The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-12 00:00:00

OUrnius

LONDON, WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 12, 1846.

The intelligence received from India and China, in
anticipation of the Overland Mail, is of very trifling
political importance. Notwithstanding the sullen
lethargy which has been evidenced by the population
of Lahore, and the insubordinate conduct of the
Seikh warriors at Peshawur, in consequence of a
defalcation among their paymasters, there appears to
be every prospect of the maintenance of tranquillity
under the new Government. Indeed, the only chance
of any revival of disturbance in the Punjaub is offered
by the duplicity of the Raja of MOOLTAN. The
armaments which had been dispatched from the
capital with the intention of compelling that cheiftain
to liquidate a very considerable amount still re
maining due, appear to have been recalled, from the
circumstance of 50,000/. being offered in compensation
for the delay of payment. As the NAWArt, however,
merely availed himself of the truce consequent upon
these negotiations to prepare himself for any emer-
gency, there seems to be every probability of
a collision between his forces and the Anglo-Indian
soldiery. Whether any serious consequences might
not result from the development of such feelings of
hostility so soon after the new organization of these
territories, unless those sentiments were immediately
and decisively suppressed, is a consideration of ex-
treme interest. Nerve and determination must be
displayed on the inauguration of the new system,
otherwise matters may rapidly fall into disorder, and
the Government in its very youth evince signs of
premature decrepitude. The Nawab of MOOLTAN is a
wily and active prince, requiring alertness and reso-
lution on the part of his antagonist. His intellect is
one of that supple character which, unless observed
with the utmost vigilance, and thwarted with the utmost
decision, might obtain an opportunity of re-asserting
his domination out of the very circumstances of his
vassalage. In the East, as everywhere else, it must
be—diamond cut diamond.
Our readers will remember the terrible catas-
trophe of the 20th of May at Loodianah, when
the temporary barracks of her MAJESTY'S 50th
and the sepoy guard from the 73d Native
Infantry, were destroyed by a hurricane. It
cannot assuredly be forgotten that eighty-eight
human beings perished on that occasion from the
wilful negligence of those who had been deputed to
superintend the safety and comfort of the different
regiments, and that one hundred and fifty of the
unfortunate men quartered in those ricketty buildings
had been seriously mutilated by an accident which,
with proper precaution, would never have occurred.
We are deeply grieved to observe that another
specimen of the pernicious consequence of this negli-
gence of those in whom negligence is least excusable,
has caused another calamity of a different nature,
and of less serious results numerically, though
equally deplorable with the one already
mentioned. According to the information con-
tained in the Bombay Times, the victims of care-
lessness in this instance appear to have been the
wives and children of her MAJESTY'S 17th and 60th
Regiments. On the departure of these troops from
Sinde their families were left at Poonah, but hav-
ing subsequently received permission to join their
husbands and fathers at Kurrachee, the latter imme-
diately hastened thither. During their journey
these unhappy creatures were attacked with cholera,
and this, be it particularly observed, in consequence
of the execrable arrangements for their shelter and
provision. Fifteen children and fifteen women
Perished out of a company of three hundred and
forty-eight. These occurrences should be submitted
to a rigid investigation by those authorised to
prevent their recurrence. Sepoys have already a
sufficiently precarious tenure of existence to
render it indifferent whether they may not
be crushed to a mummy at every high wind; and the
miseries of a soldier's wife on active service are in
themselves punishment enough for the " perpetration
of matrimony" to require any additional misfortunes
from bad lodging, bad food, bad drink, or bad attend-
ance.

Perhaps the most interesting intelligence received
by this packet is that of the unconditional surrender
of Kote Kangra, a fortress hitherto considered
to be impregnable. Nothing could more strikingly
have evinced the happy result of promptitude in
warfare than the capitulation of this garrison. While
it was vaunting its security, and treating the threats
of the Government with derision, it was suddenly
panic-stricken by the unexpected arrival of the