The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-02 00:00:00

CALCUTTA.

(From the Overland Bengal Hurkaru, April 22.)

The past fortnight has been as barren of events
worthy of been chronicled in our pages as any we
ever remember even in this dullest of the seasons
of the year. Oude has been provokingly tranquil ;
the opponents of annexation have not been able to
find a row to exaggerate into a rebellion, or a
murder to magnify into a massacre. The poor de-
bauched ex-King has at length been bullied and
wheedled into breaking ground from Cawnpore,
and is now on his way down to Calcutta ; but how
long the journey is likely to occupy it is impossible
to say, and if he does not reach Calcutta it is very
doubtful whether he will ever muster courage to
undertake a sea voyage. Mr. Brandon, a gentle-
man who was sent out of Lucknow by the late re-
sident, Sir W. H. Sleeman, is acting as chamber.
lain to Wajid Alli Shah, and Mr. Menzies, a mer-
chant at Mirzapore, is said to have been engaged
as an agent on a large salary to accompany him to
England. There is, however, a third gentleman
upon the deluded monarch's staff, to se-
cure whose services he is reported to have paid
down a large sum of money ; this Mr. Bird, late a
captain of the 4th Regiment Native Infantry, and
for several years an assistant to the resident at
Lucknow ; he is also the nephew of a " respectable
gentleman of the name of Bird," as Lord Ellen-
borough styled Mr. Wm. Wilberforce Bird, for-
merly member of the Supreme Council of India,
and for a time president of the council and deputy
governor of Bengal. From the antecedents of the
uncle it is anticipated that the nephew will be able
to do much towards obtaining for Wajid Alli the
restitution of his throne ; so little do people here
know how very slight is the influence of a retired
Indian magnate in England.
Another remarkable character is just now in Cal-
cutta—Gen. D'Orgoni, as he styles himself, and
delights to be called, though only an ex-captain of
the French army, arrived from Rangoon in the last
steamer. The general is going to Paris as special
ambassador from the Lord of the White Elephant
and Golden Throne ; his suite, ea 1 to consist of
some 15 individuals, of whom four or five are
noblemen of high rank, is reported to be coming
up to Calcutta in a sailing vessel. What the King
of Burmah promises himself, or rather what Gen.
D'Orgoni has promised him to achieve by sending
a costly embassy to the Emperor of France, it is
difficult to !guess. Iu the mean time everything
continues peaceable in Pegu, and in every other
part of the British-Indian dominions.
General Anson is setting himself energetically to
work to obtain an augmentation to the number of
the working officers of the army, aud it is whispered
that lie has threatened to throw up his command if
measures are not taken to secure the presence of
more officers with regiments. He wished to have
officers of the Bengal army on civil and political
employ remanded to their corps, and their places
filled by officers from the Royal and Madras
armies, and uneovenan ted servants ; but to this
some members of the Supreme Government ob-
jected, and all the minutes are stated to have been
transmitted to England by the Governor-General
for consideration and future orders. The Court of
Directors is not likely to relinquish a system which
enables them still to provide handsomely for rela-
tives ancl friends, though not so handsomely as in
the civil service, which is now closed against their
nominees. The other plan of increasing the num-
ber of regimental officers is objectionable, and the
only real remedy for the existing evils is the for-
mation of a staff corps.
The case of " Moolvie Alli Kurreem v. Sandys,"
for libel, was re-argued in the Supreme Court,
before a full bench, on Saturday, the 12th instant,
but tho judgment of the Court has not yet been de-
livered. The question at issue now is, whether the
judicial report of Mr. Sandys to the Sudder Court
was or was not a privileged communication, and
that question hinges upon the fact as to having
travelled beyond the record. Should it be ruled
that the communication was privileged the verdict
will be for the defendant ; bat, on the other hand,
it will he for the plaintiff, with 500 rupees damages.
Lord and Lady Canning have begun well, patron-
ising and visiting all the public institutions of Cal-
cutta, and making themselves popular by the cour-
teous and friendly treatment of their guests at a
series of frequent dinner parties. How long his
lordship's popularity is destined to last appears
questionable. It is evident that salaries of civil
servants are to be curtailed, and all fixed allowances
are threatened- with reduction ; and naturally
rumours are afloat that Lord Canning has come to
India pledged to carry out these unpalatable mea-
sures. If such should he the case, which we do not
believe, ho will probably become as unpopular as
Lord William Bentinek, who was a more hospitable
Governor-General than any of his successors, and
whose lady was all that could be wished for in the
leader of Calcutta society.
General Outram is said to be unwell, and it is
added that he will hate to take six months' leave of
absence on medical certificate. The report wants
confirmation, and is probably au invention of his
enemies and the friends of the ex-King of Oude.
Sir James might, however, leave his post with
perfect safety, so quietly is Oude settling down
under British rule, and so popular is that rule
with the great bulk of the inhabitants.
After the above was in typo we received informa-
tion that there was not the slightest truth in the
report of Sir James Outram being sick.