The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-04 00:00:00

tions, would yield a handsome revenue, and furnish an
inexhaustible supply of the most valuable timber ; and
we may again take the opportunity of mentioning, as we
have done on a former occasion, when we entered on
this subject at great, and as we believe to some extent
not unfruitful length, that forest science, which origi-
nated in Germany, from the increased scarcity of wood
there, constitutes a separate and distinct branch of edu-
cation. The importance of the necessary measure of
preservation was- readily appreciated by the authorities,
and forest academies, in which are taught botany,
vegetable physiology, mineralogy, zoology, Bsc., were
soon multiplied. We might here take an admirable
lesson ; and institutions, with the view to the
more perfect preservation of forests, might be easily
established, and with every prospect of great ad-
vantage, under the directions of Government Whilst
lamenting our past inactivity, and deploring its necessary
consequences, we may learn to be wise in time. The dis-
trict annexed by the late proclamation, of which we
have given so imperfect a sketch, presents extraordinary
features which require only to be developed to render
the possession as important, in a commercial, as it most
undoubtedly is in a political point of view. All the
varied and natural productions, which admit of indefi-
nite improvement, and only require the fostering hand
of European enterprise, have the best outlets imaginable
in the noble Sutlej, and . in the Beas which might, with
ga
very little trouble, be rendered navi ble, thence to be
transported by water carriage to the
mouth of the Indus
and thence to be distributed to the world. In the simple
item of agriculture we cannot hope or expect too much,
as the means of the most extensive irrigation are beyond
calculation. Let us not, tamely or unwisely, follow in
the steps of our predecessors, but, with the increased
moral supremacy of our Government, which has proved
to the world that we know how to conquer, let us teach
the more difficult lesson, that we know how " to occupy."
Let us set about investigating these matters with a de-
termined resolution to cherish and improve the condi-
tion of the inhabitants—indifferent as to the outlay at
the first, because well assured of an ample return at no
lergthed interval. Let the forests in the hills and the
plains be an especial object of attention ; in ft.; let
minute surveys and scientific investigations be forthwith
instituted: let us, at once, proceed to do, without
any unnecessary delay, what in the days of our past
negligence we should have taken years to consider.
The expenditure at the first must
be *liberal, prspor-
tionate, of course, to the bright anticipations of success,
and we are confident the revenues of the district will
be increased to an untold extent. But, above all, we
shall teach our new subjects a lesson which they will
not be slow to appreciate, that a financial increase--
• derivable from the present revenue--is not all we have
in view, but that their welfare and their prosperity is
something in the scale, and that we are anxious, as the
paramount power in India, to prove to them, beyond a
shadow of a doubt, that they are likely to benefit, not
only politically, but in all that makes home a blessing__
the protection of life and property, by the change of
rule. We could enlarge upon the mighty prospects
opened out to our view, but the length to which our
article has already attained warns us to forbear ; we
shall one day hope to revert to this magnificent subject,
and we trust, too, with more satisfactory details of in-
formation.—From the Delhi Gazette, Feb. 28.

GUERNSEY and its LIEUTENANT-
GOVERNOR.

(From the United Service MagAprilazine.)
Gurnsey, . Mr. Editor,—The letter of ex-e Captain Guerin,l4th whilB46ch ap-
peared in your number of this month, contains a foul
calumny on a very deserving soldier and his wife.
The following statement on the subject, very moderately
drawn up as regarding Mr. Guerin's conduct, I request the
publication of, in your May number, as an act of justice due
to Private Gilgas, who is a particularly well-behaved man.
WILLIAM NAPIER, Lieutenant-Governor.
TO Ms EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM NUKE; COL,
&C., &C., LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, GUERNSEY.
Gsey, April t 846
Sir,—ln the last number of the uern
United Servi9
ceh,Journ.al,
there appears a letter, dated, " Guernsey, March 14th, 1846,"
bearing the signature " John C. Guerin. ' As the latter part
of that letter professes to give a relation of the circumstances
of the case of Private Gilgas (27th Depot), and then assumes
conclusions upon it, both at variance with fact, I trust your
Excellency will permit me to lay before you the following
statement in refutation and correction.
As your Excellency is aware, it is true that an action was
brought in November last against a man of the militia by
name George Vigors, for assaulting Gilgas, snapping his fire-
lock in his face on the high road, and that in respect of
Vigors an alibi was proved.
Bat so far from the Court believing that the offence had
not been committed, it directed search and inquiry to be made
for the offender,'as five or six men were stated to have left
Captain Guerin's company before it was dismissed. Some
evidences deposed to more men. When Colonel Harvey as-
sembled the company afterwards to make inquiry, I have
heard ten men stepped out, to say they had quitted it before
it was dismissed, and I have also understood one of those
men in appearance was so like Vigors (the man accused by
Gilgas) as to be easily undistinguishable from him b y a p
not previously acquainted with either, yet Captain Guerin
swore confidently that not more than five men had left.
To clear the character of the said five, admitted to have
left, the Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, who is a brother
of Captain Guerin, thought it necessary to 'bring a counter
action against Gilgas for wilful and corrupt perjury.
Upon the preliminary examination requisite for the action
to lie, and after a great number of evidences had been exa-
mined (causing the " repeated adjournments " the writer in
the United Service Journal mentions), the charge against
Gilgas was dismissed; the bailiff of the Court having re-
marked that the evidence given by Gilgas and Fry at the
trial of Vigors bad been throughout unequivocal and staight-
forward.
Yet in the face of this dismissal of the charge, the writer
in the United Service Journal speciously asserts the evidence
was not sufficient, legally, to convict Gilgas.
Of course it was not, or if there bad been a likelihood of
it, Gilgas would have been sent to take his trial, to be con-
victed or acquitted legally.
After this dismissal of the charge the writer in the United
Service Journal plausibly goes on to state " that Gilgas con-
sidered this a narrow escape, from the fact that neither he
nor his supporters have since dared to sue Lieutenant-Colonel
Guerin for damages, well knowing in a public action for
damages it would have been impossible to prevent the most
conclusive proof of Gilgas' perjury from being brought for-
ward.

This is merely an individual's rash assertion in face of the
Court's decision after an examination of every witness that
could be brought to bear upon it, including, I presume, " the
four impartial witnesses" the writer in the United Service
Journal states he has discovered, "who were prepared to
swear no assault whatever was committed as pretended by
Gilgas, that the whole statement was a pure invention."
That writer's sequitur of not daring to sue in fear of his
alleged consequences, is erroneous.
The simple fact was, that as the charge for wilful and cor-
rupt .perjury was thus dismissed in prima via, it was consi-
dered as entirely satisfactory to the character of Gilgas, that
he nad not made a charge of " pure invention," and it was
thought then preferable and better, to endeavour to allow
the bad feeling which with regret was observed to be in
existence between a portion of two classes of her Majesty's
subjects in this island, to subside, by taking no further steps
in the matter, than by re-cross prosecutions to keep fanning
its flame.
In this spirit and no other was the matter recommended
to be dropped, and though regretting the remooting of the
subject, yet from the publication of that letter, I deem it to
be an act of justice to Private Gilgas, as well as to others,
thus as briefly as possible to correct and refute it to your Ex-
cellency.—l have the honour, &c.,
S. E. GOODMAN,
Major, 27th Regiment (commanding Dep6t).