The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-25 00:00:00

STANDARD HEIGLIT FOR' THE ARMY.

Is there any sound reason, says a correspondent,
why a wan of 5 feet 4 inches should be rejected as
unst fer her Majesty's service ? In the Anglo-Swiss
Legion, 2,100 of whom were -quartered in Smyrna
during the late war, wen were enrolled at the low
standard of 5 feet 21 inehee. The average height of
course exceeded this. Their appearance on parade,
as regard size and strength, was pronounced by many
competent judges fully equel to that of our line ragi-
ments. In marching powers and endurance of fatieue
they were certainly not to be surpassed by our best
troops. Tneir breadth of shoulders and depth of cheat
toook oar army contractors' by surprise. I think it may
be laid down as a general rule that a well-framed little
man can go through continuous hard work for a longer
period than an equelly well proportioned big man. It
is almost a proverb that many a little frame encloses a
bi,r heart. The Enfield rifle, some pounds lighter than
‘• Brown Bess," certainly does not lose its formidable
powers in the bands of a man of 5 feet 4 inches. Why
is not the standard, then, lowered ? Our small army
is going off, regiment after regiment, to the East. We
have no reserve. Recruits are coaling in, but not ra-
pidly enough to fill up the probable casualties of Eastern
service, certainly not to provide a new army. Every
day runny good men and true are turned away by the
recruiting sergeant on a matter of inches. The splendid
infantry that rolled back the tide of invaeion from the
sunny homes of " la belle France," that carried Napo-
leon's eagles in victory over a continent, was mainly
composed of men who, by the present regulations, would
be rejected by the British recruiting officer.
Let the standard be lowered two inches. Let a corps
of 5,000 be formed from these hitherto rejected volun-
teers for service in India. Let them be lightly equipped
and c:ad. Let them be officered by men specially dis-
tinguished for their powers of organisation. Let them
have a proper quota of light active horsemen, picked
men, armed with sharp sabres and good revolvers—say
two -regimeuta of 500 men each. Furnish them with
the usual complement of artillery. Place a good man
at their head. England, once such an experiment made,
will have no more occasion for foreigners to fight her
battles.

TIIE INDIAN RELIEF FUND.—We understand that Sir
Henry !deux, Bart., M.P., has sent his own subscription
of 1001. towards this fund, and also 2001. as the sub-
scription of the firm of which he is the head, towards
the same object.—At the' meeting held at Manchester
the following contributions were announced :—The
Mayer of Manchester, 1001.; the Earl of Wilton, 1001.;
Messrs. Heywood and Co., 200/.; J. and N. Phillips
and Co., 2001.; J. C. Harter and Co., 200/.; Messrs.
Entwistle, and Co., 2001.; R. Barnes, 200/.; E.
Buckley and Co., 2001.; J. Yletcher, 100/ ; A. and G.
Murray, 1001.; A. Smith an d Co., 1001.; C. P. Hender-
son and Co., 100/.; Fairbairu and Co., 1001.; Pender
and Co., 100/ ; Messrs. Re use and Co., 1001 ; Messrs.
Slater, lleelie, and Co., 501.,; the Oxford-road Trust Co.,
La, and several others.

.
THE SUFFERERS AT CAWNPORE.
The following letter has been .addreisel to the
editor of the. Englishman—
am desired by (42. n. Neill to request
you will have the goodnoss to make it as pUblio as
possible that the property of the unfot tunate people
who lost their lives here has been collectel in one
spot, and that any which can be recognised will be
handed over to the owners, or put up to auction for
the benefit of deceased estates, and the rest sold.
" Thera is a good deal of property belonging to
the different mercantile firms here, as well as to the
heirs of deceased officers, &c., but when I mention
that every • house was gutted, and • the property
scattered over 60 or 70. square mile of country, it
will be apparent how impossible it was to take ea-
of individual interests.
" I would recommend any one connected with
Cawnpore to appoint an agent upon the spot who
can recognise the property, and he should be armed
with authority to receive charge of it.
"Almost all of the former European residents
hera h tying been murdered by the miscreant Nana
Sakib, and no one being forthcoming to recogniso
or give any information concerning the property
that has been saved, it would aid us very much
were some European to return who may 'be ac-
quainted with the former residents, or able to point
out the property of different owntrs,
"I am desired to add that as far as can be ascer-
tained the only Europeans who escaped are two
officers and two soldiers, who fled across the river,
and one pensioner of the 3d Ught Draao)ns, who
was concealed by a trooper of the 4-1 Light Cavalry
in the city of Cawnpora.
" There are six males, three females, and three
children with a petty rajah (of Kalpee) across tiJe
Jumna, and every possible means are being taken
to recover them.

"The Rajah of Kalpee treat:; the3e unfortunate
people with kindness, and is disposed to restore
thew.

" The pressure of work is so great that it is impos-
sible to send copies of this letter to the different
presses in India, but Gen. Neill irusls all will aid
him in making publicthe information now conveyed.
" I am. sir, your most obediAnt servant,
" HERBERT BRUCE, Captain.
" Superintendent Police.'
" Cawnpore, July 31."