The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-01 00:00:00

cularly, then, should it be insisted upon as a
principle of action when tke circumstances of
the case are, on the other hand, in the
largest sense of the term, extraordinary. Such
they must assuredly be pronounced in the instance of
Viscount TORRINGTON, an instance in which the re-
presentative of her Britannic MAJESTY is openly ac-
cused, among other things, of the high and terrible
crime of MURDER. Precipitation or prejudice upon
a matter of such extreme importance would, conse-
quently, be not only rash to the last degree, but cul-
pable beyond all conceivable extenuation. It is for
reasons like this that we are insisting upon the neces
sity of the Legislature taking the difficulties of the
Ceylon Question into account with the utmost pos-
sible equanimity, having first relieved itself, as far as
is practicable, from the pressure of antipathies derived
merely from sources of misrepresentation.
As yet, we must confess, but one circumstance on
the part of Lord TORRINGTON has tended in any way
to propitiate the favourable opinion of the English
multitude. That circumstance, however, is of a kind
calculated to influence the nation most beneficially in his
regard—we mean the gallantry with which he himself
has come forward to demand from the Legislature of his
country a speedy and searching investigation. So far
the matter looks well as affecting his individual re-
putation. So far, therefore, it must be acknowledged
that he has acted prudently as well as courageously.
Gladly will the people of the United King-
dom recognise in the facts brought to light by
the inquiry that in all other respects be
has acted in a manner no less deserving
of commendation. For the character of England
(as well as the personal repute of Lord TORRINGTON)
is implicated in the question about to be scrutinized.
'We must continue sanguine, therefore, that the fears
entertained by so many may not be realised in any
particular, and that the accused nobleman may prove
to be as blameless as his accusers will then be repre-
hensible—the verdict of the highest tribunal in the
land bringing his name forth purified from the charge
of bloodguiltiness, and leaving the names of his as-
sailants to universal opprobrium as that of the most
wanton and the most dastardly of calumniators.

The next advices from the seat of war in Southern
Africa are looked forward to with a considerable
amount of interest, not altogether free from a certain
degree of apprehension. The sudden outbreak of the
Kafir tribes, evincing a concerted hostility on the part
of the various clans against the whites, has taken the
entire colony by surprise. Sir HARRY SSSITM, after
effecting a perilous escape throagh th• forces of the
insurgents, was yet, according to the last accounts, in
a situation of difficulty and danger, all direct commu-
nication with the colony being intercepted. He has but
a mere handful of regular troops at his disposal, and
were his enemies as well disciplined as they are
pugnacious, the result might be awaited with consi-
derable alarm. Another element, too, of discomfort
exists in the notorious lukewarn►ness, or more pro-
perly speaking, disaffection towards the Government,
both on the part of the colonists of Dutch descent
and the coloured population ; although we are un-
willing to bring ourselves to believe that so unfortu-
nate a spirit pervades the ranks of the military who
are recruited from the latter class. If the first fury
of the torrent be stemmed, there is not much fear but
that the victor of Aliwal will vindicate the supremacy of
the British arms, unless there be the foulest treachery
found among those on whose support he should
justly reckon. There is no question but that he had
been outwitted by the stealthy duplicity of the Kafir%
and lulled into a most untoward security; but if, as
we sincerely trust we shall hear within a very brief
period, he should get his forces well in hand, and
give those treacherous barbarians a salutary chastise-
ment, it is to be hoped that the advantages may be
properly followed up. Sir HARRY has sufficient ex-
perience of the nature of antagonists of this calibre
to know that when the arm is raised against them
it ought to descend on their heads with vigorous severity.
There is no argument so thoroughly convincing to a

savage enemy as a sound thrashing, followed by
condign punishment. GOD forbid that we should for
a moment advocate anything like cold-blooded
cruelty, or indiscriminate massacre, but those gentle-
men require a regular " cow-hiding," and we could
wish that a few squadrons of Texan dare-devils
could be magically imported for the nonce, who
would administer it in sharp and decisive fashion. In
cases such as these forbearance is an absurdity, and
lenity a blunder. They are attributed solely to
weakness, and the generous treatment of a
conquered foe, which is so congenial to the
British mind, is sure to prove but an incite-
ment to renewed transgressions whenever a
tempting opportunity may arise. When the present
brush is over, and the Kafir chiefs " made to eat con-
siderable dirt," any the slightest violation of the con-
fines of our territory should be visited with signal
severity. They have ample space in the interior
wherein to expatiate, and must be taught that if they
sow the wind they will indubitably reap the whirl-
wind.

Meantime, it may not be uninteresting to some at
least among our readers to explain in a few words
;.he state of the relations existing between the colony
and these fierce marauders prior to the recent out-
break. When Great Britain obtained possession of
the Cape, the Kafirs were removed beyond the Great
Fish River, in order to put an end to perpetual
feuds between them and the Boers, somewhat
akin to our own border-warfare of old. A treaty was
shortly after made with them, but under this grave
mistake, that the chief of one of their tribes (who all
hold themselves fully coequal and independent of one
another) was treated with as if he were the monarch
of the nation. Against this favoured personage,
named GAnee, the ire of the other chieftains was
quickly displayed, and he suffered a defeat at their
hands which we, as his allies, avenged by an extensive
" razzia." But, after a little breathing time, the con-
federated tribes burst in upon the colony, and gave us
a considerable amount of trouble to repulse them.
They, however, submitted in semblance, and matters
went peaceably on for a length of time,
our frontier being strengthened by a good slice
of the territory of our ally GAIN, and by the plant-
ing of a number of British emigrants in the district
called Albany, verging on the Great Fish River.
GAIxA died, leaving as heir his son SANDILLI; but
during the minority of the latter, the Regency, if
we may use the word, was exercised by MACOMO, an
elder son of GAIKA, by another of his wives. MA-
como appears to have been dislodged from his abode
more than once, the English Government, notwith-
standing the subsisting alliance, probably regarding
him as a neighbour likely one day to prove inconve-
nient; at all events, he and his people were expelled,
though without violence, first from the Kat River
Valley in 1829, and again. from the spot of their
adoption on the Chusine, about four years
after. These peremptory proceedings sunk deep into
the mind of the Kafir Chieftain, and the end of the
year '34 was signalised by an irruption of his forces,
aided by those of other malcontents, which wrought
a great amount of mischief before their operations
could be checked. After several months' hostilities,
mandod by Sir HARRY
the English troops being com

SMITH, peace was made, and the
(en
Kafirs
Ives to allegiance to the Crown
land. Unfortunately, the treaty
and laws of Eng
did not receive the ratification of the
then concluded
themse
Government,who restored a province which
had been ceded to us by the natives, and directed
other arrangements to be carried into effect, which
Hometh Colonel)bound
the Kafirs regarded merely as symptoms of
timidity and alarm on the part of their conquerors.
SANDILLx, on becoming of IV, assumed the headship
of his clan, from which it may be remembered he
was in the past year deposed by the Governor. The
Kafir invasion of 1846 is memorable for the two
millions expenditure on the war, which, after a pro-
tracted struggle, ended in literally nothing. And now,
emboldened by the non-adoption on our part of an iron
policy, which would make them dread, not alone the
roar, but the well-felt fangs of the British lion,
these restless sons of the desert have once more
raised the cry of war. Common prudence now de-
mands that any future depredations on the colonists
be prevented by a punishment for their recent mis-
conduct, so stern and crushing, that whatever capa-
bility of mischief may possibly be left them, their
spirit of audacity be thoroughly subdued and broken,
and the utter hopelessness of outraging successfully
the Imperial authority be imprinted on their con-
viction in unmistakeable and indelible characters.

The Countess Spencer, who has been suffering
lately from eery delicate lualtb, is rather better.