The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-16 00:00:00

INDIA.

In anticipation of the Calcutta and China mail
we have received, via Trieste, the Bengal Hurkaru
of the Bth ult. The following are the chief items
of interest from the summary in that journal :

" The last embers of the rebellion have been
trtmpled out. The aid of Jung Bahadoor and his

GhoOrkas, combined with the action of our troops,

has discouraged the few miserable remnants of the
rebels. They are accordingly coming in in large
numbers and surrendering themselves. In Sumbul-
pore they were dispersed by Lieut. Valiance and
Captain Bird with the Sebundee levy. The whole
of Bengal and the North-West Provinces are quiet
and restored to order, and there does not seem
anything like a disposition on the part of the
natives to revolt again. This calmness may
be deceptive, but at any rate while we hold the
present strength of our European force in India,
there is no likelihood of the events of 1857-8 being
re-enacted. Another prudential measure which
will tend to prevent the recurrence of an outbreak
is the reduction of the native army to a larger ex-
tent than has been hitherto adopted, which will
soon come into operation, and thus not only render
such an element innoxions, but effect a great relief
to the present exhausted state of the finances. Our
friends at home may form some idea of the formid-
able nature of the native army, when they are
told that its total strength amounts to 149,000,
inclusive of the military police, which amounts to
57,000. Now, when we come to consider that
the European army here is scarcely 57,000 in
consequence of the loss of 10,000 of the ex-Com-
pany's European troops and the many European
regiments that have been sent to China and re-
turned to England, the danger of having such a
large native army may be easily conceived.
" The Commander-in-Chief has published a gene-
ral order, breaking up the Saugor and Trans-Gogra
Brigades."
" The) Governor-General and Commander-in -Chief
were expected at Loodianah on the 28th ultimo,
Jullunder the Ist February, Umritsur the 7th, and
Lahore 12th. On the 19th ult. the Viceroy held a
grand durbar at Umballa, at which complimentary
speeches were made to the Rajahs of Jheend, Put-
tialla, and a few other chiefs. His lordship granted
to the two princes named, not only extensive es-
tates, but a perpetual right of adoption, and hoped
that the noble Phoolkean house would endure for over.

" Mr. Wilson, our financier, has returned from his
tour through the upper provinces, and has resumed
his duties in the Legislative Chamber. It is be-
lieved that he has decided upon the abandonment
of the octroi on cities, and the introduction of a Li-
cense Bill, which will be a considerable modification
of that proposed by Mr. Harington ; the chief re-
commendation of which will be, that it will be less
inquisitorial in its nature. Another measure con-
templated by our financier is believed to be the issue
of a State paper currency. Such a currency is a
great desideratum in this country, and cannot but
tend to promote its prosperity, by the facility it will
give to commercial transactions.
" In the Legislative Council an attempt by Mr.
Sconce to introduce the Black Act has proved unsuc-
cessful. In consequence of the alleged outrages upon
natives by certain indigo planters and Europeans
connected with the Bengal Company, the member
for Bengal proposed that a bill of a temporary
nature be passed for their suppression, by making
British subjects amenable to Mofussil Courts in
criminal matters.
" Another bill was proposed by Mr. Harington
on the same day, the 28th ult., via., to invest the
commanding officer of a regiment with the power
of a district court-martial. It seems that the new
articles will apply only to regiments serving in
China.
" The steamer Carthage has been chartered for
the service of Government, at a monthly rate of
18,000 rs. for four months and 15,000 rs. for a
further similar period. It is believed she will
convey Sir Hope Grant and his staff to China.
The Walmer Castle left this on the 3d inst., with
the head quarters of her Majesty's 99th Regiment.
The troops from China will embark in the course of
the week.
" The Oude Gazette states that tidings have been
received at head-quarters of a feeling of discontent
still lingering in the minds of the remnant of the
late Company's European troops, especially the
artillery.' Several of them have been discovered
carrying on a correspondence, urging each to claim
the bounty. We trust that this information will
prove unfounded."
We cannot give the details of the force to be
sent to China. Each mail from England modifies
former orders, the plans of to-day at head-quarters
are upset to-morrow, and all is mystery or confu-
sion. The oonsequent state of uncertainty is most
harassing to the expectant regiments. There is
one change of a serious character which demands
notice. The order of the 20th of December,
which authorised the formation of one Hindostani
and four Sikh corps, by volunteers from existing
regiments, has been rescinded. Regiments have
been asked to volunteer en masse, and there is too
good reason to believe that there has been not a
little individual coercion and dissatisfaction in con-
sequence. This is but one of tote thousand instances
that the Empire is without a policy, but one which
has created discontent, not the less serious because
it is not openly manifested. As the tour of foreign
service of the 47th, 65th, and 70th Native regi-
ments, now in China, has expired, the men will be
allowed to return to Bengal as soon as the Bombay
native troops sent to relieve them arrive in Canton."
It is said Lord Canning will return to Calcutta
next cold season, making a progress through Cen-
tral India in time to take his departure on
the expiry of his five years' term of service
in February, 1861. It is reported that Lord
Clyde will also remain till that time; that
General Mansfield will go as second in com-
mand of the China Force; Sir Hugh Rose, mean-
while, succeeding Sir Henry Somerset as Commander
in-Chief of Bombay. Lord Clyde would thus carry
out the new organisation scheme, but it is difficult to
see how he can dispense with the valuable assistance
of his Chief of the Staff, and unlikely that General
Mansfield will act under Sir Hope Grant.