The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-30 00:00:00

THE CAPTURR OF DELHI.

The French journals generally admit that the
news from India is on the whole favourable to
English rule, and that it is an earnest of victory.
The Debats regards the capture of Delhi as a mat
er of great importance. It remarks :
" Without being the end of the insurrection, it is
without doubt the most serious reverse which the
insurgents have yet met, and for the English the
success is of immense importance. It surpasses the
most sanguine expectations that were entertained
in England, where people did not venture to hope
that the news could be brought by this mail. The
general opinion was that the assault could not be at-
tempted a the arrival of reinforcements from Europe
That Delhi should have been taken by the small force
before it is the very best news that could have happened.
Setting aside the material and positive result, the moral
effect which will be produced by thin event upon the
mind of the native population is of inestimable value."
As a contrast to this, the Russian journal, Le
Word, states that :
"Thu English troops at Delhi are in a more difficul!
position than they were before the assault. They are in
their turn besieged by the sepoys who have establishe
themselves in a fortified po,ition six miles from Delhi,
after having cut off all communication between that
place and the other great military posts. We remarked
some time ago (continues the Russo-Belgian journal)
that the military movements of the Hindoos display a
system of tactics which would do honour to the be t
European generals."
In reference to this statement, however, it may
be remarked that the Marseilles despatch which
represented the English troops as surrounded by
sepoys, and cut off from provisions, was quite er-
roneous, whether from accident or intention is not
known.

The Ost-Deutsche Post thus speaks of the great
occurrence of the day :

" The fall of Delhi is one of those events the cons,-
quencee of which are felt from one extremity of the
earth to the other. Already had the open and secret
enemies of England made signs unto each other.
The Yankee flattered himself that one of the princpal
sources of the power of Great Britain was lost to her for
ever, and some of the leading organs of the press of
a country which lies nearer to England than America
began to speculate on the approaching decline of Great
Britain ; but now they have suddenly received
the astounding news that a small body of British
troops has taken a city defended by 100,000 fanatic,
in one-sixth of the time which the forces of four nation,
spent in besieging the Crimean fortress.
" Where are now those political soothsayers, who saw
on the soil of India a repetition of the Aencrican war of
independence, and foretold that the issue of the struggle
would be the same I The seat of the military insurrec-
tion is in the hands of England. The greater part of
the mutinous army was collected in Delhi, and proved
powerless, and what has England now to fear from a
few regiments, scattered here and there, without
resources, without leaders, without a definite object
An danger for England is pa,t I We do not speak of
any danger to which she was exposed on the soil of
Asia, but of the danger to which she was of being
undervalued in Europe. The fall of Delhi has saved
Europe from more than one perilous experiment, which
would have been tried if the whole strength of England
had long been absorbed by India. The existing state of
things in Europe has been secured on the banks of the
Jurnna. There are now again five Great Powers, and
it appears to us that the taking of Delhi is the most
trenquillieing news which has been made known to the
world since the termination of the Russian war."

BA IL WA Y INTEL GIGENOE.

EAST INDIAN RAILWAY COMPANY.

The 221 half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors
of the above railway was hell at the London Tavern
yesterday, Mr. R. W. Crawford; M.P., chairman of the
board of directors, in the chair. The attendance was
very numerous.

The report, which has already been published, having
been read,

The CHAIRMAN said it was a matter of deep regret to
the directors that the progress of the works bad been
ieterrupted by the outbreak in India". It was, however,
a source of satisfaction tbat the injury to the rail way
would not be so great as might have been expected from
tne serious and extensive character of the mutiny. Many
of the company's officers had fallen in the struggle, but
but as yet a corr, ct return had not been obtained from
India of the killed, wounded, or missing. At Delhi, Mr.
Taylor, their engineer, and Mr. Ben, an inspector, were
killed ; at Cawnpnre, five officers of the engineering de
pertinent, and at Allahabad, Mr. Hodson, the locernotive
superintendent. All the servants of the company iral
shown the mutineers a bold front, and too much praise
could not be given to them for the exertions they had male
and the dangers they had run to protect the property of the
company. It was intended to ask the meeting to pass
a vote upon this subject, and to specify in it the names
of Messrs. Boyle, Kelly, Whitmore, and others who
successfully encountered the rebels at Arrah and else-
where, and who were warmly complimented for their
'bravery, in a letter which the directors received from
the East India Board yesterday. (Cheers,) The injury
done to the work of the company bad been greatly
exaggerated. For the outbreak occurred just before the
commencement of the rainy season, and that circumstance
to some extent prevented the mutineers doing any con-
siderable injury to the works. It was only the stations
they had succeeded in destroying ; the line itself was
little injured, and the last mail brought them intelligence
that a locomotive with four carriages had recently pas-ed
over forty-four miles of the rouse northward of
Aliaha-
bad. As regarded the presons position of the undertak-
ing and the guarantee of the East India Company, the
directors saw no reason to retract the high opinion they
had already expressed of the value of the enterpris,e.
There could be no doubt that the boll of the East Indi
Company upon India was now greater than ever ;
Nothing could permanently shake its strength,
while, as for thew guarantee, its solidity was be-
yond all question. Recent events in India could not
have disturbed it, nor could the company, orTarliament
attempt to interfere with it without striking such a
blow at public credit as would most likely tend to knock
down consols to sixty. (Hear, hear.) So much, then,
for the security of the guarantee. As for the value of
the railway itself, it could be measured by past
experience. Perhaps it was the cheapest work in the
world—certainly it was amongst the cheapest—while al
to the cost of construction, it was e-timated that the
entire outlay from Calcutta to Delhi would be about
10,000/. per mile. At that cost there could be ne
doubt that the traffic would yield considerably over 5
per cent. After announcing that Sir Macdonal
Stephenson was about to retire from the office of
managing director, the chairman concluded by moving
the adoption of the report.
A brief discussion ensued, in the course of which the
CHAIRMAN stated that the East India Company hold
70,0001. of the company's money, and although the direc-
tors could not say positively thatthere was no prospect of
an immediate call, they should resist any attempt of the
East India Company to raise more money at present on
the stock of this company. The original estimate of the
aesncteirretailnineed
twhaast
tlhse,2c9osst,Owoooa/ bld ut itaxweeaesd nlolwrafctllefaaarlay.
The line must be completed to. Delhi before there could
be any division of profits beyond five per cent.
The report was then adopted, after which the two
following resolutions were unanimously agreed to ;--
"That tbis meeting desires to record its high sense of
the conduct of the company's staff during the recent die.
turbances in India, and to express its warm and heart-
felt sympathy with the friends of those gentlemen who
have been prematurely cut off in the midst of a prosper-
ous and honourable career."

"That the boar,: of directors be requested to commu-
nicate to the staff generally the thanks of this meeting
for their services, and most especially to Mr. Boyle and
the other officers who took part i❑ the gallant and un-
paralleled defence at Arrah."
The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman and directors.

It is rumoured in well-informed circles, that the Lori-
ship of the Admiralty vacant by the resignation of Sir
Maurice Berkeley Las been offered to Lord Clarence
Pa4et. Although we are unable to give any authentic
confirmation of this report, we think the appointment of
Lord Clarence not tl be at all improbabl,.. His former
services, while Secretary to the Board of Ordnance, have
given the nobly lord an official reputation of no inferior
order, while his naval achievements in various parts of
the world, including. latterly both the Baltic and the
Black Sea, and the part he has taken in naval affairs
when under discussion in the House of Commons, point
to him as one peculiarly qualified for the vacant pest.
—Post.
A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon, at
the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury,
in Downing-street. It was attended by Lord Palmer-
ston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, Earl of
Harrowby, Sir George Grey, Earl of Clarendon, Mr.
Secretary Labouchere, the Right Hen. Vernon Smitb,
Lord Stanley of Alderley, and the Right Hon. M. T.
Baines.

::.:L•i ~ ~ "J~ti~3

LYCEUM THEATRE.

_.,:,

BaHe's new opera, entitled " The Rose of Castillo,"
was produced here last night, and met with the most
prompt success. The incidents of the plot are
already familiar through the well-known romance 'of
Dumas and the "Muleteer of Toledo," which was founded
upon it, and produced some time since with so much
access at the Princess's Theatre, It may serve to re-
crash the memory, and lead to a more perfect under
tanding of the new opera, if we briefly sketch the prin..
.ipal incilents :—Elvira (Miss Louisa Pyne), a poor con-
vent novice, was chosen by her uncle, the King of Leon,
is successor to his throne. The King of Castile there-
mon made a formal demand of the hand of the
Queen on behalf of his brother, the infant Don Se-
Bastian. The Don, adopting an assumed name,
,ecretly resolves to see his future bride, and judge
Fur himself how far her appearance will accord with
lig taste, Now, as no female of spirit, and eve'
dally a queen, could brook such an inquisition with
,inpunity and without retort, Elvira also determines to
iut on a disguise, and to have a private glimpse of her
ntended hu:nband. She bad learned that the Don was

travelling under the name of Manuel, and in the disguise
4 a muleteer. Accompanied by her confidante, Donna
Carmen (Miss Susan Pyne), she assumes the garb of a
.4imple peasant girl, her attendant being a Corydon.
Pbey arrive at the courtyard of a Spanish posada, where
peasants and mountaineers, with guitars and mandolines
Ind castanottes, are regaling and enjoying themselves is
the genuine operatic fashion. Mine host Pablo (ifr.
Wel worth) invites his pretty guest to the dinner
just served, and is about to take payment for the
repast by a salute on the peasant girl's cheek.
At this moment a muleteer arrives, protects the
fair one from insult, drives off the offender,
makes love to Elvira, ignorant of her station, who pro'
raises to be his bride. Don Pedro (Mr. Weiss), Don Sal'
hurst (Mr. St. Albyn), and Don Florio (Mr. Honey).
three courtiers and conspirators from the court, have
tracked the Queen on her travels, discover her or fanel
that they have discovered her in the person of the
oeasant girl, and ultimately induce her to accompany
them to the Leon, in preference to going, as she bad
,rornised, with the muleteer. Arrived in the palace,
Don Pedro wishes to obtain the hand of the Queen, and,
failing in his object, compels her to marry the muleteer,
with whom he had seen her when disguised as a peasant
girl, hoping by this means that a mesalliance of
hat kind would lead her to abdicate the throne, when
he would succeed. The marriage takes place, and poi
Pedro calls upon the Queen to give in her abdication to
her assembled nobles. This she refuses to do ; Manuel
-nters, proclaims himself King of Castille, and the now
4pirators crave and obtain pardon from the Queen.
So far as the music is concerned, the " Rose of Coo'
'ills" will bear comparison with any of the previous CO'rn
aositions of Mr. Balfe. Harrison sings a dashing bra'
vura song of the muleteer, just such a one as he is s?,
thoroughly at home i o ; it is, "I am a simple muleteer,
and its burden, " clic clac," is improved by the crack of
the muleteer's whip. It was sung with spirit and en'
cored. Weiss has a good bass song in this part, "Though
rortune darkly o'er me lowers." A ballad, "The Can'
vent Cell," sung by Elvira in the throne room, is e
4imple flowing melody. The words are so much better
' than the ordinary run of operatic songs that no apology
viii be needed for giving them.
"Of girlhood's happy days I dream,
My home the house of prayer,
As in the bosom of a stream,
Seemed heaven reflected there.
In regal halls, where oft I sigh,
Fond memories with me dwell
Of many a blissful hour gone by,
Passed in my convent celL
" Oh l call it not a solitude,
Where silence reigns profound ;
With placid smiles the sisterhood,
Keep angel watch around.
The vesper hymning day to rest,
To wake with matin bell •
Oh ! peace no home has, like the heart.
That sleeps in convent cell."
The last act is a scene in the Queen's oratory in the
palace. Donna Carmen, droll and playful, sings of orb
"Papa, he's sure to disobey,
And should mamma tell this ;
He hides the rod or runs away,
Till they call back to kiss.
And though he only begs his keep,
When cares our thoughts employ;
The little wretch won't go to sleep—
Oh, love's a naughty boy."
The house was crowded to the ceiling, and the aisPl
bestowed upon Mr. A. Mellon, musical director at thei
Lyceum, when he took his place in the orchestra, 6he° de,
at once that the audience had assembled with a fu"
termination to be pleased. Rarely, indeed, has eati'fo. de.
Lion more uuequivoo 1 and more unanimous been
pressed. From the overture to the end, every piece V'
'
ph
roonvoatr;edandw intoh
leusris mtihsatankseia.bl,e,
enmcoarneifse,s,,tatwtin sof
f threegiP:
of the evening. At the end of each act Miss Louis*
Pyne and Mr. Harrison were called before the foot-
lights
; and
house,then,
Mr. B
in
aife, obediencethe composer,to e Summons
ap
pfaraormedt ut:
whole
receive the hearty felicitations of his admirers.
000 r
of them uproarious, were among the significant incide?t

thethelir,
The ancient glolifesmoinf
revived at this theatre last night, when a new opera "J
Mr. Balfe, entitled " The Rose or Castillo," was P:.
Be3o.)hemian Girl" Nve,r:
&iced with a success as groat as was probably ev,,,,-rr
achieved by the composer of the first-named popo'"0
work. The event was doub'y interesting to adal!qr,
of English music, since, in addition to the auf."'llid'i
charm of novelty, there was the credit alres
for
attached to to the Pyne and Harrison managements • of
which the vary complete and admirable perforinaneor,
Auber's "Crown Diamonds" had already won the fa/uso
able consideration of amateurs. The first original, Sea
Presented under this directorate was naturally of
forward to with anxiety, as a more satisfactory '""the
its capabilities than could possibly be obtained fr°lllstife
revival of any foreign adaptation, or indeed, of any °ajar,
production with which the public was previously fam the
The result left no disappointment ; on the contra;%ers
expectations raised by the " Crown Diamond* "
more than realised by the " Rose of Castille."

(From the Morning Post.) 1.1;n for
Had proofs been wanting that we have a pa.--
English opera, the events of last evening would b!on
afforded them. We do not believe that the Prodlictibo
any new foreign work whatever would have broegoi
such a house, or with equal merit have excited ecine
enthusiasm. A larger or more kindly-disposed audie"
was perhaps never assembled in a theatre. not
Mr. Balfe is indeed a very great favourite, and, Prat
from the cause of national opera, which he in some
represents, etijoys a vast amount of personal popularl:
Mr. Balfe's music is rarely deficient in fancy, gri,50.0
point, or spirit, and these qualities were never Per ;0
more strikingly exhibited by him than in the °,ela
under notice, entitled the "Rose of Castillo," And vo."
was performed fur the first time last evening.