The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-25 00:00:00

THE FALL OF CAWNPORE.

Our hope is strong that the report of the fall of
Cawnpore, in the Telegraphic Message received by
Government, via Cagliari, is utterly groundless.
The statement in the message is as follows ;—" The
news given in the Bombay Times of the 14th July,
by the last mail, respecting the taking of Cawnpore
by the rebels, and the massacre of the Europeans
there, is confirmed." On referring to the Bombay
Times of the 14th of July, we find no mention
whatever of the taking of Cavenpoi'e by the rebels,
or of the slaughter of the Europeans there. We
find, indeed, an account of the murder of 130
fugitives from Futteyghur—men, women, and
children—all of them non-military—by Nona Sahib,
of Bhitore, which is said to have taken place on
the parade ground at Cawnpore ; but we know that
the parade . ground and the greater part of the
Cantonments were in the possession of the muti-
neers. Sir H. Wheeler, with the Europeans,
had found refuge in some barrack or field fort.
The account of the massacre of the Futteyghur
fugitives appeared in the Englishman of 29th
.of June ; and the story is there spoken of as a
"rumour," which was current at Allahabad on
the 23d. The Phoenix, of the 30th of June, at-
tributes the report to a Gomashta who left Cawn-
pore on the 18th, and who is said to have stated
that at the time of his departure, " Sir Hugh
Wheeler was not only holding his ground, but would
probably continue to do so." The Phoenix of the
30th also gives, as news received by Government
the previous evening,—" Allahabad, June 28.
Intelligence from Cawnpore that Sir H. Wheeler
holds out, and moves out frequently to attack."
Since, therefore, the Bombay Times of the 14th of
July, which is referred to as authority for the tak-
ing of Cawnpore by the rebels, says nothing what-
ever of such a capture, we may fairly presume that
the story is nothing more than a blunder, originat-
ing in the stupidity of " Consul Craig," who signs
the Telegraph Message. It is consoling to find
that there is no better ground for the report of the
massacre of the Europeans who had found an
asylum iu the entrenchment at Cawnpore defended
by Sir. H. Wheeler
.' • and it is scarcely less matter
of congratulation that we have reason to hope that
that gallant soldier has been spared to fight his
country's battles.
The general aspect clf affairs in Rohilcund and
Oude—as we attempted to delineate it yesterday—
is not, however, materially altered by this gleam of
hope, It still remains true that 1,500 of the troops
intercepted in their way to China, which had ar-
rived at Calcutta, and 300 more which were ex-
pected there, were all the additional European rein-
forcements that our countrymen waging the unequal
contest in the insurgent districts could expect for
several months. For months to come the heroic
band will be left to the reiterated attacks of
an enemy who far outnumbers them, and to the more
insidious but equally fatal attacks of disease. In-
domitable though their spirits be, they may, one
after another, be swept away, as fragments of rock
are by the ceaseless sapping of the tide. Such a
prospect might be expected to move the most callous'
and indolent to exertion, but it seems to have no
effect upon Lord Palmerston. When asked yester-
day, by Mr. Griffith, whether the Pacha of Egypt
had consented to the passage of troops across the
Isthmus of Suez, Lord Palmerston replied that no
communication with the Pacha of Egypt has taken
place on the subject. Lord Palmerston volunteered
the additional observation that the crossing of the
Isthmus during the Crimean war had been " at-
tendedwith much inconvenience and expense." And
this his lordship deems conclusive. Every day that
the contest in India is protracted threatens to allow
anarchy to spread wider, and strike deeper root.
Every day unnecessarily wasted in the transmission
of troops to India adds to the perils of from 15,000
to 20,000 English soldiers, with a number of civi-
lians, women, and children. Yet the Premier of
England—the spoiled child of the English people
—when urged to accelerate the despatch of rein-
forcements to India, thinks it a sufficient excuse
for remaining idle, that to give himself any addi-
tional trouble in the matter would be "attended
with much inconvenience and expense I" And a
number of gentlemen who call themselves the
Representatives of the people of England have
listened to this heartless speech without expressing
—we do not say indignation, but even—sur-
prise. Unless the public and the press bestir
themselves, the scandalous mismanagement of the
Crimea will be re-enacted in India, with deeper
disgrace to the character of the English Govern-
ment and with more lasting injury to the interests
of the English nation. We believe that there is
not a family in the country that has not friends
and relations in India. Will they all stand tamely
by and see the murdered left tma,venged, and the
survivors left to perish for want of timely aid, be-
cause Ministers and the House of Commons, who
can find ample funds to throw away on the inno-
cent hobbies of a Prince Consort, shrinic from
incurring considerab!e expense and inconvenience
to eave the li' of some of England's best and
bravest ?—Daily :News.

_RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

EASTERN UNION.

The report of t►he directors of this company for
the half-year ending June 30 states that the rec iptS
amounted to 42,9251., and for the corresponding
period of 1856 to 41,2191., showing an increase of
1,0761. The debenture interest, rents, and other
preferential charges fon the half-year amount to
38,660/. Deducting these from the income receiv-
able from the joint traffic account there will remain
4,265/. To this is added 1,2501., the balance from
last account, and 646/., rents and other receipts,
making a total of 6,1611. This sum will admit of
dividends for the last half-year, at the rate of 30s.
per cent. per annum upon the like ambunt of B
stock, leaving a small balance to the credit of next
account. The directors are taking the necessary
steps for the issue of the 5 per cent. guaranteed
stock sanctioned on the 17th ult.