The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-15 00:00:00

INDIA.

The news of the famine is much the same. The reports
from the Central Provinces are more encouraging, but the
intelligence from the PunjAb grows decidedly worse. On
the whole there is no improvement in the general harvest
prospects. The Times of Indio. is assured that several
months must elapse before the famine•stricken districts can
get out of their trouble.

The papers brought by the overland mail were
anticipating the great battle in Affghanistan which has
already been announced by telegraph. It terminated in
a victory for Shere Ali, the reigning Ameer. These
victories, however, do not seem to count for much in
Affghanistan. The victor never will, and seldom can,
follow up his victory, and the vanquished, quickly raisir.g
another army, returns to the scratch after a short
interval. Abdul Rahman, the defeated opponent of
Shere Ali, is beset with treachery and defection, and has
just been overwhelmed by defeat. But he is a chief of
great activity and resolution, and we shall probably hear
of him again in the front before long. This internecine
conflict has prevented the interview between Shere Ali
and Sir John Lawrence, from which so much was reason-
ably expected; and the same cause must always retard
that important diplomatic work, the establishment of
friendly relations between India and Affghanistan.

A despatch from Cincinnati, dated Nov. 27,
says United States Commissioner Halliday rendered his
decision to-day in the case of John M. Pugh, Probate Judge
of Franklin County, accused of issuing fraudulent natu-
ralization papers. Judge Pugh has been bound in $5,000
to appear before the United States Circuit Court.
Vice-President Colfax has set the example in
going in for two great events at the same time, and he has
many bumble imitators, of whom Congressman Robert E.
Schenck is ono, who is going to be married before Con-
gress meets, and also intends to start a new paper at his
home at Dayton, Ohio, having quarrelled with the jour-
nal, the present Republican paper.

The New York Commercial Advertiser denies the
story that Mr. Thurlow Weed intends spending the
winter in Washington. Mr. Weed's health is so bad that
ho cannot leave the city, nor even engage in any business.
We can readily believe this, as, when he left Edwards'
Cambridge Hotel, Hanover-square, London, he was in
very delicate health. _ _

The papers which failed in suppressing Benjamin
Butler have taken to killing him, and stories of his dan-
gerous illness have been going the rounds. The Boston
Journal contradicts these rumours. "He was, it says,
out the other day attending to business, and with the ex-
ception of hoarseness, which prevents him from public
speaking, is in excellent health."

Congressman elect C. W. Willard, of Montpel-
lier, Vermont, is in Minnesota for the benefit of his health,
which is improving, and he expects to return home in a
short time.—William G. Shaw has been chosen city judge
at Burlington.—Major Henry Bronson, formerly of Rut-
land, and late Quartermaster of the 12th Regiment, has
been appointed general freight agent of the Union Pacific
Railroad, with headquarters at Omaha.
An eminent American physician says that the
Wall-street stock jobbers produce more lunatics than any
other class of people in the country.
The Right Rev. Henry C. Lay has been elected
Bishop of the new Protestant Episcopal Diocese of
Easton, 31d.
Pyrn, Bolingbroke, Chatham, and Bright are
said by Goldwin Smith to be the four great orators of
English history.
The Hon. S. Pendleton, formerly member of
Congress from Virginia and Minister to Chili, died at Cul-
pepper Court House, Virginia, Nov. 19.
A doubt has arisen in Washington whether the
position of the United States Minister to Russia, held by
Cassius M. Clay, is vacant or not. Some time ago Mr.
Clay sent in his resignation, which was accepted by the
Secretary of State. Shortly afterwards, however, Mr.
Clay transmitted a second communication stating that he
had reconsidered his action, and desired to withdraw the
resignation. The question is exciting attention, and se-
veral interesting and difficult points of law must be con-
sidered before a decision can be arrived at.

Mr. Donahoe, of California, has returned this
'eek, after visiting Europe.

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