The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-11 00:00:00

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-ut an humbling lesson of the vanity of outward appearance, and
the madness of any ambition that has not virtue for its aim.
" It is not possible to give anything like an adequate idea of this
surpassing fortress without the aid of the pencil and colours. The
cliff upon which it stands is perfectly perpendicular, formed apps.
rently, of sandstone, and it extends round the entire circuit of the
fortified height. The defences, which, on the other sides, though
adequate to their object, are dwindled into comparative insignifi-
cance by immediate contrast with the massive hill on which they
stand, are here of the noblest dimensions and the most graceflil
form, being a long series of circular towers, closely connected by
curtains of nearly similar height, and roofed in with small domes
of masonry ; the whole having, in addition to shot-holes. embra. •
sures, &c., an abundance of glazed windows, betokening the dwel-
ling of rational creatures; while the masonry itself is adorned with
glazed tiles, which, whatever their effect when recent, retain at
present only those tints which becdme a venerable fabric, and that
fabric of the Gothic style. The entire circuit of these defences
appeared tome about three miles ; their form an oblong rectangle.
The summit of the height, as is usual in the sand formation, is
nearly flat. The height of the precipice is about 200 feet, and
the height from the foot of the precipice to the level •f tise town
about 200 feet more, making a total height of about 400 feet.
" In the steepest face of the cliff, at the north aspect and north.
east angle, are several caves, probably communicating by subter-
ranean galleries with the interior. One, in particular, contains a
gigantic image of Pars Nath, distinctly visible from beneath.
These caves may be convenient to the garrison during siege, but
are extremely dangerous to the safety of the place, as a single
10-inch shell would, by exploding within the cavity, in all probe
bility bring down the whole of the north.east-angle, which is, even
now, overhanging the perpendicular. They appear, however, to
be intended as temples, rather than posts of observation.
" The great facility of breaching, by means of mines, a fort thus
constructed, renders it, in the hands of most native states, a more
bugbear in the face of an enterprising enemy. TheJats, however
would make a gallant defence in the breach of such a lofty emi-
nence ; and, in the hands of the English, famine alone, or failure
in military supplies, could render it untenable ; for the extent is
too great to afford much fear frbm shells, and any imaginable
breach in that cliff, with a crowd of armed Britons at the summit,
would be an awful ladder to renown. These are considerations
too much neglected by us in the present day. We find these
forts yield to our arms almost without a struggle, and ws
attribute to defect of construction what is really due to the
cowardice of the besieged. It is true that the plunging fire
from their walls is not much to be dreaded, and that, without
trenches, the operation of mining may at once be commenced be-
neath the cliff; but, on the other hand, the garrison are exempt
from all molestation by the fire of the besiegers, excepting in the
instances of their shells, and would thus be enabled to preserve
their strength unbroken for the breach. Upon that breach not a
gun could be brought to bear from below ; and the neighbouring
heights, all considerably depressed beneath the level of the works,
and at no inconsiderable distance from them, would afford no po-
sition from which an effectual fire could be maintained, or ftom
which a shot could be ventured during the assault; while the
breach itself would in all probability be a steep hill side, encum—
bered with massive fragments, sufficiently difficult to surmount in
the absence of danger, and almost hopeless in the face of a de-
termined enemy, who could not be molested in intrenching it. A
sap carried up such a height would be a most arduous and desperate •
undertaking, and, unless some means of nightly escalade could be
devised, the efforts of the besiegers would be sufficiently hope-
less. We have seen and felt what it is to surmount a lofty wall of
soft sand in the case of Bhurtpore, which is a mere mole-hill In
comparison. So that if the Government is desirous of preserving
a few strongholds in the country, which were no unwise policy, it
could scarcely do better than retain such hill forts as Gwalior, when
they chance to fall into its hands. Of the city •f Gwalior littleneed
be said. With every facility for building at hand, it possesses few
edifices that can attract the attention, and, for the capital of a large
state, is very far below mediocrity in every respec•, whether we
regard the narrowness of its limits, the poverty of its streets and
buildings, or the almost entire want of that appearance of busy
traffic which characterises all important towns under the British
Government. Indeed, there is little temptation to the import of
merchandise in a country so infested with open robbers, and with
every species of extortion, under the plea of customs.
" The residency of Gwalior is a mean building, and scarcely any
sort of state has been kept up by the British representative. It •
has only been on the occasion of a visit of ceremony from the Go.
♦ernor-General to the Maharaja that the place has presented any
scenes of pomp. Sindia kept up an army of semi.disciplined troops
30,000 strong, officered by Portuguese and Eurasian gentlemen;
but how this will stand after the present chaos has been reduced to •
order it is difficult to say."

CHINA.
(From the Hong-Kong Register, Dec. 12.)
GLEANINGS FROM THE PEKING GAZETTES OP SEPTEMBER.

VICTORY OF THE IMPERIAL ARMS.—The Imperial arms have ob.
tained a decided advantage over the mountaineers of Kokonor, who
for a long while moat obstinately resisted the Chinese authorities,
and at one time even threatened an invasion of the neighbouring
province Szechuon. Several Mongul chiefs who gave assistance to
the regular soldiers, and by their bravery and perseverance broke
the spirit of the rebels, are to be promoted, and to receive all the
attic they took as a reward.
BIRMAN Esvov.—A tribute bearer from Ava having appeared on
the frontiers of Yunnan, stated that he had brought the customary
tribute of his master, due to his liege lord, the great Emperor.
And since the letter conveying the intelligence was couched in the
most submissive terms, the embassy was received in the most gra-
cious manner.

The importation of saltpetre, according to an Imperial decree,
instead of, as hitherto, being restricted, is to be encouraged in all
the five ports, as it can be brought and sold to Government agents
at a far cheaper rate than it could .be manufactured in China.

The annnal expenditure of the out.port Yarkand (near Caubul),
and an adjacent military station, was 64,850 taels.
Camphor (according to the decision of the Superintendent of
Customs at Ainoy), if for foreign exportation, has to pay a double
duty by the native dealer as well as by the buyer.
Crintinals sentenced to death for opium smoking are again to
be reported at the Imperial autumnal revision of all cases of
capital punishment.
Two hostile classes in Chaouchoo district, to the east of Can.
ton, having engaged in bloody feuds, the Provincial Judge has
been sent down with powers over life and death, to quell these
disturbances.—Conlon Report.
Muhelsangah and others have submitted various proposals
made by Keying, which bear upon the subject of collecting duties.
And the Privy Council, as well as the Board of Revenue, having
taken them into consideration, and submitted them with their
opinions thereon to the Emperor, they are approved of and con.
firmed.

Our correspondents at Chusan writes us, under date Nov. '24,
as follows :—Thera is not much business doing here at present,
and price.; for all descriptions of goods are low, the market
having been latterly well supplied. The following ships are in our
harbour :—Eliza Stewart, Ellen Stewart, Ardaseer, Amazon,
Ternate, Louisa, Zoe, Vixen, Snipe, Soundrapovy, Anna Maria,
Swallow, Frankland, Fortescue, and Poppy; also H. M. ships
Cambrian, Pelican, and Medusa steamer. The Wolf is stationed
at shanghai, and the Pelican is to be stationed at Ningpo, when
the port is opened. The Plover and Young Hebe are surveying
between this and the Yang-tze-Kiang river. The weather is still
mild for the season of the year, with occasionally a showery day,
but fires are still necessary. The natives, however, predict a severe
winter. The troops and inhabitants generally are very healthy.
We had races last month, which afforded a good deal of anus*.
ment for a few days, and which, with an occasional rerformance
by our amateur corps dratnalique, serves to break the monotony
of our life and to give ussomething to talk about, till smothered by
the all absorbing event of the arrival of a ship, and the probability
of her having an English mail on board.

Along with this I send you a copy of Captain Balfour's notifi-
cation upon the opening of the port of Shanghai on the 17th inst.
The only ships which have as yet entered are the Island Queen,
Litherland, Mazeppa, Louisa Campbell, and the Valparaiso
(America). The barque William the Fourth was seen entering
the river upon the 20th inst., direct from Manilla. Business is
reported as likely to go on favourably, but little yet is known, as
the port had only opened two or three days at the date of our
last accounts from there.

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