The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-30 00:00:00

THE CAWNPORE MASSACRES.,

The following is an extract from a letter from an
officer in one of the Queen's Regiments belonging
to General Havelock's moveable column
. . . I was directed to the house where
all the poor miserable ladies hal been murdered
It was alongside the Cawnpore hotel, where the
Nana lived. I never was more horrified ! The
place was one mass of blood. lam not exaggerating
when I tel you that the soles of my boots were
more than covered with the blood of these poor
wretched creatures. Portions of their dresses,
collars, children's socks, and ladies' round hats lay
about,- saturated with their bloods • and in the
sword-cuts on the wooden pillars of the room long
dark hair was carried by the edge of the weapon,
and there hung their tresses—a most painful sight !
I have often wished since that I had never been
there, but sometimes wish that every soldier was
taken there that he might witness the barbarities
our poor countrywomen had suffered. Their bodies
were afterwards dragged out and thrown down a
well outside the building, where their limbs were
to be seen sticking out in a mass of gory confusion.
Their blood cries for vengeance, and should it be
granted us to have it, 1 only wish I may have the
administration of it.
"I picked' up a mutilated Prayer Book. It had
lost the cover, but on the flyleaf is written, For
dearest Mama, from her affectionate Tom. June,
1845.' It appears to me to have been opened at
page 36, in the Litany, where I have but little
doubt those poor dear creatures sought and found
consolation in that beautiful supplication. It is
here sprinkled with blood. The book has lost some
pages at the end and terminates with the 47th
Psalm, in which David thanks the Almighty for
I his signal victories over his enemies, &c.
" July 21.
_ _

" Those poor ladies were massacred on the 15th,
after we had thrashed the blackguards at the
bridge. The collector who gave the order for
their death was taken prisoner the day before
yesterday, and now hangs from a branch about
200 yards off the roadside. His death was, acci-
dentally, a► most painful one, for the rope was badly
adjusted, and when he dropped the noose closed
over his jaw. His hands then got loose, and he
caught hold of the rope and struggled to get free ;
but two men took hold of his legs and jerked his
body until his neck broke. This seems to me the
just reward he should have got on earth for his
barbarity."

The following is from an officer on General Neill's
staff at Cawnpore

CawnPore, Aug. 1.
" I believe I am at present the only one in the
whole army who knows the fate of each individual
of the unfortunate Futtyghur community,-1. mean
the officers and civilians. I give a list to you, as
it may be useful. The Nawab of F
with
r 10th
has
taken up arms against us. To begin with the
Native Infantry :
" Colonel and Mrs. Smith, both reached this
station in a boat just in time to form part of the
awful massacre in that detestable house on the 15th
of July. I had b tter premise that three country-
boat-loads of people left Futtyghur at midnight
of the 10th or 11th, or 12th of July, and that two
of those boats were blown into the shore by a head
wind on the next morning, and the third being well
out in the stream managed to escape showers of
round shot, Sic., and came on to near Bithoor,
where they fell into the hands of the Nana's son,
and the Europeans were all sent in here imme-
diately. The wretches who attacked and killed
the Futtyghur people were the Sepoys of the 41st
Native Infantry and Irregular Cavalry, with ar-
tillery on one bank and villagers with matchlocks
on the other. Major Munro was killed with a
round shot near Bithoor. Major Phillott was
drowned at Singhee Rampore (the place where the
two boats were driven on to the bank).
" Captain Bignell went off with some Sepoys of
his regiment, who promised to protect him, and

GENERAL HAVELOCK'S MARCH.
The following is an extract of a letter from a
non-commissioned officer, of the 84th Regiment-,
written from the Oude territory on the Ist of Aug.
b
It fully accounts for General Havelock's order to
f ell back. It also shows, as. General Neill's (which
we published on Saturday) had done in a yet more
striking manner, how grossly incorrect was the
" official narrative of events," published upon
re-
ceipt of the last mail, in which Havelock was said
to have fallen back "four .miles." General Neill
expressly stated.that "on the 31st Havelock re-
turned to the bank of the river, opposite Cawn-
pore," and in the subjoined letter the non-commis-
sioned officer describes a retrograde march of four-
teen miles, and.states that his corps was at that
time within five miles of the Ganges .
" Things are all done suddenly hero, and we, the
78th Highlanders, and Q4th, were ordered across
the river to p. ocoed to Lucknow.. .It took five days
before all was • over and ready .to move. Here it
rained almost incessantly, and my party, which was
the last, had no shelter, for on a march like ours no
tents are brought, so some of the men had to wan-
der about all night in the rain without a roof to
shelter them. The consequence was that a good
many took the cramps and. died, Sergeant-Major
Bonygne among the rest. Lambert is now sergeant-
majj,oe.
Well, we at last"marched for L'ucknciW, and the -
first reception vre got after marching a few miles
was a few round shot, which was kept up• very
quickly, .for the enemy were under excellent cover.
We marched up among the trees, deployed; and
lay down. Our guns comm.enc A. to play. As
they advanced we did also, to cover them, deploy-
ing and lying down to prevent the balls hitting us.
Our skirmishers rwhed into the entrenchment and
drove them out ; but then there was a fortified vil-
lage—we had to rush into that ; and such shooting
you cannot dream of ! Yod could see one of our
men going quietly round a corner with a quick eye;
the first to see shot the other. The whole of the
houses had to he search, d in this manner, and the
village, when thought cleared, set on fire ; but,
after all, as I paszed the village carrying the Queen's
colours, a lot f balls whistled pa-t me, and several
men were shot. Adjutant Brown received two
wounds hero, one in the arm, the other in the leg,
but both only flesh wounds. You would pity the
poor fellows shot, some in the face and neck, others
legs broken, men helping them along with the clai-
m tged leg trailing along the ground.
" After they were driven through the village
they attacked us on the open plain ; but our guns
soon made them leave that,' so they skirted ias
bard as they could. They had a great many ca-
. valry. We hail) none, except-some' -infantry- men - -
from all regiments, who have been formed into tw
squadrons ; also a squadron of gentlemen volun-
teers.
" Well, having be .ten them thus far, and having
_ _

taken 15 of their guns, an i it being tli'm half-past
1I in the day, we rested in the open plain in the
burning sun, to get a glas of grog and some break-
fast. We stopped two-and-a-half hours, and pro-
ceeded to a fortified town some miles away. Tne
enemy, of course, opened fire on us, and there being
no trees to shelter the fortificati m, our artillery
played splendidly. We deployed, and advanced,
and lay down, taking our time from the artillery,
sent out skirmishers and a regiment, all of which
closed on the town, and broke into the place, the
otlifT regiments closing and following. There was
a good deal of shooting inside. At last it termi-
nated, and the British marched in triumphant. It
was then nearly six in the evening, so the whole
(lay, you may say, we had been fighting, and the
whole day we had been in the blazing sun, and
nearly the whole day we had been in paddy fields
up to our h;ps in water, which was a good thing
for us in the heat.
" We thought that all the people had left the
town ; but no such thing. We lay in front of a
sheet of water, but our Grenadiers lay in the town,
and the insurgents were firing on them all night.
" Our muskets are useless in comparison with
the Enfield rifle, and it was the regiffieuts who were
in lossession of those that did nearly all the busi-
ness ; however the skirmi'hers of my regiment cap-
tured two guns. We captured fuur guns in the
town, leaving U 3 19 altogether ; the enemy only
carried off one.
" I slept in the field in the open air, all night,
under the piles of arms, and no 'rouse,' the signal
to march, having ben sounded, I slept until half-
past five. I was very tired, especially having had.
to march with my bad heel. We stopped in the
sun until 12 o'clock that day, and were then ordered
into the town. We were glad to get out of the
sun, but no s-)oner did we move than an order was
issued to march that evening at two. It was very
hot, especially for us who had been in the sun al
day. Guess our surprise when we found we wer
to 'retire.' Yes, the general found he had only
1,200 men—that on an average, he had lost, be-
tween death, men going sick, and killed and
wounded, 50 ri.en per day—he could not venture
to Lucknow with this small force, and, probably,
similar daily decrease of men, add, although all
were dispirited, I think he has acted 'wisely. We
marched about seven miles, and yesterday about
seven more to this village, which is about five miles
from the river which separates us from Cawnpore.
We may be here for a fortnight waiting for rein-
forcements. I am glad of the rest, and those native
huts which I once despised I am glad to occupy
now."

STRIKE OF TUE COALWRIPPERS.—The coalwhippera
attached to the Coalwhippers'-office of the port of London
and those employed by agents, have struck for an ad-
vance of wages to 91 a ton. The men assert that the
office had suddenly lowered the rate of whipping from
7d. to 6d., and that that is an amount of remuneration
they cannot subsist upon. It is stated that there are
1,500 men on strike.
Tux GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPHS.—A. writer in a con-
temporary says :—" It is somewhat strange, at a time
when hearts in so many an English home are wringing
with bitter anticipations of expected news from India,
that Government cannot furnish us with better tele-
graphs. The news received yesterday was a mere repe-
tition of what was brought by the last Calcutta mail ;
and yet Acting Consul Green, Admiral Stopford, Mr.
Craig, aso., seem to have been in happy ignorance of it.
Again : why should the telegraph take 30 hours coming
from Cagliari to the Admir►lty, whereas the steamer
from Malta accomplishes the passage to Cagliari in only
36 hours I Will Government afford an explanation of
this, or are we to form disagreeable notions as to the
probability of its contents having been freely discus, ed
by certain crowned heads over their wine yesterday, Le-
fore it was allowed to proceed on its way 1 Is, then, our
grief to be thus taunted and our calamity mocked I I
trust that by your powerful advocacy the evil may
speedily be remedied ; for it can only be accomplished
through the medium of the press that a change shall
" come o'er the spirit of the dream." I suggest that a
person who takes some interest in India and what is
going on there, and besides possesses some acquaintance
with the names and orthography of the principal cities
and military stations, be sent out to Cagliari for the sole
purpose of culling the freshest and latest news from the
papers, and transmitting it by the most expeditious
route, in as condensed and intelligible a form as possi-
ble, for now every sentence has to be corrected and
emendations suggested before it is at all readable. It is
a disgraceful and painful state of things ; and if Govern.
ment cannot find a better man, I will readily accept a
small salary, and go out for the specific object, for no
t ling can be more harrowing and unsatisfactory than the
present system of Government telegraphs."


ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.---Lessee, Mr.
Dillon.—Under the joint management of
Mies LOUISA PYNE and Mr. W. aARRISON.--Open for
an OPERA SEASON of THREE MONTHS, with the fol-
lowing Distinguished Artistes :—Madame Caradori' Miss Co-
rds, Misa Susan Pyne, Miss Marian Prescott, Miss Cuthbert,
Mrs. H. Manley, and Miss Lou'sa Pyne Mr. Augustus
Graham, Mr. A. St. Albyn. Mr. Edmunds, Mr. Hamilton
Brabant, Mr. Ferdinand Glover, Mr.' Bernard, Mr. Kerby,
Mr. Wallworth , Mr. G. Honey, Mr. Weiss, and Mr.W. Harrison.
Conductor, M... Alfred Mellon. The Orchestra selected
front the Royal Italian Opera, Jullien's Bmd, and the Orches-
tral 'Union. The Chorus selected entirely from the'Royal
Italian Opera. Stage Manager. Mr. E. Stirling. Assistant
Acting Manager, Mr. William Brough. Ballet Master, Mr.
Frampton. Chorus Master, Mr. G. Smythson.
THIS EVENING, WEDNESDAY, Auber's opera of
THE CROWN DIAMONDS.
Aft,sr which, SOMEBODY ELSE.
Private Boxes, £2 12s. 6d., £2 25., and £1 Ils. 6d. ;
Stalls, Bs, ; Dress eirc'e, as. ; Lipper Boxes, 4s. • Pit, 25.;
Gallery, le.—The Box Office is now open daily, from 11 to
5, under the direction of Mr. Chatterton, jun.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone.

rills EVENING, to commonce at Seven o'clock,. with
Sheridan's comedy of TIIE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. Sir
Peter Teazle, Mr. Chippendale ; Sir Benjamin Backbite, Mr.
Buckstone; Joseph Surface, Mr. Howe; Charles Surface (3d
time), Mr. W. Farren ; Moses, Mr. Clark ; Sir Oliver, Mr.
Rog Ors; Crabtree, Mr. Compton ; Lady Teazle, Mrs. Cathe-
ripe Sinclair (her sth appearance in that character in this
cOmAry); Lady Sneerwell, Mrs. Poynter ; Maaia, Miss Emma
King ; and Mrs. CAndour, Miss Talbot.
After which, A CURE FOR LOVE.
To conclude with THE SWISS COTTAGE.

Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the
evening), 6s. each. (No charge for booking.)
First Price. s. d. Second price. s. d
Drees Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0
Upper Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0
it 2 0 Pit 1 0
ower Gallery... ...... ... 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 6
Upper, Gallery 0 6No half-price to Upper Gallery.

.
HEATRE ROYAL, A DELPHI.
JL . Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster.
THIS EVENING, will be performed the home•made
Extravaganza, DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Mr. Wright and
Miss Arden.
After which, irouglas Jerrold's drama of 13IACK-EYED
SUSAN. William': Mr. T. P. Cooke ; Bice Poter. Mr. Paul
retard ; Gnatltkettr. Wright; Black-eyed Susan, Miss
Arden.
To conclude with " FEARFUL TRAGEDY IN THE
SEVEN DIALS."

STRAND THE AT RE.—Lessee, Mr. T. Payne.
—THIS EVENING will be performed
a new comic drama, entitled, SO VERY OBLIGING. Mr.
Linloch, Miss Craven, &e.
To be followed by MORE BLUNDERS ract.N. ONE.
Larry Eloo'agao, Mr. Macarthy.
After which, the highly-successful awl original burlesque,
written by Leicester Buckingham' entitled LA. TRAVIATA;
sr, THE LADY CAMELEON. Miss Craven, Mist Victor,
Mr. F. Charles, Mr. G. Bolton, Mr. J. Howard, and Mr. J.
Clarke.

Followed by BAMELOR'S BUTTONS. Miss M. A.
Vic`or and Mr. Clarke.
Commence at Seven. Stalls. ls. ; Boxes, 2a. ; Pit, is.;
Gallery 6d. ; Private Boxes, 17. ls.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessees, Messrs. R,obioniand Emden.
THIS EVENING, will be performed the new drama of
THE LIGHTHOUSE.
After which, the comedietta, entitled A SUBTERFUGE
Mrs. Stirling, Mr. G. Vining, asd Mr. G. Murray.
To conclude with the original Extravaganza, by Robert
B. Brongh, Esq., called MASANIELLO. Messrs. Rob-
son, Cooke, Danvers, &e ; Misses Swanboroagh, Thirlwall,
Hughes, Bromley, and Mrs. Melfont.
Commence at half-past Seven.

ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.
Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick.

THIS EVENING, will be performed AMBITION : or,
The Throne and the Tomb. Messrs. Creswick, W. Smith,
Vollaire, B. Potter, Jackson, Belmore ; Miss Webster, Miss
M. Eburne, Miss Johnstone.
Followed by OUR TRAVIATA. The Bli3hted One, Mr.
Widdicomb.

To conclude with T FIE QUIET FAMILY. Mr. VoUsk°,
Mr. Widdicomb, and Miss Chalmers.

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.—
OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow-
ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of
!'-'elections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS,
CHORUSES, GLEES. DUETS, &c., viz.:—Miss Russell,
Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Manetta, Mrs. Palmyre, Miss E. Scott,
Miss Brnnell, Mrs. Le Jeune, and Madame Marietta;
Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Honshaw, R. Grover, T. Far=t,
S. ; onec, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor An'onio, E. L.
/lime, and Mr St. A'byn ; Messrs. S. Collins and E. Mack-
ney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, Master
Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans Commence 1 t
Seven o'clock precisely. Sap)ers, dtc.. until twelve o'clock.
—Signor PICCO will perform, at ha,f-past Eight and half-
past Ten, every Evening.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY —Morn., 29 min. aft. 11—Even., 0 rain aft. 0
TO•MOUBOW--Morn. 59 min. aft. 11--Even. 24 min. aft. 12

THE WEATHER. —SUN OFFICE, SEPTEMBER 30.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
67—highest since noon yesterday.
s.s—lowest this morning and during the night
65 —this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 30.08—falling.
WIMP, S.S.E. ; light, with fine weather, but very
cloudy.

11,1. ) c--*--3 Pf.)..?;;4-i;Cr-t:-JYC'—;'".43-1 c§:111111i.
I 4 04; ),,N,,,,,..,
(:,„!

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30, 1857.

The advices by the Overland Mail have been
received, and considerable extracts will be found
in another part of our impression. The tele-
grams contained in The Sun of yesterday were
more complete than usual, and there is a decided
improvement on the part of those entrusted with
the duty of preparing the summaries. As before,
however, they are, generally speaking, more
favourable than the full iutelligence, preparing
the public mind generally for the bad news that
must speedily follow. With the single exception
of Delhi, there is no place in which our position
has improved, or our prospects appear more en-
couraging than heretofore. The accounts are,
according to the general rule, of a chequered cha-
racter, but more than ordinarily disastrou-.
General HAVELDCIC—no longer a Brigadier,
but, thanks to the tardy recognition of the au-
thorities, a Major-General and K.C.B.—has again
distinguished himself, and his followers have
proved themselves worthy of their truly illustriou,
leader. But, unfortunately, his victories have
• been dearly paid for—his resources too severely
taxed. Ilis column has been reduced to 900
bayonets, and he could not reasonably hope to
cope with the tremendous odds which he
should be compelled to encounter. His gallant
soldiers were worn out with fatigue and
almost superhuman exertions. They could not,
however, obtain the repose so greatly needed.
Their countrymen and countrywomen were be-
sieged at Lucknow. Net merely the:garrisoe, but
English women and children were placed in fear-
ful jeopardy, and every one of the scanty but
determined band was animated by an unflinching
resolution to save them or perish in the attempt.
We had beard of the triumphs of the 29th and
30th July at Busserut Gunge en route to Luck-
now, He was, however, obliged to retrace his
footsteps to Cawnpore in order to place his sick
and wounded—and disease had made ter-
rible ravages on his Brigade—in compare-
tive • safety, and also to secure the guns which
be had captured from the rebels. On the 4th ( f
August he again moved forward. On the follow
ing day. he had another sharp conflict with about
5,000 mutineers, whom he engaged, and as usual
defeated,- again capturing their gum He again
pushed on to Busserut Gunge, but having .ascer-1
tained tbat the rebels were more than 50 to 1, was
obliged to retire on Cawnpore, which he did in
perfect order.
Oa the 12th August he was attacked on the
north bank of the Ganges, but again discomfited
his assailants, and again captured their guns. It
Would not have been courage, but reckless mad-
;mast() have attempted more in the direction of
He kept the rebels in full occupation,
•althaugh unable to give complete relief to
the, beleaguered garrison. It is still hoped that
they may have been assisted by a party of poor-
khas—the same whose aid was so contumeliously
rejected by Lord CANNING. This is, however,
exceedingly problematical, and we must still fee!
deep anxiety for the fate of the garrison, and the
fagitivqs who have taken refuge along with them.
But for fed-tapism their safety would have been

T 11 E

insured ; and if lost, they may be regarded as

victims sacrificed at the altar of routine.

The position even of HAVELOCK himself was
very formidable. His small and literally worn-

out brigade was completely surrounded by assail-

ants. On one side, the left bank of the river, the
rebellious Oudeans, who had experienced such con
vincing proofs of his prowess, threatened. At
another, from Futtehpore, where he first en-
countered the rabble of the rebel NANA
SAHIB, the mutineers were collecting boats to
enable them to cross the river. There, how-
ever, a single steamer, something like one
of our metropolitan Citizen, or Iron Companies'
boats, the only one available, but which under
the circumstances was worth a line of battle ship,
might prevent the passage. From the direction
of Callpee too, the mutineers from Gwalior threa-
tened to effect a junction with the Oudean insur-
gents, and there was nothing to stop them. A few
of the watermen steamers might save HAVELOCIC,
and the remnant of the hardy Highlanders and
dashing 68th. We all remember the capture of
Blackfriars Pier. The Captain of Waterman, No.
5, might now achieve fame and honour if
ia the right place. We have pointed
out the imperative necessity of a river
flotilla, but unfortunately our suggestions were
disregarded, and HAVELOCK has but one steamer
at his disposal, which cannot guard the fords of
the Ganges and the Jumna.
General LLOYD has been superseded, and it is
said is to be tried by court-martial, or at all
events an inquiry is to take place into hia con-
duct. Those who maintained him in a position
for which he was so clearly disqualified are, how-
ever, more guilty than the infirm and imbecile
old man. The terrible blundering, however,
led to the destruction of the 200 British soldiers
who fell into ambuscade in striving to relieve
Alvah, endangered by the vacillation at Dinapore,
fomented the disturbance in Behar, kept a large
body of English soldiers, that might otherwise
have joined General HAVELOOK, folly occupied,
and left the Dinapore mutineers at liberty to join
his assailants. These are serious calaniities, and
the author or authors must fully answer for the
untoward results. Sir JAMES OUTRAM will, how-
ever, unless we are greatly mistaken, prove a com-
mander of a very different calibre from Major-
' General LLOYD.

Many sharp cmtests have taken place before
Delhi, in all of which the rebels assumed the
initiative. In every instance we fully held our
own, and many brilliant acts were performed by
those who, though nominally besiegers, were
really besieged in their own position. That state
of affairs would, however, speedily be altered.
NICHOLSON had arrived, and his troops were daily,
we might almost say hourly, expected. CoRT-
LANDT was also approaching with his gallant fol-
lowers, and we may anticipate something from the
" team" of newly-made 0.13 L, WILSON, NICHOL-
SON, CORTLANDT, and CHAMBERLAIN, Wiaoll Co-
operating against the devoted city. The mock
KLNG has sent off the members of his Zenana to
a place of greater safety. It is more than
hinted that many of the mutineers are
also seeking safety in flight, not even
retaining their arms. It is also reported, al-
,
though we do not place much faith in the rumour,
that the represent.tive of the Arogula has endm-
voured to make term 3 for himself, striving to
obtain 36 in place of 15 lacs of rupees, as the
condition of surrender. Of course no such
proposition coul I be list 'ned to for a moment,
but the very ventilation of the subject shows that
the garrison of Dahl do not feel themselves to be
on a bed of roses, and that they are already look-
ing out for a means of escape.
From Bombay and Madras matters are not very
satisfactory. Although no new mutinies, there
are occasional symptoms of disaffection among the
native troops worthy of peculiar notice, and which
should be at once looked ti by the authorities.
Every appearance of tie kind should be strictly
scrutinised. We have quite enough to do with-
out increasing our difficulties by further negli-
gence.

It is announced that " the keel of the Royal
Frederick, 120, which has been nearly 20 years
on the stocks in Portsmouth, is found to be en-
tirely rotten, and has been nearly all removed,"
This is the blessed system under which the mari-
time affairs of Great Britain are neglected—the
judicious management of "My Lords." A three-
decker, of 120 guns, has teen planned at a very
heavy outlay. The keel is laid down—considor-
able progress made in the construction, but the
work is never completed. It is destroyed by
Time, even before it has ever floated on the water
—before the launch has been accomplished.

This is the result of red tapism ! Somebody
should be responsible for ills loss. But it will be
shuffled backwards and forwards, and eventually
that ill-fated Mr. Nobody, " the common vouchee"
of officials, will turn out to be the sole delinquent.
This is in strict accordance with routine, and it
would be well worth the loss if the lesson
should prove profitable, and adequate means
bo adopted to prevent similar absurdities
for the future. It is not merely men-of-war that
are decaying on the stocks. We have gunboats,
whose services might be of vast importaece
in the rivers and on the coasts of India
and China, rotting in harbour. We have
repeatedly, usque ad nauseam, pointed out how
they might be rendered available, add how ex-
ceedingly advantageous they would prove in the
Indian and Chinese seas. But nothing can
awaken "My Lords" from their apathy. These
valuableships were constructed just "in time to be
too late for the Russian war—a heavy outlay was
occasioned by their construction—thanks were
beztowed on the Board of Admiralty for the
judicious Expenditure ; but they are suffered
to remain useless and unprofitable, simply
because no person in authority will take the
trouble of thinking what is to be their destination.
What would HAVELOCK now give for a few
steamers of shallow draught on the Ganges and
the Jumna. The screw gunboats might possibly
draw too much water to be fully available. But
they could be useful elsewhere; and would liberate
others for service in the upper waters.

Nothing, however, is or has been done. " My
Lords" slumber on, while the public money is
wasted—philosophically permit vessels to decay
while yet on the stocks, and cners to become
rotten lying up in ordinary. It seems almost a
pity to disturb their repose, but " a flapper"
of " the Fourth Estate" would be useful to our
"absent friends" at Whitehall. It would be
well if Parliament were sitting to elicit au answer
—but as we must wait for another Session, it is
well to direct attention to the subject. Possibly,
Lord PitarparaTox may find time t) stir up Sir C.
WOOD,
and 8110. w himwhat is expected by the na-
tion. He receives ample pay, distributes valuable
patronage, and should do somethin,7 in return.
It is not the Royal Frederick only that has de-
cayed before her completion. If we are tot greatly
mistaken the Nelson, aR other tbree-decker,hasnc Ter
yet been launched, although nearly 30 years on
the stocks. There are others also in a similar posi-
tion, which we have not titile t) 41111de-to more fully
this day. We know that moneysivaati,oples,

within 28 years at compound interest. 'W hat,
then, has been the loss ? We may rail at direc-
tors of joint-stock companies, who disregard
the interests confided to their charge. What
should be thought of responsible Ministers who
exhibit greater carelessness and indifference ? If
the loss by the Nelson or the Royal Frederick was
but 50,0001. or 60,0001., and it is, we be-
lieve, far below the mark in either case,
it would now amount to 200,0001. or
240,0001., at compound interest. We might.,
in fact, have an entire Navy for India, aye, no
less than a dozen Navies, for sums recklessly
squandered in the Dockyards in fiddling with
vessels never finished or turned to beneficial
use. Never was a stringent investigation more
urgently required than into the naval adminis-
tration, or, rather, mal-administration, of the
country. We trust some independent member
will demand it. We cannot think that with
the instance of the Nelson, the Royal Frederick,
the gun-boats, (Sze., &0., any Minister would dare
to resist the demand.