The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-06 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 1858.

Several despatches have been received from
India, which although only confirming and ex-
plaining what was already known in this country
will still be perused with deep interest, and the
more so because they contain the lists of casual-
ties in sundry actions, but also of many non-
commissioned officers who were either killed in
the discharge of their duty, or subsequently died
of their wounds. These lists will be anxiously
scrutinised in many humble dwellings from whence
some member has gone forth to fight the battles
of Old England on the burning plains of India.
They may have been poor, boasting of no high
deseent, but many loving hearts will still throb
anxiously for tidings of their welfare, and some
may be stricken down at the intelligence of their
deaths far from their native land, and the dear'
ones who looked forward with hope to their return. )
The list is unfortunately a long one. But when

•we consider the perils and fatigues so cheerfully
encountered, the deeds of valour so daringly
accomplished, it could scarcely have been shorter.
We trust that the Government may adopt speedy
measures to alleviate the sorrows of the bereaved
parties. A small memorial—were it but a medal
—in memory of the lost one, would prove that
services seldom equalled, and never surpassed,
have been duly appreciated by a grateful nation.
Such a boon, if promptly granted, would be not
merely graceful, but exceedingly politic. It
would be handed down as an heirloom in the
family, a monumentum cere perennius, and would
stimulate others of the rising generation to emulate
the deeds for which their relative bad obtained re-
nown. A resting place in Westminster Abbey or a
statue in the metropolis would not be more to one
of the upper ten thousand than such a memento to
the humble youth who was about selecting a path
in life. It would unquestionably materially assist
the arguments of the recruiting sergeant on any
emergency, when every nerve should be strained
to the utmost to maintain the honour and ensure
the safety of the United Kingdom.
One of the despatches is from Capt. WILMA/A
PEEL, R.N., commanding the Naval Brigade, and
is peculiarly interesting, inasmuch as it indicates
what our jolly Jack tars can do, when removed from
their native element, and engaged in inland opera-
tions. It proves that even the greatest discipline
and organisation on the part of our land troops cannot
produce greater efficiency than the natural courage
and indefatigable energies of those of whom Eng-
land has abundant cause to be proud—the garri-
sons of her " wooden walls." Many of those
heroes—for they have well merited the title—
were from the merchant service. They were
raised at Calcutta, and, as Captain PEEL justly
remarked, their fine appearance, good behaviour,
and excellent discipline displayed the ability and
zeal of Lieutenant J. .W. VAMMAN, their com-
manding officer. It, however, did more, for it
proved, beyond the possibility of doubt, the value
of the materials which that very efficient officer
had at his disposal.
They were speedily engaged in the battle of
Kudjwa, where, on the death of the gallant leader,
Colonel POWELL, of her MAJESTY'S 63d Regiment,
Captain PEEL took the command of the combined
forces, and succeeded in obtaining a decisive vic-
tory. They had arrived on the 31st October, at
the camping ground of Thurea, and there heard
that the sepoy mutineers from the Dinapore regi-
ments, with three guns, had crossed the Jumna
with the intention either of attacking Futtehpore
or marching into Oude. It was, of course, essen-
tial to arrest theirprogress,and immediate measures
were adopted for that purpose. After a march of 16
miles, the column halted for refreshment,and then
resumed their march in double quick time. The
battle commenced at 2.30 P.m. ; the enemy, con•
sisting of about 4,000 men, of whom 2,000 were
sepoys in uniform, fought with the energy in-
spired by despair. The gallant POWELL fell early,
and his duties fell on Captain PEEL, who faith-
fully and nobly discharged them.

The long and tedious march had greatly ex-
hausted our men, but the excitement of the con-
test revived them. No refreshment could do
more for a true-hearted Briton than the presence
of an armed enemy. After a severe conflict
of two hours and ton minutes, the enemy
retired in confusion at 4.30, leaving our forces
in command of the field and two of their guns,
the third being subsequently abandoned eight
miles further on. This was a gallant transaction,
in which the Naval Brigade greatly distinguished
themselves.

There is also a despatch from Capt. BANNISTER,
commanding at Neemuch, in which he details the
particulars of a severe struggle with some of the
rebels from Mundesoze, in which several gallant
officers were killed or wounded. The despatches
from Lucknow add nothing to the information
we have already obtained.

Another month and Parliament will have re-
assembled. Its labours were but dimly fore-
shadowed through the Royal Speech inaugurating
the extraordinary session convened in the winter
of '57, simply for the purpose of Indemnity.
Nevertheless, through that Speech from the
Throne—dimly—they were foreshadowed. Dis-
tinctly enough (however faint the outlines) to
enable us to conjecture the chief, at least, among
the principal themes about to be submitted to the
deliberate consideration of the Legislature, after
the date of its supplementary assemblage in Feb-
ruary. We know perfectly well, for instance,
already in connection with the senatorial achieve-
ment of November, namely, the redoubtable
Indemnity Bill, that with a view to the solution
of the long-scrutinized but hitherto wholly un-
solved problem of the Currency, we are to have
that extremely absurd, because entirely :super-
fluous Committee of Investigation. It is decided,
in other words, that a solemn conclave shall be
formed to discover whether or not the notorious
Bank Charter Act operates in any way as an im-
pediment to what is called the Circulating
Medium—though calamities the most dire have
again and again proved, beyond the possibility of
denial, that the stricture caused simply and solely
by that Act operates with all the strangling
obduracy of a tourniquet Wherefore, let us
repeat so far we know already perfectly well—but
too well, alas !—that among the labours of the
approaching session of '5B there will be those
consequent upon this wretched Committee in re-
gard to the working of the Bank Charter Act.
That—so far as we yet know anything in reference
to the new session—is about the head and front
of its offending.
India, again, and its Government will inevi-
tably furnish another and fecund subject for dis-
cussion in both Houses of the Imperial Legislature.
Another problem will here have to be dealt with,
to the end that we may arrive as speedily as pcs-
sible at its solution : and we dare say it will after
all be dealt with—just about as summarily I
"Unless, indeed, the horrors of the late revolt in
Bengal nerve Parliament to some more energetic
exercise of its authority, and excite it to some
more prompt evidence of its wisdom, with a view
to the resolute and :systematic dissipation of the
appalling evils consequent upon the preposterous
scheme of the double Government. The mercan-
tile calamities hitherto have unhappily proved
altogether
quenees
'
asi but just
of these beneficent cense-
JUSt now intimated in our refe-
rence to the bewildering procrastination of Parlia-
ment in regard m
volved in the Question of the Currency. It may
to the imminent difficulties in-
be different with the sanguinary
disastrous calamities of Sepoy Mutiny,
and so far more
affecting not merely the calamities
pecuniary fortune., but
the lives of our valiant and unofferaua* g
. fellow-
citizens in Hindostan, and what was far dearer to
them than their lives, those of their outraged
wives, and sisters, and daughters, and those even
of their little nursling babes, and prattling chil-
dren. The recollection of these more hideous and
more dismal calamities may prove somewhat more
efficacious of good in its influence upon the Coun-
cils of the Lords and Commons of England. GOD I
grant it. As yet at any rate there is the enccu-
raging possibility that the Session about to be I
recommenced, may result in more than the ap-