The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-24 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1857.

The telegraphic intelligence from India which
appeared in our impression of Saturday is all " a
muddle." But that it was sent to the Govern-

anent by confidential officials, we might imagine
that, it had been prepared merely to influence the
Stock Exchange. It was not only scanty in its
statE matte, but there was a confusiod running
througv the
whole that made it worse than use-
less. No de-
les were given, although under the
circnMetaticeir they were all-important ; and,
..,00
strange to ikai, the ,
4.
an appropriate deno.
ruination would not, wait for more certain
tidings. But for the "t 1 account of the death of
Sir HENRY BARNARD from d__
Yacutery, we might
• be doubtful whether the news from Delhi
was much later than that
We had
'lllOl had
come to hand.
previously heard
up to the 27th of June. At that time a strong
force, consisting of from 7,000 to 8,000 Europeans
and 5,000 Natives wore encamped before Delhi,
and reinforcements were daily expected, which
would enable him to risk an assault on the rebel
stronghold. General BARNARD was an experienced
officer. Ile had been chief of the staff in the
Crimea under General SIMPSON, and had therefore
abundant opportunities of seeing hard fighting.
It is impossible to say what he might have
accomplished had his life been spared. It is more
than probable that his lamented death may post-
pone active operations until the arrival of Sir
Courr CAurBELL, who ought to have arrived
at the scene of action lot, g since, and w ho
will lose no time in displaying the energy

and skill for which he is so eminently dis-
tinguished. The continued holding out of
Delhi up to the unknown period when the in-
telligence was sent off need not cause any very
serious apprehensions as to the ultimate triumph
of our arms. Every attack had been repulsed.
The British superiority was clearly manifested
on every occasion when our soldiers came in con-
tact with the mutineers, and we can scarcely
doubt that similar results will follow when the
grand attack is hazarded.
The death of Sir HENRY LAWRMTCE is a very
serious event. He had proved himself to be an
officer and administrator of extraordinary ability.
In the centre of Oude he had maintained his
position with a very small force. His very name
was worth at least a thousand fighting men.
He has fallen nobly from wounds received in a
sortie against the rebels ; and deeply as we must
deplore his loss, we may reasonably hope that his
example may inspire others to supply, so far as
practicable, the place of the departed hero. That
the native troops in Oude should all have joined
in. the insurrection, might well have been ex-
pected. It is fortunate that we have the ex-King
in safe quarters. He will serve as a valuable
hostage during the contest ; and if his complicity
can be clearly established, will bitterly expiate his
offeaces. His ill-destrved pension, 150,000/ per
annum, will go some way in meeting the expenses
occasioned by the revolt. The so-called King of
Delhi has also a similar annuity ; and if the
Rajah of Moorsbadabad is also implicated, there
will be a fund produced equivalent to at least
. eight millions, or with British guarantee, at 3*
per cent. per annum, to twelve millions sterling.

There is a like confusion respecting the intelli-
gence from Cawnpore. It is stated that the news
given by the Bombay Times, of the 14th July,
respecting its capture and the massacre of the
Europeans, is confirmed ; but still dates are
wanting, and we may easily conceive that it is
only the confirmation of that which has already
been communicated. The original intelligence,
which announces the defeat of the rebels on three
several occasions, the capture of guns between
Allahabad and Cawnpore, and the re-capture of
the latter station from NANA Sam; with the fact
that General HAVELOCK is following him up the
Bithoor, is really satisfactory. That truculent
ruffian—one of our well-paid pensioners—had
taken advantage of the opportunity to massacre,
under circumstances of peculiar atrocity, every
European that fell into his hands during
their flight from the city. He did not,
however, . succeed in taking possession of
the Fort, and his triumph was very short-
lived, thanks to the gallant HAVELOCK
and the faithful troops under his command.
He has most probably already bitterly expiated
his treachery and sanguinary outrages. The
mutiny of the Gwalior Contingent was already
known. It was stated that. HOLKAR had re-
mained firm, and would adopt the most energetic
steps to punish the insurgents. 'He had also
given very sterling evidence of his fidelity by
transmitting his treasure to the English station
at Mhow. The last despatch practically announces•
nothing respecting him that was not already
known. The same may be said of &INDIA..
Their troops had mutinied, but each had given the
strongest professions of good- will to the English
Government.

The most extraordinary part of the entire mes-
sage is that relating to the Transit. That the
ill-fated vessel should be totally lost is by no
means surprising. It was the fate generally pre-
dicted, and it is something to know that the crew
and troops have not also been lost. But we
cannot understand how they could have got into
the straits of Sunda, or from thence to Suez. It
must have been to Sincapore, not far distant. There
must clearly be some mistake there, which time

only can clear up. We can only hope for the best ;
but surely sufficient has transpired to induce the
Government to adopt still more energetic mea-
sures, and to delay the prorogation of Parliament
at all events until full information has been re-
ceived as to the present state of affairs in India.
The blundering message has only enhanced the
public curiosity, without in any degree appeasing
the very natural anxiety prevailing on the subject.

In what way can the system of purchase of
commissions in the army be got kid of ? Certainly
not by the means indicated by the Royal Coin-
missioners ! As we have already stated, they
seem to have begun at the wrong end ; and there
is something like a breach of faith t) those
officers who, having purchased up every previous
step to that of major, may find themselves de-'
barred from achieving the legitimate object of
their ambition, even at the eleventh hour. It is
true that this consideration should not retard a
great national improvement, one on which the
efficiency of our armies so greatly depends. But
it may be regarded as a make-weight, which
should in some degree incline the scale in the
direction above suggested.
It is calculated that the buying up of every
commission would cost no less than seven
millions sterling to the country. This is a large
sum unquestionably, but even it would be well
applied to achieve so vast an amelioration. But
this money would not bo required all at once.
Under judicious arrangements the amount could
only be'called for by moderate instalments, spread
over a very considerable period ; and those who
entered the army under the now and improved
system could have no future claim or cause of
complaint.

Our plan, then, which appears simple enough,
is to let every first step be given free of exueus©,
either as the premium for the best answers at
competitive examination, or for the possession of
such other qualifications as may render the candi-
dates likely to become efficient and valuable offi-
cers. Let the nation pay the regulation price to
those who may be entitled to demand it, and in
whose place they may be appointd. The parties
who would be entitled to receive back the pur-
chase money they had actually paid would be gra-
dually reduced in number. Those who entered the
army on the improved system would have nothing to
do with purchase at any stage of their career. The
men who wished to retire would not be injureJ,
for, so long as they received the money to which
they were entitled, it signified nothing by Whom
it was paid. Existing officers might continue to
purchase on according to the existing system, but
it should be thoroughly understood that they
should not henceforward become entitled to claim
any recompense for steps procured after this date
without purchase.
This seems a simple and straightforward course.
There may be some slight difficulties in arranging
the details, but they would easily be surmounted.
Thee would be nothinr, that could be tortured
into a breach of faith towards any officer now in
the service, while, as
lel rbuel. ezt
andwo have stated, those who
enter under n, different regulation will thoroughly
rom understandotionwtlii principles by which future
p
obtained They should attain the
higher grades under the milted system of seniority
and merit that we hope maybe adopted.
Thepresait
class will still go on purchasing or not, accordici
to the present plan, but as each retires from the
service, the number of purchasers will be
reduced and eventually cx.iinguished.
The chief objection to thin -

,0014.8 to

that