The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-06 00:00:00

and declare th• at, by the advice and consent afore-
said, we have 'taken upon ourselves the said govern-
ment, and w e hereby call upon all our subjects
within the s• lid territories to be faithful and to bear

rue allegial ice to us, our heirs and successors, and
o submit themselves to the authority of those

whom we hereafter from time to time see fit
to appoint to administer the government of our said
territories, our name and on our behalf.
" And NNIE.', reposing especial trust and confidence
in the I oyalty, ability, and judgment of our right
trusty and well-beloved cousin and Councillor,
Charles John Viscount Canning, do hereby consti-
tute and a ppoint him, the said Viscount Canning,
to be our first Viceroy anti Governor-General in
and over our said territories, and to administer the
government thereof in our name, and generally to
act in our name and on our behalf, subject to such
orders and regulations as he shall, from time to
time, receive from us through one of our Principal
Secretaries of State.
" And we do hereby confirm in their several
offices, civil and military,'all persons now employed
in the Hon. East India Company, subject to our
future pleasure, and to such laws and regulations
as may hereafter be enacted.
"We hereby announce to the native princes of
India that all treaties and engagements made with
them by or under the authority of the Hon. East
India Company are by us accepted, and will be
scrupulously maintained; and we look for the like
observance on their part.
" We desire no extension of our present territo-
rial possessions ; and while we will permit no ag-
gression upon our dominions or our rights to be
attempted with impunity, we shall sanction no
encroachment on those of others. We shall re-
spect the rights, dignity, and honour of native
princes as -our own ; and we desire that they, as
well as our own subjects, should enjoy that pros-
perity and that social advancement which can only
be secured:by internal peace and good government.
" We hold ourselves bound to the natives of our
Indian territories by the same obligations of duty
which bind us to all our other subjects; and those
obligations, by the -blessing of Almighty God, we
shall faithfully and conscientiously fulfil.
" Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Chris-
tianity, and acknowledging with gratitude the
solace of religion, we disclaim alike the right and
the desire to impose our convictions on any of our
subjects. We declare it to be our Royal will and
pleasure that none be in anywise favoured, none
molested or disquieted by reason of their religious
faith or observances, but that all shall alike enjoy
the equal and impartial protection of the law ; and
we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may
be in authority under us that they abstain from all
interference with the religious belief or worship of
any of our subjects, on pain of our highest dis-
pleasure.
" And it is our further will that, so far as may
be, our subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely
and impartially admitted to offices in our service for
the duties of which they may be qualified, by their
education, ability, and integrity to duly discharge.
" We know and respect the feelings of attachment
with which the natives of India regard the lands
inherited by them from their ancesters, and we
desire to protect them in all rights connected there-
with, subject to the eqitable demands of the State;
and we will that generally, in framing and adminis-
tering the law due regard be paid to the ancient
rights, usages, and customs of India.
"We deeply lament the evils and misery which
have been brought upon India by the acts of ambi-
tious men who have deceived their countrymen by
false reports and led them into open rebellion. Our
power has been shown by the suppression of that
rebellion in the field : we desire to show our mercy
by pardoning the offences of those who have been
thus misled, but who desire to return to the path
of duty.
" Already in one province, with a view to stop
the further effusion of blood and to hasten the paci-
fication of our Indian dominions, our Viceroy and
Governor-General has held out the expectation of
pardon, on certain terms, to the great majority of
those who in the late unhappy disturbances have
been guilty of offences against our Government, and
has declared the punishment which will be inflicted
on those whose crimes place them beyond the reach
of forgiveness. • We approve and confirm the said
act of our Viceroy and Governor-General, and do
further announce and proclaim as follows :
" Our clemency will be extended to all offenders,
save and except those who have been or shall be
convicted of having directly taken part in the mur-
der of British subjects. With regard to such the
demands of justice forbid the exercise of mercy.
" To those who have willingly given asylum to
murderers, knowing them to be such, or who may
have acted as leaders or instigators in revolt, their
lives alone can be guaranteed ; but, in apportion-
ing the penalty due to such persons, full considera-
tion will be given to the circumstances under which
they have been induced to throw off their allegiance
and large indulgence will be shown to those whose
crimes may appear to have originated in a too
credulous acceptance of the false reports circulated
by designing men.
" To all others in arms against the Government.
we hereby promise unconditional pardon, amnesty,
and oblivion of all offences against ourselves, our
crown and dignity, on their return to their homes
and peaceful pursuits.
It is our Royal pleasure that these terms of grace
and amnesty should be extended to all those who
comply with their conditions before the Ist day of
January next.
" When, by the blessing of Providence, internal
tranquillity shall be restored, it is our earnest de-
sire to stimulata the peaceful industry of India, to
promote works of public utility and improvement,
and to administer its government for the benefit of
all our subjects resident therein. In their pro-
sperity will be our strength, in their contentment
our security, and in their gratitude our best reward.
And may the God of all power grant to us, and to
those in authority under us, strength to carry out
these our wishes for the good of our people."