The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-31 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1857.

The nation is at length beginning to recover
from the shock sustained by the arrival of the
overland mail, and the confirmation of the sad
apprehensions entertained respecting the fate of
Cawnpore, with its garrison, and the numerous
fugitives who had taken refuge under what was
vainly supposed to be the sure protection of
General WHEELER. But terrible as was the intel-
ligence, it has only created an unbending resolu-
tion to maintain the honour of the British arms,
at any sacrifice, and to inflict exemplary punish-
ment on the bloodthirsty miscreants who had per-
petrated the most fearful aeries of atrocities recorded
in history. There can be no compromise—no
peaceful settlement of the question. There must
be ample retribution. The mutineers who have
imbrued their hands in the blood of their too in-
dulgent officers, as well as all who have partici-
pated in the horrible atrocities perpetrated on
non-combatants, women and children, fi,ght with
ropes about their necks. For them there can be
no mercy. They have themselves alone to blame
for this result. They erected the black flag, de-
liberately cut off the means of escape, and such
piratical conduct can only be adequately expiated
by the pirate's doom.

A heavy responsibility now devolves, not merely
on the Indian, but on the English Government.
Every nerve must be strained to the utmost, no
effort spared to render the second campaign deci-
sive. Every available English soldier should at
once be forwarded from the Cape, without refer-
ence to the wishes sr protests of the Governor.
Sir C. GREY must learn that be is the servant,
not the master of the Cabinet, and that he must
either obey the instructions forwarded to him, or
surrender his position into other hands. The Ger-
man pets have been maintained on full pay. They
should surely, with the local force, be sufficient to
maintain the tranquility of the colony, or else our
money has been expended for but little purpose.
At all events, 10,000 troops could and must be
spared. The Governor of Bombay has not merely
despatched a requisition, but has also sent the
means of transport. Should Sir C. GREY disre-
gard the request, more stringent measures must
be forthwith resorted to. Something more im-
portant is required than that British troops should
act as guards of hono4 to the Governor, or that
their expenditure should enhance the profits of
the shopkeepers at the Cape.
There are many troops, too, in the Mediterra-
nean, which might also be spared, and trans-
mitted by the overland route. Lard PALMERSTON
has virtually confessed that no obstacle would be
offered by the PACHA. Nor could the SULTAN,
with any consistency, refuse his permission. It
is very different from the case when the contest is
between nations, with both of whom the Power
required to grant facilities maintains friendly rela-
tions. There might be a breach of neutrality in
Ev civilisedr e bels
s,
such case, but is is quits different where muti-
neers,
very
and Sate should mur
afforddere sarietscoangsciesrtnanedce.,
in such matters, 'without hesitation or repugnance.
If means then be not speedily adopted to transmit
European soldiers across Suez, we shall consider
it to be soie:y attributable to the indecision and
negligence of our own Government, rather than
to any impediments created either by the SULTAN
or the PACIIA.
For such shortcomings ample
accounts must be rendered. ft is true that Par-
fiazient ba6 separated for a ilizet but that only

renders increased vigilance indispensable on the
part of the Government and of the public jour-
nalists. We are satisfied that the latter will do
their duty, and strive by every means in their
power to keep Ministers up to the mark.
The great arena of strife is situate within a
comparatively limited space. It is true that
there is great discontent in other quarters
throughout the North• Western Provinces and
Central India. Delhi, the stronghold of th,
rebels—the old capital of the Moguls—is on the
Jumna River, close to Meerut, Bareilye, and
other places that have attained an unhappy noto-
riety. There our troops maintain their ground,
but have as yet been unable to hazard an attack,
in consequence of the numerous detachments re.
quired to protect other districts. Agra—also on
the Jumna—is about 110 miles lower on tht
river. There a battle was fought with little more
than 500 men, a large proportion of which were
civilians, against 10,000 of the organised muti-
neers. At first the cause of truth and justice pre-
vailed. The rebels from Neemuch and Nusseer-
abad were driven at the point of the bayonet
from the villages where they had encamped, about
six miles from Agra. But, unfortunately, there
was no reserve, no means of following up the first
success—even the ammunition failed. They had,
consequently, eventually to retreat, with the
heavy loss, in proportion to their numbers, of 49
killed and 92 wounded. Their dating, however,
was not thrown away. It prevented the attack on
the fort which would otherwise have
taken place, and possibly a repetition of the
atrocities at C.twupole, bliftt licsm excited
the wrath of the nation against the miscreant
NENA. SAHIB.

Cawnpore is on the Ganges, about as far from
Agra as Agra is from Delhi. There the most fearful
incidents took place—the massacre in cold blood
of those who trusted in treacherous promises, and
the sale and subsequent ill treatment, such as we
cannot eipliin in these columns, of 240 English
females and children. The gallant HAVELOCK
has already recaptured the violated town, and wk
can scarcely doubt that the next mail will bring
the intelligence of a summary settlement with
NENA SAHIB.

Lucknow, the capital of Oude, is a compara-
tively short distance from Cawnpore, which is oil
the frontier, and there is every reason to hope
that reinforcements will arrive in sufficient time
to prevent it from falling into the hands of the
rebels.

On the whole, although the crisis is fosmiiable,
there is no reason_ to be discouraged. We hAve
already beard the worst, and we may easily be-
lieve that, according to our contemporary Punch,
we may shortly see the British Lion inflicting
complete vengeance on the cowardly Bengal Tiger,
that preys upon helpless women and innocent
children, and has not the courage to face an
enemy armed with equal strength and power.

The Red Sea Telegraph Company is an estab-
lished fact. The prospectus has been duly issued,
and will be found in another part of this
day's impression. The Board of Directors
are perfectly unexceptionable. Their names
are alone sufficient to afford the strongest
guarantee of its ultimate success. At
present they limit their operations to Alen, at
the mouth of the Red Sea. This may be
accomplished within a few months, simulta-
neously with the Mediterranean telegrap4 to
Alexandria. Already have the necessary con-
cessions been obtained from the Turkish and
Egyptian Government, so that not the slightest
delay can be anticipatad. Something even more
acceptable to anxious capitalists has also I.)4eu se-
cured, viz., the guarantee of the East India Com-
pany of a minimum annual revenue of 20,0001.
per annum, equivalent to 6 2.3 per cent, on
the required capit d from the date of the first
message received, together with the most positive
assurances of assistance and support. This guar-
antee will of course receive the sanction of
the InJian Board. Until that sanction is ob-
tained the directors pledge themselves that no
step shall be taken. But although it is s ttis-
factory to have "assurance made doubly sure"—
to knOw that under the most favourable circum-
stances there must be a remunerative return for
the inveAment3---we believe that it will be
a mere formal guarantee, which will never
be brought int) operation. The returns, which
may be inspected at the office, show that there is
every prospect of a large excess from the legiti-
mate and ordinary operations of the C )mpany.
When this is completed, as we hope and be-

lieve it will be within the present year,
India will virtually be brought within a week of
England. Bat it may, and ought, and must be
broUght within an hour. For this we have long
contended, and this is perfect'y practicable, nay
more, comparatively easy of attainment. The
extension of the lino toKurrachee is indispensable.
There it will be brought into connection with
the various lines throughout India. Of course the
present shareholders will have a priority, by means
whereof considerable premiums may be autici-

We shall not ask our readers to "lay down
their money for the glory of GOD and 5 per cent."
But we call upon capitalists to examine closely
and strictly the financial prospects of the concern,
which are, perhaps, more satisfactory than any
that have been tendered for public acceptance for
many years past. Should they be satisfied merely
in the £ S. D. point of view; we can assure
them that they will not have any `drawback
in the enjoyment of the profits. It is a truly
patriotic undertaking which will do more to ad-
vance the combined interests of England and of
India than any other that could be devised. Not
only will it yelieve the anxieties which so many
families must entertain for relatives and friends,
but it will enable us to economise our resource,
sending troops where they are most urgently re-
quired, and doing exactly what the exigencies of
the case demand, and nothing more.
It would be worth the ()Why ten tines told
to have had it in operation at the com-
mencement of the mutiny, and we fear that
there is no immediate prospect of its not be-
ing required for warlike purposes ; but even
if such were the case it would be a valuable
auxiliary to commercial afftirs—one worth far
more to the, nation than the ample dividends
which will be received by shareholders. The pro-
ject is in every respect worthy of support, and
that it will doubttois obtain from every true-
hearted Englishman every man' desirous of
ensuring the _integrity arid permanency of the
Anglo-Indian Empire.

Lord and Lady Normanby paned through Turin on
t';e 25:b in,t , on the their way to EnglAd. His Llrdebip
was hasti:y eummlned by t-1-graph in consequence of
the serious illness of one of his brothers, and is txpected
to return in about Fix weeks.

THE CONDEIEINED CONVICTS AT LIVERPOOL —Tbe
three o mdemeed convicts, the captain and his two
mate.', who were found gu'lty, at the late Liverpo
assists, of the murder of a poor half- flitted seaman,
named Rose, on board the Martha and Jane, of Sunder-
land, are to be 4 xieuted at Kirkdale, on next Saturday
week, the 12th proxim,. Metnorials to Sir. G, Grey, the
Secretary of State, are being eipfed, praying for a re-
mi-sion of the extreme seettnee 'in the case of the two
mates. 'The wretched men are kept in separate cel!e,
and, appear to entertain a hope that their live.; rlalty:to
givol.