The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-30 00:00:00

---LLI-.._.,,X

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
NEW YORK, FEB. 28_—The accounts received here a rew
days since, by the steamer Cambria, gave universal satisfac-
tion. They were esteemed of the most pacific character.
Some apprehensions, however, are now entertained by the
friends of peace, lest the British Government may decline
any further attempts, for the present, to renew the negotia-
tion. lam not of the number who entertain this opinion.
I presume that your Premier has made up his mind how far
he will go to preserve the peace of the world, and, having •
come to that conclusion, no matter of etiquette will deter
him from proceeding with the negotiation until he arrives at
that point, whatever it may be.
The war party are losing ground daily. The people are
beginning to,inquire why we should enter into a war? and
whether it would not be better, admitting our title to be
good, to make some sacrifice rather than enter upon a san-
guinary and desolating conflict? These common-sense ideas
are floating in the Masses, and they are greatly promoted
by the conciliatory and pacific movements of the British Go-
vernment.

The contemplated repeal of the British corn-laws is re-
ceived here by the advocates of free trade with a most cor-
dial welcome. There are those who believe that it will open
an extensive market for our agricultural products ; while
another class of statesmen hail the repeal as the harbinger of
a triumph, in this country, of the free-trade doctrine. They
conclude that it will necessarily lead to the downfal of the
American tariff of 1842. There is yet another class of
statesmen who entertain the opinion that a negotiation is in
progress between the Governments of Great Britain and the
United States, in pursuance of which the corn-laws will be
repealed, the American tariff uprooted, and the Oregon diffi-
culties arranged. Now without entering into any detail as
to what portion of these speculative opinions I am a believer
in, I may be permitted to say that the movement of Mr.
Pule on this subject is calculated to promote the cause of
peace, inasmuch as it weakens the American war party, by
withdrawing from them a portion of the free trade advocates
and many of the agriculturists.
The President is so hemmed in by the office -seekers, and
therefore advocates of war, because they hope for commis-
sions, that he has not the firmness, whatever may be his
-ee'
wishes, to assume the responeinility of any measure of a
pacific character. It is confidently asserted that he has said,
if the British Government offered to renew negotiations ou
the 4eth parallel of latitude, he would submit the offer to
Congress for their opinion on the subject. This is probably
true, for it is like the man. His great object is re-election to
the Presidency. To that everything with him must bend ;
and his chance to he chosen for life is just as good as to be
chosen for four years. 'Nothing can IV W save him from
sharing the doom of President Tyler, who has retired to a
state of complete obscurity.
It is a matter of doubt whether the debate in the Senate
on the Oregon question will finally terminate before the mid-
dle of March, and not, then if a motion to pospone the sub-
ject, which is now pending, should prevail. The Senate
evince no disposition to hasten the decision ; on the con-
trary, they appear aneions to meet any and every
pacific suggestion that may come from the British.
Government, provided they can do it without dishonour. On
the whole, in my opinion, all that can be reasonably and
.rightfully asked of them, as American senators and patriots,
they will concede. Mora must not be expected. The feeling
in the Senate, at present, is highly favourable to asitate of
peace. The Whig senators have done their duty. They
have exhibited great firmness in resisting the idle clamours
and unmeaning gasconade of such men as Senator Allen. The
stand they have taken required more firmness than to enter
the battle-field. They have met in a dignified manner the
insinuation that they faltered and fell back when the power
of Great Britain was held up before them. Such contemptible
taunts had no influence where it was supposed they would
have. No attachment to British men or British interests
• controlled their actions. No fear or apprehension of the
power of Great Britain alarmed them. Their feelings were
and are purely American. They had no object but to pre-
serve unsullied the glory, the peace, and the prosperity of
their native land; but even that peace, which they so much
desired, they would not and will not purchase at the sacrifice
of national honour.
The friends of the tariff of 1842 have become alarmed, and
probably with good reason. The most violent of the Polk-
men are anti-tariff men. So far as its repeal can be made
subservient to the settlement of the Oregon difficulties, the
" all of Oregon" men, and the friends of Mr. Calhoun, would
readily and cordially unite, as they are alike hostile to the
" black tariff." That portion of the community who have
no prejudices to gratify, and no interest at stake, would pro-
bably unite in a surrender of the tariff, if it would tend to
secure the peace of the country. If to these is added the
agriculturists, who expect to be benefited by a repeal of jour
corn-laws, &c., it makes a formidable array against the tarifff.
The only chance for its preservation is, that the combined
powers may separate in the details, which, however, is not
likely to be the case. •
The mail of this morning brought us a sketch of an interest-
lug debate in the Senate on the 26th on the Oregon subject.
It will be recollected that the debate, thus far, has been con-
fined plineipally to the friends of the Administration.
Nearly the whole strength of the Whig party, as yet, re-
mains to be called out. I cannot give you a better iilea
of the feelings and wishes of the friends cf peace, and of
the country and talents of the respective parties, than by re-
ferring you to the speeches heretofore made by Senators
Allen and Cass, and then to the brief remarks made on the
26th by Senators Crittenden and Webster. They fairly re-
present the parties of which they are severally members.
Minces 4.—1 learned yesterday that the steamer Cambria,
from Boston, had sailed, leaving behind the greater part of
all letters south of Boston. The captain of the steamer was
not to blame. The southern mail had not arrived, having
been detained by the snow storm. Nothing has been done in
Congress since my letter of the 28th ult. The Senate will
pass a more pacific resolution in relation to Oregon than the
House has sent them.
Mr. Dayton, of New Jersey, a Whig, his presented to the
United States Senate a motion, calling on the President to
inform the Senate whether the state of the affairs between
the United States:and foreign powers requires,in his opinion,
in increase of the army and navy.. It must lie on the table
one day.—Tinies. A GENEVESE• TRAVELLER.

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R

GENERAL SIR 11. SMITH.
The following letter has been addressed to the editor of
the Times:—
Sir,—Your admirable review of the battle of Aliwal, and
the just encomiums bestowed on the skill and talent dis-
played by the commander, Sir Henry'Smith, leads me to
hope that the following sketch of the military life cf that
distinguished individual will not be unacceptable to the

public :
Sir Henry G. Smith is descended from an ancient family,
that has been settled for the last two centuries at Whittlesea

(Isle of Ely). In 1805 he was, under, the auspices of the
late General Sir William Stewart, appointed to a Second
Lieutenancy in the Rifle Brigade (then the 95th). To
enumerate his services Ymuld be to name almost every battle
that has since been fought by British troops in every quarter
of the globe, for he has had more practical experience in
war, and paned through more file, perhaps, than any man

living.
His first campaign commenced in South America with the
storming of Monte Video and attack on Buenos Ayres ;
next at the capture of Copenhagen, under Lord Cathcart ;
thence to the Peninsula, where he was present in every
battle fought by the main army (Talavera excepted) from
the beginning to the end of that war. We next find him at
the capture of Washington, under General loss, and for his
distinguished conduct on that occasion he was honoured
by being made the bearer of the dispatches to England.
His next battle-field was in the capacity of military secre-

tart', in the attack on New Orleans, where the good, the
gallant Pakenham died in his arms. And he returned to
England in time to partake of the glories of his last Euro-
pean battle as Assistant Quartermaster• General of the 6th
Division under Sir John Lambert, on the field of Waterloo.
Sir Henry Smith's career as a staff-officer commenced in
1811 with his appointment as Brigade-Major in the cele-
brated Light Division, in which he was ever conspicuous
alike for his dashing gallantry in the field, his frank watiu-
hearted bearing to his brother officers, and his unwearied
attention to the comforts and wants of the soldier.

Those only who have served under a good and an iEdif-
ferent staff-officer can estimate the immense value of the
former, and Smith was one of the very best, for his heart and
soul were in his duty. His light wiry frame rendered him
insensible to fatigue, and, no matter what battle or march
might have occupied the day or night, or what elementary
war might be raging, Smith was never to be found off his
horse until he saw every man in his brigade housed, if cover
could possibly be had. His devotion to their comforts was
repaid by their affection, which was shown in a manner most
gratifying to him when, in 1827, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, he
-was
_appointed' Deputy-Adjutant-General in the West
Indies ; the voluntary attendance of every officer and
soldier, from the Governor downwards, made his embarkation
triumphal. The following copy of a regimental order issued
by the late Sir Amos Norcott on the occasion, speaks the
feelings of all concerned, and does honour alike to the writer
and the object of it :
"Colonel Norcott feels himself bound by every principle of
public and private duty to express to Lieutenant-Colonel
Smith and the officers and battalion at large his most sincere
and deep regret for the loss of an officer who has served for
22 years with such indefatigable zeal, distinguished bravery
and merit, and now retires from its active duties on promo-
tion and an appointment on the staff in Jamaica, but to re-
sume in that situation the same persevering devotion to his
profession; his King, and country.
" The Colonel knows how truly every officer in the bri-
gade participates his feelings and sentiments, and is assured
of the lively anti warm wishes of every non-commissioned
officer and soldier for the welfare of one who, with every at-
tribute of as good and as gallant an officer as ever lived, in-
variably united the most kind and peculiar interest for the
comfort and happiness of the soldier.
"At the particular request of this officer it affords the
Colonel much pleasure to release from confinement to bar
racks, and punishments of every description, all soldiers now
under their sentences ; he only hopes, ani he is ready to be-
lieve, that they will prove sensible and grateful for Colonel
Smith's kindness, shown up to the very last moment he re-
mains amongst them, in addition to every noble and honour-
able feeling which all soldiers ought to show in the perform-
ance of their duty and conduct on every occasion, by a de-
termination to relinquish every habit tending to injure the
good of the service, their corps, and individual respectability,
comfort, habits. and future welfare.
" A. NORCOTT, Colonel.
" Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 4, 1827."
To return to the Peninsula, that first of schools for prae•
tical military study, possessing this advantage, that an officer
of ordinary capacity, by simply obeying orders and steadily
performing his duty, could not fail to arrive at some degree
of eminence in the profession ; while others more highly
gifted had only to make use of their observing and reflective
powers to become masters in the art ; and no one who knew
Harry Smith (his familiar name) in those days, could doubt
for a moment that whenever he acquired the rapk, and the
opportunity offered, he would show himself a General worthy
of his illustrious preceptor. The fates themselves seem to
have conspired in urging him on in the path to glory ; for,
though " the hero of a hundred fights," lie has been only
once wounded, which proved a singular advantage to him ire
more respects than one, for the chiefs of- his brigade proving
not so invulnerable, it brought him as commander, succes-
sively, to several of the most brilliant warriors of that age—
Kempt, Barnard, Beckwith, Colburne, &c. ; for while he
was honoured with their friendship, he profited largely by
their experience.
I have already stated that-in 1827 he was appointed De-.
puty Adjutant- General in the West Indies. In the year fol-
lowing he was transferred in the same rank to the Cape of
Good Hope, and in 1839 appointed Deputy Adjutant-Gene-
ral in India, where he has remained ever since, and was en-
gaged in that rank in 1844 in the battles of Gwalior and la-
harajpore. The distinguished cervices which he rendered at
the head of the Ist division, in the recent battles of Aloodkee
and Ferozeshale will be better understood hereafter, when his
dispatches on those occasions shall have been published. The
battle of Aliwal speaks for itself; as the dispatch of Sir H.
Smith would alone proclaim that he had been trained under
Sir John Moore, and finished under the master-mind of
Wellington.

VETERAN..

The movement in the large provincial towns to en-
deavour to stay tho further proceedings of the bulk of railway Bills
in Parliament is extending to every district. In fact, opinion may
said to to be unanimous on the subject, and the peoile in the provinces.
expect that their efforts will be warmly and vigi,rously seconded by
the London Stock Lxchange.