The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-23 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Sept. 21, Two o'clock.—The market is
satisfactory, with a good deal of business. French
Threes are 69f. 30c., better by 12c. Italian Fives
are active, at 48f. 70c., without change. Credit
Mobilier, 232 f. 50c., with an advance of 2f. 50e.
Spanish Mobilier, 177 f 50c., higher by sf. Credit
Foncier gains 5f., at 1,333 f. 75c. Comptoir
d'Escompte firm, at 667 f. 50c., with a gain of 2f.
50c. No remarkable feature in French Railway
shares.

Three o'clock.—The close was as follows :

41 per Cents 9B 25
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 69 35
Do. end month 69 221
Credit Mobilior
Do. end Month
Credit Fonder 1335
Da. end month 1325

Bank Shares 3330
Italian Loan 4B 80
Do. end month 4B 60
Mexican Loan ll
Do. Bonds lO5
Spanish Throes 341
Home Debt —
Deferred -
,AYS.

RAIL'

For Account.
Orleans
Northern 1165
Lyons and Mediterranean 9OO

- -
Southorn 537 50
Western

Eastern
Sardinian —
Austrian
Lombard 382 50
North of Spain
Saragosea
Roman

7HE COMMANDER7M-CMEF IV

A ll I SSEVIA.

Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier, Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army, who has
been nominated to the command of the Abyssinian
expedition, with full civil powers, belongs to the old
corps of Bengal Engineers, a regiment which has
occupied a distinguished place in the Indian services,
but the identity of which has now become merged
by its amalgamation with the Royal Engineers. He
entered the service in 1827. For the first 18 years
from that time he was employed in the Public Works
Department, and first came prominently into notice
in 1842, when on the large frontier station of Kur-
nool, on the borders of the Punjab, being abandoned
on account of its extreme unhealthiness, he was
selected to lay out the new station of Umballa, and
to design and construct the extensive military
buildings required for the garrison. Up to this time
Indian barracks had been wretchedly insufficient in
size, ventilation, and convenience ; but Captain
Napier took the opportunity thus offered by the
creation of an entirely new cantonment, the details
of which were left wholly to his own discretion, to
discard the conventional idea then held about bar-
rack building. For the first time since our occupa-
tion of India the British soldier was properly housed
in the spacious buildings erected by Captain Napier
at Umballa. The "Napier Barrack " was, indeed,
in its day considered one of the wonders of the
time ; and althouh the advance of sanitary science
has since led to further improvements being sug-
gested in them, the Umballa barracks still stand as
a proof of the enlightened intelligence of their de-
signer, and the care and sympathy he has always
shown for the European soldier.
On the sudden breaking out of the Sikh war, i n
1845, Captain Napier obtaining leave of absence
from his civil duties, was in time by a 60 mile ride
to be present at the battle of Moodkee, where his
horse was killed. A second horse was killed under
him at the succeeding battle of Ferozeshah. He was
also actively employed on the staff at the battle of
Sobraon. On the subsequent occupation of Lahore
by the British army Lord Hardinge selected Major
Napier for the duty of constructing temporary b ar-
racks for the large European garrison quartered in
that city—an arduous duty, admirably performed.
While thus employed ho was sent, on the outbreak
of the insurrection at Mooltan in 1848, as Chief
Engineer of the force which marched from Lahore
under Gen. Whish to recover that place, and served
throughout the campaign in that capacity, and
afterwards, when the force was augmented, as
second in command. He was severely wounded on
this occasion.

On the annextion of the Punjab, in 1849, Lord
Dalhousie selected Major Napier for the post of
Chief Civil Engineer in that country, and from this
time dates the introduction of anything deserving
the name of public works in India, with the sole
exception of the Ganges canal, which had been
commenced a short time before.

The Punjab was Lord Dalhousie's favourite pro-
vince ; Sir Ilenry Lawrence was at the head of the
local Government ; with their support and encou-
ragement a new ideal of progress was developed. In
eight years Napier and his Staff had placed that
country in advance of all our old acquisitions in
India, and it may be said, ' without exaggeration,
that the development since given to roads and other
public works in India is clue in a great measure to
the extraordinary energy displayed on this occasion.
The Indian official mind, under the influence of the
example thus set in one corner of the empire, then
first shook off the laissez-aller maxims of earlier
days, represented by the school of Lord Metcalfe
and his contemporaries, and conceived the idea of
that policy of progress now happily accepted as a
necessary condition of good government in India.
The merit of this great reform is due in very large
measure to Sir Robert Napier.
The outbreak of the mutiny in 1857 found Colonel
Napier in England on sick leave ; but he immedi-
ately returned to India, and was at once appointed
Chief of the Staff of the, force which, under Outrun,
first relieved Lucknow. Recovering from a wound
reeeiyed on this OQQa3i.Ol3) he was then appointed

Chief Engineer, with the rank of Brigadier, of
Lord Clyde's army, and in that capacity presided
over the Engineer department during the highly
successful operations which resulted in the capture
of that place. Shortly afterwards he was sent, as
Brigadier-General, to relieve Sir Hugh Rose, on
that officer falling sick, in the command of the
Central India Field Force, and after several dashing
cavalry affairs with different bodies of rebels, among
others that headed by the notorious Tantia Topee,
succeelaed in pacifying that part of the country.
His next active employment was in the command of
one of the two infantry divisions composing the
army which in 1860, under Sir Hope Grant, cap-
tured the Takoo forts and extorted peace from the
Emperor of China under the walls of Pekin. Re-
turning to India in 1861, Sir Robert Napier was
appointed member of the Governor-General's Coun-
cil, and conducted the military department of the
Government until 1865, when he was nominated to
the less lucrative, but, perhaps, to a thorough sol-
dier, the more congenial post of Commander-in-
Chief of the Bombay Army.
Although Sir Robert Napier has thus reached
almost the top of his profession while yet in the
full possession of his physical and mental qualities,
perhaps no man in the army has won his different
grades more thoroughly. The Sutlej campaign
gave him a brevet majority ; his great services at
Mooltan were recognised by another step of brevet
rank, a reward given to every Staff officer engaged
in the campaign, whether distinguished or not.
The mutiny found him a brevet - colonel by
seniority, and so, while other officers serving in the
same campaign obtained a step of rank as well as
the C. 8., the Chief of Outram's Staff received only
the latter. For his services at the capture of Luck-
now, under Lord Clyde, Colonel Napier was
knighted, but his subsequent command in Central
India did not lead to any promotion. Yet some of
the most brilliant cavalry affairs in the mutiny were
the actions in Central India fought by Sir Robert
Napier at the head of a handful of native cavalry
and the 14th Light Dragoons, and they will doubt-
less have been brought more under notice if under-
taken by a less modest or more pushing man. For
his services in the China war of 1861 hewas promoted
to the rank of Major-General, which advancement,
as he was at the time second senior colonel in the
army, gave him exactly one step. Within the last
few days Sir Robert Napier has been nominated a
Knight Grand Cross of the Star of India.

Thus each step of promotion to his present place
has been well and hardly won. The popularity with
which Sir Robert Napier is regarded in the army
has steadily increased with his reputation. A splen-
did horseman,—good horsemanship and great power
of bodily endurance are valuable gifts in a General,
—he has won the hearts of the troops under his com-
mand by his love of justice and his kindly sympa-
thy and consideration for the soldier, while every
member who has ever been on his staff during
active service will be ready to offer a tribute of
affectionate admiration for his gallantry and skill.
If wise selection of a fit General can insure success,
the Abyssinian expedition will not be a failure.

STORIII SIGNALS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Srrt,—l am glad to find that the British Associa-
tion has determined to use exertions for the resto-
ration of " storm signals," and that Mr. Glaisher
has expressed an opinion in their favour.
But I do not agree with Admiral Sir Edward
Belcher in thinking that this question is one entirely
of a nautical nature, and only for the consideration
of nautical men. On the contrary, it seems to me
that it is a public question, and one which may be
properly considered by amateurs as well as by
scientific men, like the Admiral and the lamented
Fitzroy.
The book of nature is open for all, and it should
be studied by all, as necessary for mundane pro-
sperity.

Most men at one time or another during their
lives go down to the sea in ships, and when there,
although it may not be their business to direct the
course of the vessel, they have a right to study her
course and the atmosphere about her ; and, quoad
capax, they are competent to do so.
g.tilora am shrowd men, but they are too prow)
to neglect the warnings of nature, either through
necessity, as in the case of Captain Martin, or
through their own choice, and because it would not
answer even to seem to show " the white feather."

But caution and discretion are distinct from fear,
and moral courage is desirable as well as physical
courage. Occasionally it is as valuable, with re-
spect to its owner and others. " Out of the south
cometh heat, and out of the north-west cometh
cold," is a maxim which landsmen may understand
as well as sailors, and having understood it they may
profit by the knowledge. I could mention other
maxims equally simple and safe. Doubtless it re-
quires much judgment and skill to frame predic-
tions, but the principles upon which they are based
aro nature's truths, if really reliable, and con-
sequently they are open to all comers; for nature
is a bounteous mother, and, like the ancient Egyp-
tian hen, she spreads her wings in favour of all her
progeny, for which let us be thankful.—l am, Sir,
yours obediently, CIIR. CooKE.
London, Sept. 14, 1867.

THE GAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

ARRIVAL OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE

OF EDINBURGH.

PLYMOUTH, Sept. 22.
The Union steamship Celt arrived here to-night
from the Cape of Good Hope on the 20th ult., St.
Helena on the 28th ult., and Ascension on the Ist
inst. She brings 116 passengers, 56 sacks of mails,
bullion valued at £l,BOO, and a large cargo of wool,
coffee, rice, hides, tobacco, copper ore, ivory, wine,
tin coir, &c. The mails were forwarded to-night
by train.

Her Majesty's ship Galatea, Captain his Royal
Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived in Simon's
Bay on the 15th of August. The Duke's reception
there, as also along the whole line of route from
Simon's Bay to the Government-house, Table Bay
and in Capetown was one continued ovation.
On the day of his Royal Highness's arrival he was
received with Royal salutes, fired from the fortifi-
cations and her Majesty's ship Racoon. On land-
ing his Royal Highness reported himself at the
Commodore's office. On the 16th a ball was given
by Commedore Purvis, at which the Duke attended.
The company numbered about 150 persons, and
convivialities were kept up until the following morn-
ing. The Prince's affability added to the gratifica-
tion of those present. On the 17th Commodore
Purvis was entertained at dinner by his Royal
Highness on board the Galatea. At noon his Royal
Highness landed officially, when loyal addresses of
welcome were presented to him by the European
and Mahomedan inhabitants of Simon's-town. His
Royal Highness then rode from Simon's-town to
Capetown accompanied by the Governor, a brilliant
Staff of Government officials, and a large party of
colonists. Triumphal arches spanned the road at
numerous available points. On his arrival at Cape-
town the municipality presented loyal addresses of
welcome, thanking his Royal Highness for the visit,
and also expressing gratitude to her Majesty for
this distinguished mark of favour. In the evening
his Royal Highness dined with a large party of the
heads of departments and leading colonists. Simon's
Tower and Capetown were brilliantly illuminated
with numerous graceful devices.

THE ATLANTIC CABLE.—We have authority from
Captain Sherard Osborn, of the Telegiaph Construction
and Maintenance Company, to state that by telegrams
received at noon on Saturday lie learns that the repair of
the 1866 Atlantic cable has been effected at a distance of
88 miles off Heart's Content, in spite of the severe gales,
which have considerably delayed the operations of the staff
under Sir Samuel Canning. _ _ _

SALE OF THE ILIGITFIELD STUD.—Mr. George
liather's stud of brood mares, foals, &c., was brought to
the hammer by Messrs. Tattersall, at Llighfield, on Satur-
day last. The catalogue extended to upwards of 100 lots,
and nearly every ono was disposed of. The principal pur-
chasers were Mr. Jackson, Mr. Haig, and Mr. Beadniau,
and Baron Malzahn represented the foreigners. The mit irt
proceeds of the sale amounted to nearly 10,000 guinea,
and the result must be considered highly satisfactory to
Mr. Mather.

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, Sept. 21.

The Queen went out yesterday morning, accom-
panied by Princess Louise, and in the afternoon
drove out with Princess Christian, Princess LOLIiSCI
and Prince Leopold.
Prince Christian and Prince Arthur went out
shooting.

Mr. Gathorne Hardy and Dr. Norman Macleod
had the honour of dining with the Queen and royal
family.

REAPPEARANCE OF MISS BATEATAN ON

THE ENGLISH STAGE.

Fortunately for the public acting is a most fag'
cinating pursuit, and success rarely wearies even
those artistes who most assiduously enjoy it. 11in5
Bateman, who returned to her native land a few
months since, after a brilliant career in England,
was mourned by her cis-Atlantic admirers as entirely
lost to the stage. Happily, however, the ruling
passion is as strong in this gifted young lady as 111
all true artistes, and just as the echoes of her name
were pleasantly lingering in the theatrical chronicl3B
of the American Continent we learnt that Nis°
Bateman had resolved again to enjoy the smiles and
to evoke the tears of the playgoers of tic 01d
country.
Beyond the announcement that on the 7th of
next month Miss Bateman appears at the Liverpool
Theatre Royal we have no information as to her
intentions; but it will not be difficult to frame from
her past success, especially in the roles of Juliet and
Bianca in " Fazio," a programme of continued and
triumphant success, be the period long or short
during which the public are to enjoy the rare plea-
sure of witnessing her performances.—Liverpool
Chronicle.