The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-16 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

soldier, and that mistrust and animosity must for
the future take the place of the good feeling which
in former days united the Indian soldier to his
British commander. Certainly my experience goes
to prove that these predictions will not be fulfilled,
that on the contrary the sepoy, with his discipline
—that, of course, is an express condition—will
faithfully defend his officers and his colours. (The
gallant general sat down amidst a loud and long-
continued burst of cheers.)
Mr. WESTROPP next rose and said—ln conse-
quence of the absence of the gentleman to whom
the next toast was allotted, the duty of proposing
the two services, " The Army and the Navy," has
devolved upon me. I use those terms in their largest
sense. By the army I mean not only the Queen's
troops, but also the Anglo-Indian forces. By the navy
I mean as well the Royal as the Indian Navy. We
justly prize those services which have, in a great
measure, contributed to place the British in the
foremost rank amongst the nations of the globe.
The army of Great Britain may not be the most
numerous in the world, but in gallantry and in the
extent of its achievements it stands unsurpassed.
Most assuredly there is more expected by our
countrymen than by any other nation of its forces.
It is the hardest worked army in existence, when
its numbers are considered. rro-day its battalions
are amidst the biting frosts of Canada • to-morrow
they face the burning heat of the Indies, and pro-
bably endure many years of exile. But we have a
strong example in the 78th Highlanders and many
other regiments, which have been for many years
in India, that it matters not how long a period of
expatriation they may have undergone, the sol-
diery of Great Britain never forget the spirit where,
with they ought, as true sons of their country, to
be animated. Having mentioned the 78th, who
have never forgotten that they are Highlanders,
and what is due to their great name, I cannot
forego a passing tribute of admiration to their
brave comrades, the 64th. To specify any par-
ticular regiment, is, however, perhaps unjust, when
in former, as in the more recent Crimean, Persian,
and Indian civil wars, the conduct of all has been
glorious. With this part of the toast I doubt not
that this assembly will gladly couple the name of
an officer now amongst us who stands high on the
roll of fame—the gallant leader of the renowned
column that issued forth from the gates of recap-
tured Delhi to sweep before it the retreat-
ing and wrecked host of mutiny and mur-
der. Need I mention Colonel Greathed, whose
deeds, and those of his noble column, will
henceforth fill one of the most brilliant pages of the
history of British India. As to the navy of Eng-
land, who, to an assembly of Englishmen, shall
speak its praises ? Eulogy is in such a case unne-
cessary. We all from our infancy glory in the
wooden walls of England, and the men to man them.
Every child regards with pride the powerful right
arm of Britannia. We are happy in being able to
associate with this branch of the toast the name of
a distinguished officer of the Royal navy, now pre-
sent, who presides with zeal and ability over the
Indian navy, the worthy sister in arms of the Royal
navy. His is a name not unknown to Indian his-
tory ; one of his kinsmen who bore it here wielded,
with the highest skill, the sword of state. Another
here wielded, with a world-wide renown, the sword
of victory. Although the star of Assaye may pale
before the brighter glow of Waterloo, many a long
day must elapse ere the success at Assaye becomes
obliterated from the memory of the East. Commo-
dore Wellesley has shown himself to be no un-
worthy scion of that illustrious house. For thou-
sands of ages hence to come, may Britons, with loud
enthusiasm, drink the toasts of their army and
navy. (Loud and continued cheering.)
Colonel GREATHED said that it was impossible
for him to find terms of sufficient strengtn to ex-
press the gratification he experienced in having had
his name coupled with the toast given, and it specially
became him to avail himself of the opportunity of
alluding to the distinguished manner those belong-
ing to the army of this presidency had distin-
guished them selves on manyof the most tiyingof these
occasions. Nothing could have surpassed the con-
duct of the Beloochees, a young corps scarcely before
under fire, or the heroism of their commander,
Younghusband. He well remembered Bruce and
Bailey, Bannerman—who fell gloriously in defence
of his post—Watson, the best of cavalry officers,
and many others who distinguished themselves,
where, amongst such bands of heroes, it was diffi-
culs to earn distinction. All fought nobly, and it
was a matter of peculiar pride to him to be now so
directly connected as he was with the loyal and im-
maculate army to which these officers belong.
Commodore WELLESLEY said that it fell to his lot
to return thanks for both divisions of the naval ser-
vice included in Mr. Westropp's toast—the Royal
navy, to which he belonged, and the Indian navy,
over which it was his good fortune for the present
to preside. On the present, beyond almost any
occasion, had the navy and army been associated
together, and for the first time in the history of war
we found the frigate's commander and crew per-
forming the most distinguished service, thousands
of miles away from the ship inland, bearing about
64-pounder guns like baubles, and pointing them
against the walls of Lucknow, very much in the
fashion they would have been used afloat had the
Shannon been laid alongside the enemy. Of the
sister service he would say nothing. The
Indian navy had never been on active em-
ployment where they failed to earn distinction.
He had now been a twelvemonth amongst them,
and a body of more thorough sailors or more
gentlemanly men he had never come in contact
with, or men more anxious or more competent
to discharge their duties, or more desirous to
co-operate cordially with their commander. There
was no country in the world that might not be
proud of a service so zealous and so thoroughly
efficient as the Indian navy.
MR. BERKLEY rose and said—Under ordinary
circumstances the toast which the chairman has
entrusted to me might have been introduced to
your notice in a few loyal words, but we and the
community at large are so much indebted to the
noble lord the governor of Bombay—(cheers)—
that I trust I shall carry your feelings along with
me while I endeavour to make the proposal of his
lordship's health something more than a formal
standing toast. (Hear.) I am sorry that brevity
compels me to pass over the first two years and a
half of Lord Elphinstone's administration, for they
presented evident indications of his having come
Out to India with a determination to fill an fin-
portant and useful post of duty, and not to occupy
a mere office of state, and they afforded abundant
proofs of his moderation and experience, and of his
enlightened principles of government. (Cheers.)
In the autumn of 1856, however, the serenity of
the political horizon\ was disturbed, and the atten-
tion of our governor was partly diverted from
measures of a peaceful nature to preparations for a
foreign expedition.
,It was not, I dare say, without
some surprise that many of us then observed with
what alacrity and aptitude his lordship entered
upon the general arrangements for the Persian war.
The gallant general, your illustrious guest, must be
so familiar with the sufferings and administrative
difficulties that were encountered in the Crimea that
he will be able to appreciate the success of those
arrangements (assent from Sir H. Rose), and I have
no doubt he will I acknowledge that the speedy
transport of our array from India to the shores of
Persia the subsequent transport of the second
detachment under Outram, and the bringing back
of the whole force, including all the non-combatants
and its complete equipment, without the loss of a
single man upon the voyage; and with scarcely a
casualty in the embarkation, -redounds greatly to
the credit of the Bombay Government—that it was,
in fact, a great feat worthy of prominent record in
the history of war. (Loud cheers.) The judicious
removal of our army from the Gulf, instead of leav-
ing them to sicken during an unhealthy season,
until Herat had been evacuated, was speedily
rewarded by the Bonibay Government finding
themselves in a better state of preparation at the
moment of emergency ; and though the Persian
war was characterised by few remarkable events,
yet it at least inflamed the ardour of our troops for
the severe conflict that was so soon to follow. (Loud
cheers.) Peace with Persia was proclaimed in
April, 1857. The little cloud had then appeared
in the East, but there had been no prophet to warn
us of its ominous portent ; and so the black tre-
mendous storm was gathering in Bengal. In May
came the sad intelligence of the Meerut massacre,
but fortunately we were then in possession of
generals fresh from the field—of
s
,anled a fleet of transports ; and what
troopships
of
fanwd war,
is more, we had at the head of affairs a man quick
to apprehend the advantage which Providence had
placed within our reach, prompt to turn it to the
best account, and whose active measures helped so
greatly to avert extreme disaster from the
empire.
Lord Elphinstone immediately sent the resolute,ac-
P
lished heroic Havelock—the true type of a Christian
soldier—to the scene of conflict—(cheers)—and
with him those two splendid regiment, the 78th and
64th. All honour to Havelock and those brave
men ! For they, together with Neil and his gal-
lant Fusiliers, have shed their blood most nobly in
their country's cause. They stemmed the torrent
when it was satiated with crime and flushed and
swollen with a momentary triumph ; they revived
Ben al ning prestige of the British arms in
g, and relieved the small, though invincible
garrison of Lucknow. All honour, then, to the
64th.memory of Havelock and to the brave 78th and
st(onLoeud applause.) Soon- afterwards Lord
Elphin sent round another Bombay hero, who
strengthened by his counsels and eager as a grey-
dwairls thethe daring,
leashto
spring to the field of
glory.
chivalrous, noble-hearted Out-
u ia—qgreat applause)—an Ajax in the fight, an
Ulysses
the council—the very mention of whose

name, like that of Havelock's, excites an emotion
of pride in every British homestead, and the admi-
ration of whoise character and achievements has
already become a public sentiment among his coun-
trymen. (Loud cheers.) But Lord Elphinstone
did more than this ; for he it was who sent Capt.
Jenkins to the Mauritius and the Cape, and secured
such opportune reinforcements for this empire.
And if I am correctly informed he also counselled
the despatch of speedy succour from the
Mediterranean ' • for he had then the means of
transport, and knew himself to be the master of
the situation at least on this side of Egypt. The
first great triumph of Lord Elphinstone's adminis-
tration was, I think, displayed in the.fact that the
army and the people of this presidency were at
the outbreak of the mutiny in such a condition of
discipline and contentment that they refused to joiur
the insurrection against the British rule—(cheers)
—but next to that he was most successful in his
fearlessness—his contempt for responsibility--
(cheers)—and of his skilful disposal of the small
means and resources he had at his command.
Wherever sedition was discovered, there the Bom-
bay government was prepared to stamp it out.
(Loud cheers.) Wherever any overt act of treachery
or rebellion was perpetrated, there were they to
inflict summary punishment upon the offenders.
There was the conspiracy at Sattara and the eze-
cation of the ringleaders ; the riots at Hyderabad
and Bombay, and the prompt punishment of the
sepoys ' • the attempt at Nusserabad, and its imme-
diate frustration ; the mutiny at Belgaum and the
slaughter of the mutineers ; the insurrection at
Kolapoor and the overthrow of the insurgent rajah.
The dastardly crime of Nurgoond, and the hanging
of the midnight murderer, and the fill of his con-
federates. Prompt and terrible as these punish-
ments undoubtedly were, can any one for a moment
suppose that the amiable nobleman who governs us
is wanting in the quality of mercy ? Are not all
Englishmen merciful ? Yet there is a weakness
which may rob justice of its efficacy to the State,
and of its moral attributes—a weakness which may
season justice with something which is not "twice
blessed," which " blesseth" not " him that gives and
him that taketh," which " droppeth" not " like the
gentle rain from heayen," but emanates from the
counsels of a feeble and mistaken policy. Of that
we are no advocates—(loud cheers)—and most
fortunate has it been for us that we have had
at the helm of our affairs a man who
was just and firm, vigilant, and considerate of the
welfare of the people, and that he has been seconded
by such bold and able men as the gallant general,
as Frere, the commissioner of Scinde, Le Grand
Jacob, Rose of Sattara, poor General Lester, Mal-
colm Kerr, and others—(cheers)—who have known
so well how to defeat and chastise the offenders,
and who have, been so instrumental either in pre-
serving or restoring the public peace and order of
the country. The latest events that have shed
lustre upon the administration of Lord Elphinstone
are to be found in the brilliant campaign of your
most illustrious guest. (Loud cheers.) His triumphs
and achievements have been so eloquently described
by the chairman that I shall not presume to do
more than offer one observation upon the subject.
It is this, that no one can read the narrative of his
deeds without being impressed with the genius, the
finish, and.the dash of that remarkable six months'
campaign.. (Loud and long continued applause.)
It was not the beating back of an enemy that had
been already scattered and disheartened by battling
with our armies in the Doab ; but it was an en-
counter with a numerous and warlike foe, strong
in guns and in position, upon the very scene and
at the very source of rampant mutiny and rebel-
lion. It was the capture of some of the strongest
fortresses in India, and all was accomplished with
a mere handful of British troops of the Bombay
army under their most brave and skilful
leader. (Loud cheers.) I assert without fear
of contradiction that not only has- Sir Hugh
Rose won undying laurels for himself and his
victorious army, but he has also done infinite
honour to the Government under which he has ren-
dered such brilliant and important services to his
country. (Cheers.) Notwithstanding the assist-
ance of a most efficient and devoted personal staff,
Lord Elphinstone must, during the eventful period
I am reviewing, have gone through a vast quantity
of arduous and anxious duty ; but he has at least
the satisfaction of feeling that he has " done the
state some service, and they know it." Great emer-
gencies bring out great men ; and it will, I think,
be generally admitted that among all the statesmen
who have figured either here or at home in connec-
tion with this formidable revolt, there is none who
has acquired more honourable fame than Lord
Elphinstone. (Cheers.) It will, I think, be ad-
mitted, that he has throughout displayed a clear
and comprehensive foresight—great judgment and
promptitude in action—imperturbable courage—
sound. common sense—a remarkable familiarity
with the native character, and extraordinary tact
and urbanity in managing them. (Loud cheers). His
praise has been proclaimed by the unanimous voice
of the, public press. Both Houses of Parliament
have voted him their thanks, and politicians of all
parties have joined in his eulogium. But though
eloquence had well nigh exhausted its powers else-
where to do him justice, it would still behove us in
Bombay to express oar admiration of his many
virtues and eminent qualities as a statesman, and
our gratitude for the benefits we have derived from
his administration in the preservation of our free-
dom and tranquillity, and in the protection of our
property and our lives. lam conscious how very
imperfectly I have performed my task ; yet I feel
that if I have only succeeded in giving feeble ex-
pression to your true sentiments, I ought not to regret
having undertaken the office of proposing the health
of Lord Elphinstone. (Great applause.)
Mr. CRAWFORD gave " The Ladies," in a speech
so full of humour as to transcend the powers of our
reporter, and which was received with alternate
cheers and shouts of laughter.
The party broke up, about midnight, every one
delighted with the excellence of the arrangements
and the entire success of the whole festival.

THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-It is not surprising that the directors of
the Atlantic Telegraph Company are " astonished"
at the publication of my letter in The Sun of Sep-
tember 6, containing, as it did, facts which they
did not wish should meet the public eye, and.
which, from the tone of their secretary's letter of
to-day, they will doubtless still do their best either
to distort or suppress.
Ina letter written to the directors after my dismissal
I use these words :—" I therefore claim, as a matter

of justice at your hands, a full and complete inves-
tigation of all the circumstances which have occur-
red since the laying of the cable, and upon which
the directors have thought right to found my sum-
mary dismissal, and I claim that this investigation
shall take place at Valentia, where alone all the
facts connected with it can be properly elicited and
appreciated."

The neglectpr incompetence of Lose at the head
of so great an undertaking—a national enterprise
with which the Government has so largely identi-
fied itself—is too serious a matter to be entertained
on merely-personal grounds, and hushed up in a.
board-room or got rid of by the more summary pro-
cess of dismissing an outspoken official.
I now therefore suggest that the investigation
above challenged, and not yet granted, shall take
place at the hands of the shareholders of the eoni-

pany, to whom the directors themselves are imme-
diately responsible, and that every letter and every
telegram upon the subject shall be published in full.

This, sir, is my answer to the unwarrantable lan-
guage contained in the letter from the Secretary,
which, after the lapse of so many days, has this
morning appeared—language which of itself ren-
ders evident the animus which dictated it, and will
perhaps satisfy the public that the investigation
should be entrusted to other hands.
A single expression in my published letter I now
find, from more recent information, has uninten-
tionally deprived a friend of credit due to him. The
President's reply to her Majesty's message, received
shortly after my departure from Valentia, while it
was transmitted from Newfoundland (as all others
have been) solely by use of my instruments there,
was received and recorded at " Valentia" by the
combined use of instruments of Professor Thomson
and my own.—l am, &c.,

EDWARD ORANGE WILDMAN IVEITEIIousE,
Electrician, Projector of the Atlalic Telegraph.
Etoyal Institution, Albemarle-street, Skpt. I &

SAILING OF THE PRINCE ALFRED WITH EMI-
GRANTS FROM MILFORD HAVEN.—This vessel—on ac-
count of which the demonstrations recently described in
our columns took place--left the Neyland terminus of th 3
SJuth Wales Railway on Monday afternoon at 3.45, amidst
1 mg and lasting acclamations of applause, even the men-of-
war• manning the rigging and joining in the cheers. She
took with her upwards of 50 cabin passengers, every berth
bring fully occupied. She only went as far as Milford,
where, on account of some certain custom-house routine,
she was detained until the following day—another proof of
the inconvenience to the trade and commerce of Pembroke
Dock from the want of a custom-house at that place. The
weather was suck as to hold out every hope of her having
a good passage out of the Channel, which, as Milford Haven
is so far advanced into the Atlantic, will not take many
hours,