The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-20 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER _ 20, 1857.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Captain J. D. Downing, 98th Regiment, toge-
ther with a party of non-oommissioned officers of
that corps, have left Chatham for Sheffield, to take
charge of the 500 volunteers to be raised by the in-
habitants of that town, the authorities at the War-
office having decided that they shall be attached to
the 98th depot, the head-quarters of which have
proceeded to India.
A general court-martial, Lieutenant-Colonel C.
Elmhirst, 3d battalion, president, is ordered to
assemble at Chatham this morning for the trial of
Lieut. G. W. V. Yule, Royal Engineers, and En-
sign T. S. Mitchell, 89th Regiment, on charges
preferred against them by the authorities at the
Horse Guards.

The following medical officers have been directed
to hold themselves in readiness to embark for
India :—Assistant-Surgeons D. Hodgson, D. A.
Shornnie, J. H. Whittaker, W. Alexander, J. M.
Letchie, and C. Mackinnon.
With the view of filling up the various regiments
serving in India his Royal Highness the Comman-
der-in-Chief has ordered additional recruiting
parties to be sant out from all the Indian depots
at Chatham to various now stations in the country.
Staff-Assistant-Surgeon Quitterton has been re-
lieved at Chatham, and directed to proceed
to Hurst Castle for the purpose of taking medical
charge of the Royal Artillery at that station.
The Hon. East India Company's steamer Assays
arrived at the Mauritius from Bombay on the 29th
of August for troops, and left on the sth of Septem-
ber with 400 men of the 4th Regiment.
Our Malta cornepondent, writing on the 13th
inst., says :
"Her Majesty's screw steam-ship of the line the
Conqueror, after a long passage under canvas,
reached alta on the 10th from Portsmouth and
Gibraltar, and on the same day her Majesty's screw
steam-sloop Desperate took her departure for
England, but put back on the 11th, owing to some
damage to her machinery.
"Her Majesty's despatch steamer the Caradoc
left for England on the 12th, with the Siamese Am-
bassadors and suite. On leaving Valletta harbour
their excellencies received the salutes due to their
rank from her Majesty's ship Conqueror and Fort
St. Angelo.
" The Sultan, Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany's steamship, arrived at Malta from Southamp-
ton early on the morning of the 11th, having on
board Major Nicholson, Captains Fenwick and
Cumberland; Lieutenants Scratchley, Beaumont,
Wynne, Keith, Sweetenham, Walker, Patterson,
and Magnay ; Surgeons Haverty, Browne, and
235 non-commissioned officers and privates of the
4th and 11th companies of the Royal Engineer:,
en route for India. The Sultan left for Alexandria
immediately after coaling and after embarking the
Colonel-Commandant, lienry Drury Harness.
" The /hired barque Mary Stoddart, with gun-
powder and naval stores, Arrived at Malta from
London on the 12th. _ . .

" The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
packet Valletta arrived at Malta from Alexandria
on the 10th, with the Calcutta mails, and left on
the afternoon of the same day for Marseilles, among
other passengers, Messrs. Patteson, wife, and two
children, Lewis, Hadowe, Bomanjee Pestonjee,
Hugon and wife, Barotti and wife, Letard, wife,
and son, Cohen, ; Dremher, and Duffy Mrs. Plank
and son, Mrs. Erskine and three children, Mrs.
Morgan and two children, and Captain Bland.
" The Ripon, belonging to the same company,
with the heavy mail, arrived on the following morn-
ing and left in the afternoon for Southampton,
calling at Gibraltar, having on board Majors
M`Dougall and Vincent, Captain Dyett, Lieut.
Cowper, wife, and son ; Lieut. Bettye, wife, and
three children ; Lieut. Grant, Lady Higginson and
two children ; Captain Price's four children, Capt.
Taylor's two children, Mrs. Cernegte's child, Dr.
Boyle, Dr. Caldwell, and Dr. Fairbanks ; Messrs.
Campbell, Doubty, Stubbington, Tuttle Brett,
Boyer, Carpenter, Harmer, Harris, Harrison,
James, Russell, eaver, and two Misses Weaver ;
Mr. Muspratt, wife, and child ; Mr. and Mrs.
Wilson ; Messrs. Broughton, Fisk, Carey, Miles,
Nicholas, Elfondy, Savage;Barker, M‘Mair, Wil.
hams, Weston and wife ; Mrs. Hicks and son, Mrs
De Vitro and son, Mrs. Woolcombe, Mrs. Mac.
gregor and three children, Mrs. Younghusband
and three children, Mrs. Brooks and two children,
Mrs. Gould and two children„ Mrs. Cock,
burn and three children, Mrs. Stutterford and son,
Mrs. Travers, Mrs. Goato and child, Mrs. Byrnes,
Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Chapman and son, Mrs. Fowles,
asoafd, smonr,..MAlrs.exWai
dneyra radnadn ds
osno,n
Mrs. Templar, Mrs Lushington and son, Mrs. Aatell
rfrrss.. MitaliardYllingaanndd
three children, Mrs. Hutchinson, Mrs. Lightford,
and Mrs. Snyde.
"The screw steamers with general cargoes which
touched at Malta between the 11th and 13th were—
the Arcadia, from Smyrna for Liverpool (conveying
Major Mayer) ; the Bellona, from London and
Havre, for Smyrna, Constantinople, and Odessa;
and the St. Elmo, from Glasgow and Gibraltar for
Messina.
" The Wansbeck, having repaired her damages,
loft on the 11th for Smyrna.
" The Russian steamers Bratouska and Bratibb
arrived from Newcastle and Gibraltar on the 11th
inst., bound for Odessa."
The monster cannon recently conveyed to Wool-
wich-marsh for experiments, was yesterday sub-
jected to a series of preliminary proofs by the firing
of seven corresponding 36-inch shells, the minimum
charge of powder, 101 b., being increased at the pro-
gressive rate of 101 b. until the fifth shot, when the
charge was doubled, and the seventh and last was
increased to 1501 b. The result was as follows :—First
charge, 101 b., over a range of 230 yards, the shell
being embodied about 5 feat in the aid earth ;
second, 201 b., 500 yards ; third, 301 b. • about.Olb 780
yards; fourth, 401 b., 1,500 yards; fifth, o
about an equal distance with the last. The sixth
charge, containing 100 lb. of powder, obtained a
flight of about 2,250 yards, and the last, amounting
to 1501 b., passed some distance beyond the butt, and
was buried to an immense depth in the earth. The
experiments were considered extremely satisfactory,
and are to be continued on some future day with
heavier charges of powder.
The Diadem, 32, screw, Captain (Shell) Moor-
sone, has got her machinery in perfect order, and
will leave Portsmouth Harbour this morning, at
half-pant nine for the measured mile at Stokes Bay,
where she will take several turns with and against
the tide to prove her average speed. She will after-
wards work her gear expansively, and then return
into Portsmouth Harbour to bend sails. She will
undergo a three weeks' trial cruise iu the Chanuel.
The Gibraltar, screw, to carry 100 guns, is to be
laid down in Devonport yard as soon as the slip
now being lengthened is ready to receive her.
The Niagara, United States steam frigate, at
Devonport, is to return to New York as soon as
she has discharged her portion of the electric tele-
graph cable.
The Brazilian corvette Imperial Marinheiro, Cap-
tain Francisco Cordeiro Torres-Alvina, fired a Royal
salute yesterday precisely at 12 o'clock at Spithead,
in honour of S. Pedro, and as a compliment to
the Emperor of the Brazils, who rejoices in the
name of Pedro, after the saint. The Blenheim,
60, screw, flagship (pro tern.), Captain the Hon.
F. Pelham, followed suit, and having hoisted
the Brazilian standard at the main, fired a com-
plimentary salute of 21 guns. In the afternoon
the commander-in-chief, Admiral Sir G. Seymour,
and officers, proceeded to Spithead in the Fire
Queen, tender, Master Commander F. W. Paul,
to pay a complimentary visit to the Brazilian
corvette. The admiral was received with manned
yards, and after remaining some little time on
board, on leaving the ship the same respect was
again paid, accompanied with a salute of 17 guns,
which was acknowledged by dipping the admiral's
flag at the main of the Fire Queen, and a re-
turn salute from the Blenheim. The corvette
carries 16 Paixhan guns, and has a crew of 260.
The officers, with their consul, the Chevalier Pap-
pelardo, dine with the commander-in-chief, at
the Admralty House, Portsmouth Dockyard, to-
day, and accept the hospitalities of the lieutenant-
governor, Major-General the Hon. Sir James
Scarlett, on Friday, at the Government House,
High-street.
Capt. Dyneley's company of Royal Artillery em-
barked on board the steam-transport Viscount Can-
yesterdey morning at Wool wrcb. for Calcutta but
the vessel did not sail immediately, the arrange
merits being incomplete. She will leave, hoWever,
this morning, at 7.
On Friday vireo officers and 120 non-commis-
sioned officers and rank and file of the 04th Regt.,
under the command of Major Wm. Henry Kirby,
arrived in Cork from Dublin, to await the- arrival
of a transport to convey them to India. It is ex-
pected that the steamship Leopold, now embark-
ing artillerLand stores at Portsmouth, will call
for thenffi

brilliant staff. His Royal Highness,
who was received
with the usual honours expressed his entire satisfac-
tion with the appearance of the regiment.
The Dorset County Militia are actively engaged
in recruiting for a number of the regular infantry
regiments.
The officers and staff of the East York Regiment
of Militia have received a notification that it is not
to be embodied. Most of the officers have volun-
teered for for foreign service.
The King's Own Staffordshire Regt. of Militia,
under the command. of Mr. E. R. Littleton, M.P.,
has been. embodied. The regiment formerly did
duty for two years and a half at Corfu and
Cephalonia.
The North Devon Mounted Rifles were called
out for a few days' training last week.
Earl de Grey, the Lord Lieutenant, has commu-
nicated to the officers and staff of the Bedford
Militia that the regiment is forthwith to be embodied.
The Royal Perthshire Rifles aßembled on the
parade ground in the Perth barracks on Friday last
to receive their annual bounty. Nearly every man
was present. Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond made
a short address, saying that should the regiment
be again called upon to serve,
he trusted that
in the present crisis they would be ready to
follow their officers on foreign service or
wherever her Majesty might be pleased to send
them. The whole regiment came forward to a
man and signified their readiness to serve at
home or abroad. The lieutensnt-colonel also ex-
pressed to them his pleasure at seeing their clean
and orderly appearance, and he was aura it would
always be their endefiour to maintain the high
character they attained when last embodied, and
hoped soon to meet them again for duty.
The following regiments of Irish Militia are
under orders for duty in England :—The Antrim
Rifles, the South Downs, Limerick County, the
North Cork, and the Dublin City.
The Louth Rifles are ordered to be forthwith em-
bodied ; and it is said that orders were issued on
Saturday from the Adjutant-General's Office for the
embodiment of the Fermanagh, Donegal, and Ty-
rone Regiments.

AN EAST INDIAN Din EC roR ON THE
INDIAN MUTINY.

(whose name has recently been before the country.
Mr. J. P. WILLOUGHBY, 41. P. for Leominster
in reference to the affairs of the East India
°Com-
pany, of which he is a director), in addressing a
Friday night made the
followingmeeting at
remarks
from me, the best portion of whose life has been
spent in India, some remarks upon the origin and
Leomins ter
You will probably expect
:—" n
cause of those terrible events. I approach this sub-
ject with diffidence, but I will make a few remarks
with the one proviso, that What I say must be re-
garded as my own opinion only, and not as that of
a party organ—only as addressing you as your re-
presentative in Parliament on a subject of the
deepest interest. First, then, I cannot agree with
those who view this revolt as a national one. I see
no indication of its being a general movement on
the part of a people rising against misgovernment,
oppression, and wrong ; if so, I should despair of a
speedy restoration of peace and tranquillity. But I
see many indications that it is not a national
struggle for independence. The masses of the popu-
lation are with us ; the industrial, the agricultural,
the commercial classes are all on our side, and even
the resources round Delhi at our command. Look,
again, at the native chiefs and Princes, who, with
a trifling exception, are all on our side, and have
given us ready and extensive aid. In that part of
India with which I was so loag connected there
has been no rebellion ; all have proved faithful to
the Government and have given us the readiest
help. Even from the remotest provinces the people
have coin:, forward to assist the British Govern-
ment—some with men, some with money, and some
with both. Far from considering this a national
movement, I think the British administration in
India has received a severe test that our rule is
satisfactory to the general masses of the population.
Then, the revolt is peculiarly a military one, con-
fined to a portion only of our army, though a very
large portion. The first act of the mutineers was to
release from gaol 11,000 or 12,000 criminals, and
they ware joined by that miscreant Nana Sahib
and the scum of the population (such as may be
found in every large town in every large country) ;
and these are the elements arrayed against us. I
do not say that it is not a formidable revolt ; 70,000
or 89,000 men trained and disciplined by us are of
course formidable, and it is humiliating to our
pride that men, above all others pampered and in-
dulged, should have imbrued their hands in the
blood of those with whom they have long asso-
ciated. The Bengal army being ripe for revolt, I
consider that greased cartridges were the immediate
Cause of the rising, made use of by designing men,
because it united the Mahomedan and the Hindoo
in a common cause. But let me not be misunder-
stood. Although I think it very probable that this
was made the pretext for rebellion, I firmly believe
that many who were otherwise loyal soldiers were
wheeled from their allegiance by this means, and
were really made to believe that the use of those
cartridges was to be forced upon them to destroy
their religion. In facts there seems to have been a
delusion almost amounting to insanity, which no
effort on the part of the authorities could possibly
have prevented. Many are the causes to which
the rebellion has bees attributed—the conduct of
European officers, the centralization of authority,
depriving commanding officers of the power of re-
warding or punishing, the unwise abolition of cor-
poreal punishment in the native army while it re-
mained as a custom in the European army, on the
plea that it would interfere to prevent high caste
men from entering into the army. Some, again,
say that it was a movement against the missionaries
;
but lamg a l tee ay *, ue they in private nor official
ea
sources, is there the eligntest trace that such was the
case. The missionaries were, generally speaking,
not obnoxious to the natives ; they passed blame-
less and self-denying lives' and have sown much
good seed in India, from which I have no doubt
much good fruit will hereafter be produced. But,
iu justice to those holy men (with many of whom I
am acquainted) / must say that the revolt was
clearly not directed aeainst them, because, if so they
would have become the especial objects of vengeance,
while(a.s has been happily observed) the outbreak has
been the strongest where eionlissionary ever resided ;
and, although, unfortunately, some few of them have
fallen, it has been in general a massacre of Euro-
peans. Another party, taking a political view of
the case, any that these terrible events originated
in the yearning of the Mussulmans to recover their
lost dominion ; but whether that yearning excited
the revolt, or whether the revolt excited the ye lin-
ing, does not appear. At all events, it is pefectly
clear that such a feeling does exist ; but still this
could only be a partial cause, or it would bo impos-
sible to account for the fact that the Mussulman
princes and population exhibited very little syn.-
pathy with the mutineers. By others the revolt is
attributed to what is called the annexation policy.
1 do not think that is the case, because those
affected most by that policy have not joined the
movement, and, with one slight exception, it would
not affect the revolted body. But, whether right
or wrong, the annexation policy has been upheld
by all parties thitscounlry, and the only party
who 02 more than one occasion resisted and opposed
it was the East India Company, as the Par liamen-
tary records of 1843 and 1844 will prove. These are
some of the causes which may have contributed to
this outbreak ; but, at the same time, I think it
behoves persons to approach the subject with re-
serve and caution, because proper inquiry will be
instituted by the authorities when the present
emergency has passed away. There is one other
cause assigned to which I would allude, that the
East India Company have neglected their duty of
evangelizing the natives. This is a largo and wide
question but I think that while it is our duty to
abstain from direct interference with the conver-
sion of natives to Christianity—that while on the
I one hand we are bound by treaties and Acts of Par-
liament to tolerate their forms of worship so long
as they are not opposed to public morals, on the
other hand I think it is our duty openly to avow our
Christian faith, and by precept and example to show
that we are a Christian nation,
acting upon Christian
principles. (C Seers.) What we have now to look for
is the punishment of those who have so grossly be-
trayed their trust; the liberal reward of those who
have assisted us, Particularly those who have be.
Mended our countrymen and countrywomen in their
distresses. We shall have ter reorganize our military
force, which no doubt must in the main be depen-
dent upon European arms, assisted by native troop',
for it will be impossible to perform all the duties
by Europeans. By a judicious mixture of the two
such a force may be maintained as will prevent for
the future the danger from which I hope we have
now almost escaped. In the next session of Par-
liament the subject will doubtless be amply and
fully discussed ; and I hope the great Conservative
party will approach the subject—than which none
can be of more interest both to England and India
—in a calm and dispassionate spirit, determined to
do only what is best for India and to avenge with-
• out destroying. That 14 the pthiciple we 'Ave acted

upon and will act upon. lam not prepared to de-
fend the system by which India is at present go-
verned. The East India Company may have com-
mitted sins of omission and commission, but, taken
as a whole, their rule has been beneficent and has
done great good to India. Whether any other system
of government maybe devised which would be more
beneficial I cannot say, but it certainly would not
answer to place the whole of that vast empire under
a Secretary of State, assisted by resident officers."