The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-12 00:00:00

THE VACANCY IN THE COUNCIL OF

INDIA.

In the course of his speech on the proposed abo-
lition of the exclusive privileges of the Covenanted
Civil Service of India, Sir C. Wood gave authori-
tative confirmation to a report which had been
floating about for some days before, to the effect
that Col. Durand had been requested by the Go-
vernor-General to accept the office of Secretary in
the Foreign Department, and that he would accept
it when enabled to do so by the provisions of the
new bill. This arrangement will make a vacancy
in the Council of India. We believe that Colonel
Durand was elected by the Council, and that, there-
fore, the vacancy occasioned by the transfer of this
officer to the Indian Executive will be filled up in
the same manner_ With respect to the question of
succession, we are not in a position to speculate,
with any sort of confidence, with respect to the
selection to be made by the 14 remaining members.
But it would appear to be at least probable that an
offer of the seat may be made to Sir James Outram.
Such a tribute of respect would be equally
ve onour
able to him and to the Indian Council; ande need
sir James
scarcely say that should, as we hope,
Outram s health admit of his taking office, the
arrangement will be extremely advantageous to the
public service. Though Colonel Durand is to be
h-
the new Indian Secretary, in the foreign or poli-
tical department, his real strength is in the mili-
tary department, and there Outram's knowledge
and experience would be of the greatest service.
We have heard with much gratification that the
last accounts of Sir James's health are of a favour-
able character, and that an eminent German physi-
cian whom he has consulted gives good hope of his
restoration to permanent health and strength. In-
deed, we have a lively hope
of seeing him, before
long, sitting in the. Indian Council. Heis one of
those m
when he is once so far recovered as to enable him
to taketthat strengthening medicine, we feel assured
that his progress will be rapid and his recovery
itteinngupon
whom work acts as a tonic ; and
abiding.— Overland Mail.

G7tLhAgAeeßhndYotrlueesAaniedNafoDunfl
MURDER AT KINGSWOOD, NEAR
atnhde murderßhiesvw. familyals s, committedo
ani n
c/Mondayswitooctc;
night
T j:ael
vt.
n
Chertsey, leaving an elderly female named Holliday to take
charge of the house, as she had done on several occasions.
The fellows got on the roof of an outhouse joining the house,
and smashed the bedroom window where the unfortunate
woman lived. It seems probable that the noise awoke the
woman, and that she gave an alarm. The wretches, it is
supposed, then dragged her out of bed, and along to the
foot of the bed, as there is a streak of blood along the floor.
They then violently thrust part of an old stocking into her
mouth se forcibly that her tongue was pushed back to the
top of her throat. Her husband (who is lodgekeeper to T.
Aio)ck, Esq., M.P.) had left her a little after six on the
previous evening, and on going the next morning found
his poor wife lying dead on the floor. The police are mak-
ing active exertions to apprehend the perpetrators of this
foal deed.