The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-29 00:00:00

FUTTIBB POLICY TOTVA.RDS THE
INDIAN REBELS.

Yesterday morning was issued a. return to an
order of the Rouse of Lords, requiring a copy of
a letter from the Secret Committee of the Court of
Directors of the East India Company to the Go-
vernor-General of India in Council, dated the 24th
March, 1858, relative to the policy to be pinned
towards the natives of provinces lately in a state
of hostility. The letter is as follows :
" The Secret Committee of the Court of Directors
of the East India Company to the Governor-
General of India in Council, March 14, 1858.
" The telegram from Calcutta, dated the 23d
ult., which arrived this morning, conveys intelli-
gence of the concentration of the force under the
Commander-in-Chief, and of that under Jung Ba-
badoor, upon Lucknow ; and we trust we may in-
dulge the expectation that ere this that city has
been evacuated by the rebels, and that no consider-
able corps remains united against us in the field.
" 2. If this happy result should have been at-
tained it will be very satisfactory to us to learn that
you have deemed yourself sufficiently strong to be
enabled to act towards the people with the genero-
sity as well as the justice which are congenial to the
British character.
"3. Crimes have been committed against us
which it would be a crime to forgive, and ssornhe
large exceptions there must be, of the per o s
guilty of such crimes, from any act of amnesty
which could be granted ; but it must be as impos-
sible as it would be abhorrent from our feelings to
inflict the extreme penalty which the law might
Strictly award upon all who have swerved from
their allegiance.
" 4. To us it appears that, whenever open resist-
ance shall have ceased, it would be prudent', in
awarding punishment, rather to follow the practice
which prevails after the conquest of a country which
bas defended itself to the last by desperate war,
than that which may perhaps be lawfully adopted
after the suppression of mutiny and rebellion—such
acts always being exempted from forgiveness or mi-
tigation of punishment as have exceeded the licence
of legitimate hostilities.
" 5: While we may be unable to forget the in-
sanity which during the last 10 months has per-
vaded the army and a large portion of the people,
we should at the same time remember the previous
fidelity of a hundred years, and so conduct our-
selves towards those who have erred as to remove
their delusions and their fears, and re-establish, if
we can, that confidence which was so long the
foundation of our power.
" 6. It would be desirable that in every case
the disarming of a district, either by the seizure of
arms or by their surrender, should precede the ap-
plication to it of any amnesty ; but there may be
circumstances which would render expedient a dif-
ferent course of proceeding. Upon these excep-
tional cases you and the officers acting under your
orders must decide.
" 7. The disarming of a district having been
effected, with exceptions under your licence in fa-
vour of native gentlemen whose feelings of honour
would be affected by being deprived of the privi-
lege of wearing arms, and of any other persons in
whom you may confide, we think the possession of
arms should be punished in every case by a severe
penalty ; but unless the possession of arms should
be combined with other acts, leading to the conclu-
sion that they retained them for the perpetration of
crimes VIM penalty should not be death. 01 course
the possession of arms by Englishmen mint always
t main lawful.
"8, Death has of lAtebeentoo common a punish-
ment. It loses whatever terror it might otherwise
have when so indiscriminately applied ; but, in
fact, in India there is commonly no fear of death,
although there ever must be a fear of pain.
"9. In every amnestied district the ordinary ad-
ministration of the law should, as soon as possible,
be restored.
" 10. In carrying these views into execution you
may meet with obstructions from those who, mad-
dened by the scenes they have witnessed, may de-
sire to substitute their own policy for that of the
GoVernment ; but persevere firmly in doing what
you may think right, make those who would coun-
tz,ract you feel that you are resolved to rule, and
that you will be served by none that will not obey.
"11. Acting in this spirit you may rely upon
our unqualified support.