The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-27 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1868.

The news from Abyssinia, which will to-day
circulate through the country, will cause one
general feeling of satisfaction and delight. For
the last few weeks some anxiety was felt for the
safety of the captives, and it was feared that their
friends might revenge their wrongs and yet come
too late to save their lives. Now, however, all
these gloomy forebodings have been set at nought,
and the brightest anticipations more than realised
by the intelligence from the seat of war. Seldom
has a General had more decisive and gratifying
intelligence to communicate than that which
Sir ROBERT NAPIER has just sent home.
The captives are rescued ; that is the most
important point to dwell upon, and the
people of this country will rejoice that the primary
object of the expedition has been attained. King
THEODORE is dead, and has paid with his life the
penalty of having insulted England, and perse-
cuted the unfortunate foreigners who were thrown
into his power by the force of circumstances. The
extraordinary character of this news is yet further
increased by the intimation that the British sus-
tained no loss of life, and there were only about
ten wounded in our array. It is strange to think
that when the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
speaking to the House on Thursday last on
the subject of this expedition, and men-
tioning that the affair would probably soon be
over, it was even then concluded in the most satis-
factory style possible. It appears that all the ar-
rangements were planned and carried out with the
most perfect precision, and they reflect the highest
honour upon Sir R. NAPIER. He evidently appre-
ciated the vast importance of using despatch in his
movements, and pressing on whenever he had fairly
got the start. Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE has re-
ceived two telegraphic despatches from the Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Abys3inian force, and the
various items of intelligence which they contain
succeed each other with startling rapidity, and
recall to mind the more brilliant and exciting
days of past history, rather than the
more tame doings of our prosaic times. On
Good Friday au engagement took place near Mag-
dala, between our troops and the army of THEO-
DORE, in which the latter was defeated with heavy
loss. During the two succeeding days THEODORE
sent into our camp every European that he had in
his power, both captives and employ6s. Sir R.
NAPIER demanded that THEODORE should surrender
himself, and gave him twenty-four hours to decile.
This telegram concludes by stating that the KING'S
troops are completely demoralised. The next
telegram also contains some astounding in-
telligence, for on Easter Monday Magdala
was taken by assault under cover of Arm-
strong steel-guns, eight-inch mortars, and
rocket battery. In this assault THEODORE was
killed, defending to the last, and our loss was small.
The ascent to the gates is said to have been most
formidable. THEODORE was greatly disheartened
in consequence of the severe losses he had sustained
on the tenth, and some of the chiefs had surren-
dered the most formidable position of Shilasse, and
many thousand fighting men had laid down their
arms. Notwithstaning these preliminary advan-
tages, it is evident that it was hard work to carry
the place, and such an achievement will enhance
the reputation of all who assisted in the great
work. THEODORE retired to Magdala with all who
remained faithful to him.
It seems a just retribution that he should have
met his fate there in the very place where he had so
long confined the unfortunate Europeans, and he
certainly affords a warning to all the contumacious
tyrants who may come after him. His conduct has
been cruel in the extreme, and it seems difficult to
account for his perversity except under the suppo-
sition that he was greatly incensed by various ru-
mours. At any rate we hope and believe that a
lesson has been given that will not likely be for-
gotten, and that in future the subjects
of our Sovereign may dwell in greater safety in
those barbarian lands now that the supremacy of
England has been asserted so completely and effec-
tually. It must be adMitted that THEODORE pos-
sessed some striking qualities ; he possessed great
determination, and died with a spirit worthy of a
better cause, and was doubtless a hero in the esti-
mation of the uncivilised people he ruled over. Had
he been able or willing to control his passions he
might, even with his opportunities, have effected a
great deal, but it is always most unwise and unsafe
to allow prejudice to attain so great a mastery over
the mind. We must bear in mind that Sir
ROBERT NAPIER and his forces did not fight their
hardest battle when they attacked THEODORE and
stormed Magdala. Their chief difficulty lay in
the nature of the country itself, and it was in over-
coming these obstacles that so much recognition is
due to our army, and so much credit belongs to its
General. The march of our troops from Annesley
Bay to Magdala is a trophy of military skill, and
will remain a striking record in the annals of his-
tory when the more immediate incidents of the
affair are forgotten. After the painful and weari-
some march was over there remained the dreadful
idea that THEODORE would remove the captives
and consume valuable time in making our
forces pursue him. This has happily been dis-
pelled, and the result the best thing that could have
taken place for all parties has taken place. We are
saved an awkward task in disposing of the ICING
by his exit from the scene of his vices and bis
struggles, and our work in Abyssinia is all the
sooner accomplished, as Sir 11.. NAPIER puts it.
" The army will return immediately." And why in-
deed should it remain ? Its mission has been nobly
fulfilled, its work effectively accomplished, and its
honours well won. All that we desired to do in
Abyssinia has been done, and those who wished for
some more lasting connection to be made between
England and that diataut spot must be diaappoiuted,

while those who have been amusing themselves by
declaring that an increased territory was an ulti-
mate object will be effectually answered by the
speedy return of our troops.
In looking at the matter, as it now stands, we
may remark that the brilliant and striking success
of our arms in Abyssinia furnishes a complete con-
tradiction to those who have been busy, throughout
the whole of the affair, in circulating unpleasant
hints, and declaring that the whole thing would be
a failure, and so on. The climate was against us,
the captives would never be rescued, the expense
would be enormous, the country did not care for
these outlandish wars being entered upon, and so
on. A more complete discomfiture has seldom been
met with than has befallen those croakers, and
it is well that it should be so ; another proof has
been afforded of the courage and constancy of our
forces, and, what is of equal importance, of the
skill and efficiency of our General. A more com-
plete and finished piece of work than this Abys-
sinian expedition it has seldom been our lot to wit-
ness, and it is not saying too much to affirm that it
could not have been Letter accomplished. This
gratifying intelligence comes happily for the Minis-
ters, who are just now rather roughly assailed, and
the rescue of the prisoners of ➢lagdala is a bril-
liant triumph for the Conservatives. This Abys-
sinian affair was in some respects the most vexa-
tious legacy left to the new Government when Lord
RUSSELL retired; the task of decision was an ardu-
ous one. The honour of the country was at stake
—English subjects were in peril—and yet there
were not wanting hints of the difficulties in a rescue,
and the expenses of the affair, joined to the extreme
doubtfulness of the issue so far as saving the pri-
soners was concerned. Lord STANLEY has carried
another triumph, and may well be congratulated
upon the success of his work. When the noble lord
announced his intention to the House of Commons
of proceeding to extremities in the event of THEO-
DORE refusing to liberate the captives he was met
with general approval, but there were not wanting
those who declared he was mistaken in his policy.
These may now recognise their error, and, although
it is impossible to control circumstances, and
events must be left to the doctrine of
chance, this Abyssinian Expedition may prove au
example for all statesmen to copy, and a lesson that
the timorous and hesitating may derive profit from.
We had unfortunately of late years been too much
in the habit of letting things alone, and the influ-
ence of England was materially affected thereby.
The past year or two has done much to retrace our
steps in this particular and retrieve our errors, and
the good work must be continued. The fact that
England has extended the majesty of her power to
the wilds of Abyssinia, and rescued with a strong
hand her captive subjects, will strike terror into
many a tyrant, and the effect upon our position
abroad cannot be overrated. It can no longer be said
that from mo tives of expediencyor ideas of compromise
we leave our fellow-countrymen to their fate ; and
this part of the affair must not be overlooked amid
the general rejoicing which the intelligence of
to-day will give rise to. Public opinion will ratify
the wisdom of those who, in the day of doubt,
chose the better part, and recognise that we have
them to thank for the brilliant success that has
attended our arms, and the happy exploit that has de.
livered our friends from a fate that was worse than
death.

The news which we published on Saturday from
Australia comes in startling and painful contrast to
all recent intelligence from our southern colonies.
The reception given by the colonists to the Duke of
EDINBURGH was unprecedented in its warmth and
its demonstrativeness. No pains were spared to
do him honour, while gold was lavished with a
readiness only possible in such an auriferous coun-
try. Melbourne especially distinguished itself by
the magnificence of its festivities and the splendour
of its preparations, but every colony was equally
cordial and equally prompt to bring its best to
greet the young sailor Prince. The enthu-
siasm everywhere manifested by the colonists
was the more remarkable, because Australia is
separated by so wide a space that it might reason-
ably have been supposed that the sentiment of per-
sonal loyalty would not be strongly developed, and
that, if the Prince received a mere courteous and
ceremonious welcome, it was all that could be
looked for. On the contrary, the Australians wel-
comed him as if he were a long absent and dearly-
loved monarch, and have thronged to greet him
from every quarter.:Business, and politics, and do-
mestic engagements have all been at a standstill as
the Prince passed from colony to colony. Even the
great political difficulty, which has for so long para-
lysed the people of Melbourne, was suspended by the
great occasion, and amity was for the nonce restored
between the members of the Council and of the
House of Assembly. The Duke of EDINBURGH,
we have good reason to believe, was much gratified
by the cordiality of his reception, and the ties be-
tween England and her far distant children were
materially strengthened by his visit. It is difficult
no doubt for us in the first shock and consternation
of learning the attempted assassination of the Duke
to realise adequately the horror and indignation
which must have filled the minds of the colonists,
who had been spending their time, their thoughts,
and their money so lavishly in the Prince's
cause. That his confidence should be thus
abused, and his pleasant and friendly inter-
course with them should be turned into an occasion
of danger and suffering, must have caused them the
greatest vexation and disappointment. We can
fancy the intense eagerness with which news of the
PRINCE'S health would be watched for by the popu-
lace, and the fervent rejoicing with which they
would learn that he was at last out of danger. The
wound was evidently a serious one, the ball having
entered the back and followed the course of the
ninth rib, traversing altogether a distance of-twelve
inches and a quarter. Most fortunately it did not
prove fatal, and the ball was extracted two days
afterwards by the surgeons of her MAJESTY'S ships
Challenger and Galatea. Since then his Royal
Highness seems to have progressed as favourably as
could be wished, since on the 28th March he was
able to go on board his ship, and it was thought
would be sufficiently recovered to return home the
week following. The name of the assassin is
O'FARELL, and he was fortunately captured on the
spot, not,however, before he had fired another shot,
severely wounding a gentleman near. The crime
was committed at a public pick-nic given in Sydney
harbour in aid of the Sailors' Home at Clontarf,
Port Jackson, and the cowardly nature of the at-
tack is shown by the Duke being shot in
the back. England and Australia may both
be thankful that the attempt was unsuccessful.
Had the shot proved fatal Australia would have
bitterly mourned so tragic an issue of her festivities,
while England, besides sympathising in the maternal
grief of her QUEEN, would have deeply regretted the
death of the frank and popular young sailor prince.
Happily that grief has been spared us. Our Royal
Family of late years has especially endeared itself
to the people by mixing freely among them. Its
members have laid aside the formality and exclu-
siveness which in the days of the GEORGES hedged
round the Court circles, and kept them aloof not
only from the intrusion, but from the sympathie

LATEST INTELL IGENCE.

CONCLUSION OF THE WAR IN
ABYSSINIA.