The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-28 00:00:00

A STATE VISIT TO SIR COLIN.

" I waited, in common with many others, for a
long time, till the period arrived to return to
camp, in order to witness the state visit of Jung
Bahadoor, to his Excellency the Commander-in-
Chief. No one could say whether the assault was to
come off or not, but, according to general orders, it
was quite settled that the Maharajah would make
his appearance in our camp at four o'clock. A
canopy was prepared in front of the Commander-
in-Chief's mess tent. A. guard of honour of
Highlanders, their band and pipers, were drawn
up near it, an eatcort of the 9th Lancers and a
battery of field guns were in front and on the
flanks, and all the ceremonials which could be de-
vised under the circumstances were executed admi-
rably well. Sir Colin, in full uniform was punctual
to the minute, and all his staff on duty were
also present en grand tenue. The chief, it was
plain enough, would rather have been close to the
Begum's palace. His eye and his ear were by turns
directed towards that place, whence, as the time
wore on, could be heard the increasing rattle of
musketry. Still the Jung came not. Minute after
minute passed by very slowly. It was plain that
his Highness the Maharajah, if he knew of the
Comm a n der-in- Chief's arrangements, did not possess
the "politeness of princes." It was 5 o'clock, and
the musketry was rolling out in great volleys. Sir
Colin was walking up and down, like a man who
had waited quite long enough for his wife to get on
her bonnet, and was about "to stand it no longer,"
whets a great buzz amid the soldiers announced the
arrival of the Jung Bahadoor, " the Lord of
Battle," and the baud of the Highlanders an I the
thunder of the guns gave him welcome. Inside
the canopy were Sir Archdale Wilson, Col. Hogg,
Yuung, C.,10t0 Sterling, Sir Hope Grant,
Major Bruce, Major Norman, Dr. Tice, rite. As
the Maharajah approached the Commander-in-
Chief and his aides-dc-camp on duty stepped out to
meet him. Who in London does not remember the
Maharajah's diamonds and jewelled headdresses ?
In the light of the setting sun they even looked
more brilliant tuan under the opera chandelier.
Indeed, he was so very brilliant, that for a time one
only looked at the casque and at the scarlet coat,
crisp with jewels and gold, and not at the man who
wore them. With white-kid-gloved hand raised to
his glittering crest, above which nodded a plume of
Bird of Paradise feathers delicately loaded with
emeralds and diamonds, Jung Bahadoor advanced
towards Sir Colin Campbell, took the outstretched
hand of our chief, and introduced him to his two
brothers, who, almost equally gaudy in attire and
rich in decoration, accompanied him. Colonel
M‘Gregor, in his full uniform and orders, was on
the right of the Maharajah, and after him came a
long following of generals in rich dresses, most of
them with faces of the Calmuck type, broad in the
shoulders, short necked, and thin-legged. They
seated thensselves on chairs, anything but easy for
them, on the right of Sir Colin, whose Staff sat on
his left, and then there was a long interchange of
courteous speeches, but Sir Colin's mind seemed
intent on the Begere's Palace, and his ears
fixed on the rapid roll of musketry. Still the
speeches and conversation went on, the Maharajah'a
quick eye glancing furtively from Staff to High-
lander, and back again. In the midst of all this
courtly ceremony a tall figure, covered with duct,
broke through the crowd of spectators at the end of
the line of Highlanders and strode up towards the
chief, who rose from his seat and advances to meet
him. It was strange enough amid all this glitter of
goldilace and fine clothes, to see this apparition in
hodden gray tunic, turbanedcap, and trunk boots,
with long sword clanking ou the ground, and head
and face and garwen s covered with dust, walking
stiffly up the aisle of men. "I am desired by the
Chief of the Staff, Sir, to tell you that we have
taken the Begum's Palace with little loss, and are
now in possession of it and the adjoining build-
ings." And with a few pleased words from
Sir Colin, the Deputy-Adjutant-General to the
Chief of the Staff, Hope Johnstone, marched out
of the crowd again and vanished. Jung Bahadoor
perhaps imagined it was a well-executed coup de
theatre; but it was a bard reality—as bard almost
as the skirl of the bagpipes, which were played by
idx as fine Highlanders as ever trod on heather who
walked twice in front of us to a heart-stirring
pibrcch, and then played a few morceaux, to the
great delight of the Bahadoor. His Excellency
mountA with his brothers on two elephants
with gorgeous howdah cloths, and returned to his
camp."
COMMERCIAL---
INTELLIGENCE.

CALCUTTA,
MARCH 22.
The London
Rail of the 10th ultimo was re-
ceived here on the 16th instant, by the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steam ship Bengal, and
advice; from hence to the 17th ultimo, have since
reached 113 by electric telegraph by way of Bombay,
The commercial intelligence as regards Indian
stlples, notwithstanding the gradual and rapid im-
provement of the money market at home, is any-
thing but satisfact try, and !IRS tended already to
cut tail operations in our market.
Bu-iness has continued in the same dull and un-
settled state at at thi date of our last. There is
actually no general demand for any description of
produce, and the little that is now and then done,
is chiefly to n.e t former engagements. Had it not
been for :quail stocks we would have had to report
a coi;siderabte reduction on our quotations ; as
matters stand, prices have not given way sufficiently
to induced purchases to any extent, and theme is
reason to apprehend that the present state of affairs
will coz.tinne for some time. Indigo has been
moving quietly, but steadily, at former value.
Raw silk in good though not general demand at a
further small a'lvatice. Sugar in MOZprate inquiry
Saltpetre neglected for the home market. A
limited inquiry has prevailed forju'e. Oil seeds in
little request, at previous figures. Shell lac little