The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-15 00:00:00

TBE PERSIAN WAR.

(From an Occasional Correspondent of the Times.)
CAMP BEFORE BITSHIRE, FEB. 25.
Since my last communication little of interest
has occurred in this quarter worthy of being re-
corded. Owing to the non-arrival of the remaining
portion of the Second Division, which was confi-
dently expected here ten days ago, as well as in
consequence of the strong north-westerly gales
which have prevailed, and which have prevented
all int.rcourse with the shipping in the harbour,
the Mohammerah expedition has been delayed.
The thy before yesterday, however, it was found
practicable to get the Semiramis and Berenice
steamers under way. They took in tow the Ocean
Monarch and the Futtey Mobarek, with one bat-
tery of artillery, a corps of dooly-bearere, stores,
&a., as also three gunboats. These will be dropped
near the estuary of the Shatt-001-Arab, there to
awaitthe remaining part of the force destined to
capture and garrison Mohammerah. The steamers
will return immediately, and the Hon. Mr. Mur-
ray, who goes up in the Berenice, will be made
over to the Comet, which will take him as far_iS
Basra, whence he is to make his own way to Bag-
dad.

Captain Kemball, resident at Bagdad, arrived
here a few days ago, and reports that the garrison
of Mohammerah has been increased, and that 13
guns have been mounted in the embrasures of the
forts. The Arabs in that quarter appear to be in
anxious expectation of •our approach, which, it is
to be feared, will be the signal of a general rising of
the tribes against their Persian master. It will re-
quire a little diplomacy to prevent these wild clans
from committing every kind of excess, and at, the
same time to keep on good terms with them our-
selves. The latter is absolutely necessary to the
success of our operations generally, for one great
object in seizing Mohammerah is to open out the
resources of that district to the wants of our army.
The officers employed in procuring baggage-
cattle report that 5,000 camels will be ready in the
course of a fortnight. Mules also are being bought
up at Bagdad and Mosul, but I fear it -wilt be seve-
ral months ere a number sufficient to enable our
army to advance from Bushire is procured. This;
perhaps, is the less to be regretted, since without
large ad dit ional reinforcemen s, especially European,
it would be imprudent to think of advancing beyond
Shiraz. The operations of our General are, indeed,
even now very much crippled tor want of troops.
The entire army, when the whole of the Second
Division arrives, will not amount to more than
10,000 men of all arms. From 3,000 to 4,000 of
these will advance to Mohammerah, and a good
moiety of that number must remain to garrison it.
I believe that an advance thence to Shuster and
Dizful might easily be made with the co-operation
of the tribes, but such a course would be worse than
useless unless Sir James could leave adequate gar-
risons in those places. He cannot detach more
men from before Bushire while the enemy maintain
their poSition below the passes. Rumour gives
their numbers there at from 5,000 to 2;000 men,
with 8 or 30 guns, and reports still prevail (,f many
regiments being on their way from Isaphan a3d
Teheran. Again, the Bazaar report is that this
Serkesheekshi Bashi, or Commandant of the King's
body-guard, in company with Hama Mirza, the
Shah's uncle, is on his way from Teheran, em-
powered to conclude a treaty of peace. If this is
really the case, and we are able to secure even our
principal objects, I trust that no 13:ine of contention
will be raised on our side, and that an end may be
made of this war. On the ether hand, however,
should no such overtures be made by Penia, we
must, as far as I can see, be prepared for a serious
struggle ; and, if Herat is the stumbliugblock,
that must, be removed out of the way by our
taking possession of it. Averse as England and
India may be to undertake military operations in
that quarter, she will ultimately be- driven to it,
since it is not difficult to foresee that the eventua-
lities of the war in this direction may lead to the
occupation of Herat by Russian troops. We should
seek to strengthen Peisia, and that we might more
readily do by holding Herat than by any other
means. We could then afford to be le:s suspicious
of the Persians, and perhaps more generous towards
them, than we have been, despite their insincerity
and perfidy. Why Affghanistan should be such a
bugbear to the English public no military man ap-
pears to understand. Our position on the Indus
is now totally different from what it was at the
period of our disastrous retreat, and the Affghana
themselves know us better. Besides, what security
have we, in the actual circumstances of the reign-
ing dynasty there, that after the demise of the Dost
one or more of the aspirants to the musnud will
not seek the protection of the Persians, or even of
the Russians, against British interests in Affgban-
istan
After-reports from the adjoining neighbourhood
lead us to believe that many more of the Persians
were killed at the battle of Kooshab than we our-
selves believed. Hundreds of the wounded were
said to be strewn near the river Daliki, and from
all accounts the blow then struck has quite disor-
ganised the army under Soojah-col-Mcolk, who, if
rumour speaks truly, has been displaced from his
command. It is now becoming the prevailing opi-
nion that the Persians will not again meet us
sPn
the plain, but in ease of our approach will retiero-
into the passes, and there dispute our onward
gress. The camp at Bushire is being for
strong redoubts ; the force is remarkablyn
g officers
good tone generally prevails Iled Npvith
for the rey-
and men. Lord Seymour arrive
.from Bagdad, and has been appointed,,P,
dqtll3:ther da
the political
sent, assistant to Major Taylor, inthisthat young e-
partment, We understand
some military dace, -in
noble-
man is anxious. to obtain
to take an active part in the
order to enable him
war.

FEBRUARY 26.
Reports just received from Mohammerah state
that the Persians have brought two guns thither
rom Dizful, and seem to be planning some scheme
fir obstructin the_ entrance to the Karoon

The Him4laya, ir.m. steam stroop-ship, Cowman-
k der Haswell, embarked the baggage of the 90th
Regiment at Portstnou•h„ and will embark the
heal-quarters of the regiment thin day for China.
The Boscawen, 70, palling two-decker, Captain
Glanville, flag of • Rear-Admiral Fansbawe, C.B ,
arrived at Spithead yesterday forenoon from the
North America and West India station, having
been r.d.teved by the Indus, 78, Captain Stewart,
flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Houton Stewart, K.C. 8.,
the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief on that
station. Rear-Admir Panshawe was taken into
Portsmouth harbour on. arrival
,by the Sprightly
steam tender, Masi er Commander George Allen.
The Bonaweu will be now paid off.
The Furious, 16, paddle frigate, Captain Sherard
Osborn,swas taken out of the steam basin at Ports-
mouth yesterday..
A court-martial assembled on board the flag-ship
Waterloo, at Sheernesq, yesterday, to try'Eclward
Jones, ordinary supernumerary seaman, serving on
board the screw steamer Miranda, Captain Robert
Hall., The charges were stealing a certain piece of blue
-cloth, -the property of George M'Kenzie, which was
in charge of William. Smith, the sick berth atten-
dant ; arid the second charge, for deserting the said
ship on the 28th of February last, while the ship
was lying in Malta harbour. Captain Robt. 'Hall,
in command of the Miranda, prosecuted. The pri-
soner pleaded guilty to both charges, and threw
himself on 'the mercy of the. Court. The prisoner
was sentenced to receive on board the Miranda
three dozen lashes, to be then committed to the
county gaol of Maidstone for six calendar mouths,
with hard labour during that period, and then to.
be dismissed from her Majesty's service with dis-
grace.
Lieutenant William Jones Walker, late of the
Dido, has taken up his commission and joined the
steam-ship Vesuvius at Sheerness.
Mr. Charles J. E. R. Archdeacon, Naval In-
strur3tor, has taken up his appointment and joined
the Cumberland at Sheerness.

Yesterday the two-company depot of the 26th
Cameronians was inspected at Chatham barracks
by Colonel H. Jervis, the commandant of the Pro-
visional Battalion,- previous to their dep'irture for
Walmer. The troops assembled in marching order,
and were minutely inspected by the commandant,
who expressed himself much satisfied with their
appearance. The depot will leave Chatham to•
-morrow morning, accompanied by Captain W. E.
Wallace, Captain H. C. Hardinge, Ensign W.
Mangin, Ensign G. P. Fawkes, and Ensign P. C.
Story.
Ihe depots of the 26th and 37th Regiments haVe
been ordered to move to Chatham, the former to
Walmer and the 37th to Chichester, it being the
intention of the War authorities to quarter the
depots of those regiments serving in China at Cha-
tham as soon as accommodation can he provided for
them at the Provisional Battalion. The troops be-
longing to the St. Helena Colonial Regiment, now
at Chatham, are also ordered to be held iu readi-
ness to join their head-quarters.
The following appointments were made at the Admi-
ralty yesterday afternoon :
Master—G. R. Morrison to the Melampus, for ser-
vice in the Argus, revenue cruiser.
Mate—B. W. Bax to the Cumberland ; H. C. Best
(acting) to ditto.
Midshipmeni—l. A. S. Kynnersley to the Cumber-
land ; A. F. Collier and Chas. S. Cardall to the Cordelia.
Naval Cadets—R. E. Stoplord, F. Edwards, and R.
H. Harris, to the Cordelia.

LORD PALMERSTON'S SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY ON REFORM.

(From the Economist.)
Parliamentary reform is a question 'which is
certain to be brought before this Parliament, and
it is a question which will perplex many statesmen
and divide probably more than one party. We
do not for a moment pretend to believe that at
present the country is conscious of any necessity
for organic changes, or feels much interest
in their discussion. The cry has been scarcely
heard at this general election ; the subject
has " been mentioned in a few electioneering
addresses and on a few hustings only. But
we must not forget that the Government which was
in power when the war broke out, and of which
many of. the present Ministers were members, had
promised and prepared a Reform Bill ; and Lord
John Russell considered himself in honour bound
to bring. it forward, and was only with the
utmost difficulty persuaded to postpone it during
the absorbing exigencies of the war ; and that if
the existing Government does not introduce the
subject voluntarily, Lord John is sure to force it
on the attention of Parliament. We do not expect
any action on the question this year—the broken
session will be reason enough for its postponement ;
but the year 1858 must inevitably see it broached,
to say the lest, and the discussion will form one of
those difficulties in Lord Palmerston's path to
which we hitve above referred: For it cannot be.
denied that the Liberal party are by no means
consentaneous in their views of the mature and
extent of the reform measure which is needed and
would be safe ; and it is not improbable that the
Conservatives may start an opposition reform pro-
gramme of their own.
We have no intention of entering upon the ques-
tion till it comes regularly before the public. No man
in his senses can doubt that many improvements
on the existing representative system can be con-
ceived and might be introduced ; but no one who
looks to the past in a philosophic temper will feel
unduly confident as to what the practical effect of
the various provisions of a new Reform Bill might
turn out to be. Old predictions have not been se
closely verified that we should be eager in hazard-
ing- new ones. Former hopes have met with too
signal disappointment for dispassionate observers
to be very ouguine for the future. One satisfac-
tory result, however, has been elicited by the ge-
neral election which has just terminated. Our
present system, with all its manifest defects and
undeniable anomalies, doges enable the country to
express its opinion clearly aid forcibly whenever it
has an opinion.. No eltctioneierieg orgauisa,ion,
however complete—no personal or property influ-
ence, however strong or however unsparingly ex-
ercised, will suffice to gag or distort the popular
sentiment when general and well defined. In few
elections have men be- n seated or unseated so
ostensibly and directly in const queue° of their votes
and doctrines as in this of 1857. The country may
not have been very wise in its judgment, or very
profound in its foresight ; but at 'any rate it has
done what it wished, said what it meant, and car-
ried the candidates tit preferred.
Another consideration, far too wide and impor-
tant to be developed here at any length, is stillworth
throwing out for the country to ruminate upon at
leisure. The prevalent notion among nearly all who
contemplate a new Reform Bill is to transfelrar the
elective franchise from small constituencies to_e go
ones—from Caine and Westbury, for eampol
Birkenhead and Chelsea. Have t osex wh 1
forward to such a change reflected on the
inevitable
impoverishment of the Souse of
he o mmoun ss t fore
offi-
cialk lie
and Ministerial purposes w ic
hconsequence ? Have they
ration of the analogous 100 to the past opt?i-
changes which have already
We must make ourselves clearly
taken place ? By
using the word " impoverish-
understood.
ment" we do not design any the slightest dispa-
ragement to the character_ or capacity of the men
habitually selected by
large borough constituencies.
But such constituencies naturally and rationally,
enough
prefer to send up to Parliament fellow-
citizens whom they know and respect, who have
shown their value by long years of local service—
who have won honour and esteem by' a life of acti-
vity, enterprise, and beneficence. It' they do not
choose such men, they choose public characters of
eminence—men who have won their spurs in past
campaigns, and deserved well of their country from
their youth upwards. All these will, therefore,
necessarily be men who have reached or passed
middle life—who cannot and do not wish to enter
on a new and laborious career—who will make ex-
cellent membersof Parliament, as far as good votes,
sound judgment, and reliable information are con-
cerned, but who cannot enter on the toils and
training of official life. But as long as our Minis-
ters are chosen exclusively from among members of
Parliament, so long shall we want young men of
talent and promise—a reasonable infusion of such
at least—to be elected, who can embrace states:
manship as a profession, who are enterprising and
energetic enough to encounter its toils and its
chances, and who have time enough before them to