, had alluded to the benefits
conferred upon the army of India during the last
three years. It had certainly been his (the Go-
vernor-General's) endeavour to do what was right
and proper, well knowing that the discipline of
an army depends upon its contentment, and that it
is truer policy to be a free and cheerful giver, than
to begrudge what is just, or to defer it till the boon
has lost its grace. But in all these measures he had
received the co-operation of the military secretary to
the Government of India, Colonel Sturt, and the
sanction of the Court of Directors, who were always
liberally disposed towards the civil and military seir-
vices. The army deserved all the benefits at the
hands of the Government. The officers were
and devoted, and the East India CompaPyac,a,ne boast
of of possessing as many accomplished acind DI
as to the Se-
as are to be found in any service ;
hthisemcolionuft!s
poys, what army in the world can excel
delity and zeal ; not a single man
after the enemy had crossed the Sutledge out of the
garrison at Ferozepore, which exceededremark, that the
The Noble Lord said he might here
force at Ferozepore had been snore than doubled
during the year .1845, before the Seikh troops had
crossed the river, and so had every other frontier sta-
tion, including Meerut, Umballah, and Loodianah. Sir
John Littler commanded the force at Perozepore,and he
reported that he felt himself to be in a state of
security. That gallant officer confided in his troops
and they in him ; in fact, he had a force nearly double
in numbers to that with which the Duke of Welling-
ton fought the battle of Assaye. Sir John Littler
made the most able dispositions of his force. He oc-
cupied the town and citadel of Ferozepore, and the
entrenchments, and having made every possible ar- I

rangement, he moved out with 6,000 men and 21
pieces of field artillery, and formed his junction with
the Commander-in-Chief; without any risk, on the
21st of December. Again, when 10,000 men were
left at Lahore, after the conclusion of that war,
that officer relied on the fidelity of the Sepoys,
and he proved that there are no difficulties in oc-
.cupying a large city, which cannot be overcome by
judicious arrangement. But, in speaking of this
army, whose organization is the wonder and admi-
ration of European soldiers and statesmen, he must
state his opinion that the fewer the innovations
made in it the better ; and, when they are pro-
posed, they should only be carried into effect after
the most mature and vigilant scrutiny ; for, like all
instruments of highly tempered metal, the native
army required to be handed with skill and dexterity,
and, above all, their religious prejudices respected.
He had on former occasions expressed his grateful
acknowledgments, and those of the Government of
India, for the eminent services performed by the
general officers of the army. Sir Harry Smith, Sir
John Littler, Sir John Grey, Sir Jos. Thack well,
Sir Walter Gilbert, Brigadier Stacy, and Brigadier
Wheeler, and other valuable officers whose names are
honourably recorded in general orders. But, seeing
around him many of his gallant comrades, who ably
ldid their duty during the Sutledge campaign, he might
i be permitted, as this would be the last opportunity be
would have of expressing his regard for these gallant
men, to gratify his own feelings by briefly alluding
to some of those now present. His Lordship
begged to express his sense of the glorious
share which Colonel Cureton, the Adjutant- Ge-
neral of her Majesty's forces in India, had
in the battle of Aliwal. The 16th Lancers
and the Native Cavalry greatly distinguished them-
selves. He trusted that this gallant veteran would
long hold his honourable post of Adjutant- General,
in perfect health. The Quartermaster-General of
her Majesty's forces in India, Lieutenant-Colonel
Gough, after commanding a cavalry brigade with
great energy and marked success at Moodkee and
Ferozeshuhur, was severely wounded at Sobraon, and
was a worthy representative of the name he bears. It
was also to him ia most pleasing reflection to know
that he had concurred in the appointment of the
Adjutant-General of the army, who, after a trial of
18 months of peace and war, would, he could safely
say, do full justice to that most important post—
wounded severely at Moodkee, Lieutenant-Colonel
Grant was again at his post at Sobraon, although his
wounds were still cpen. The Noble Lord then ex-
pressed his sense of the merits of Lieutenant-Colonel
Garden, the Quartermaster-General of the army;
having served in the Quartermaster-General's depart-
ment himself during the Peninsular war, he knew its
lifficulties and its responsibilities in the field, and
he might be permitted to say no officer could
perform his duties better, or more skilfully, than
Lieut.-Colonel Garden. When suffering on the
22d of December, at Ferozeshuhur, from a severe
contusion, nothing could exceed his devotion to his
duty. The Noble Lord next thanked Lieutenant-
jolonel Birch, the Judge Advocate-General, for the
assistance he had given him, with so much coolness
and intrepidity on the morning of the 22d, wben, out
if eleven aides-de-camp, he had only one left who
was not disabled ; and he also thanked him for the
ability with which the new articles of war for the

lative army have been drawn up ; the details of which
ire due to the Lieutenant-Coloni 1. The Noble Lord
next alluded to the assistance he had received from
Colonel Sturt, the Military Secretary to the Govern-
ment, and expressed in animated terms his obligations
to Colonel Benson, a member of the Military Board,
who was as able in the duties of his department as he
was gallant in the field. He would now advert to one
)fficer of his personal staff, and he knew it would be
-atisfactory to that officer's comrades that he should
name him ; he alluded to the conduct of Lieutenant-
Colonel Wood, his Military Secretary, who, at mid-
night on the 21st of December, when her Majesty's
80th regiment, under Colonel Bunbury, and the
Ist Fusiliers, under Major Birrell, were ordered to
capture two or three Seikh guns which opened their
fire within a short distance of our troops, had, with
his usual energy and gallantry, accompanied the
troops, and was severely wounded in the execution of
that important duty ; but he must also add, that the
only occasion on which, before or since, his young
friend had manifested any approach to insubordina-
tion, was when, as Lord Gough knew, he declined to
leave the field, although, from the nature of his wound,
and his exhausted state, it was absolutely necessary
that he should do so. He was glad Lieutenant-Co-
lonel Alexander was present, and entertaining, as he
did, the highest respect for the admirable artillery of
the Company's army, and being well aware of the
Lieutenant-Colonel's services at Sobraon, he had
much pleasure in acknowledging his merits on
this occasion. He thanked Lieutenant-Colonel
Penny for his services at Sobraon, and eulogised
the Goorka Battalion. " And, now, gentle,men,"
said the Noble Lord, " allow me to propose to you
a toast which will be most welcome to you all—the
health of Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief of
the Indian Army. My Noble Friend has done me
the honour to allude to the assistance I afforded him
during the campaign, and especially during the night
of the 21st of December. It was a pleasure to me at
all times to second the efforts, and during that event-
ful night there was a cordial concurrence of opinion
between us, as to what ought to be done, namely,
to hold our ground—to wait till daylight—to attack
the enemy, and to beat him. I need not say to you,
gentlemen, with what success that decision was car-
ried into effect. The Noble Lord then said that he
had before recapitulated Lord Gough's brilliant ser-
vices in the presence of 150 officers assembled under
the very walls of Lahore, and would not, therefore,
repeat them; but the beautiful piece of plate, an
honourable testimonial now before him (pointing to
a silver vase), presented to Lord Gough by the 87th
Regiment, which he commanded at Barossa nearly
Corty years ago, recorded the fact that the 87th had on
that memorable day captured a French eagle. It
showed that at every period of his life the Noble Lord
had been animated by the most ardent desire to per-
tOrm his duty, in which he has always been suc-
ees,ful ; for, since the Noble Lord had commenced
his services in Asia, he had, in China and India, won
more battles than any preceding Commander- in.
Chief. In sixty days after the battle of Moodkee, the
British colours were planted on the cita lel of Lahore,
tnd 250 Seikh guns were on their march to Calcutta.
File Noble Lord then proposed " The health of Lord
Gough, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of

Here again the cheers of the company were long-
continued and enthusiastic.

Lord GOUGH, in acknowledging the compliment,
said he could not too strongly convey the grateful
sense he entertained of the gratifying terms in which
the Governor-General had been pleased to speak, not
only of him and the army he had the honour to com-
mand, but also of the staff at head quarters, to whose
unwearied exertions and valuable assistance during
the campaign, and on all other occasions, he
(Lord Gough) felt himself so unspeakably in-
debted, and begging the company would accept his
warmest thanks for the kind manner in which they
had drank to his health. His Lordship said—l will
not, my Lord and Gentlemen, adopt the practice of
disclaiming any credit as due to myself, for I can
conscientiously, and, I will add, proudly assert,
that my whole soul has been in the cause in which
we have lately been engaged ; and that to fulfil the
duties of the high position in which my Sovereign
and the Honourable the Court of Directors have
placed me, has been the great object of my life, and
the principle that has guided my every action since
my appointment to the noble command I now hold.
My Lord and Gentlemen, one of the proudest re-
collections of my after life will be that, throughout
the operations of no ordinary difficulty, my military
arrangements have uniformly received the warm ap-
proval of so accomplished and distinguished a soldier
as Lord Hardinge; and I take advantage of this,
the last opportunity I shall have, to state
publicly, in the presence of the Governor-General,
that which in our private communications have so
frequently expressed to his Lordship my sense of the
steady discipline, the unshaken devotion, and the
indomitable courage of the army of India, and how
deeply I feel indebted to every member of it, from
the General of indivision to
hthe private in the ranks,
European and native,. Indiawh? ared. with me the glory
proposed, in feel-
of
Thecam pGahigvnssaNbootittl.GinEanndexUthrmao.p
ing terms' " The health of Lady Gough," who, he
said, had during the last ten years shared the risks
and anxieties of her noble husband's career, and
agreeablerendered thehy h
society at
waetarairemdy
kindness
—most
ns:t.
cussfully assisted by her Ladyship's amiable daugh-
ters, the Hon. Mrs. Haines and the Hon. Mrs.
Grant.

Lord GouGH, in returning thanks, took the op-
portunity to propose the health of the members of
the Governor-General's family before alluded to, as
most near and dear to Lord Hardinge, the Hon.
Charles Hardinge, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wood,
private and military secretaries (who were present)
and his Excellency concluded by naming hip gallant
young friend, Captain the Honourable Arthur Har-
dinge (who had, the day before, proceeded to the
plains), whose intrepid bearing at the battle of
Moodkee, where he had acted as Lord Gough's
Aide-de-Camp, had been the admiration of all who
witnessed it.
The honour was very suitably acknowledged by the
Honourable CHARLES HARDINGE, who, in warmly
thanking Lord Gough and the company,. observed,lr
that some of the very happiest days of his
ie
hadl
been passed in India, that he must ever
had been entertain
greatest regard for the kind friend sit
greatest
good fortune to make in this country, and he would
conclude by drinking to their next merry meeting in
England.
The party did not break up till a late hour, and
the Governor-General left Simla at seven o'clock

the following morning, attended by the Commander—
in-Chief, the whole of the staff at head quarters, and
the principal members of the civil service, of all of
whom Lord llardinge at parting took a naoa t
friendly and feeling farewell.—Mofussflite EgOlal
Oct. 30.

STATE OF TRADE.
MANCEIEITER, TUESDAY, DEC. 21. -Al thoi igh
there is not much, if any change, in the demand for,
or the prices of, goods and yarn to-filay as comps red
with Tuesday last, there is by no means so cheerfill
feeling abroad, amongst the frequenters of 'Chamge,
as was prevalent last week. 'lke principal cause of
the depression now existing seems to be the un-
favourable appearance of the London money-maritet,
and the gradual decline in the price of
shares and public securities, which induce lir
prehensions of renewed commercial pressers.
We understand that the comparatively unfavourable
state of monetary affairs in London, may be ascribed
to several causes; one being the falling due of au
unusually large amount of foreign bills at the latter
end of this week ; another, the efforts naturally
made at this season by many parties, to reduce 00
balances owing to their bankers; a third, and pro,
bably the most important, the attempts on the part
prof
different railway companies to contract loans ; for
which purpose they are said to be offering,
in many cases, very high rates of interest,
in order to procure the means of paying off
bonds and debentures falling due, and, probably,
in some cases, to replace traffic receipts, unavoidably
suspended on capital account, instead of being re"
served for the payment of dividends. From whatever
causes arising, however, the depression in the metro-
polis has produced an uneasy feeling here ; and lull
added to the disinclination which previously existed,
for entering upon any extensive transactions. We
trust, however, that the lapse of a few days will re;
move the present unfavourable appearances, 0
°''e
restore that feeling of cheerfulness, and that hope
future improvement, which existed a few days sg°:.
HALIFAX, DEC. 18.—Rather more business Pas'
been done in the hall to-day in fancy goods, chiefly
for the American market, but chiefly in Pt
lots, and at miserably low prices. With reePecd
to yarn, there is no alteration, either in &Mani,
or price. The former continues very Inn
et
below the power of production ; and the lattel;
below the cost. The diminished time whi,F;
the mills run, very much 'educes the demand
wool ; but still, such is the firmness manifested ri.r
the farmers, that the staplers are trying for a tail
advance on the few descriptions wanted. Short vioo's
are rather more scarce, and some sorts are a little less
easy to buy, but the demand is not brisk.
HUDDERSFIELD, DEC. 21.—Several buyers hi,
attended the market to-day, many in the hope.°
picking up cheap job lots; but there seems little IT
clination to make heavy sacrifices. Several parcel
have changed hands in the Cloth-hall, and there Is
considerable inquiry for first-rate doeskins. Frei,.
appearances, there is every leason to hope that, al
the turn of the year, we may have to report a marls
improvement.
LEEDS, DEC. 21.—There is no new feature in our
market of this day to report ; things in general Ist:
consolidating themselves gradually, and imparting
i
better tone to trade. But the actual improvement t
not material, nor can we exect it before the end ,„
cl.
January, when business generally assumes a in°'-
lively character. Some few orders for low Cloth.
have been given out, but at the halls very few gOods
changed hands.