The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-21 00:00:00

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LONDON, TETURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1850.

An incident of no public importance, but one at
the same time not the less deserving of notice, im-
parts, to our thinking, a very considerable degree of
interest to the intelligence just received from Ilin-
dostan. From that intelligence it will be perceived
that the - veteran ex-Commander-in-Chief of the
Anglo-Indian army, embarked from Calcutta on the
sth ult., on board the liaddington, in his voyage
homewards. That the return of the gallant soldier
should have been delayed so long is to us
no matter for astonishment, considering the
peculiar, and, we may be permitted to say,
painful circumstances under which he was
superseded. An illustrious soldier like ]!fiord GOUGH
COShi not but feel most profoundly the slight done to
himself, the forgetfulness shown towards all his
heroic achievements, the doubt expressed as to the
competence of his generalship, the indication of
diminished confidence in his valour—perceptible in
the misplaced and premature panic evidenced in this
country on the receipt of the news from Chillian-
wallah. He must have experienced an unusual degree
of exultation at his subsequent victories on hearing of
the manner in which his name had been contemned in his
native country, and in which his reputation had been
deteriorated by the national anxieties. At the same time,
however, when obtaining the tokens of British gra-
titude far his numerous and brilliant successes, tokens
such as the thanks of the Parliament and the corn- '
mendations of the SOVEREIGN, the conqueror of Goo-
jerat must have felt a singular disinclination to return
immediately to a people who bad betrayed this un-
satiActory fickleness of temperament—suddenly al-
ternating from the depths rf despair and contumely,
to the height of joy and admiration. Rendered sen-
sitive by the unjust judgment of his fellow-
citizens, Lord GOT GH cannot have failed to
have detected in the congratulations of Inland the '
earnestness of a national remorse quite as much as
the ardour of popular satisfaction. Therefore it is
that we can readily comprehend the delay of his
voyage homewards. For ourselves we remember
with no small satisfaction that while so many others
were clamorous for the recal of the late Commander-
ineChief of the Anglo-Indian Army, as a man not
capable of being trusted with that heavy responsibi-
lity, we did not raise our voice for the purpose of
increasing and heightening the general panic, but,
on the contrary, expressed that `confidence in his
heroism and abilities which are felt to be justified by
a long and honourable career, as well as by a series
of splendid achievements in different quarters of the
Asiatic continent.
Now that Viscount Gousu has taken his departure
homewards from the country which has witnessed
the rise and development of his reputation, we are
sanguine that his reception amongst ourselves may
be one befitting the veteran soldier himself, and
worthy also of the nation in whose service he has
acquired rank and celebrity. In this regard a hint
might well be taken from the conduct of the inha-
bitants of Madras. Aware that the late Com-
mander-in-Chief was on the eve of quitting
them in all human probability for ever, the people of
Madras waited upon his Lordship in a deputation for
the purpose of bidding him farewell, and at the same
time of wishing him all happiness during the re-
mainder of his existence. The answer given by the
gallant old soldier to this valedictory address from the
inhabitants of Madras is possessed of peculiar interest,
and is one altogether quite in character. " Gentle-
men," said he, "my life from my childhood has been
spent in the service of my country, and I can con-
scientiously say that the best energies of the military
portion of it, extending to the long period of 56
years, have been devoted to the service of my SOVE-
XEIGN, whose gracious consideration, as a mark of
robation, has placed me in the position I now
'47 et& Pa, h devoted and unceasing as may have
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a won' bons, they would have proved of little
-- i_ aysiAi.i tea
.... -i` been zealously and energetically
e t suptFKA: nd I feel an honest pride in bearing tea-
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disciplined gallantry and untiring de-
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.. ose who served under me, of ail grades
41,
3,, and eekalslarms, as well native as European."
~,. a Were* then to his departure from the
.--- ikitir-'o£ his old military companions, Lord