The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-14 00:00:00

Tilt SU' l' I ONOCIINI-
L -

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"Bengal Army," amongst whom the mutinous Mrs. MALAPROP N 11.(3‘:'!..cl wonderingly remark, " like
epidemic chiefly prevailed. Of these there ?i Cerberus, three gentlemen at once "—Actor,
:\ To hi in all three capa-
were 8'3,000 regular native infantry, 14,000 Manager, Dramatisr,m, a
renewal of his
regular native cavalry, and 21,000 irregulars. cities, say we,
in eai ;
oh Cordi
asaally' Comedian irresistibly
,
There were also some Company's Europcana, niLe Past successes
Wright to whom we are in-
battalions, about B,l_oo in all ;of which only humorous—as a 1 day
three battalions, or '2,700, were in Bengal ; and debted for drama victorcluctions like " Green
nearly 15,000 QUEEN'S troops, about three-fifths Bushes" nas a Manager, in
of the entire Iliitifh forces in India. fine, whose last ex' ;raordinary season has literally
Such was the state of affairs at the time of the shed a lustre upon the National Drama
11
outbreak. The Native Regiments were officered .... ........—...........
by Europeans; but a large proportion of the best
and most efficient men were appointed to civil
situations, which being very lucrative were
anxiously sought after. There were nearly 500
officers (493) thus habitually absent from their
regimental duties last year, and some 160 more
on leave of absence ; so that 650 officers were
away from their regiments at the time of the
mutiny. In many instances there were not more
than five or six officers to a regiment, who,
being juniors, could scarcely be expected
to discharge all the pressing duties of their ardu-
ous positions. Much responsibility consequently
devolved on the Subadars and Jesaadars—as the
native non-commissioned officers were termed—
and these were appointed, not from superior quali-
fications, but from mere seniority, and were im-
bued with all the prejudices of the private Sepoys,
with whom they had been long and intimately
connected. These favoured individuals were,
generally speaking, the ringleaders of the rebellion.
They found an immerse amount of power in their
hands, but they had no hope or expectation of
further promotion, and therefore they were the
first to increase the irritation which it was their
duty to z..l:eviao and repress.
Many think that the native army, in place of
being a help and protection to the Anglo-Indian
Government, was a standing cause of difficulty
and danger. Much may be said on both sides
of this vexed question, but it certainly appears
that the authorities did not maintain a proportion
of Europeans sufficient to check any manifestation
of insubordination in an armed, drilled, and dis-
ciplined body more than eight times their num-
ber. We must still maintain native troops in
India, hut certainly it would be most unwise and
dangerous ever to allow so great a predominance
of the native element as there has hitherto been
in the army of India at any of its Presidencies.

ITALIAN Oi?ERA, DRURY-LANE.

Last evening, Ma dile. Vanneri made her first
appearance on the a tage as Lucrezia Borgia, and
we have no hesitatio. a in describing the success
she achieved as the n lost extraordinary that has
occurred for many yeart Knowing nothing of this
lady's antecedents, we were as much surprised as
delighted by her fine .1), id striking performance.
She is evidently cenvers tut with the Italian stage,
and is a tragedian of no ordinary power, as well as
a most accomplished sing tr. She is young and
handsome ; possessed of a stall and graceful figure,
expressive features, and a true soprano voice, of
great compass, and con] f,bining strength and
sweetness in a very uncommon degree. Her vocal
powers have been highly imitivated ; her style
is pure, her execution is clear and finished ; and
her fancy, as exhibited in her fiorituri and em-
bellishments, is rich and at the same chastened by
good taste and knowledge of hoer art. In the prin-
cipal scenes her impassioned acting made a deep
impression ; and, in particular, her last burst of
frantic despair over the dead body of Gennaro was
worthy of Grisi herself. In short, we have lio hesi-
tation in saying that Mdlle. Vanneri would be an
important acquisition to any theatre in Europe.
Mr. Smith may again congratulate himself on
having introduced tothe London opera boards a lady
e ;Liy v,:ay public support and appro-
bation. Madame Poma won a rapturous encore in
the Brindisi. The other characters were ably
filled.
The house was crowded, and the fair debutante
overwhelmed with applause.

THE MILITIA.

Some discussion was raised last night in refer.
ence to a sum of 8,8361. expended in the exami.
nation of the plan propounded by the Board of
Works for the main drainage of the metropolis.
It certainly appeared a large amount of outlay for
a mere inquiry and report. And such as it was,
it was certainly attributable to the late Govern-
ment, by whom the expenditure had been sanc-
tioned and authorised. But we must consider
the magnitude of the interests, and the large
amount of money concerned. No public officer
would be justified in giving his assent to such a
scheme without ascertaining, on the best possible
evidence, its practicability and expediency. It
was therefore the duty of Sir BENJAMIN HALL,
then Chief Commissioner of Public Works, to
obtain the best assistance. Even 8,0001. or
9,0001., large as it may seem, was but a small
per tentage on eight or nine millions of money
that might have been improvidently expended.

It would be well that there should be a per.
mai:lent head of the Board of Works. There is
really nothing of a political character about it.
As it is, " the new broom," in seeking to sweep
clean, too frequently sets aside that which had
been carefully and elaborately prepared. The
management of Public Works should be put into
proper hands, and they can never be properly
controlled until the heads of the department hold
their offices during good behaviour, and without
being liable to eviction at every change of
Ministry.