The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-21 00:00:00

MILITIA.

The Ist Durham Militia, 400 strong, under the
command of Lieut.-Gen. the Duke of Cleveland,
K.G., was inspected on Thursday last at Barnard
Castle. by Col. Douglas. Inspector-General of mi-
litia. The regiment, after going through a long
course of company and battalion drill, formed
square, and were addressed at considerable length
by the inspecting officer, who said it was his duty
to inform the regiment that he was perfectly satin.
fied with all that he had seen. The clean and sol-
dier-like bearing of the men reflected the greatest
credit on both themselves and their officers, and
their movements in battalion far surpassed any-
thing that he could have expected from a regiment
that had not been embodied for two years and a
half. What pleased him even more was the unex-
ceptionable conduct of the men in their quarters
during the whole of the 21 days training, not more
than half-a-dozen of whom had been in the guard-
house, and those for very trifling offences. He (Col.
Douglas) would make a most favourable report to
the Horse Guards of the efficiency of the regiment.
Both officers and men are most anxious to be em-
bodied for permanent service.
The 6th Wost York Regiment, Col. Hind com-
manding, was inspected at Halifax on the 18th inst.
by Col. Harding, C.B. Notwithstanding the unfa-
vourable state of the weather, the regiment went
through their exercise with remarkable steadiness,
and at the conclusion the inspecting officer ex-
pressed himself as being well satisfied with the
regiment in all respects, and stated that he should,
in his report, mention how well he thought of it.
The Lord-Lieutenant (Earl Fitzwilliam) also ad-
dressed the regiment in highly complimentary
teums.
The Pembroke Militia Artillery, under the com-
mand of Colonel owen were inspected at
Haverfordwest on Monday by Colonel Crofton,
Royal Artillery, and were highly complimented by
the gallant colonel on their smart appearance
and general efficiency. The excellent band of the
regiment was in attendance.
The 2d Somerset, Lieut.-Col. Pinney commandant,
training at Bath, is expected to be ordered to the
camp at Aldershot, to be embodied.
Three companies of the Royal Limerick Militia,
quartered at Portsmouth (Fort Cumberland), pro-

teed this day to Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, to join
the head-quarters of the regiment.
The Waterford Militia Artillery arrived in gar-
rison at Portsmouth yesterday from Plymouth by
railway, and occupy quarters in the district.

NEW LEVIES FOR OUR INDIAN

ARMY.

If any one truth has been brought out by the
Indian revolt more forcibly than another, it is,
that no circumstances can make the population of
Hindostan combine for one grand, united, and, as
it were, national movement. If any circumstances
could have induced such a movement, a general
rising against the English Government must have,
last year, bepn the result. A vast, homogeneous,
and disciplined army had resolved to throw off the
yoke of foreigners. They had solemnly pondered
over the fact, that they had conquered India for
the English Company, and had asked themselves
the question. " Why can we not conquer it, then,
for ourselves ?" They had the pretext of religion
to put forward, as an excuse for their per-
fidy to the Government that employed them,
-and to sanctify their ill-faith in the eyes of
their countrymen. They were successful in
placing at their bead a prince of the most
illustrious race existing in Asia. The single cir-
cumstance of the restoration of the house of Thula
was sufficient to bow the hearts of the Mahomedans
in their favour, as the heart of one man. By a sin-
gular coincidence, the acknowledged head of the
last Brahmin dynasty that pretended to universal
dominion in Hindostan came forward to join in
the revolt, and willingly professed himself the
deputy and lieutenant of the Delhi Emperor.
Owing to special causes the warlike population of
the great province of Oude unanimously declared
against the foreigners. Many princes, chiefs, and
heads of ancient families, came with their followers
to swell the torrent of rebellion. Yet, in spite o
these upheavings in various places, the greater part
of India remained quiet, and the vast mass of the
population was utterly unstirred. Such apathy may
excite astonisment in Europe, but surprise is soon
lessened when it is considered how numerous and
how different are the races of men to be found in
the great continent we call India. As well might
we expect Austrians, Piedmontese, Englishmen,
French, and Danes, to unite under one king and in
one common cause, as the Rajput and the Kali of
Gujarat to league with the Maratha of the Dakhan,
or the Jak and Much of Sindh to make common
cause with the effeminate Bengalee of the Lower
Provinces. So far from such different tribes coales-
cing, we know that even the Brahmins of Gu-
jerat keep aloof from their brethren the Brahmins
of the Dakhan. Of the Gujerati chiefs but one,
and he a man of no great influence, the chief of
Radhanpur,held any correspondence with the rebels.
Descending still lower in the scale until we reach
the aboriginal races who have been so long degraded,
and even excommunicated by their Hindu con-
querors, we find the most unmistakeable indiffer-
ence to the Hindu cause. The theory promulgatel
by General Briggs, that these tribes would supply
our armies with the best recruits, has been tho-
roughly justified by recent facts. Our commanders
in Central India have found no difficulty in obtain-
ing excellent levies amongst the wild Bheels. The
riding-master of a cavalry regiment reports that
these Bheels are the very bestrecruits that have ever
passed under his hands. They will make splendid
horsemen. for they have no fear of falling off, and they
are very obedient, good-humoured, and manageable.
The only complaint against them is, that when they
reach a certain spot in returning from their drill, here
they are for a moment out of the sight of the drill-
sergeant, they are sure to have a race with one
another, and take almost as little care of their
horses as of their own necks. The next body of
despised aborigines who are supplying men to the
recruiting sergeants are the Meenas. Respecting
these men we have pleasure in subjoining an ex-
tract which we are sure will be read with much
interest. Extract despatch of Major-Gen. Roberts,
dated Kotah, April 7th, 1858, published in the Lon-
don Gazette, June 11th, 1858—" I would also beg
to bring to most favourable notice the services of
Captain Macdonald and his corps of Meenas,
who joined me on the march. They have most wil-
lingly made themselves useful in many ways,
guarding baggage, escorting prisoners, and as
working parties have elicited the admiration of
both engineer and artillery officers observant of
them. They were at the Pattanpole gate, and
most eager to be employed in the assault had I re-
uired their services on that duty." The students of
Indian history know what valuable auxiliaries
the wild tribes of the Dakhan were to the
Peshwas. The Ramosis and the Tiolis cap-
tured forts and harassed hostile armies for the
Marath princes. They would, without doubt, do the
same for us. We trust to hear of extensive progress
being made amongst these tribes in attaching them
to our cause and securing their support. From
among them we may obtain recruits not
inferior to the Gorkhas or the Sikhs in many of the
qualities of the soldier, while at the same time we
may be more secure of their fidelity. Raised by
us in the scale of social elevation, they may feel
their interests bound up with our own, and what
the Hetkaris and Mawalis were to Sivaji the
aboriginal tribes of all India may be to us.—
Homeward Mail.

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.