The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-10 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 1858.

Never was the necessity for a large and com-
prehensive measure of Parliamentary Reform
more painfully conspicuous than at this momeLt.
Last year it was clearly proved, beyond the pos-
sibility of dispute, or difficulty, that the chosen
representatives of the people did not understand
the feelings and wishes of their_ccinstituents, that
there was a peculiar atmosphere in the House of
Commons, which made it 3 members indifferent or
insensible to the voice of pubic opinion. A large
number of experienced persons, who bad
previously enjiyed a fair degree of popularity,
received a painful but salutary less-)n as
to the propriety and necessity of respezting the
pressure from without. Never was an appeal to
the country more decisively answered, and never
was there a larger infusion of new blood admitted
into the representative branch of the Legislature.

But the lesson seems to have been already for-
gotten, or at least disregarded. The most obnoxious
measure which has fur a series of years been
intr duced in either House, a measure raTccting
our internal law dictated by a foreign Power, a
I:Leisure earnestly and emphatically protes'ed
against and condemned by every independent jour-
nalist, has forthetime being been sanctioned byan
overwhelming majority of more than three to one.
Twu hundred and ninety-nine Right Hon. and
Ron. Gentlemen quailed beneath the threat of
invasion, and by their votes affixei their seals to
the act of degradation ; while but ninety-Dino
manifested that spirit of
.independence, befitting
men jealous of the honour and dignity of the
once mighty British flatian. We are happy to
say that there were men of all parties and shades
of political opinion who thus nobly distinguished
themselves. On Monday, Mr. KINGLAKE, Mr.
HORSMAX, Mr. HADJIELD, Mr. GILPIN, Mr. W.
J. Fox, qn. &above and beyond all JOHN ARTHUR
Rozsucx—tried and consistent liberals, boldly
vindicated the national honour. Last night Mr.
S. WAR-11E4 made a brilliant and most effective
speech, *dearly and distinctly showing that the
proposed. puacttnents were wholly uncalled for,
that they would be useless and inefft.:ctual, dero-
gatory to the national spirit, and that the entire
measurswas a libel on the law of England. Dif-
fering as *e do on many points from Mr. WARREN,
we =licit help recognising gratefully the truly
British keeling which he displayed
and we thank
him cordially and' sincerely for) the admirable
exposition of views and opinions that ought to
have decided the question.

He liras ably supported by Mr. Beerm. M.
HOPE, Mr. Hmir, Mr. MONCIETON M ' —.
ILICE and
by Lord JOHN RII3SELL, who went far to retrie
his reputation by the manly and statesmanlike
speech which he delivered ; while of the Conser-
vative party, Captain ARCHDALE, Right Hon. W.
BEREAPORD, Sir FITZROY KELLY, and others by
their votes sustained the great principle at issue.
The'sc-called apology was brought forward. As
we suspected, it was dated on the 6th of Feb-
ruary, being manifestly concocted for the occa-
sion. :Indeed, it was essential to prevent the bill
from being ignominiously irejected, as we believe,
despite the sycophancy of.certain parties, it would
have been, but for the specious explanation. We
do not, however, think that a mere expression of
regret for the publication', while the truculent
bullies by whom the mendacious insults were
so wantonly offered, not only remained uncen-
sured, but were decorated and promoted—by any
We believe that Eng 7
means a sufficient anteude.
lish gentlemen of the old school would be sorry
to allow the vindication of their honour to remain
in the hands of persons so very easily satisfied.
Tlie bill, however, has not yet been carried.
We trust to the good men and true, who have sc
faithuily performed their duty in Terpect thereof,
to persist in their oppcsitiOn -until t!iesy cause 01,3
rejection of the obnoxious bill, tr coroi.rtc,., i
neutralize its provisions. Let them :eeullect; 1
that it may be regarded as the introduction 1
of the sharp end of the wedge, and j
tbM it is utterly impossible to predict the t

lengths to which the ill-omened precedent may
be carried. What we have granted to France
can scarcely be refused to Austria, Russia, or
Prussia, or to any of the inferior Powers. In-
deed, it is by no- means improbable that we shall
soon receive requisitions from King 'BOMBA him-
self, demanding the punishment of those who
have dared to doubt the love of his sifejectA, or
the mild benignity of his rule.
The occasion is an important one, and we trust
that every nervo will be strained to vindicate the
independence of the United Kingdom, and to
prevent it from being converted iuto a French
prefecture.

Ttlegrams have been received respecting the
state of affairs in India and China. The dates
are Calcutta 9th, Madras 9th, Bombay 13th of
January, and Canton 29th, and }Lug Kong 3002
of December. The intelligence from every quarter
was very satisfactory. Sir COLIN CAMPBELL had
occupied Furruckabad on the 3d of January.
The rebels had attacked him on the previous day,
and regularly " caught a tartar." They were
completely repulsed after a severe skirmish,
with the loss of all their guns, some seven
or eight in number. They reckoned with- ,
out their host in fancying, that the vigi-
lant and true-hearted Highlander could be
caught napping. They afterwards abandoned
Furruckabad, abandoning all their heavy artillery,
Communications were also opened with the gallant
SEATON and his victorious column. Gorruckpore
was captured on the 6th January by JUNG BAITA •
DOOR and hi 3 gallant Ghoorkas. They also took
seven guns and destroyed 200 of the insurgents.
This achievement affords an admirable comment
on the judicious manner in which Lord CANNING
rejected their valuable assistance at the com-
mencement of the insurrection, and which doubt-
less formed a portion of his claim on the national
gratitude—a complete justification of the votes of
thanks by both Houses of Parliament. The loss
of our allies was but two Ghoorkas killed and
seven wounded.

The gallant Ouraiat still remained with 4,000
followers in the Alumbagh. The peasantry were
beginning to bring in supplies to his camp—a
strong proof, if any were required, that they un-
derstand that the game is altogether up, and that
Oads must soon succumb to the irresistible force
that will be brought to bear on it. Brigadier
WALPOLE had occupied Et Awah on the 29th Dec.
He was about proceeding to Minpooree, and
thence to join Sir COLTS CAMPBELL at Agra.
The Sylhet Battalion had attacked and com-
pletely dispersed the Chittagong mutineers near
the frontiers of Tipperah. The rebels had sus-
tained considerable loss, while our own was com-
paratively trivial.

A bill had been introduced for the purpose
of uniting the Meerut and Delhi divisions
to the Punjaub. The Lieutenant-Governorship
was to be given to Sir JOHN LAWRENCE, a just,
although inadequate recognition of the pre-emi-
nent services, which, under Providence, had saved
the Anglo-Indian Empire.

The news from China is still more interesting.
As we anticipated the bombardment of Canton
had commenced. The iron storm opened on the
devoted city on the 28th Thcomber, and was con-
tinued during the whole of the day and night.
On the following morning at six o'clock the general
assault took place in three divisions, two English
and one French. Gough's Fort was taken at two
o'clock and destroyed. Our success must by that time
have been rendered certain, although the assist-
ance and direction of the Hon. General ASH-
BURNHAM was not available, and that distinguished
officer was on his way home, in place of braving
the wrath of Commissioner YEar, and his valiant
JOHN CHINAMEN.

The inhabitants had continued a desultory but
ineffectual fire from their houses. The troops had
however been judiciously prevented from entering
the city. Its subjugation was certain, but it.
would have been ridiculous to sacrifice many
valuable lives, in order to anticipate by a few
hours the submission that is inevitable. It is
also an act of mercy, not only to our own troop?,
but to the misguided men who have so long
delayed the fulfilment of their just obligations.
The Map of China, which appears in our pre-
sent impression, will, we trust, enable our
friends and subscribers to follow more closely
the course of events, and to perceive clearly the
nature of the success hitherto obtained, and that
which must speedily follow, until the insult to
the British flag and the contumacy and bad faith
of the Yehites have been fully and completely
punished. It will be seen that the number of
people in each province is counted by tens of
millions !