The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-30 00:00:00

-THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 30, 1858.

and, secondly, that having been so established, the
recipients of commissions in the corps should not

have been apprised of the unusual p t uliarity of
their position prior to the acceptance ( f (as it has
proved) the somewhat questionable bt on of a com-

mission.

Furthermore, it is particularly deserving of note
that—according to the petition presented to the
House of Commons on the 14th of August, 1857,

into the allegations of which the Select Committee
was subsequently appointed on the 26th of April,
1858, to inquire searchingly and scrutinizingly—
lieutenancies in the Military Train were ac-
tually offered to some of the officers holding
the grade of captains in the late Land Trans-
port Corps : offers by the way accepted in
some instances, but in others indignantly refused.
It is in reference to that particular fact that the
report observes emphatically, according to the terms
already intimated, that " From evidence before
your committee, it appears that the course of offer-
ing lower grade to that previously held is anomalous
and exceptional." This, however, constituted
not by any means all the grievances of which
the petitioners complained. The conduct pur
sued by the Government in regard to the
treatment of the unfortunate officers of the
Land Transport Corps was, according to familiar

parlance, so entirely of a piece—from its

commencement to its conclusion—that when
—upon the close of the late war—the Land Trans-
port Corps was disbanded, and the officers of that
corps found themselves suddenly, unexpectedly,
and peremptorily denied the rate of half-pay, to
which they were by right entitled—as officers duly
appointed in the London Gazette, as officers hold-
ing commissions signed by Her MAJESTY'S hand.

This in truth was the most cruel and harsh of all the
cruel and harsh proceedings to which the petitioners
had found themselves subjected in a way so
systematically and pertinaciously anomalous and
exceptional. Several among their number had
been promoted from the rank of non-commissioned
officers in other branches of the services, more parti-
cularly from the position of non-commissioned
officers in the Artillery. Others had been appointed
to command in the corps from civil situations—one
of these latter, for example (Captain HUDSON, to
wit), having resigned a lucrative post at the
Cape of Good Hope, a situation bringing him
£5OO a-year in that colony under the
Ordnance Department. It is epecially observable,
moreover, in this instance, that Captain HUDSON
had done good service in the field during all the
Kaffir wars of '46, '47, '5l, '52, '53 ! Yet, actually
after all this service in the field, after giving up
£5OO per annum to serve his country again during
actual warfare in the Crimea—by reason of the
anomalous and exceptional arrangements accom-
panying the disbandment of the Land Transport
corps, this officer, by entering that corps, " lost his
claim to a superannuation allowance of about £lOO
a-year, of which he would have been entitled for
his civil services." And, beyond this, by obtain-
ing the position of Captain in the Land Transport
Corps, he found himself on the disbandment of that
corps in r 4 eipt of 7s. 6d. a-day for a term of three
years, at he expiration of which this provi-
sion would cease altogether ! A fact which
brings us back to the most cruelly ano-
malous and exceptional of all these proceedings,
the diminution of the half-pay to which the officers
found themselves entitled, by reason of the
sequel to the now well-known order from Horfield
Barracks, dated Feb. 26, 1857. The ordinary rates,
it should be remembered, are, by the regulations-
7s. 6d. to captains, 4s. Bd. to lieutenants, and 3s. 6d.
to cornets. Yet upon the morrow of that strange
order from Horfield Barracks, by which the officers
ofthe Land Transport Corps were in formed that their
services were dispensed with- -with the exception
(another anomalous exception) of nineteen, whose
names were duly specified—these unlucky gentlemen
holding commissions signed by the QUEEN herself,
were severally informed, through their army agents,
that they were divided into two classes under a
special rate of half-pay ! Those promoted from the
ranks—to receive half-pay according to this very
novel scale : ss. captains, 3s. 6d. lieutenants, 3s.
comets ! And those appointed from civil situations
—to receive the full rate of half-pay, but only for
a temporary period, ranging from two years to
three at the outside—when, of course, they would
have the gratification of finding themselves left by
a grateful country wholly penniless !
It was into this systematic injustice towards
the officers of the Land Transport Corps that
Lord A. VANE TEMPEST'S Committee was appointed
to inquire. And admirably, because both effec-
tively and effectually, did the Committee acquit
itself under the weight of its self-imposed respon-
sibilities. We have reverted to the fact of the
existence of this Select Committee with peculiar
satisfaction. Its success does not surely the less
entitle it to some grateful remembrance.

We have frequently had occasion to notice the
public meetings, which, during the Parliamentary
vacation, arc the safety valves, by means whereof
the surplus political steam escapes, not only without
danger, but with -advantage, to the community.
Much instruction is derived from the observations
made on such occasions by duly qualified parties,
which, under different circumstances, would be made
in either House of Parliament, and the public thus
learn the views of Ministers, which may be duly
considered during the interval that must elapse
before the process of legislation will be again re-
sumed. •

The usual Michaelmas banqut of the Fishmongers
Company, given at their ancient hall, was cele-
brated under peculiarly favourable auspices. The
Prime Warden proved that he was fully qualified
for the pleasing duties imposed on him, and he had
ample scope for displaying the ability and good
will with which he entered on the agreeable under-

taking.
There had been a great alteration in the political
and, we may add, social position of 150,000,000 of
our fellow subjects during the past year. Twelve
months since the nation was exasperated by
accounts of horrible atrocities that made the blood
run cold. The struggle at Delhi was fresh in every
recollection. The fate of the refugees at Lucknow
was still trembling in the balance. It was impos-
sible to say whether they could hold out until the
brilliant self-devotion of HAVELOCK, and the gallant
soldiers worthy of such a leader, should relieve
them at so heavy a price as the life of the gallant
NEILL and his daring associates, who shed their
blood in that glorious exploit, or until Sir COLIN
could complete the rescue so admirably commenced
and restore them to their respective homes and
anxiously-looked-for friends and relatives.
The fugitives at Agra were still in jeo-
pardy, and there were many formidable bands
of rebels in the field. The future govern-
ment of India was still undecided. It was impos-
sible to say what might be the ultimate result of
the conflict. Although every true-hearted English-
man had full confidence in the eventual triumph of
truth and justices many professing friends boldly
predicted the overthrow of British supremacy, and
the complete subversion of the Anglo-Indian
Empire. _

- . .
Theo sinister auguries have AU been averted,

Great Britain has forfeited no portion of her pres-
tige in the East. The once formidable forces have
dwindled down to bands of despairing brigands,
who, without any hope of escaping the impending
doom, are only solicitous to gain a brief respite.
In every, pitched battle they have been completely
defeated, and with terrible loss, not only of the
personnel, but also of the materiel, of war. The
latter was even more important than the former, so
far as the result of the contest was concerned.
They might possibly find men, but they could
not possibly replace the guns and ammunition that
from time to time were captured by the English
troops. India is to all intents and purposes again
our own, and there is nothing to create the slightest
apprehension as to the retention and permanency
of our rule.

13ut it is not merely in India that extraordinary
changes have occurred. The sceptre has been
transferred from the hand of " tl a Company'? to
that of QUEEN VICTORIA. We are now, although
separated by so great an expanse of sea and land,
one people, under one SOVEREIGN. The name of
" VICTORIA" will be recognised as the constitu-
tional ruler of India, as well as of Great Britain,
and it will not now be said that independent
Princes are controlled by the officials of a body of
Merchant Adventurers.

We do not now condemn the extinct Company.
Perhaps, as Lord CLIVE said, " Considering the
temptations to which he was subjected, he only
wondered at his own moderation." It may be
regarded as miraculous that there was not a
greater display of cupidity and self-aggrandise-
ment. They had a rich vein whereon to work ;
and, looking to the opportunities, it could scarcely
have been anticipated that they would have done
less. We are, in fact, so happy to have got rid of
their reign, that we are quite prepared to accede
to the principle—

" De mortuis, nil nisi bonum."

We shall not in any degree impair the lustre of
the recently-erected monument.
The very interesting speech of Lord STANLEY
referred not merely to the past but to the future.
All that was required on the former topic was to
repeat the assurance that it was not in the nature
of a penal proceeding ; not as a condemnation of
the Company's acts or antecedents, " whose cen-
tury of Empire had come to an end." The progress
of events had rendered the change inevitable, and
we believe that the alteration could not have been
more favourably introduced. It is not merely that
Lord STANLEY presides over the Council, and
has already displayed an aptitude for the duty,
acquired not only by indefatigable exertion
combined with extraordinary ability, but also
by distant travel, so that he might be enabled to
observe and form a sound judgment, not only on
the state of the Administration, but also of the
native disposition in the interior of India.
The principles enunciated by the new Secretary
of State are exactly what might have been antici-
pated. He declares that "it is not enough to
regard them" (the Hindoos) " as objects upon whom
our benevolence may be exercised, or as persons
upon whom it is in our power to operate important
changes for good. We must also look upon them
as men with whom, and not against
whom, we have to work—as men with feel-
ings of their own—as men who, although
politically subject to us, have a sense of their own
rights and a respect for their own independence,
and as men who will be apt to be the more tena-
cious of their intellectual independence-. and
national customs, because of the political subjection
in which they are held."
This is the true ground on which to maintain our
position, to amalgamate rather than conquer, and

in place of enslaving confer the rights of British

citizens on those who had previously been merely
serfs, whose lives, liberties, and possessions were at
the disposal of a self-willed despot.

On Tuesday we explained some of the leading
features of the Chinese Treaty of the 26th of June.
There are some, however, well worthy of notice, to
which we may fairly direct attention, and which
show the facilities that will henceforward be
afforded to British travellers, and which may ren-
der China a favourite tour for those who have ex-
hausted all the sights of Europe and the proximate
portions of Asia. We shall, perhaps, ere long be-
hold gentlemen who have acquired all the Celestial
habits and fashions, and who will be unable to live
without soup made of birds' nests—who will prefer
dog to lamb, and chop-sticks to knives and forks.
It is right, at all events, that those gentlemen
should understand the nature of the facilities placed
at their disposal, so that they may be enabled to
avail themselves thereof, if they should think it
expedient to do so.
It is provided that passports, entitling British
subjects to travel for business or pleasure through
all parts of the country, are to be granted by the
British Consuls, and countersigned by the
local authorities. We believe that the system
will be by no means so vexatious or annoy-
ing as that which prevails much nearer home. At
all events, our Consuls will be enabled to take care
that the passports thus given shall be duly re-
spected, so that the eivis Britannicus may receive
ample protection, even in the very heart of China.
All monopolies are also to be destroyed. The
British subject may employ Chinese labour at his
pleasure, in any lawful capacity. Boats, too, may
be hired, the bargain being made between the
parties without any intervention of the Chinese
authorities, and all matters in which the rights or
privileges of Englishmen are concerned are to be
decided by the consular authorities.
The remainder of the treaty chiefly relates to
commercial matters. It is, in fact, a treaty of
commerce, the various provisions whereof are
settled with great accuracy. The importance of
such a proceeding may easily be estimated from
the enormous amount of silver bullion absorbed in
the Chinese trade, in consequence of the prevail-
ing restrictions. Heretofore we were obliged to
send hard dollars to pay for our purchases. Hence-
forward we shall send goods which will be accept-
able to the Chinese, and prevent one of the conti-
nuous causes of the perturbations in our monetary
system. Those who have formed any notion of
the effects produced on our domestic currency by
the incessant demand of silver for China to pay for
tea and silk, may reasonably estimate the advan-
tages that must inevitably result from the establish-
ment of free trade, and that commercial intercourse
that will eventually follow " unrestricted competi-
tion." Hitherto the demand was for silver, but
that silver had to be purchased with British gold,
and the effect was to disturb not only the English
but all the continental exchanges. The drain was
for a time averted by the Sycee silver paid by
China under the treaty of Nankin. It will now not
only be stopped by the amount of the indemnity to
be satisfied, but far more so by the demand for
English goods which must inevitably follow.
The indemnity forms the subject of a separate
article. Two millions of taels are to be paid as
compensation to British subjects for losses occa-
sioned by the misconduct of Chinese authorities at
Canton, and a like sum for the expenses of the war,
and the British forces are not to be withdrawn
from Canton until these sums have been duly paid
and satisfied.

Lord ELGIN has unquestionably well discharged
the important duty confided to his charge ; and, as
we have already declared, fully and fairly " earned
his Marquisate." He has already been made a
civil K.C.B. ; but certainly his very valuable
services require a higher reward. We have no
doubt, however, that merit so fully recognised by
all classes of the community and men of all: parties
will receive it§ legitimate reward,

LATEST NEWS.

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY.

A letter from Biarritz says : —" On Sunday
there was here what the local journals call a
nautical fete,' and the Emperor and Empress
were present at it. First of all, about 20 fishing
boats belonging to Saint Jean de Luz, Guethary,
and Socon, sailed up to the Villa Eugenie ; then
there was a swimming match between the bathing
men of the place, and prizes were given to the most
successful ; next there was a very amusing duck-
hunt ; and the amusements terminated by the fish-
ing boats filing off before the Emperor and Em-
press—the crews crying out with enthusiasm,
Vive l'Empereur !" Vive l'lmperatrice !' In one
of the boats the Mayor of St. Jean de Luz came,
and the Emperor told him that he had not forgotten
a project submitted to him some time ago for im-
proving the roadstead of that place."
" Nothing," says a Paris letter in the Nord,
" caused the mission to Warsaw, with which the
Emperor has charged Prince Napoleon, to be fore-
seen. It was at Biarritz, where the Prince had
gone to pass a few days, and, from which he was to
have returned with the Emperor, that his departure
for Warsaw was decided on. He returned suddenly
to Paris, and left on Sunday, as already stated, for
Cologne. There the Prince reposed a few hours,
and afterwards proceeded by special train to Ber-
lin, where he was to arrive at 9 on Monday even-
ing. H.I.H. was not to stop in that city, and a spe-
cial train, prepared by order of the Russian Go-
vernment, was to meet him on Tuesday morning at
the frontier. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, that is,
52 hours after his departure from Paris, he was to
arrive at Warsaw, and dine with the Emperor
Alexander. His visit proves that the relations be-
tween the courts of France and Russia are more
and more intimate, and that the Emperor Napoleon
is desirous to testify by an act of courtesy his
friendly sentiments."—Another Paris letter in the
Journal du Havre says :—" The journey of Prince
Napoleon to Warsaw is interpreted here in various
senses. According to one version, the prince has
gone to invite the Czar to visit France, as, indeed,
he had promised to do at the interview of Stutt-
gard. This is the more probable, that the Empress
is not at Warsaw with him. In this case, he would
arrive at the camp of Chalons during the presence
of the Emperor, and would thence proceed to Com-
piegne and Paris."
The marriage contract of Marshal Duke of Mala-
koff, engrossed upon vellum, will be, it is said, a
masterpiece of the calligraphic art. On the bind-
ing will figure the arms of the marshal and his
bride, the settlements being drawn up according to
the law of community of property between hus-
band and wife. The contract is highly advantage-
ous to the bride elect, and confers on her a large
jointure. The marriage will probably be celebrated
in the chapel of the Senate ; but if the Emperor
and Empress, as is asserted, should decide on being
present, it is not impossible that the ceremony may
take place in the chapel of the Tuileries.
BOURSE, Sept. 29, Two o'Clock.—The market
has been agitated in consequence of the prepara-
tions for the settlement, but Rente has been pretty
well maintained. Shares have been heavy. Threes
have been done at 73f. 20c. and 73f. 40c., and are
now at 73f. 30c. Mobilier varied from 975 f. to
987 f. 50c. ; Austrian, 6751. to 676 f. 25e. ; Orleans,
1,432 f. 50c. to 1,437 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 892 f. 50c. to
855 f.; Southern, 605 f. to 600 f.; Northern, 9921. 50c.
to 9871. 50c. ; and Eastern, 747 f. 50c. to 752 f. 50c.
The market continued in the same state to the
close. The following were the last quotations :-
41 per Cents. .... 96 30 Credit Fonder... . 660
Do. end month .. 96 50 Belgian 41
3 per Cents. 73 15 Piedmontese (5) .. 91 75
Do. end month.... 73 25 Roman 93
Bank Shares. 3090 Austrian
Credit Mobilier 975 Spanish Threes
Do. Accounti ..... 975 Home Debt 4O 62

and no stake is too venturesome for Count de Ca-
your. Fortune ever favours the bold' is a very
old maxim, still in favour' at certain Courts which
have forgotten the fate of Charles the Bold and his
Burgundian dominions,"