The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-24 00:00:00

FIE StrN,' LONDON, TritTRSDA

tainly be done to ensure greater efficiency in a
department of such importance under existing cir-
cumstances. There is also considerable doubt as
to the strength of the force under Sir COLIN
CAMPBELL. The telegram states that it amounts
to 22,000 men, but there are abundant grounds
for believing that there are but 12,000. These
will, however, be amply sufficient to ensure the
complete subjugation of the rebellious territory.
But despite these disgraceful discrepancies, the
salient points of the statement are unquestionable.
The women and children are in safety, together
with the sick and wounded, and the rebellion has
been totally crushed in the last place where it
reared its unhallowed front. INGLIs and his
noble associates have been rewarded for their
patient endurance during the five terrible months
of suspense and agony which they had endured.
Their apprehensions not being for themselves, but
for the helpless parties relying on them for safety
and protection. Whatever may be the political
importance of the victories achieved by the ardu-
ous contests, protracted during six days, and which
may be regarded in the same point of view as
those that took place at Delhi, after the blow-
ing up of the Cashmere Gate, by the forlorn
hope, under HOME and SALKELD, the extrication
of these parties from their fearful ordeal will be
welcomed even with more joyous feeling, and
that not merely by anxious friends and relatives,
but by the whole population of the united king-
dom.

The 12,000 good men and true, under such com-
manders as CAMPBELL and HAVELOCK, OUTRAM,
GRANT, and CxREATHED, and INGLIS, and others
who have particularly distinguished themselves
will render a good account of the mutineers, who
are now caught in the. trap which they had them-
selves laid for others. It is needless to say that
the great advantages already obtained will be
energetically followed up. Neither Sir Cokur nor
any of bis truly efficient lieutenants are men to
permit "grass to grow under their feet," or for-
feit the slightest result attainable by the most in-
defatigable perseverence, combined with indo-
mitable resolution and prowess. The rebels must
be reduced to despair, for fatalists, as they are,
they must still see that an avenging NMIESIS has
pursued them, carrying with it terrible, but well-
merited retribution.

It his since been stated, through other sources,
that our losses during these severe and sanguinary
conflicts have been only four officers killed and
forty wounded. We trust that this may be cor-
rect ; we fear, however, that we shall find that
many distinguished men have sacrificed their lives
in tho service of their country—such important
results could not have been achieved without very
serious losses.

We have heard nothing of HAVELOCK or
OUTR-131, Of GRAIiT or GREATHED. But in this
case " no news may be considered good news."
If anything serious had happened to any one of
these heroes, it would unquestionably have been
alluded to in the despatch—England would, in-
deed, mourn were she deprived of the opportunity
of rewarding their invaluable services. The
rebels will find themselves in a very diffi-
cult position, not only will they be pur-
4sued by the combined forces, but they will
have to encounter our allies of Nepaul, or other
friendly powers, in any quarter to which they
may direct their footsteps, and they cannot now
look for assistance or sympathy from those who,
having hitherto avoided committing themselves,
will now be doubly anxious to demonstrate their
fidelity and loyalty.

Brigadier STUART had, as we yesterday stated,
made all right at Nusseerabad ; while SHOWERS,
COTTON, and TIDDEL rendered equally effi-
cient services at Rohilcund. We are also,
it is said, relieved from all apprehensions
for our garrisons and outposts, lately in much
imminent peril. Our continental friends (?) need
no longer feel alarm for the predicted decadence
of Great Britain, or speculate on the prices which
we are to pay for the assistance which we may
be compelled to seek at their hands. Great Bri-
tain can still hold its own, without aid from
foreigners.

Here, then, we are, once more on the eve of
Christmas—of merry Christmas—and within a
week of another eve—the eve of " the Happy
New Year." The universal holiday is at hand—
hundreds and thousands have indeed already
began it ; have darted off by afternoon trains to
parents, brothers, cousins, in the country, and
happy they who in this respect, like the patriarchs
of Palestine, can begin their holiday in the even-
ing. Ah, holiday, did we say, would that we
could share it ! The Sun must, however, appear
every day but San-day. Well, since .it must be
so, we mean to share in the holiday temper, if we
cannot share its leisure. Holly and mistletoe, and
turkey and roast beef, and plum-pudding too—
-1 and all the many et eeteras of the day are forbid-
den to none. Even editors and printers must
have dinners and suppers, whether the masters
whom we serve will not dispense with our pens
and types or not. We would rather play, we
confess, as well, as the rest ; but we have learned
that no good comes of grumbling, so we " Take
the goods the gods provide us "—congratulate
those who get the grapes that are out of cur reach,
and don't " call them sour." It's enough to
make any one merry to sea all the world around
him merry, although he must toil on. And, verily,
to look to-night, and for the last few nights, at
our shop, which cater for the amusement of the
young, and for the good cheer of the young and
old—it is quite enough to drive our quill cheerily
on Christmas eve.

And then the coming family parties—they are
the characteristic of Old England's Christmas, and
May they ever be. Morning we leave to people's
tastes. Some like church, some a walk out with
their children if dry, and especially if a nice clean
bright frest, not too severe for comfort. Some,
not more perhaps than can help it, stay within
doors. A large proportion of the ladies of creation
must of necessity be there, for the dinner must be
arranged, and cooked, and on table, when the dc-
vout or the recreationists return from their respec-
tive pursuits. A popular but quaint eld preacher
in this our city we have heard our fathers talk of,
who began his Christmas sermon with the thrice-
repeated exclamation, " Oh, the Roast Turkeys !"
which, being interpreted, meant that he looked
down on a congregation of men's heads only—the
bonnet-wearers were engaged as good wives should
be on Christmas Day. Engaged how ? Engaged
in taking good care that the family party, when it
assembled, should see a family table that would
make all smile, all feel themselves welcome, all
have some not-to-be-despised gratification, and all
remember the good cheer of Papa's or Grandpapa's
'family party. Yes ! a Holy-day is Christmas still
In England—holy to that best of instincts, that
most sacred of sentiments, and that firmest basis
°i '"L'itY) t,he Family feeling. What untold good
has not fisAved from the affection which in so
many thousands English hOmes has led to the
gathering of all possible around the family
hearth !

This year, it is true, some thoughts of sadness
will arise. We do not wish to be untruthful to
ourselves, and we_eannot, if we would, forget that

the cup of Christmas joy is dashed with bitter in
many a family, and that a few will almost refuse
to be comforted. Fiendish and vengeful Asiatics
have inflicted on many a circle wounds which are
not yet healed, or wounds even which nothing but
death can heal. We shall have to drink, amongst
other toasts, Success to the avengers of innocent
blood and of insulted purity and honour ! Suc-
cess to our HAYELOCKS and CAMPBELLS, and their
brave followers ! Many a care we can, with an
easy conscience, bid begone at festive times like
these ; but sacred sorrow for the noble, the brave,
the pure, may not be rudely driven away. It
must have the sacrifice of a becoming recognition,
or it will self-accuse us amidst the joys of the
feast. Not even during the Crimean war had our
Christmas greater claims on the memory of na-
tional victims. Then we felt the cause in which
they died to be, in part, an alleviation of the
mourning. Now, our sorrow for thousands is
that they have died to gratify malignant treachery,
fiendish cruelty, and the most savage lust. Let
our family meetings pledge themselves that our
Government shall atone for all by sweeping the
mutineers from the soil of India to death or
slavery ; and then may we resume the cheerful-
ness of the family party.
And, again, we cannot forget that hundreds in
the better walks of life, and thousands dependent
on them for employment, will find it no easy
matter to enjoy a " Merry Christmas." We can-
not forget them also. The commercial cloud which
has destroyed the prospects of so many, has shaded
deeply, too, those of yet more. Heavy, but not
ruined losers, at such a time, may indeed feel
thankful that they have not lost their all ; but
what numbers have to begin life again: what num-
bers to toil for a living who obtained it pleasantly
before; and, worst of all, what still greater num-
bers have lost the daily work on which their daily
bread itself depended, and must resort to the
parish, or, what is still worse, to the pawnbroker.
For all these we must indulge our sympathy for a
moment, even on the eve of Christmas merriment,
and it may be that, for some of us can do some-
thing more than sympathise.
It is JOHN BULL'S humour, neither to yield to
sadness, nor to succumb to it. Determination to
avenge the murdered, and to help, as far as we
can, the unfortunate, is the feeling which natu-
rally draws away useless grief by useful resolve.
And then the clouds are breaking. Ten per cent.
is to give way in Threadneedle-street, as it has
already done inFrance and Hamburg, and even in
Lombard-street itself ; and in India, too, the blue
sky is reappearing, and growing larger and larger.
The storm is rolling away ; very black,
indeed, are the clouds yet, but they
have passed over us, and continue to recede.
We see their lightning and hear their thunder,
but we hardly have a fear that they can return
and strike us again. Wednesday's telegram will
cheer the nation, though many an anxious heart
will painfully long to see the returns of killed and
wounded in " the six days' severe and bloody
struggles." But, oh ! after all our annieties, how
cheering that line—" The sick and wounded ladies
and children were sent back under an escort to
Cawnpore !" Thank GOD for that. The Christ•
mas of us all will be merrier for that. Sad,
indeed, that our soldiers should die to deliver
them from traitorous villains, but where is the
British soldier who would not exclaim, "It is
ours to fight and die when we are wanted—better
that hundreds, aye, thousands of us die, than a
company of English women and babes should
furnish another Cawnpore. We should be ashamed
to survive their dishonour and murder." Yes,
we can rejoice that our soldiers could die with
such sentiments, and rejoice that by their death
they have not only honoured the name of the
British soldier, but saved the nation's honour too,
We are proud before all civilisation and before ali
posterity, that the only question at Lueknow was,
not how many soldiers' lives will it cost—but, can
the deliverance be effected at any c )st
Altogether, though sadder thoughts might easily
enter, and we would not altogether exclude them,
we yet can surely with lowered prices and return-
ing employment for the poor, with better hopes
for commercial men, and with a triumphant tele-
gram from Lucknow—we can wish all our readers
a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

HAYMARKET TITEATRE.

Last night Miss Amy Sedgwick, vvhose dant has been
the great event of Mr. Buckstone's season, took her first
who in a very short
benefit. The house was thronged at first price, a just
force of her artistic
tribute
ft o t
ithe t
as
el edn t
hoyf
tthheemerelady,
talents, has taken rank among the first favourites of the
metropolitan audiences. Her success may be ascribed to
her pleasant appearancc., great vivacity, excellent elocu-
tion, and conscientious rendering of every character she
undertakes. For her benefit she played the prin-
cipal character in the "Reigning Favourite," which
is Mr. Oxenford's adaptation of Adrienne Lecouvreur,
and played it with much force and, energy.
It is a trying thing for a young English actress to
attempt an Anglicised version of one of Rachel's greatest
parts, but Miss Sedgwick's performance must have been
agreeable even to those who bad seen the grant French
tragedienne —while those persons who had not yet had
this opportunity were enraptured, and testified their
admiration by thunders of applause and showers of
bouquets. The fair beneficiarie again appeared in the
little comedy of the "Dowager," and was greatly suc-
cessful.

Miss Sedgwick'a engagement has now terminated, and
she is on the point of quitting London. We hope, how-
ever, in a very short time to have her again among us,
and then for a permanency. In her line she is unques-
tionably the most promising actress that we have seen
for the last few years.