The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-08 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 1357.

We may now look for fresh telegraphic accounts
from India, at almost any hour. There are many
points of the deepest interest and almost of vital
importance on which information is anxiously anti-
cipated by the nation. The proceedings of General
HAVELOCK and his gallant troops are, perhaps, of
the greatest moment. At the last dates, after the
re-occupation of Caynpore, ho was pursuing the
miscreant NENA SAME and his bloodthirsty gag;
to their stronghold at Ballow'. It was necessary
to come to a short, sharp, and decisive
reckoning with that doubled-dyed traitor and
assassin. If he were permitted to rest with im-
punity while the rescuers of Cawnpore proceeded
to the relief of Lucknow, a dangerous body
would remain in the rear, ready- to take advant tge
of any combination of circumstances that might
arise. Cawnpore might again fall into the hand,
of the rebels, and Colonel NEILE, and the party
of nearly 300 British soldiers advancing to effect
a junction with flAvmocK, would probably be cut
off to a man. These are considerations of no ordi-
nary magnitude, which render the destruction of
Bithoor the first work to be accomplished.

But this is by no means an easy task. An en-
trenched and fortified position, defended by at
least five times the number of its assailants, has
to be stormed, and the garrison, for so they may
be termed, dispersed. Any check, any serious
delay will, so far as the relief of Lucknow is con-
cerned, be almost tantamount to a defeat. In
order to avert a calamity of the mast fearful cha•
ratter, the work must not only be thoroughly
but speedily acc)inplished. Time will defeat the
famishing garrison of Lucknow, and the many
women and children who have sought re-
fuge there, as surely as the most deci-
sive success of the reboil. Better perhaps that
•they Rho -
d die with arms in their hand,, and
boldly fighting, than be treacherously butchered
after a capitulation, as were the ill-fated soldiers
and refugees at Cawnpore. Lucknow was but
some 50 or GO miles from the position of Have-
lock, but great difficulties impeded his advance,
and the time might well pass away before he could
lead his troops to the rescue, and* place the be-
leaguered garrison in a situation of c3ruparative

safety.
Great anxiety must also be entertained respect-
ing the fate of Agra. There the fugitives were
far more numerous than at any other
place within the disturbed district 4. Seve-
ral thousands of our countrymen and country-
women were dependent on the shelter it afforded,
and the protection of its gallant garrison. Tire
daring attack which they made on the rebels,
although partially unsuccessful, through a series
of casualties, probably prevented a regular assault
which might have terminated fatally for all the
English party—non-combatants as well as com-
batant?. But we know not whether fhe original
intention of the mutineers may again be acted on,
or what may be the results thereof. .
We can scarcely anticipate that Delhi has as

yet been captured, and the insurrection crushed
at it 3 very fountain and origin. Our scanty

army could scarcely do more than maint'::n their
position before it walls until t'ne arrival of ade-
quate reinforcements, which could scarcely have
arrived in sufficient force, to warra-zt a general

e.ssault before the time of the transmission
of the mails. The people look forward,
then, with thrilling and intense excitement
to the tidings that may arrive under the
he.:.ds of Bithoor, Luckuow, Agra, Delbi,
and many other districts, into which, although
hitherto comparatively tranquil, the rebellion may
have made progress.
The Home Government have done much, but
have their exertions been adequate to the terrible
exigencies of the case ? They have already
despatched some 25,000 soldiers, and at least
10,000 more are under orders. In addition to
this nearly 5,000 disciplined men have been ad-
stracted from their original destination in China,
and as many more will probably be spared from
the Cape, Ceylon, and other stations. But more will
be required, if merely to keep up the forces
in India at their present strength, and cDunter-
balance the inevitable " wear and tear." Not
only the chances of war, but of disease in so trying
a climate, must thin our ranks, and greatly re-
duce the numbers of fighting men available for
service against the traitorous mutineers and their
sanguinary allies. We must, therefore, maintain a
large reserve at home to supply the necessary
draughts, and the manner in which that can be
achieved is a problem, on the due solution whereof
the safety, honour, and welfare not only of the
Anglo-Indian Empire, but of the United King-
corn, greatly depends.
Besides, it is not in India only that troops are
wanting. We must not forget China, and the
claims which it possesses on our attention. If
5,000 men were required in the spring,
we should now be prepared to send at
least double that number. But how can this
be done ? Surely every nerve must be
strained to the uttermost, and all considera-
tions of £ s. D. placed in abeyance, in order to
meet suitably the imperative demands on our
resources. We can bear the expense, and it
must not be spared in such a cause.
We are, it appears, recruiting actively. Second
battalions are to be added to no less than 15
different regiments, practically doubling their
strength. Others are to have their numbers
increased to the full complement of 1,000
rank and file, in place of 840 men on their present
establishments ; and 15 regiments of militia are
to be embodied. By these means 30,000 to 35,000
soldiers will be raised in lieu of those who have
already been dispatched, or who are under orders
for India.

It is in the latter case that of the

militia—that the proceeding seems to be altogether
inadequate. Why restrict the number to fifteen
regiments, or 15,000 bayonets ? It would be
well to call out every regiment, and thus provide
the best possible means of recruiting the regular
army. We have already had abundant evidence
of the readiness of those brave fellows to
meet any emergency that may arise. We
have not the slightest hesitation in saying
4hat nine-tenths of their numbers would
be•ready to volunteer not only for service in our
colonies, and thus liberate the troops by which
they are at present garrisoned, but even for India
itself if their services were required. They are
organised and disciplined, and far better than any
raw recruits that could be obtained. The
militia is a trump card in the hands of the Go-
vernment, and. under the existing emergency it
should be played without hesitation, and without
too nice a calculation as to the cost. The best
news that can reasonably be hoped for will
not relieve us from the necessity of making
every possible effort, for months, or more
probably years to come. Long before the Proro-
gation of Parliament we suggested that powers
should be taken to permit Militia Regiments
volunteering for the purpose to serve in our own
Colonies. The suggestion was then disregarded,
but we believe Lord PALMERSTON would now re-
joice had an act been passed similar to that which
was in operation during the late Russian War.
"My Lords" should also be stimula+ecl to
break through the red-tapist fetters by which ships
of war are prevented from being made available
as transports. If the Admiralty regulations could
ba disregarded, if the reictine could once be
broken through, a great saving of expense would
be effected, and, what is of far greater impost
ante, the service performed in the best possible
manner. But from Sir CLIARLES WOOD we ex-
pect nothing. No matter what may bo.the exi-
gency, he wall not disencumber himself of a single
precedent, however niusty, or overstep in the

slightuA degree the beaten path. If anything is

t) be done, it must emanate from Lord PALMER,
STOAT. He has sufficient energy and power to
establish new precalents, and the country
Expects that ho will manfully discharge his
duty. He is not only the head of the Go-
vernment and the party justly responsible
to the nation, but also the one in whom con-
fidence is reposed, and who should now prove
himself deserving of the disinterested and generous
support which ha received from all classes on the
occasion of the late appeal to the country.
We cannot conclude without referring to a
rumour that has been circulated in Paris, but
for which we cannot believe that there is the
slightest foundation. It is said that " the Eng-
lish Government is about to op'3n recruiting
offices in several of the German Princi-
palities, as well as in the United States,
to raise reinforcements for its army ity
India." " The wish may be father to the
thought ;" but there is but little prospect of such
an attempt being made. It could not be with-
out the sanction of Parliament, and no minister
would dare to bring forward such a proposi-

tion. Should he do so, his tenure of office
would be but of brief duration. We have
had already quite enough of German pets.
We should far rather spare some of those
already amongst us, than bring more to mono-
polise the benefits that ought to bo given to
true-hearted subjects of Queen VICTORIA. The
establishment of the foreign brigades was
ono of the greatest mistakes committed
during the late war. It disgusted the nation,
and the favouritism subsequently exhibited
materially enhanced the annoyance so naturally
entertained. The United Kingdom can fight its
own battles without calling in the aid of beggarly
foreign mercenaries, who think that " England is
only to be valued for its money," and whose
Only desire is to take all they can get and
keep grumbling. We will resist the invasion
tv
English, to s o the uttermost. Better make every effort than
resort
Irish,
discreditable a proceeding, while we
have
and Scotch, ready and willing
to Ho* to our standards, and to avenge their
butchered brethren and violated sisters. We
aid—no
e
want no German hungry claimants
on our resources.
is but one
thing that could reconcile the country to
such a course, and that is, that every German new
in the British dominions should depart from our
shores to engage themselves in the process of re-