The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-21 00:00:00

THE AVEATHEIL—Sux OFFICE, OCT. 20.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
60—highest since noon yesterday.
50—lowest this morning and during the night.
58—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-29.90.
WIND, Easterly ; light, with dull mild weather.

THE SUN.

THURSDAY. OCTOBER 21, 1858.

The interest excited by the arrival of the over-
land mail from India has been greatly abated by
the clear summary of the salient points of intelli-
gence conveyed by means of the magical wires,
which by land or water afford instantaneous com-
municatious between distant spots. It is, however,
anxiousrnboked for. Details are eagerly sought
atter respecting the' exploits of our truly gallant
Aidikers, and of the misconduct of those who, treated

in the first instance with undue lenity, bitterly ex-
piated their crimes. The mutiny at Mooltan is,
perhaps, the most important portion of the

tidings. It is true that it was promptly and

speedily suppressed, and that few of those concerned
escaped to convey the tidings of their disastrous ex-
periment to other gangs. But it proves beyond the
possibility of doubt the utter impossibility of ever
again relying on the good faith or sincerity of high
caste Sepoy troops, or again bringing a Bengalee
native force into the field, or even entrusting them
with minor duties.

These men, from their too notorious disaffection,
had been disarmed in the early part of the out-
break. But they were not deprived of food or pay ;
they were not only maintained in unarmed ease,
but a number of British troops, whose services
would have been peculiarly valuable in other quar-
ters, remained inactive, for the sole purpose of
keeping a close watch over the mutinous
scoundrels. The necessity of such a course
has become obvious, while the Brummagem
AURUNGZEBE reigned in Delhi—while the safety
of the fugitives at Agra was still trembling in the
balance—while the garrison, cooped up in the
Residency at Lucknow, and the helpless women
and children under their charge, were destined to .
a fate similar to that inflicted at Cawnpore by the
archfiend NANA SAHIB on those who unfortunately
fell into his power. The Punjaub remains quiet !
These men never attempted to join the rebels,
although there might have been some slight hope
of eventual success. But when the contest had
virtually terminated, when all the strongholds had
fallen into British hands, and the insurgents were
little better than gangs of hopeless and despairing
brigands—then they entered on the desperate
attempt of taking a powerful fortress, and
doubtless keeping possession thereof against all
who should come to seize it, possessing themselves
of arms under the care of British troops.
It is almost needless to say that the audacious
effort was speedily defeated, and terrible retribu-
tion inflicted on the offenders. They succeeded,
however, in the first instance, in murdering a gal-
lant and distinguisned young officer and several of
his men, but a change speedily occurred. Three
hundred and fifty were killed during the contest,
and an avenging Nemesis followed close on those
who, in the first instance, sought safety in flight,
but who were nearly all killed or executed. This
mutiny has therefore been suppressed, and that
in a manner to strike terror into all others similarly
circumstanced.

It has been asserted that it was occasioned by a
report that a wholesale massacre was about to take
place, but it is more easy for the Sepoy sympa-
thisers to find excuses than to obtain credit there-
fore. At all events, if men will yield to, and act
on, such absurd suspicious, they must be contented
to abide the natural consequence of their atrocities.
The former mail gave the particulars of the
brilliant victory achieved by General ItoBERTs
over TANTIA TOPEE and the shattered remnant of
the Gwalior Contingent. For some time
he wandered helplessly without guns or stores,
but by a sudden dash succeeded in cap-
turing the town of Sabra Puttan, notwith-
standing the strenuous resistance of its chief, who
was eventually compelled to seek safety in our
camp. In this town TANTIA obtained large booty,
and, still more important, 40 brass cannons; but
they did not long remain in his possession. He
was again attacked by the Mhow field
force, on this occasion under the command of
General Michel, .who well maintained the reputa-
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