The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-09 00:00:00

Everybody recollects the extraordinary session
of the winter of 1854, convened, like the present,
for the despatch of important business. It was,
until last week, the latest Christmas Parliament
the English public could call to their recollection.
And the golden fruit of legislation forced into
premature growth and immature ripeness by the
hot-house influence of that extraordinary session
—is it forgotten ? Hardly, by this time, we
should conjecture. The product of those winter
labours of the Lords and Commons was altogether
too monstrous of its kind, was in every particular
too much of a phenomenon to be lost so very soon
to the popular memory. Was it not literally one
of the most laughable specimens on record of the
parturiuiit monies, with a result not a jot less
absurd in its way than the old hackneyed Hora-
tian—nascitur ridicules Titus ? Was it not, in
other words, the solemn convocation of the Impe-
rial Legislature of Great Britain during the crisis
of a grand European War for—what ? Actually,
for the purpose of surrounding the Empire with a
befitting defence by the creation of a contemptible
little fribbling German Legion ! Outrageous as
it seems to talk thus nowadays, so it unquestion-
ably was in the winter of 1854 : when Parlia-
ment was hastily assembled at an unusual season
for that express object, for the creation of that
odious and ludicrous phalanx, the German Legion !
A proceeding that only resulted in entailing a
most unnecessary expense upon us ; in our care-
fully disciplining a set of ungracious mercenaries,
to the end (as events proved) that they might
occasionally indulge iu the dastardly use of the
poignard whenever they were sufficiently flushed
with English beer, and that they might ultimately
be disbanded at the close of the Crimean conflict
without ever once having participated in its perils,
or by the stroke of a sword, or the flash of a
musket, earned their salt, their rations, or their
regimentals !

Another extraordinary session for the despatch
of urgent public business has again commenced.
The winter of 1854 is repeated in that of 1857.
Shall it be repeated as bootlessly, as perversely,
as frivolously ? Incredible though it may sound
—it really threatens to do so deliberately ! Exa-
mine the prospectus of this extraordinary session,
and answer whether or no we are correct in
hazarding this unwelcome declaration ? What is
the drift, NI hat is the gist of that Prospectus ? A
worthy pendant to the German Legion—a Bill of
Indemnity ! That is distinctly about the begin-
ning, the middle, and the end of it all—a Bill of
Indemnity ! Yes, to be sure there is yet some-
thing more—the reappointment of the Bank
Charter Committee ! Just to keep up appearances !
For we know already perfectly well all that a
committee of this kind can possibly extract upon
a subject long ago threadbare and transparent.
Consequently, to all intents and purposes, the
object of this newly-inaugurated Extraordinary
Ses3ion, is—as we have said before—a Bill of
Indemnity. Literally another "ridiculous mouse"
to be born from "parturient mountains," with
the throes as of an earthquake ! Not a whisper
about the scheme of a reorganised Government
for Hindostan ! Not a hint as to the bearing or
tendency of the new Reform Bill. Upon that head
in particular, Lord PALMERSTON feels himself
constrained to illustrate, as adroitly as possible,
the matchless machiavellian reserve, combining
the frank deportment with the hidden thoughts,
it volt° sciolto, gli pensieri stretti. The noble lord
at the head of the Government has, indeed,
resolved upon this course so definitively, that, upon
the very first evening of debate, in the archest
tone of banter imaginable, he assured the Right
Honourable Gentleman the leader of her MAJESTY'S
Opposition, that it was hopeless for him to look
for any Ministerial explanations prior to the Christ.
mas recess ; recommending Mr. DISRAELI, there-
fore, in the interval to amuse himself as he best
might with his own speculations. Cool, this, cer-
tainly ! What HAMLET speaks of, iu a famous
soliloquy, as " the insolence of office r However,
it is just within the bare limits of possibility that
the leader of the Opposition may by chanco muse
over some things in those speculations of his, not
dreamt of in Lord PALMERSTON'S political philo-
sophy ! As dear, toad-eating Mr. RAIKES used to
delight in saying, hugging himself with all kinds
of fantastic anticipations while saying it through
his nose with the true Parisian twang—nous
verrons .1 All depends certainly, for that matter,
in a very great measure upon Viscount PALMERSTON
himself—still to the eleventh hour it depends,
more than upon any one else, upon him ! While,
therefore, Mr. DISRAELI is (according to the Pre-

[flier's recommendation) indulging himself during
the approaching Christmas Holidays wit►i his
speetaations—it is to be hoped for his own sake,
if not for that of the country at largo, that Lord
PAiatensTox will be recreating himself during the
same interval with his preparations

arrivediti
Siam,
nmParis for the winter,
Rollo, after a lengthened tour in
Lard and Lady France,---------
have
The Princes of
yesterday morning, on a visit
town
rfienldMhoanvdeayar'rfirvceind
The Marquis Camden came tioa
gn,dnceaoranSteevsesnoofakcsii
n town, from Bretby Park.
theT The Earl

" The Calcutta money-market was much easier,
but Government securities still continued depre-
ciated. Four per Cents. at 24 discount ; Fives, 11
to 12. Exchange for first-class bills, 2s. 24d.
" Thera was a good demand for imports, with
advance in prices. In export market no alteration.
" The Emeu sailed from Aden for Bombay on
the 20th."

The following is the letter of the Times' Calcutta
correspondent :

" CALCUTTA, OCT. 30.
" A special steamer starts to-morrow for Suez ;
it is said to bring back troops. .1 avail myself of this
opportunity to forward to you a short account of
the events of the past week.
" From Lucknow, the great point of interest,
however, the Government itself has little informa-
tion. So completely is the force there beleaguered,
that the old device of enclosing letters in a quill
has been of necessity abandoned. The only mes-
sage received for weeks was written on a piece of
paper three inches square, and concealed by a de-
vice it may be prudent as yet to keep private.
The few facts so reported are somewhat
discouraging. Sir James Outram's force has been
terribly reduced. You will remember that about
the 25th of September he and General Havelock
forced their way into the Residency, and relieved
the garrison. This feat was accomplished by
pressing on through gardens, small bazars, knots
of houses, and other enclosed places. The
enemy fought as Asiatics always fight behind
stone walls. The bullets literally rained upon
the advancing force, and that single movement
cost 460 men. Sixteen officers of the 90th were
killed or placed hors de combat, and almost all the
superior officers of the sth Fusiliers. There had
been some hard fighting before the relieving force
reached the enclosures, and the total number of
soldiers rendered useless cannot be fixed at less than
700. The forts therefore, even atter its junction
with the garrison already in the Residency, cannot
be more than 1,400 strong, and this small party
must be embarrassed by the care of the sick and
wounded, women and children, to a number in ex-
cess of its owe. Thera are besides seine 800 men

at t''e Alimbagh, with a great array of camp fol-
lowers, but they are believed to be without the
means of communicating with the Residency. Since
this time we know little positively, and that Utth is
solely native gossip. The rumour?, however, all
point to one fact, that General Outram, daring the
second week in October, attacked some large build-
ing, probably one of the palaces, and was driven
back with further loss of life. I haveseen one letter

in which the writer, himself in Oude, states this as
a fact, but I warn you that this and all other ac-
counts must be received with caution. It is nearly
certain that there are 70,000 men, Sepoys and
armed retainers, around Lucknow. On the 6th
or 7th Sir Colin Campbell, with an army, will be
before Lucknow. The Commander-in-Chief quitted
Calcutta on the 27th instant. He will reach
Cawnpore by the 2d of November, and there take
the command of some four thousand men, includ-
ing his own Highland brigade, and 800 cavalry.
With this little army and a very heavy train
of artillery he will press on to Lucknow, pick up
the force at the Alumbagb, and commence the
destruction of the city. It 'is a lath and plaster
place, and the heavy guns will smash a path for him
without so terrible a loss of European life. I hope,
therefore, by the mail of the 20th of November, to
report the destruction of Lucknow, the relief of the
garrison, and the dispersion of the besiegers. Great
confidence is felt here in Sir Colin Campbell. He
has will as well as judgment, can be as hard as iron
when necessary, and cares nothing about old offi-
cers,' experience," claims,' or, indeed, anything
except efficiency.
"It is reported that Man Singh, the great land-
holder of Southern Oude, has repented h;rn of his
treachery. This is the scoundrel who promised
General Havelock aid if he would advance, and
then attacked him. He now promises, if the
British will spare his life and his esta es, to turn
round once more. Ido not know what answer he
has received, but I believe Government is firm.

From Delhi we have little news. Some further
incidents of the siege, however, have come to light,
and among them one which has driven every Euro
pean, except the higher officials, almost frantic.
The sepoys took all the wounded Europeans they
could catch during the siege, and burnt them
alive. The charred bodie;, tied to stakes, were
found by the stormers, with the Queen's buttons
still recognisable.

Agra is now safe, the defeated rebels moving to-
wards Culpee. JL'anpore and Goruckpore, how-
ever, are in a terrible condition, great bands of ruf-
fians marching everywhere and committing horrible
atrocities.

"In Bengal the insurrection is dying mit. I
have just received certain information as to the
fate of the King of Delhi. His life is to be
spared ; fer the officer who arrested him in viola-
tion of orders, gave him a pledge to that effect.
The blunder is disastrous in the extreme. The
hoary scoundrel deliberately ordered the mur-
der of 43 English women and children, and his
exemption from punishment will be interpreted
by every native into fear. They will only laugh
at the story of the pledge as an invention to con-
ceal the inability of the Government to carry out
its will. It seems indeed somewhat Quixotic to
say that a pol ce officer can save a murderer by
promising him life. You must remember the King
is only a simple subject. He is protected by uo
treaty, and is in no sense a prisoner of war. The
Court of Directors 50 years ago exempted his palace
from the authority of the courts of justice, but
only by an order, not by a treaty or agreement.
He ought to be transported for life. As it is he
has played a winning game. If he had succeeded
he would have gained an empire ; as he has failed
he loses simply nothing—a perpetual encourage-
ment to every native scoundrel with a few provinces
and au army of ragamuffins.
" Lieu e :ant OTh3rne, at Rewah, has been saved
by the advance of a firm) from Mirz spore."

OFFICERS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN KILLED AT LIICKNOW
UNDER OUTRA3I AND HAVELOCK.

General Neill ; Lieutenant-Colonel naz-!ley, Bengal
Artillery ; Major G. L. Cooper, du. ; Lieut. Webster,
78th do. ; Lieutenant Bateman, 64. h do. ; Majcr Sim-
mons, sth do. ; Lieutenant Haigh, do. ; CApt. Johnson,
do. ; Lieutenant Career, do. ; Lieutenant Maybury,
84th do. ; Lieutenant Warren. Irregular Cavalry ;
Brevet-Uajor Perrin, 90th ; Lieutenant Praton, 90th ;
Lieutenant Graham, 90. h ; Lieutenant Nunn, 90th.

Mr. Samuel Thornton, Deputy Coilecbr of
Mair Raneepore, in Jhansi, and Messrs. Passanetti
and Gritlith.-', Deputy Collector of Jaloun, Mr. C.
Andrews, and 2 clerks, from Jhansi, have arrived
at Cawnpore.
The Government have supplied the names of the
following persons. as having, whilst reported to have

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