The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-28 00:00:00

TT t 4
THE S- LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APIIII, 28,

as on the scholar. -Victory would be of immense
importance to the Master. It would in fact be
the best advertisement he could put forward, and
it would show parents and guardians where they
could find an efficient tutor, to whose care their'
child or ward might safely be intrusted. The
mischief that would necessarily arise from the
alteration would therefore not be restricted to
Sandhurst merely, but spread throughout the
length and breadth of the land.
It must also be borne in mind that many
parents who might willingly pay the expense of
the first competition, in order to secure a commis-
sion for a son or protege, would hesitate to en-
oounter the expense when there was no certainty,
and when a second victory would be indispensable
to attain their object. The education for which
they should pay so highly would not be one cal-
culated for all purposes. It would be of an
exclusive character, directed solely to preparing
them for a single profession, and therefore less
eligible than one at the public schools or Univer-
sities. This consideration would doubtless have
considerable weight with many who could not
afford to purchase commissions, and who Taig • 11 t
find the time and expense, which had only been
met by great sacrifice, completely thrown away.
It is to beregrotted that Gen. PEEL embarrassed
himself by trying to carry out a projeot of his pre-
decessors, for which he himself or the Government
were in no degree responsible. He had materially
modified the original plan, had extended the
period for open competition by another year, and
rendered the competition to Sandhurst open to
all comers, in place of to the nominees of the
Horse Guards only. Those were unquestionably
valuable improvements, but they did not go far
enough. The system of fair competition once
established should never have been withdrawn.
There ought to be Itulla vestigia retrorsum. As
well might the doctrines of Free-trade be aban-
doned, and the old monopoly in the corn restored.
We trust that the decision of the House of Com-
mons, adopted by a majority of 40 in a very full
House', may be respected, and that there will be
no attempt to run counter to the wish of the
nation either at the Horse Guards or at the War-
office. We are satisfied that there will not be at
the latter. General PEEL found himself deserted
by those who were the real authors of the measure,
but none of whom had the manliness to support
their bantling when exposed to a severe trial.

The House of Lords has once more decided
against a question repeatedly carried by large and
increasing majorities through the House of Com-
mons, and which the hearts of the people of
Great Britain are bent on obtaining. The ma-
jority must be well aware of the untoward conse-
quences that must ensue ; but they have held
arm to their prejudices—have disregarded alt
considerations of sober reason and prudent states-
manship. Rather than abandon their perverse
opposition to the admission of those who are ad-
mitted to be men of unimpeachable integrity,
good magistrates and excellent citizens, they have
resolved on coming into collision with the House
of Commons and the country. Nay, more, of
bolding up an example of bigotry and intolerance
to other nations, which may be attended with very
prejudicial results. This infatuation is, indeed,
leeply to be deplored. We cannot doubt but
that the House of Commons will be true to itself,
tud will assert its own dignity in an unmis take-
tble manner.

Long since we pointed out the grave mis-
take committed by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who
had the management of the measure. The House
,f Commons was the sole judge of its own privi-
lege?, and shouli have acted as such. The pre-
cedent adopted in the case of Mr. PEasu ought
to have been followed with regard to Baron
Rownsonima and Alderman SALOMON& There
should have been no temporising, no halting
between two opinions. When these gentlemen
offered to take the oaths in the form most binding
on their consciences, they should have been
authorised to do so by a resolution of the
whole House. Such a resolution on such a
question could not be impeached. Nobody,
however respectable, no tribunal, could dare to
set it aside, or punish the parties implicated. "To
that complexion must wa come at last." And
now, after twelve years' delay, after an embittered
controversy has arisen, after the British metro-
polis has been so long partially disfranchised, the
course must be resorted to that would, if, adopted
at first, have produced neither annoyance nor
excitement.

It will be for the House of Commons now to
decide on the next move. Either the clause
will be reinstated, and the measure sent up
to the Lords, like a rider to a money
Bill, or a resolution carried by an overwhelming
majority. The majority of hereditary legislators
will only have themselves to thank. They might
have gracefully conceded. They had gone quite
far enough already. But, unfortunately, they
hardened their hearts, erroneously conceiving
that they could stem the tide of public opinion,
and now they have produced a state of affairs of
which it is impossible to foresee the termination.

L &TEST NEWS.

C ALCUTTA & CHINA MAILS.

We have received advices in anticipation of the
Overland Mail—from Calcutta, March 22 ; and
Rong Kong, March 15.

The news from Lucknow contained in the Cal-
cutta papers of that date has been anticipated in
all the important details by the advices from Bom-
bay.

"In this city (says the Calcutta Englishman)
everything is perfectly quiet, though we have lately
had an alarm which induced the authorities to call
out the volunteers in the middle of the night. It
is supposed that the mutineers at Barrackporq,
who are disarmed, but still paid regularly by Go-
vernment, had plotted a rising, and had it in their
power to procure arms to attack us in Calcutta. A
search for arms was made, but of course unsuccess
fully, as the only sure method of finding them was
neglected. Now that Lucknow is fallen it is to be
hoped these dangerous neighbours will be sent
away, as there can no longer be any fear of their
reinforcing the enemy. Troops continue to arrive
from England, and are sent up the country in suc-
cession. Great efforts are making for the construc-
tion of barracks for them, but it does not appear
that the recent act for impressing labourers has
hastened the work.

We read in the Hurkttru,--" The infamous Nana
Sahib is said to be still at Shahjehanpore, and the
principal rebels are stated to be with him; the
rebels are reported to have again entered the Fut-
tygliur district and attacked Kenwall and driven
off the police posted there.

"The notorious ex-Commissioner Yeh has been
brought from Canton to Calcutta in her Majesty's
ship Inflexible, and is at present a state prisoner
here. He is not, we understand, to be placed under
any restraint beyond what is necessary for his safe
custody.

"The trial of the King of Delhi is not yet over ;
he has made his defence statement, which is uni-
versally admitted to be extremely weak. It merely
amounts to this, that he was not a free agent in
the rebellion, bat was compelled by the soldiery to
act as he did. But there can be no doubt that he
took an active part in the insurrection, and is there-
fore criminally responsible. It is reported in C.sl-
cutta that it is the intention of Government to send
him to the Andaman Isles, which have lately been
converted into a penal settlement, About 500
sepoys ara on their way there already."

they had found in one of the villages. With their
rough bands they washed him, combed his hair,
patted him kindly on the head, and led him, drying
up his tears, and telling him in their vernacular,
"Not to be afraid—that no one should hurt him."
" SUNDAY MORNING, March 14.
"All during the night our guns kept up a can-
nonade on the Imaumbarrah and on the Kaiserbao,
and they are now pouring shot and shell into the
enclosures of these strongholds.

SI7NDAY NIGHT.

I bad written so much of my letter before break-
fast, when I turned out of my tent to ascertain
from what point the enemy were annoying the
Head-quarters' Camp, for it became evident that
round shot were whistling among us and over-
head. Sir Archdale Wilson and Colonel Hogg
walked down to the camp parapet on the same
errand, but they could not find out where the gnn
was situate. After having fired some eight or
nine shots into the camp, the gun was suddenly
silenced. As I stood by the parapet I heard the
fire of musketry rising into volleys from the city,
at the Imaumbarrah, and as our guns had ceased
their fire it was plain we were assaulting that place.
There were two explosions from mines, which for a
moment checked the musketry, but it soon rung
out again ; rose and fell, and spread wider and
wider, and thinner in volume as it spread. In a
few minutes more we heard that the Imaumbarrah
had been taken in a most gallant charge by Brasier's
Sikhs and by her Majesty's 10th Regiment. Horses
were ordered to be saddled in readiness for a gallop
into the Imaumbarrab, and we were all waiting in
expectation of some other position being attacked,
when there came into camp a hasty message from
Brigadier Napier to the Commander-in-Chief, who,
with all the Head-quarters Staff, mounted, and
dashed off to the city. As we rode, the news flew
We are in the Kaiser-
bfrm mouth
aogb
rL to
uckn mouth—c
ursv
" To the Commander-in-Chief and to the Gene-
rals this great success was as unexpected as it was
welcome. The news was true, and it was not till
I had wandered through scenes indescribable,
through magnificent palaces, through the enemy's
abandoned stronghold, through the glittering
saloons of the fallen majesty of Oude, filled with
plunder and plunderers, that I returned to camp
quite unable to write, and worn out by heat and
excitement. I must therefore defer the rest of my
story to the next mail, for it is probable that to-
morrow's despatch will not be in time for the
Bombay mail of the 24th.

wanted even at the last decline. Catch has fallen
considerably in value, and does not attract buyers.
In our import market, though we have experi-
enced greater animation as regards British piece
goods and mule twist, and in some instances higher
figures have been obtained, we cannot report any
large business in any description, which has been
partly owing to reduced stocks. The metal market
has continued dull.

MONEY MARKET. —We are still able 10 report
favourably on this head, a further reduction of one
per cent. of the rates of interest and discount
charged by the Bank of Bengal having taken place
since the issue of our last report, although the cash
in the bank has been gradually decreasing, amount-
ing according to the last published statement,
dated the 17th inst., to Co.'s Rupees 149, 87,079-9-3
against Co.'s Its. 161,54,034-0 9 on the 3d inst. In
the Bazaar money is sufficiently abundant to meet
the demands of our trade on very fair terms, arid a
further improvement may be reasonably looked for
ere long.
JOINT STOCK SHARES. —The market has been in
a healthy position at our quotations.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. —The reduction of
the Bank of Bengal rates on the one hand, and the
announcement that a bill was to be introduced in
Parliament empowering the East India Company
to raise ten millions sterling at home, have created
a better feeling in the stock market, and a partial
improvement in value has been the result. A fair
amount of business has been done during the past
fortnight both in the Fours and Fives, the former
being now quoted at R 3. 18.0, and the latter at
Rs. 8.8 per cent. discount.
EXCHANGE.—On London : The transactions since
our last have been moderate, six months' sight
Credits being placed at 2s. lid. to 2s. 1/d., and
Documents at 2s. lid. to 2s. 11d. per rupee. On
China : Since the opium sales of the 11th inst. we
hear of sales at Rs. 210 to 211 per 100 dols.
FREIGHTS. —The market has a downward ten-
dency for various reasons. The supply of tonnage
lately has been more than sufficient to meet the
existing demand, and large arrivals are moreover
expec'el ere long. Shippers to England are held
back by the last advises from home, and appear ex-
ceedingly cautious to enter into engagement, sup-
plies of produce in our market at present being
rather moderate, and prices of different articles not
so reasonable as to indube speculation. • Our rates
for London may be said to be about 2/. 17s. 6d.,
and for Liverpool 21. 15s. all round.

CHINA.
IMPERIAL EDICTS.

The following is from the summary of the Over-
and Friend of China of March 18 :
The Earl of Elgin and suite left for the north in
her Majesty's steamship Furious on the 3d inst.
On the 9th his lordship was at Fuh-chow-fu. There
too was his lordship the Bishop of Victoria. The
Emperor's commands regarding Canton were re-
ceived on the 6th instant. Yeh's conduct in
exciting the ire of " the barbarians" is emphati-
cally condemned. Peh-qui (governor), Muh Kite-
nar (commandant) and the other principal officers,
for their share in the loss of the city, aro handed
over to the board of punishment (equivalent to
trial, in our service, by court martial.) Although
the translator of the Imperial reseript thinks that
the joint memorial from Peh and Muh, in which
the Emperor was told that the barbarians had
rushed into the city, was forwarded before those
officers were made prisoners, there can be no doubt
but Ilienfung's directions are fashioned in close
accordance with the pleasure of the allied ambas-
sadors, as, somehow, made known to his Majesty.
Though handed over to the punishment board,
Peh is still to exercise the office of viceroy, vice
Yeh degraded until the nominated successor ar-
rives. Peh lost not a moment on receipt of the
edict to intimate a wish to enter on negotiations at
once ; but the EArl of Elgin had left and the desire
oould not be gratified.
Whether the French Admiral's words and a
knowledge of the fact that 5,000 French soldiers in
mix steam transports are now at no great distance
from these shores, reached Peh-qui, we cannot
say ; but certain it is that on the arrival of
Admiral Seymour in Canton on Wednesday. His
Excellency was informed that Peh-qui, who bad
before refused, only waited to know the day to send
a guide with the expedition against the marauders
in the surrounding country, as had been requested.
It is not getter ally known that the Spanish Go-
vernment have joined the French in their share of
the expedition, and, in the Durance, have sent over
500 soldiers of the Mauila Garrison. For the pre-
sent these men will be employed in the capacity of
p dice at 031:1t0D, and it is said the whole of the
English mariii•s, as well as the native troops, will
be brought to Hong Kong—the 59th leaving this
garrison fur Canton, permanently, until relieved
by another Queen's regiment.

On the arrival of the French troops spoken of, it
is not improbable but a flying visit will be paid to
Shaou-bing-foo. Indeed, excepting by some such
demonstration, we see no feasible means of bring-
ing the natives of the province to their senses. The
Russian and American Ministers are gone no one
knows where. The Baron Gros and the English
and French Admirals are in Fong Kong.

Mr. Oliphant and the Viscount de-Contades,
whose departure as couriers in advance of the
ambassadors was mentioned in our last overland
summary, have proceeded on to Soochow, accom-
panied by the consuls at Shanghae for England and
France, and th© consular agent for America, for
the purpose of delivering a letter for the Emperor.
The letter was readily received by the Governor
of Kiangsu, and woud be promptly forwarded.
The Imperial Edicts alluded to in the above sum-
mary are as follows :