The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-16 00:00:00

ROYAL PRINCES S'S THEATRE.
trader the Management of Mr. Charles Kean.
For the Benefit of Mr- Lara'bert, Treasurer.

THIS. EVENING will be presorted ShElispere's Play of THE
MERCIIANT OF VENICE. Preceded by the Farce of DYING FOR
LOVE.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee and Directre es, Miss Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, the Comedy of COURT FAVOUR: supported by
Messrs. Emery, Belford,Poynter, Turner, Misses M. Wilton, Hughes,
and Mrs. C. Melville. After which, HUNTING A TURTLE : by
Messrs. Belford, Burt, Turner, J. Clarke, and Miss M. Wilton. To
conclude with RAISING THE WIND: bv, Messrs. Belt vii, Turner,
J. Clarke, Mrs. 0. Melville, and Miss E.

CANTERBURY HALT,, Westminster-road.—
'
OPEN EVERT EVENISO .—The l'otlevrinc company of To-
manta are engaged for the perf'Jrmancs of Beleetions from all the
popular OPERAS, MADRIGA , CHORCSES, GLEES, DURTS, &c.,
viz.:--Mize Russell, Mrs. 11..:.dsey, Miss Brunell, Miss Ray, Madame
Bartoletti, Miss Montague, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. neers ;
Herr F. Jonghmans, Henshaw, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. lling,
Senor Antonio, E. 1. Rime, Mr, Badzey, Senor Tiroli, 31. r. Cozens,
Mr. Sell, Mr. Barnard, and Mr. St. Albyn.John G. Forde,
and E. W. DlE:lney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium,
Mr. Courtney; Director, Herr F. JOllighlTlStlf‘.. Commence at seven
o'clock precisely. Suppers, &e., until twelve o'clock.

THE SUN.

MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1858.

We long since pointed out the utility of despatch-
ing a large number of the gunboats, prepared at a
considerable cost for the Russian war, and since
lying up uselessly, for service on the coasts and in
the rivers of India and China. We now learn the
grievous mistake committed by Sir CHARLES WOOD in
.declining to comply with the suggestion. Ten or a
dozen of these valuable craft would bring the Chi-
nese war to a speedy conclusion, and induce
the " Brother of the Sun" to comply with the
reasonable demands of the barbarians. Last
week explained the perverse obstinacy with
which the Celestials stick to their own notions until
they are literally " thrashed" out of them. Their
invariable policy is one of passive resistance and pro-
crastination. To weary out and disgust the antago-
nists they are afraid to encounter in a fair contest,
to obtain an unfair advantage by any degree of
treachery, is the " Chinese game," and it is incum-
bent on our Plenipotentiaries to be fully prepared
for any exhibition of tactics.
Anything like vacillation or inaction on our part
would be highly injurious to our best interests. It
is by energy and promptitude, qualities most opposite
to their own, that the Chinese can best be brought
to their senses. Any thing that can deteriorate
our prestige in these respects must be very damaging
to oar cause. Every step in advance is therefore
more than doubly valuable—every delay more than
doubly prejudicial; and yet we are held in suspense
for want of a few gunboats of light draught of
water, such as we long since demanded, and which
could bring the problem to a speedy and satisfac-
tory conclusion.
We cannot, without better and more satisfactory
evidence, concur in the complaints that have been
preferred against the English and French Admirals
for the caution with which they proceeded up the Peiho
to Tien sin, at the junction of the Grand. Canal
with the river. They were navigating unknown
waters. The slightest mistake might have proved
fatal. They should literally feel their way step by
step. It is true that n 3 opposition was offered to
their progress; that, after the capture of the
forts their progress was as easy as that
of a corporation party on a swan-hopping
expedition up the Thames ; and that with a little
more strength in boats that could be made available,
the matter might ere this have been brought to a
satisfactory conclusion. We almost fancy that the
fleet of the " Citizen" and " Iron Steam-boat" Com-
panics could, if properly equipped, have settled the
question. The assistance of the " Watermen" would
prcve decisive. And with this squadron «e
might dictate our own terms at Pekin. We had the
means at our disposal, but Sir C. WOOD emphatically
pooh-poohed every proposition not in strict accord-
ance with red-tapist precedents.

As it is, three—the only three gun-boats of 40
horse power—have been enabled to get up the river
some eight or ten miles beyond Tien-sin. If we
could send eight or ten boats of similar class
to aid the staunch Bustard and Kestrel, we
might take possession of Tung-chow, and
thus obtain a new base of operations within a
few miles of the capital. As it is, Pekin is within a
single day's journey of the mouth of the river.
Despatches can be forwarded even by Chinese con-
veyances within that time ; and as we have already
won the better half of the distance, we are unques-
tionably in a position to bring the head of the Mant-
chow dynasty to a speedy understanding At pre-
sent our duty is to bring the greatest force possible
to bear on the capital, both by land and by water,
and with such persuasives we shall be enabled to
negotiate either with the EMPEROR himself, or with
properly-authorised plenipotentiaries, so that the
pretext that they exceeded their powers can no longer
be made available.
The news from India is satisfactory. There arc
still, unfortunately, rebels in the field, but
they fly in every direction before our troops.
No numerical superiority will induce them to
try a contest with British soldiers. The fugi-
tives from Gwalior had occupied the fort of
Tonk, but they fled precipitately on the approach of
a flying detachment thrown forward by General
ROIIERTS. The rainy season had set in favourably,
and that the work was over for the time being
may easily be gathered from the fact that the
gallant Sir HUGH ROSE had relinquished the com-
mand of the Central India field force to Brigadier
/staring, an auspicious name in Indian affairs.
The Rajah of Shahgur had also surrendered—we
tru3t that no terms have been made, but that he will
be fairly dealt with according to his merits or de-
merits. On the whole, everything is going on favour-
ably. And although we must hear of disturbances
for some little time to come, we hope and believe that
our Anglo-Indian Empire will eventually be
strengthened and consolidated by the very means
that were intended to produce its destruction.

Conspicuous among the many graceful proceed-
ing; adventured upon by the new Ministry towards
the close of the last session, was the assurance given
to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer that—at last—the great public monu-
ment which the nation began to raise years and
years ago in Trafalgar-square, as a tribute of homage
and gratitude to the memory of him whom SOUTIIEY
has designated, with reason, " the darling hero of
England," should be completed. The promise was
frankly given by the leader of the House and the
holder of the national purse-strings. It was articu-
lated by him, moreover, in words which were the
last, but by no means the least eloquent, panegyric
pronounced by an English orator upon the glorious life
and death of Hos ATIO NILSON, the greatest sea captain
of whom the world has record. It was an intimation,
too, that was cordially welcomed, and earnestly re-
sponded to by the popular representatives. An
additional sum of £6,000 was at once voted by the
House of Commons, to the proposed end, over and
above the amount hitherto expended upon the
Corinthian pillar, upon the noble statue of Lord
NaLsoN on the top of it, a statue designed by
BATLEY, and upon the four great bronzes in alto
reflex°, illustrating the chief victories of the Naval
Conqueror upon the four sides of the granite
pediment—St. Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen, and
Trafalgar. There yet remained the enorrnou'
vacant slabs of granite at the four corners of thr
base of this really beautiful and majestic monument
According to the original design, upon each of those
huge blocks of granite there was to repose a colossal
lion in granite, in heraldic language couchant. With
a view to the payment of the expense, of completing
the monument, by securing the erection cf those four
great national emblems under its shadow, the sum of
£6,000, already mentioned, was voted unhesitatingl3
by the }blue of Commons immediately it had beard

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