The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-04 00:00:00

which have combined to render the British rule
unpopular with the natives of- our Great Depend-
ency—we cannot even dwell on that very important
point—the unequal pressure and rigorous enforce-
ment of the house tax raised for the support of the
town and village police. We hasten to that which,
though last in the order of remuneration, is not, it
may be feared, least in the order of causation—the
harsh and insolent manners of the English officers,
civil- and military, towards their subordinates and
the natives generally. On this point the native
gentleman shall speak for himself : there is a deep
meaning in the temperate reticence of his lan-
guage : his statement is evidence at first hand
—the result of the life-loner experience of a
just and discerning man :—" The great majority
of English officers, both civil and military, are
guilty of using bad language to their subordinates,
dependents, servants, to the Sepoysi. and to the
people of the country in general. In former days,
three out of four English officers who were in any
place of authority were experienced, well acquainted
with the language and customs of the country, and
had some knowledge of the world; and, in parti-
cular, had seen much of India in their service and
travels ; only one quarter of the English gentlemen
were young and learning their duties. At present
the state of things is very different ; but I shall say
no more on this point." It is not necessary : that
calm and measured statement comprises in its few
quiet words the denunciation of one of the worst
features of our national character, developed under
the condition of absolute rule, and fearfully
-voted by the evil passions necessarily eitgoiaetpa
by the horrors•of an internecine strife. Unless this
shameful evil is put down, English- rule must
always be hated, and India always unsafe.
Such is the substance of this native gentleman's
views as to the principal causes that have co•ope-
ra.ted to alienate the native mind of India from
British rule. They are well worthy of the atten-
tive consideration of our statesmen. .They may not
contain the whole truth, but they contain a "great
deal of it."

MR. BRIGHT'S REPLY TO THE GLAS-
GO IV .REQUISITION.

The following letter from Mr. Bright has been
received by Mr. Walter Buchanan, M.P.:—

".Rochdale, Dec. 1, 1858.
" Dear Mr. Buchanan,—l have received the re-
guisition, signed by yourself and by so many, other
influential citizens of Glasgow, inviting me to
attend a public meeting in your city on the subject
of Parliamentary Reform.
." If I consulted only my own feelings, and the
interest I have in the great question now before the
country, I should at once accept the invitation
which you and your fellow subscribers to the requi-
sition have done me the honour to forward to me.
I am compelled, however, not to forget that I have
but recently so far recovered my health as to enable
me to speak in public, and that even now, I may
run great risk of a relapse if I engage in too much
labour, of this kind. _ _

" Thave to attend a great meeting in Manchester
in the course of "next week, and my friends in
Edinburgh expect to see me in the succeeding week.
If I come to Glasgow, you must not fix an earlier
day than the 21st, and I should feel much obliged
if you would allow the Manchester meeting at least
to pass over before I engage to come. To show you
that I am not needlessly hesitating as to your
meeting, I may say that, , after the meeting in
Edinburgh and Glasgow, it is not my intention to
speak at more than one other meeting before the
meeting of Parliament, unless I except one which
may possibly be held in the town in which I live.
" I am sorry to leave the matter at all unsettled,
but, under the circumstances, I think you will ex-
cuse me.
"With many thanks to yourself, [and all who
have signed the requisition, I am, very sincerely,
yours JOHN BRIGHT.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

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