The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 144

70 hhds. Allsopp's at Rs. 65 per hhd.
100 „ garclay, Perkins, and Co. at Rs. 50 per „
80 „ Combe, Delafield, and Co. at Rs. 45 per ~
SPIRITS.—The only change is in Brandy, which has
advanced about 2 annas per gallon. Sales have had
effect at Rs. 1 14 0 and Rs. 2 0 0 respectively.

proved, merely because his attempted reforms did not
fall in with the views of the Praetorian bands of the
State, whose insolence and pOwer required a check ?
If Gwalior is formally attached to the British dominion
after this war, or if it be so now, I think it can be de-
fended. Why did not the Blume and the Raja pro-
ceed to meet the Governor-General, as was pro-
mised—why were the troops advanced to fight—why
did the Ranee in Dunbar openly encourage for days
previous to the fight the spirit of her sirdars-4-if peace
was her object ? I cannot think that it was. She dis-
patched a confidential agent to the Governor-General
as he advanced, who professed peace to him, and sent
her messages to fight. If she and her advisers had de-
sired peace, she would have met the Governor-General.
As it was, Baboo Setooha's visit. was only intended
to ascertain whether we were in earnest ; and he found
that we were, and wrote instructions accordingly. If it
be urged that Lord Ellenborough is a fighting character,
and will have war, in this instance he does not stand
alone. This advance has been contemplated for the last
six months, and was agreed on in council ; the army
was assembled ; and though no proclamation was made,
yet the Gwalior State was fully informed of the conse-
quences which would follow a refusal of the terms which
were demanded. Either we are rulers of India or we
are not. If we occupy the place of the Emperor of
Delhi and the Peishwah, we have a right to make our
own terms for the security of our dominions to States
which were their vassals, and are therefore ours. We
have no right to dictate at Lahore or in Nepaul, but we
have at Gwalior ; and to have our authority cavilled at
and evaded when exercise of it became inevitable would
render us contemptible. lam not one of those who halloo
Lord Ellenborough on to conquest. I think in this mat-
ter he had no alternative ; and if the succession had been
refused by the supreme Government, he would only
have acted rightly, and asserted rights which England,
no doubt, possesses ; but he was not prepared then,
and since then provocation has increased. We have yet
much to learn, and how the possession of Gwalior will
be managed. Are we virtually to rule there, or are we
merely to hold the sword ? I protest against the latter
as mischievous, and have done so before, perhaps nsque ad
nauseam. The Calcutta papers facetiously have it that
Lord Ellenborough pursues a " long sword, morocco
bridle, whack-row-de-dow" kind of policy; and certainly
it will ample room to such persons to say that he
does, seeing that he went into the thick of the fight,
where bullets were flying thick as hail. I think he might
have avoided this ; it has an unpleasant look. It is all
very well for people to fight who are paid to do so, and
whose duty it is therefore to do so. Not so the Gover-
nor-General of India. His office is one of peace and
diplomacy, and a stray shot might have produced not
only a very bad moral effect, but a great deal of incon-
venience as regards public matters. This is probably
the last time his Lordship will have occasion to join in
an affair of the kind ; but it would be as well that it
were signified to him that the field of battle is not his
place. It is fair only to say that he was induced to retire
after some time, and that he is said to have distributed
money to wounded men, as well as oranges, both of which
will be gratefully remembered.
As yet there is no official account of the action, and
indeed private ones do riot abound. It appears to have
been confined to the storming of several well-served
batteries loaded with grape, which is about as destruc-
tive a service as can well be imagined upon troops whose
close formation renders heavy loss inevitable. There
were three actions on the 29th, and there is no doubt, in
this simultaneous attack of three different bodies and
positions, the enemy's future operations will be distracted
and paralyzed. We may, however, hear of another en-
gagement, if any Sirdar has the heart to rally a force.
I do not think it. The Mahrattas are not like Belo-
chees—willing to fight for their country. All the troops
at Gwalior are mere mercenaries, having no interest in
the land, except for their pay. The Durbar having
yielded, as I will presume must be the case, the army will
yield also, or break up into small parties, which will be
beaten in detail. What appears of the Governor-Gene-
ral's action is this—that on the 29th of December, after
the Quartermaster-General's party had been fired on,
the army advanced towards that of Gwalior, which was
strongly posted in an intrenched position, It consisted
of 56 guns, well posted and served, 14 battalions of regu-
lar infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and some irregulars. Our
own numbers are not detailed as yet, but the brunt
of the fight fell upon her Majesty's 39th and 40th,
the Bengal 2d Grenadiers, and the 16th, and other
corps, which were roughly handled. 12,000 yards of
open plain, covered only with low green corn, had to be
passed before the batteries could be carried ; and the
storm of grape and shell was tremendous. Nothing
daunted, however, and led on most gallantly by Gene-
ral Valiant, the batteries were stormed, the Artillery-
men serving their guns to the last, and falling by the
bayonet around them. The batteries forced, the other
troops fled, and were pursued by the Gwalior contingent
with some effect. The column of General Littler, on
the right, had a similar reception with similar results,
and the field was won. The grand strength of the
Mahrattas lay in their guns, which have long been
known as a fine park, in excellent order. As in the
battle of Mehidpoor, where Holkar lost his park, and
the battery of 40 pieces of cannon was stormed and car-
ried by the bayonet alone, so in this instance the bayo-
net seems to have done the work, and the action not to
have yielded in a display:of bull-dog courage to those of
Meanee and Dubber, while the loss appears more severe.
The Royal regiments have suffered severely. Of the 40th,
17 were killed, 171 wounded, with 8 officers; the Grena-
diers, 14 killed; the 16th,120 killed and wounded; Gene-
ral Littler's force, 300 killed and wounded: in all some
800 men. The enemy's loss said to be upwards of 2,000.
That fine old veteran, Gen. Churchill, mortally wounded.
died in the night; Captain Somerset, badly wounded in
both legs; Colonel Sanders, Military Secretary to the
Governor-General, shot through the heart; Major Stop-
ford, Captain Coddington, Lieutenant and Adjutant
Nelson, of her Majesty's 40th, badly, and four other
officers of the same corps, slightly, wounded. Other
corps lost from 80 to 100 men each, and a proportion of
officers. Besides those I have mentioned of the 39th,
Major Bray, Lieutenants Gray, Munro, and Colville,
are stated to be badly wounded; Captain Tinley, Lieu-
tenant Atkinson, Ensign; Scarlett and Bray, severely;
Captains Hubert and Campbell, Lieutenant Currie and
Ensign Newport, slightly. Cavalry--Major Crommelin
had his leg shot off; Lieutenant Friend, badly wounded.
There are also other casualties, and, till the official ac-
counts appear, private accounts give but uncertain par-
ticulars. General Valiant had a narrow escape, a ball,
which struck him on the breast, having been turned by a
small pistol; his horse was wounded in three places. His
daring courage is said to have been the adrnirbtion of all.
Of the engagements with the other parties of the Gwa-
lior force we have no proper accounts, but they were
all brilliant and successful; and as the Bhaee and the
Regent were with the Governor-General, I hope the
matter is at an end. It is well the English army
was so large and well appointed as it was, or the loss
would have been heavier, and the work more protracted.
The reserve was not engaged at all, and with fresh
troops and the whole army collected after the battles,
all resistance on the part of the Mahratta army would be
hopeless. It is not improbable that the 6,000 cavalry
may take to the country, and plunder )Mahratta fashion,
and this would afford some opportunities for General
Mackwell's Cavalry Brigade to distinguish themselves.
But there is little hope of this ; the Mahratta horse with
the Peishwa never stood for a fair fight, though num-
bering tens of thousands except at Ashtee, where Gokla
fell ; and all that can be expected of these Gwalior
bodies is, that they will either submit to be reformed
under European officers for the service of the State, or
that they will take to plunder, become Pindarees, and be
gradually hunted down. Of course, all are on the tiptoe
of expectation for the ,Governor-General's proclamation,
and some exposition of the course he intends to pursue.
I shall not hear in time to write any comments upon it,
which is somewhat provoking ; but I have no help for
it, and must reserve any speculations I may have to
make till next mail.
At the beginning of a new year, it is only proper
to look back at the events of the past, at the head of
which stands Sinde. You in England appear prepared
to take up this subject and make inquiries. Cui bono?
We have got the country, whether for better or for worse
we know not yet. It was a grave to our troops last year,
and we know not whether any returns in the shape of
treasure may be ever expected—certes, we have heard of
none yet. We hear of no trade either, and the splendid
castle-buildings of Sir A. Burnes, &c., on this subject,
have yet to be realised. That it will come to in time I
doubt not ; but at present there is none more than of
old, if so much. The troops are now more healthy, but
upwards of 2,000 sick have come, 'or are coming, to
Bombay, and the reliefs may present the same appear-
ance as the relieved next year, though may God will
otherwise ! The Anaeers are at Lussoor, in a sort of
imprisonment. Can they be restored ? It is an ugly
matter altogether. Besides Sinde, the state of Khytul
has lapsed to us. Gwalior may have been annexed, and
thus we are the richer in territory,
We have abstained, and justly, from interference in
the Punjaub, where as yet all is quiet. Gholab Singh
has gone to Jumboo with his army, and Heera Singh
rules with such peace as he can find. Truly, however,
he appears fitted for his work, and matters go on at a
kind of a rate. So long as the army is petted, and
money is lavished on it, it is quiet, but when this can be
done no longer what is Heera Singh to do? Treasure
cannot last for ever. Gholab Singh has helped himself
freely, and Heera Singh is obliged to pay heavily for
what support he gets. I don t think it will last—and
then? We mnst wait to see—it is quite useless to spe-
culate. Meanwhile, powder, shot, arms, &c., are being
stored up by the Sikhs, bodies of troops move into
threatening positions, and matters look more as if we
were to be the invaded rather than the invaders. But
Lord Ellenborough is wary, and justly so, and appears
in no humour to commit himself. The Sikhs, or some
of their hairbrained leaders, may be wad enough to
cross the river and do some mischief, and then I pre-
sume the scabbard will be flung away on both sides, and
we shall in the end have the Indus for our boundary; at
present, however, all is quiet.
Affghanistan is distracted, and Post Mahomed can do
little in the way of government or consolidation of his
power. Ali, there was a sad mistake in regard to him,
but now regret is useless. No attempt has been made
in Peshawur, nor can the fiery Akbar Khan rouse the
Mahomedan spirit for a crusade against the Sikhs.
Our traitorous friend, Ali Morad, in Sinde, appears
doubtful, and whispers are heard of putting an end to
his rule. It would not be surprising if it were done, and
few would pity him. Shere Mahomed is said sometimes
to be here, sometimes there, sometimes plotting with
Sawun Mul of Moulton, sometimes with the Murrees
and Brahooes ; he has done nothing, however, though
the miserable state of our armies was tempting. If he
could do nothing with them in their bad condition, it is
not likely he will attack them when the reinforcements
have reached them.
There has been some uneasiness regarding Nepaul, on ac-
count of some aggressions on our ally of Lucknow's terri
tory. Some troops were ordered nearer the Nepaul frontier,
and the matter appears for the present to have blown
over. The Gwalior news will not encourage the Ne

paulese at any rate, nor the Sikhs either; but again we
must wait and see.

The Lucknow King has at last discarded his disre-
putable minister, and set up an able and good man; it
may be fairly hoped with future benefit to his ill-
governed country, which is always in a troubled state.
Hyderabad (Nizam's) is quite tranquil, matters going on
as when I last wrote. No Minister has been appointed,
but the Vakeel Surajoodoula and Pershem Rambuksh
contrive to manage. Chundoo Lull has not regained
power, and it is said the Governor-General refused the
Nizam's wish to reinstat.q .him; so says the. report; at
least, I have no other autlwrity tO give you. So much
for politics.
If we look back for any great improvement or ad-
vance in civil government, we are perhaps unable to put
our fingers upon anything very specific, yet there is no
doubt that good has been done, and is desired, and that
what has been done will be followed up gradually,
but unostentatiously. It is a noble thing to know
that slavery is virtually extinct, and this so quietly
accomplished that you hardly know of it. No debates,
no party displays, no trumpeting forth of philanthropic
desires, but a short and simple Government notification,
which might have escaped notice in the public papers.
This has immortalized Lord Ellenborough's rule in India,
and will remain shining brightly when the glories of
Gwalior and Meeanee are dimmed by the lapse of years.
The State lotteries of Bengal have been abolished: minor
lotteries sprang up like mushrooms; they have been con-
ducted with unblushing dishonesty, became public
nuisances, and have been cut off, after a continuance of
a few months, by an act most concise, most stringent,
and mast admirable. The Government lottery at Madras
alone remains, and whether it will be suppressed or not
refrains to be seen.

EASTERN PRODUCE.
COTTON.—Rather an extensive business has been done
since our last, and prices of all descriptions save Oomra-
wuttee and Compta have still further given way. We
may now quote them as below :
Brcach and Surat, old, Rs. 84 to 85 per candy.
Dollera do. „ 84 ,t
Oomrawuttee new „ 95 19
Ditto old „ 80 If
Barsee

Compta do. „ 82 to 83 „
COFFEE.---There is none here at present, and prices
are entirely nominal.
OPIUM is somewhat higher than last month, the
price now being Rs. 1,200 at 1,210 per chest.
WooL.—Khorassan has improved in price, but all other
sorts are unchanged.
PEPPER.—We hear of purchases of Malabar Pepper,
at Rs, 49 per candy, and Cardamoms at Rs. 40 per
maund.
FREIGHTS have risen since our last, and may . now
be quoted for first class vessels at 3/. 10s. to London and
Liverpool, and ss. per ton less for second class ships.
There is no ship loading for the Clyde. Freight to
China is Rs. 17 per candy.
MONEY MARKET.—Money continues extremely plen-
tiful, but does not appear to induce speculative opera-
tions. The paper of the Two Four per Cent. Loans is
the same in value as last month, but that of the Five per
Cent, has still further advanced, as will be perceived
from the subjoined quotations :-
4 per cent. loan of 1832-33 Sa. Rs. 106+
do. of 1835-36 Co.'s „ 991 to 100

Deputy-magistrates have been appointed in various
places, and the new system works well, as relieving the
heads of departments from their load of work, hitherto
unsupportable. Look back in the last ten years, and
see the improvement in civil government, and the happy
effects of bringing native gentlemen into connexion with
the Government. Where is now the cry of ruin to our
power by their employment ? Has it not been
strenthened ? Will it not continue to be strengthened ?
I have no doubt of it. I look on the present and the past
enactments on this head only as an earnest of what is to
come, and thank God no power on earth can now say
that the interests of our native subjects are neglected, cr
that they are denied that participation in Government
which they deserved, and have earned.
The pay of the minor grades of police officers has been
increased, as if the Government had at last recognised
the fact which has stared them in the face for 50 years,
that police officers could not afford to work and be honest
upon mere pittances. English civil servants were dis-
honest till they were placed beyond the reach of tempta-
tion and corruption by proper salaries. Can we expect
anything more from, so called, dishonest natives ? I
care not how slowly increase is made in payment ; it is
enough to consider that the necessity for it has been re-
cognised, and is acted upon ; as time progresses, it will
become apparent, and as in judicial matters, it will work
its own cure. A fair trial has been demanded by num-
berless advocates of native improvement, and they will
see their aspirations, honest as they were hearty, an-
swered in time. Intolerant spirit, which existed in the
time of the Wellesley and Amherst Governments, was
checked in that of Bentinck, and is well nigh burnt out ;
at least, we hear of none, and may well conclude that it
is confined to a few, a Very few, of the older civilians,
whose minds cannot accommodate themselves to pro-
gression ; they are few, and there are enough of old ci-
vilians with open liberal minds to carry out the more
enlightened and liberal views of the English public.
No man that ever governed India has been more dis-
interested in regard to his patronage than Lord Ellen-
borough. Formerly, as if jealous of interference, the
whole detail of the Government of Bengal, &c., and the
whole of the patronage, were in the hands of the Go-
vernor-General. Now the Deputy-Governor of Bengal
has his own administration and patronage, and he of the
north-west provinces the same. The Governor-General
is merely the director of all—the grand point from which
all great questions emanate, more particularly political.
I look upon this as a vast improvement on what before
existed, and trust it will never be altered. It has left
the Governor-General both mental and personal liberty
to act on emergent occasions for the good of the State,
and has left to the direction of practical men matters of
civil local administration which they are more capable,
from long and intimate experience, of managing than
the Governor-General.
At no time have the finances of India been more
firm, and the resources of the country more buoyant.
Public and private securities are at a high
premium, inviting the further extension of capital
and employment in useful works. I have already
exceeded my space, or perhaps we could point out
much to be done. If civilisation is to be accomplished,
we must have the means, and those are extension of
communication, roads, canals, and railways. Why not?
Look at America. True, we are locally poor here in
comparison, and not locomotive; but when people, poor
or rich, can travel in safety faster than twelve or four-
teen miles a day, they will, and people who have never
been beyond their own villages and towns will see won-
ders in the capital. We shall have improvements in
time, something to save us from the present imputation,
true and just, of doing nothing for the convenience of
the country. Capital is superabundant in England. All
your capitalists have burnt their fingers in loans to
America and other States, why not at last try here, and
invest money under your own Government, and under
the management of your own countrymen? Why are
you tardy? What fear have you of insecurity? Send
out men to look at the country, and they will report
of its want of aid. It is but a month's journey, and they
can judge for themselves. If ever you will begin, the
Government will join you; the Government will not
begin of itself, and perhaps should not; above all, do
not delay; let it not be said of this enlightened age here-
after, that it hung back when the interests of this noble
land required her aid, science, and capital.
AN INDIAN OFFICER.

5 do. of 1841-42 „ „ 111 to 1111
EXCHANGE.—BiIIs on England at six months' sight
have been sold at Is. 111 d., at Is. Hid. during the
month, but the present rate for respectable drafts cannot
be quoted higher than ls. 114 d. to Is. 110.-30 days
bills are at Is. 10d. to Is. 101 d. Exchange on Calcutta
Rs. 1011 to 1031 at 60 days' sight ; on Madras Rs. 891
at 30 days' sight ; and on China Rs. 216 per 100 dolls.
BANKS.—Bombay Bank Shares are at 42 to 43 per
cent. premium, and those of the Bank of Western India
at 28 to 30 per cent.
PRICE OF BULLlON.—Sovereigns, each—Rs. 11 0 0
to 11 30. Bank Notes, per £ Rs. 10 80to 11 o.

THIRD REPORT from the SELECT
COMMITTEE on RAILWAYS.
The Select Committee appointed to consider whether
any and what new provisions ought to be introduced
into such Railway Bills as may come before this House
during the present or future sessions, for the advantage
of the public and the improvement of the railway system,
and likewise to consider whether and what changes
ought to be made in the Standing Orders relating to
Railways, and to report their opinion thereon to the
House; and who were empowered to report their opinion
from time-to time; and who were instructed that they
had power to consider of any arrangements advantageous
to the public with regard to existing Railway Companies
generally, to which, in the opinion of the Committee,
Parliament might justly give its sanction ;—Have fur-
ther examined into the matters to them referred, and
have agreed to the following Resolutions and Report :-
1. The Committee, in pursuance of the directions of
the House, have proceeded to consider several portions
of the subject of reference, and have agreed upon the
following Report, and upon the resolutions annexed to
it, embracing suggestions which have exclusive regard
to railways hereafter to be constructed.
2. From the number of Bills for the formation of new
lines now before Parliament; from the appearance of
manynew schemes likely to come under consideration in
the next session; from the greatly increased favour and
support which, as compared with the projects of former
years, these undertakings now receive from the owners
of landed property in the districts through which they
are to pass; from the reduced amounts of estimates of
cost, and the comparative certainty with which they can
be made; and from the improvement of trade and re-
dundance of capital in the country, combined with the
prevailing indispositiOn to run the risks which have ren-
dered some kinds of foreign investment so disastrous;
the Committee anticipate a very great extension of the
railway system within the next few years.
3. Independently of the formation of new Companies,
those already existing under Parliamentary sanction are
in many instances engaged, and in other instances likely
to be hereafter engaged, in seekingßills for the improve-
ment of their undertakings by means of an extension of
their powers in various forms.
4. It appears, therefore, to your Committee, that the
present moment, while Parliament still retains in its
own hands an entire and unimpaired discretion with re-
gard both to the incorporation of new companies and to
the enlargement of the powers of old ones, affords an
opportumity more favourable than any that can be ex-
pected hereafter to recur, for attaching beforehand to the
legislative sanction, which is soujht by these parties on their
own behalf, the conditions which may be deemed necessary
for the public good, and which may realise and apply such
conclusions as our experience of the railway s) stem up
to the present time may be deemed to have sufficiently
established.
5. It would, however, according to the judgment of
the Committee, be a narrow and unwise estimate of the
public interests in this matter, which should regard
them exclusively as opposed to, or even as distinct from,
those of the railway companies. It is manifestly of
great national importance to give countenance and aid
to the investment of capital in domestic improvements ;
and the very complaint of monopoly which is urged
against railway companies, is an indication and a measure
of the increased accommodation to the traffic of the
country which they have afforded, inasmuch as it has
not been so much by force of statutory enactments
granting to them special privileges, as by superior
cheapness, security, and rapidity of travelling, that their
command of the intercourse of their districts has
been acquired: and the Committee doubt whether the
establishment of railways in this country does not afford
a more remarkable instance than can be cited from any
analogous subject matter, of immense, and certain, and
almost uniform benefit to the public, combined with a
very moderate standard of average remuneration to the
projectors.
6. The Committee have been governed throughout
their consideration of the subject by the strongest con-
viction that no step should be taken by Parliament,
which would either induce so much as a reasonable sus-
picion of its good faith with regard to the integrity of
privileges already granted, and not shown to have been
abused, or which would prospectively discourage the
disposition now so actively in operation to extend the
railway system by the formation of new lines.
7. But there are considerations, to be drawn from
other sources, and justly applicable to this subject. Par-
ties who are now or hereafter to enter into the field of
railway adventure, unless they voluntarily compromise
the advantages of their position by unwise proceedings,
will profit largely by the costly experience of those who
have preceded them, and will lac able to make their cal-
culations with comparative certainty in many cases which
were formerly full of doubt and hazard. The risks of
ruinous losses-being thus greatly diminished, there is in
proportion less need of the prospect of a possibility of
extraordinary gains in order to supply adequate induce-
ment to projectors.
8. The rapid and regular incraase of the traffic of the
country in past years, and the undiminished vigour of
its productive euersies at the present moment, seem to