The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

2 vols.

British India.

This work is suited to a large number of readers,
and will probably obtain a wide circulation. It
consists of a series of lectures deliVered to the stu-
dents of the, Working Men's Colle,ge, who had re-
quested soon after the recent our lerea k that a course
of lectures on the history of British India should be
delivered te them. As the author was intimately
connected with India through many of his re!a; ions,
the task devolved upon him, arid he has acquitted
himself in a very creditable manner. He has re-
stricted himself to the history of British India,
giving, of course, such perdons of the native annals
as are insepataiS ly connected with it. He corn-
nunces with senue introductory lectures on the
races, their supposed origin, their laws of caste,
&c. He awl proceeds to trace the rise and pro-
gress of the English supremacy, which he does
from the formation of the first helian Company
in 1600, clown to the nun xatien of Oude
and the d.epartnre of Lord ad,,otisie. He then
gives fie concluding lectureF, en what he
calls Qecstions of the Present, on tle various pro-
blems and difficulties that remain to be col sidered
in the, system of ludien Government. Though, of
course, his views and opinions are individual, he
has, collected his facts with care from the best au-
tleorities, not suffering hi:nself to be influenced by
success is relating acts of injustice or breach of
faith. He tells his history in a concise and simple
manner, which renders it very acceptable to those
to whom the very names are sufficiently puzz'ing
without any intricacy in the manner of narration.
As a question of literary style, a little more careful
revision of the sentences would sometimes have
been advantageous. The work is admirably adapted
for the purpose fur which it was intended,—to
offer to persons who are quite uninformed on t'
subject a succinct narrative of the rise of the British
power in India, the means by which that power
was extended, and the acts and qualities of
its great men ; also, to convey to them some
idea of the native races, their peculiarities
and differenus, and the view which they
appear to take of the English Government ; and
also to trace in some measure, the causes of that
fearful mutiny which has lately spread deselation
among us. As almost every one now has an opinion.
upon Indian Government, and as the public atten-
tion is likely to be much engrossed with the ques-
tion, the more sound general knowledge of the past
is diffused among us the better it will be for the
future of our Indian possessions. Also recent
events have aroused in many a desire to know
something of a history, which before had little in-
interest for them, and thus a simple and connected
narrative like the present is likely to prove very ac-
ceptable to a large class of readers.

Who's Who in 1858 ? Edited by C. H. Oakes,

M.A. Bailey, Brothers, Oornhill.
This useful little work has now continued for
sever al years, and it maintains its character. It is
intended as a book of reference, chiefly devoted to
the upper classes, judicial authorities, and Parlia-
mentary members. It is very well suited for this
purpose, as, from its small compass and the metho-
dical way in which it is arranged, any name or
office can be immediately found. Besides giving
full information respecting the nobility, their dates
of title, &c., and the Privy Council and Houses of
Parliament, all judicial, military, and naval digni-
taries are chronicled, with the dates of their ap-
pointments ; archdeacons, members cf the Academy
of Arts, British Ministers abroad, Foreign Minis-
ters in England, assurance companies, chairmen
and secretaries of railways, officers and heads of
houses in the universities, all find a place. This
little compendium can he cordially recommended
to all who desire a convenient book of reference for
official, fashionable, and political information.

UNITED ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLMASTERS.

The adjourned meeting of this body took place yester.
day in the Lecture-room of the Society of At ts, but was
very scantily attended. Mr. Tait, the president, occupied
the chair, and a very interesting lecture was delivered
by Mr. Richard Bithell, president of the North Buck.
inghamshire and West Bedfordshire Association of
British Teachers, "On the Objects Sought by Associa-
tion among Schoolmasters." The audience, however,
was so small, that the subject, though an important one,
did not necessarily receive that attention to which it
was entitled. A short discussion ensued, after which
the thanks of the Association was unanimously voted to
Mr. Bithell for his kindness in delivering the lecture.
A second lecture, " On Political or Social Economy
as a Branch of Education," was next delivered by Mr.,
Thomas Champion, after which the proceedings were
adjourned to seven o'clock.

In the evening, the chair was taken by H. Cole, Esq.,
who was surrounded by a numerous audience, among
whom we recognised the Rev. Dr. Pogg;, Principal of
New Brighten College; Dr. Hodgson, of Manchester;
Wm. Ellis, Esq., founder of the Birkbeck Schools ; the
Rev. Wm. Rogers, Mr. W. M. Williams, of the Mid.
land luetitute, Birmingham ; Mr. M'Leod, of the Royal
Military Asylum, Chelsea ; N,Tr. J. R. Lanier, of the
Wesleyan Normal College, Westminster ; Mr. Coghlan,
of the Home and Colonial School Society ; Mr. Drew,
of Homerton College, &c., &c.
The essay, for which a prize of 25/. was given, "On
the Best Means of Making the Schoolmaster's Function
more Efficient than it has hitherto been in Preventing
Misery and Crime," was then read by the writer, and
from which we give the following extract :
" Our question was—' What are the best means for
making the schoolmaster's function more efficient than it
has hitherto been in preventing misery and crime ?'
" The remarks, proposed as an answer to this question,
may be briefly summed np thus :—By the schoolmaster
making himself better acquainted with the causes of
these evils, in their first beginnings especially, by work-
ing into the minds of his boys the conviction of the duties
devolving upon them, by training them in habits cones.
ponding with those convictions, and by imparting know.
ledge calculated to enable them to act up to their con-
victions.

" It need scarcely be said that the subject is not
thought hereby to be exhausted, or that the @ketones of
lessons that have been adventured pretend to be nothing
more than skeletons, depending for their value upon the
living teacher.. _

" There will not be wanting objections to the pro-
posal to attempt this kind of teaching and training. 'To
do this we must neglect other things,' is one common
abjection. Be it so, if necessary, unless those other
things' can be shown to be of greater or of equal im-
portance. What amount of other things' can oompen-
rate fur habits of idleness, dishonesty, and extravagance
—for passions unchecked and a mind unstored with the
knowledge necessary to the performance of the great
duties of life ; and that this knowledge and these habits
.lo not come spontaneously is a matter of experience.
But it is worthy of remark that this objectioa
cosies only from those who have not tried the
experiment. Those who have seem to be convinced,
that so far from tending to displace, it becomes more
efficient when incorporated with the general work of the
school, and that it gives life and meaning to this work.
" Another objection is, 'there is not time to do it per-
fectly, the children do not remain long enough at school;
Well, then, do it imperfectly ; do it as far as you can.
No one will say that a little honesty, industry, economy
or even knowledge of this kind, is a very bad thing.
That teacher must do his work very badly who sees a
boy leave his school even after a three sionthe' stay with-
out some useful thoughts, some good resolves, and some
insight into the duties of his future career.
" lithe time be short, why then work the harder, and
perhaps you will find in this effort and this direction of
it, the means of detaining the boy longer in a school
where himself and his parents will feel he is gaining
something worth making a sacrifice to obtain.
" Whether by incorporating productive labour with
the school work, it is possible in some cases to retain the
children longer at school, or more efficiently to cultivate
the industrial qualities, is a question that perhaps de•
serves more attention than has yet been given to it.
"It is strongly insisted upon by some, that owing to
peculiar organisation, certain individuals are predis.
posed to particular vices, and that this predisposition
requires particular attention.
" It is a fact, that in some cases, cbi!dren under the
influence of bad example, very early acquire habits which
will need the greatest attention for their ewe. Now, if
the first case be a true one, still for al Ipractioal par.
poses the two cases may be looked'
upon as one. Both
call for special attention —to the work of prevention is
added that of cure, to some extent, in both cases. Care•
ful watching for the display of the bad habit, constant
checking of it, kindly encouragement whenever improve.
merit is attempted, these are the means called for.
"l'erhaps, in the first case, the aid of the physician
may be sometimes necessary. But, be it as it may, there
is nothing in all this to dissuade from effort, but, on the
contrary, all to urge to increased exertion. If, indeed,
it be true that in every mind there is a predisposition to
evil, the lesson still is work ! strive I the more earnestly
for the difficulties that stand opposed.

"Such, then, is the work, and now a word in conclus
sion upon the st orkman. How much depends upon him .
It is not enough that he has plans and theories, in any
quantity, stored in his head ; he must be devoted to his
work, fully aware of the difficulties be has to overcome,
well acquainted with the implements be is using, tho•
roughly alive to the immense importance of the results
he is aiming at, full of love for the tender beings under
his charge, and of faith in the efficacy of
his mission ;
enthusiastic,
an-d
willing to be spent in his work, and, if
necessary, to find his whole reward in the consciousnesit
of being the means of moulding the children committed
to him into good, useful, and happy men. When such
are the men to whom the teaching and training of the
young is committed, we may hope for results till the*
impossible."
A friendly discussion then took place, after which the
thanks of the association were given to the writer of the
essay, and the proceedings terminated.

The reduction in the rate of discount seems likely to
renew, to a partial extent, the drain of silver to the
Bag. Although the amount by the steamer of the 9th
January will be small, preparations are already being
made for the despatch of a larger supply by the next
mail, when it is calculated the increasing cheapness of
money may render the operation profitable.

The following are extracts from a very interest-
ing private letter, date,l Delhi Palace, Nov. 16 :
" We are here to acct senpany a column about to
march down country to ct InveY tents and carriage to
Cawnpore for the Comma alder-in-Chief and troops
from England, now reachin6" Cawnpore in nunetere.
No date is yet fixed for the cxylumn leaving this ; in
'the meanwhile a grand sale i`a taking place of the
captured booty of Delhi, and e‘ wonderful and rare
}boils
of it is to see all the collect It I things—theeoile
of a sacked Palace and city ! ee.e left . . . at nine
o'clock at night, and it was st range to find
the Delhi road,
our-
selves driving by starlight a10n6%1 h lane We
which is as safe now as an En; is
slept calmly on the way, but rens e)d at dawn to
watch the battlefield of the Hindou (where General
A. Wilson distinguished himself), told shortly came
in sight of shattered. Delhi. What a memorable
ht Every wall or bastion that fat Tcl.
sight . our camp
is in almost shapeless ruin, while the white marble
pavilions of the palace rise unharmed ,along the
Jumna bank.
" In one of those live the Tb era is no
describing the beauty and quaintness of then' roonis.
I long for photographs to send home. They .are all
of inlaid marble, with semianabs pitched in* the
senanah courts between ; but all around speaks; of
awful war—the rows on rows of captured guns--
the groups of English soldiers at every post ; aria. ,
not English only, for our baave defenders the I
Ghoorkas, Sikhs, and Cabulees enaingle among them.
A strange army, indeed, with mot a trace of pipe-
clay ! It is a frightful drive freer the Palace to the
Cashmere-gate—every house resat, riven, and tot-
tering ; the church battered, awl piles of rubbish
on every side. Alas ! the burnt houses and de-
serted shops ! Desolate Delhi E and yet we are
told it is clearing and much improved since the
storming of the place. It has oily as yet a hand-
ful of inhabitants in its (treat street, the Chandnee
Cooke, who are all Hineoos, I believe. Many mis..
rable wretches prowl through the outside of the city
begging admission at the vario us gates, but none
are admitted whose respectabilitpcanuot be vouched
for. Cartloads of ball are being daily dug from the
Moirie Bastion, now a shape/ass battered limes.
The mutineers are collected in Oude in formidable
masses. Most of them are represented as hopeless,
and aware that they are only assembling there to
die. After Oude there will ensue a Rohilcund.
campaign. There will be ample. work for everyone
whom mother England has sent out : but it is a
triumph of the greet Anglo-Setxon race that so
much has been accomplished bedore the reinforce-
ments came by India's Army of Heroes, " few,
but undismayed. The fiuger of God is in-
deed traceable in the takine. of Delhi. Let no
man at home dare to underrate the work, or
talk of the delay of its acoomplishment. It
was a daring, fearful undertaking for sear small
army, against such a city of endless fortification
and so very isuraerous an enemy. Had not God
been on our side, that vast army of mutineers could
never have been driven from such a stronghold.
Great perils may attend the pa.ssage of the column
we are to accompany. It mey possibly meet bodies
of mutineers on the road in sufficient numbers to at-
tack us, and we may find ourselves in the midst of
a battle ; but, as ladies are to be permitted to go
under its escort, it is of course hoped that the road
wiil not be impeded. Many unusual precautions
will have to be taken, no tents or servants can be
sent on over night (as in peaceful times) to await
our arrival in the morning; but we must carry one
small tent only, which cannot be struck till we are
about to march with it ourselves. All must keep
close together ; there would else be certain harm
from armed thievLs. I fear we may lose some of
our baggage, but we shill arrange and hope for the
best. Some artillery go with us and some Carabi-
ewers, and a party of the Sikh Guides, and a Pun-
jabee Ressalah is expected iu time to move with us.
Most of the neighbouring Nawabs have been brought
in captive. Some are criminated Leyond 41.euet,
others have only been very discreditably neutral.
We have seen the captive king and royal family—
they are in ruinous little rooms in one of the gates
of the Palace. The old king looks very frail. He is
too old to be responsible for anything that has been
done. With his sons much more guilt may lie ;
some have been shot, and some are yet untaken.
The youngest son we saw looking like 15, they say
18, bold. and coarse to look at. He is the only
child of the Queen. With her some of out ladies
have had a long interview ; they found her seated
on a common charpoy (bedstead), dressed in white
cotton clothes, with few and very trifling oroa-
ments—all her grand things having been taken
from her. She is described as short and stout,
above 30 years of age, with a round, animated face,
not at all pretty but having very pretty little plump
hands ; she was cutting beteinut to eat with her
pawn. Some 30 females, relatives and. Menials,
surrounded her. She professes the utmost hirrur
of the 3cl Cavalry, to whom she traces all tier mis-
fortunes. She says the King was helpless to con-
trol them, and that when their arrival had placed
Delhi in rebellion against us they were as ready to
rob her as any one else. She says the mtitiueers
did rob the palace, and that all her jewels were
only saved by being buried. She does not, seem to
blame us for their present captivity ; she under-
stands the necessity for inquiring into guilty or i I
nocant parties; but she did not seem to asierc the
King's innocence as much as her own. Sue said
he had been in the hands of bad people. There ap-
peared to be frightful rivalries among the women ;
it is said she criminated the sons of the former
wives, she being the law.. Her sister is represented
as much better looking than herself, and Las a
daughter of 13 married to the King's youngest son
already mentioned, and reputed very beautiful.
Our la lies describe her as having superb large ayes,
and a most beautiful little mouth, but her face
otherwise too flat and full. Some of the women
told them they had !sad English women and chil-
dren in the Palace after the massacre, in Ir)pe of
preserving them, but the mutineers demanded them
and could not be resisted. They say the S2poys
complained that the King was feeding iEnglish-
women daintily, while he only gave them gram for
food. Heaven knows if the Royal Family be clean
in heart or hand or not. I say nothing sentimental
about them, but f pity them. Their religion is
quite enough to excite our pity, and if they have
been abettors of murders they ought to be pitied
for their sins. It they are, as they say, innocent
of any share in the rebellion, they aro victims in-

" I trust all examinations may be judiciously
and fairly conducted. Mr. —is an excellent
man—most upright and indefat;gable in discover-
ing truth, and withal most tender-hearted, lie
will not spare the gnilty, nor inflict suffering on
the innocent. But I must pause.

The followin,g letter from an officer affords a re-
to.arkab!e illustration of one of the greatest of
Indian difficulties--the low moral state and help-
lessness of the people, and especially of the Ben-
galee,s

" October 20.
" I am sure, if anything is dispiriting it is the
work I have in hand just now in collecting carriage
for the troops which aro every day arriving. The
eternal shifts and evasions of the zemindars, of the
cart drivers, of the contractors, lead to c;mstant
dislippointment; and were it Lot that I bagin to
think that one must mike up one's mind ; o a ripe-
tiVon of the same kind of semi-demi success t hroaA-
out life, at least in India, why I Au-Juld be thoroughly
disgusted.

"1 Anywhere &se high wages and regular payment
ay.otild bring the.carriage in of itstlf. Here it only
makes the matter more complicated, as you have to
take the greater prccani inns to insure the strict
fulfilment of your conditions, and no One will. e-
lieve that you can insure it. Tile very police :,re
all engaged in defeating your object. They have
actually so terrified the owners of carts that no one
can Undertake a contract to provide carts until ;he
ban secured the interests of the darogah by agrce-
hig, of course, to pay a per cantago on the profits.
Then, again, the amlih or officers of my court used
formerly to have the real direction of thee sort of
contracts ; and because Government is now at-
tempting to do away with impressment, in which
Lay their enormous profit 4 I cannot get the slightest
assistance from them. On the contrary, they in-
trigue right and left to prevent parties from coming
to a settlement with me. Thus I have had one con•
tractor after another slip through my fingers for no
apparent reason ;. in fact, while consenting he re-
Itt°_e,i. I have just now lost a couple of hours in
,7-7f?Tfug a sudden cmiplication' be,: worm an agent
AlibltLiazawndone of a neighbouring officer, who are
toistehtleach other broil us, and doing their best to em-
;at and here is another who posi-
tively deokre„letria
sezuvuenleas I give him the aid of the
police Cannot
a single gbary. I know well
enough what that PToliatly 'Weans—viz., that he
nlPressment, which ould be a
wants an order for i
refuse I ri,k the loss of
small fortune to him.
his aid altogether, as the chance, a-e he'll throw u,
in the certainty that before longi must take to itup-
pressment."

A CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH.—Ya terlay w m
Carter, the Surrey coroner, held an inqueet on the be c 3
of Arthtir Rivers, aged 3 years and 10 ruonthe,
parents lived in Thomas-place, Lambeth. On Chri.tme.4.
day a-nurse, who was attending the mother, Placed a
kettle of boiling water upon the table, from which the
child drank, and although medical aid was promptly ob.
Wiwi: he lived only 25 hours. The jury having return(
aveydiat of accidental death, the coroner said parents
s
*mid never allow children to drink oat of either teapo:s
or kettles, whether the water contained therein was hot
or Cold, for if they were allowed to drink from each
YO3BOIH when the water was cold they were apt to make
a mistake, and drink the water when hot.