The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-07 00:00:00

THE PUNJAUB.

(From the Allgemeine Zeitung.)
Sir Henry Hardinge's government of India has been
hitherto remarkable for its moral policy, its avoidance of all
military parade, its serious devotion to the internal interests
of the country, and the civilisation of the natives—aline or
policy which offers a sufficiently striking contrast to the
warlike achievements of his predecessor. Nay, although. one
of the best and bravest soldiers of the Peninsular war, it ks
said that he has not, since his landing in India, held, as
yet, even one review of the troops, and so concealed hits
military energies, like his policy, beneath his zeal for
schools and colleges, no less than beneath the simplicity of it
very retired private life.
Meanwhile, however, the moment is approaching' when
the Indian mails will bring us intelligence of the moat int•
portant movements. Opportunity, and means and ways, for'
British intervention in the affairs of the Punjaub may now
be more nearly destined and predicted ; and in consequence
of the combination of an intelligent policy, supported by an
army sufficiently strong to command respect, the kingdom of
Lahore is being gradually encircled on all sides by troops.
The events which, after the death of Runjeet Singh, rapidly
followed one another in this kingdom—the fearful crimes
which desolated the palace of Lahore—the lawlessness which
allured the army to frequent revolts—and the misery which
these revolutions heaped upon the people—are already sum.-
ciently known in Europe.
There is no present probability that any one of the
branches of the family of Runjeet, or the contenders for the
dominion of the State, will be able, by means of their own
resources, to regain a secure sovereignty over this disrup-
tured land. During the last three years England observed
the strictest neutrality, and the Council of Calcutta did not
trouble itself to know who sat on the throne, so long as the
nominal Sovereign possessed sufficient strength to keep the
army within bounds and to govern the country. The result,
however, of this moderation was an uninterrupted succession
of violent revolutions and continued blood-sheddings, whilst
chance or the will of the army raised some one chieftain to
a power which was ruinous to all who possessed it. It has
thence been confirmed by experience that the authority and
even the lives of the Princes of Lahore are endangered, and
it is probably under these circumstances that the assistance
of the British Government has been applied for, and the
country consented to sacrifice a portion of its firmer inde-
pendence, so that once more will a kingly house be income,
rated into the list of the subsidiary States of the Indian em-.
pire. Conformably with the conditions of such a treaty,.
these Princes will retain their exalted rank together with.
the civil administration of the country, but the military go-
vernment will be transferred to English officers. In other
words, this sort of intermediation is desired by the Princes
themselves, and will be very advantageous to their subjects,
as it ensures to the country a peaceful government, although
it will encounter the most strenuous opposition on the part
of the Sikh army. Notwithstanding all the political con-
vulsions which Lahore has had to endure, the army of Run-
jeet Singh has not lost much of its strength. It is still sr•
parently the finest army ever possessed by a native Asiatic
Prince, and it will remain united and strong as well against
foreign influence as for the defence of its own existence. Tha
cavalry, and especially the artillery, are magnificent, so that
it will.be impossible to overthrow these troops without One of
the most sanguinary battles ever recorded in the annals af,
1,-2dian history. On the other hand, however, the British
army, which has long been stationed in the north-western,
provinces, 2.,as been selected and equipped with the most ex-7
traordinary csl': for the exigencies of this momentous affair..
The Sikh infantry is perfectly equal to any body Of foot.
soldiery in the world, a.2d the army consists in a far greater
proportion than has hitherto been customary of European
cavalry—l believe not less than five regiments—a species of
force in which the preponderance of English strength and.in-
trepidity in Asiatic warfare has been sverywhere very,
powerfully felt.
Sir Henry Hardinge is preparing slowly to advance to-,
wards the north, and as a rupture with the Siki; army seems
now inevitable, we look with the most lively it,terest to-
wards the further progress of events which ought to crown-
this long interval of expectation with sudden and sutficeesful
activity.

A WHALE IN BELFAST LOUGH.—On the morning,
of Wednesday last the services of the Coastguard, stationed at
Cultra Point, were called into active requisition by the appearance
of—not a smuggler, but something " very like a whale," plough.
Ing the waters a fcw hundred yards from the pier. " A whale! •
whale!" was the cry. The alarm spread far and wide, and, ere
long, almost the entire population of the village were gathered on
the beach, anxious to catch a sight of the aquatic monster who had
voyaged so far from his ocean home. Without loss of time a boat
was manned by four or five of the Coast-guard men, armed with.
harpoon, cutlass, carbine, and hatchet, resolved to make the stranger
pay dearly for his visit. Whether the fish had been tempted by.
curiosity or in quest of prey so far as the Lough, can only be
guessed at: There, however, he was, his back rising dim and
huge above the billows, and furrowing in his way the liquid ele—
ment in sport or fury. After a geod deal of maneeuvering, the
men succeeded in bringing their boat alongside the enemy, and
then commenced their assault upon him without mercy. The fish,
accustomed to " do as he liked with his own," namely, the whole
of the inferior finny tribes, was, no doubt, surprised to be thus
assailed in what he would consider his own dominion, though an
oefxtorperopes,itainodn,ttiblietahtetnem, upntedvisittoedmpakaret
ooir,f, it
but, a
hisd afterendeavours
litt i s
whowel.
fruitless. After receiving two or three shots, and a good many
strokes with the harpoon, a grappling-iron was thrown over him,
and the boats were rowed shorewards amid the huzzas of the
spectators, with the poor whale vanquished and weltering in his
blood, which dyed the waters, and soon the retreating tide left
him "high and dry" upon the beach. The fish thus captured
proved to be a whale of the bottle-nosed species, and the money
realised by its sale will repay the prowess of its captors, as it is
computed that it will yield at least 200 gallons of oil. It exhi—
bited great tenacity of life, having survived six hours after being
brought to land, though cut and hacked in an extreme degree. In
length it measures 22 feet, and its girth is nearly 12 feet, the
breadth of the tail being 5 % feet. It is of a light lead colour,
and, to use a cattle dealer's phrase, it seems in capital condition_
On Wednesday and yesterday crowds of persons docked from
this town and other places to see it where it lies on the shore
at Cultra ; the attraction consisting fully as much in the
rarity of the fish, at least on our shores, as in its dissensions,. as
these are, comparatively, not great.—Banner of Ulster.

THE LATE FIRE AT PENTONVILLE.—The fire which
bawrtaospk
nee
noottuoutn nti
nearlyil lni ,e stdwayo continuedg
o'clockh t
tuopyoebnsut
retnrhdeafyoprrmeomr
severalnisiensgo fbt
hoMr.
au
the
ea ma
ndit'
fire-
ment
had succeeded in getting the flames extinguished. In a great
measure may be attributed the rapid progress of the conflagration
to the fact of there not being a sufficiency of water to supply the
whole of the engines. This may appear rather surprising, when tt
is stated that the reservoir of the New River Company's works is
situate within a few hundred yards of the spot. Had not the fire-
men exerted themselves to the utmost, the work of destruction must
have been far more serious than it has been. The following is a
copy of Mr. Superintendent Braidwood's official report of the extent
of damage done:—" 15, Lower Queen's-row, PentonYlll4—Mr.
Barnes, builder; the workshops, Ike., with their contents,
nearly consumed. The cause of fire unknown. Insured in the
Sun Fire.office for stock is trade and premises. 15, Lower QUCCA's•
row—Mr.lJoseph Barnes ;:dwelling.house, the most part destroyed:
The furniture and other contents nearly consumed. UnlnsurecL
14, Lower Queen's-row.—Mr. Salter, confectioner; building sund
contents damaged by fire, water, and hasty TCll3ollli ; Insursmese
unknown. 13, Lower Queen's.row.—Mrs. Barnes, stationet;
furniture much injured by water and removal; uninsured. 1..,,„
Lower Queent-row.—Mr. J. Mason, music-seller ; contents of
stock in trade and furniture greatly damaged by removal ; insu-
rance unknown. 16, Lower Queen's-row.—Mr. Petty, hair-
ef.e—tnhgeMi
engines
sLo. Btnhdaarotnne sa
fire ,tenj Jun. ;wfeurr furniture i t
establishment,tuwre
adi;
dresser and perfumer ; building considerably damaged by fire ; the
d
stock and furniture extensively injured ; insured in the Phceniz
e-office. 20, Penton
n." by water, &c. I, Western.place.—Mr. Hodgkins; roof
mageo
rtaihilic Vest of England and County offices."
seven of oe
oltowfntoghibeenghloot:ugo..tih:egdp...at
ora,
P&CVISIONS IN GLASGOW.—The retail provision
markets are very high ; the best oatmeal, which was lately sold at
le. 10d. to 2s. per stone, is now retailed at 2s. &I. to 2.. 10d.,
being a rise of 10d. per stone in about a month. Bread is higher
in price in this city than in other towns in Scotland, while flour is
4d. per stone cheaper than in Edinburgh. Potatoes are retailed It
fraM ad, to 44. per atone,Glassow Ceattlutioa4l.

; I
, ii'l ' •
c......
%a • e',,;0.1p-•
Mt, .
‘,......,..
- •
f•,

-l~

MAGAZINES CON FINUED.
BLACKWOOD.*

'Coin-ideas lines, from Lewes to Lerwick,
cross like nets the country soon;
'Soon a roily ay (Atmospheric,)
Speeds our progress to the moon,.
3raiersing yon space between us,
' Soon the rapid trains will bring
Ores frOm Mars and tires from Venus,
Lots of lead from Saturn's Ring;
Belt's from Jupiter's own factory,
A d
nßercliry from Maia's Son ;
when surnmers look refractory,
Bottled sunbeams from the sun.
V too soaring, too seraphic,
Seems to some that heavenward tack,
T'other way there's much more traffic;
Though not many travel back.

• IVe find that this magazine was punctually delivered as
usual, but mislaid by some accident in The Sun office.

LITERATURE.
OIVOGHUE; a Tale of Ireland of Fifty
Years Ago.
,ber brings the very striking story of O'Do-
i close. Like most:of these periodically-pub-
ances of real life, the catastrophe seems too
ly brought about; and the charm of probabi-
(ore, expires at precisely that period of the
then its presence is most necessary to vivify
effect to the
.closing tableaux of its action. But
this and other defects there can be no doubt this
O'Donogbue" is still destined to be one of the standard
novels of its class. There is just enough admixture of
political excitement to enhance, without overlaying, its
purely dramatic character. Mark O'Donoghue, after a
hair-breadth escape from the plot contrived by the exe-
crable villain Hemsworth to secure his capture, and to
subject him to the ignominious fate that would in-
evitably follow on his being taken, inflicts a signal
chastisement on Hemsworth by throwing him out
of the window—and after being challenged and
pursued by some English dragoons, effects his
passage, and is again on the eve of being made prisoner,
when his generous rival. Captain Travers, rescues him,
makes him mount his own charger, and bids him " God
speed !" Mark subsequently gets himself put on board
one of the French dispersed squadron near Bantry Bay.
llemsworth dies a violent and appalling death, well
merited by his crimes. The spirituelle and beautiful
Kate is united to Mark ; and the wedded lovers, after a
lapse of some seven or eight years, revisit in peace the
desolate but romantic scenes in which the young Irish-
man had passed his boyhood, and he then returns to
his permanent establishment in France as an officer in
her armies.

ON CHRONIC DISEASES of the SKIN; their

various Causes and "Cure.
Dr. de Prati is already so advantageously known to
the public as a medical reformer of great sagacity and
success, that we were prepared to expect from this
Essay on Chronic Diseases much of the careful
study, extensive research, and original thinking, in
which it certainly abounds. Any man who,
having ability and learning abundantly sufficient
to give hi,sn a comprehensive knowledge of the various
systems of pathology which have obtained, both in
ancient and modern times, is endowed with that . quick-
ness of perception, and that accuracy in combining re-
sults, which are constantly invigorated by observation
founded on extensive daily experiences, ought to be
able to rise superior to the trammels of all systems
when his own convictions, thus founded and thus forti-
fied, happen to be at variance with them. It is Dr. de
Prati's praise to fulfil this notion of what should be
looked for from a clear, powerful, and unprejudiced
intellect. He passes in review the theories or discoveries
of eminent predecessors in that branch of medical in-
vestigation which he has here selected for discussion ;
but, while rendering justice to their labours, he preserves
a tone of sustained critical discrimination, which, un-
biassed by all his respect for such great names as those
Malphigi and Cheyne, Willan or Bateman, Alibert or
Fohman cannot repress. His painful investigation is
divided into many heads, as Tinea Capitis (T. Fur.
furacea, T. Scatulata, T. Lupinosa, and other forms of
that disgusting malady); Herpes, or Tetter; Leprosy;
Ichthyosis; Acne and Varus; H. Circinnatus or Ring.
worm; Mentagra, &c. The "Appendix" contains some
important notices of " a few of the medicines employed
by the autlar in the treatment of chronic cutaneous dis-
crders." 'This little work supplies a very valuable con-
tribution towards the remedial treatment of some of the
most common, and, at the same time, most cruel diseases
that afflict humanity.

" Humboldt" and " The Railways " are both able
articles, discursive,lt is true, and full of play and fancy,
like some of the best productions of Maga, but, at the
same time, abounding with information, with a generally
corre* knowledge of the subject, and if not always
corning to a proper conclusion, throwing forth new ideas
-.a placing common-place matters in an interesting
light. The review of Humboldt's last production is the
best instance we have seen of the loose, yet useful and
fascinating writing, which distinguishes this Magazine.
It prefaced with a long introduction, and, like the in-
troduction to Sallust's History of the Cataline Conspi-
racy, might serve for any work whatever. It would do
for a book of travels, or a novel, or a history, or a treatise
on railways, a volume of sermons, a tragedy, a comedy, or
as farce, _and if the reader were not led to form
an. idea of shat was to follow from the heading of the
article, he would imagine that it was a lecture on edu-
cation, delivered by some teacher newly installed into
the London University, or a Birmingham College, or a
Mechanics Institute, while to his surprise he would find
it referred to Chimborazo, and Nundidevi, the rapids of
Orinoco, the pampas and Banos of Brazil, and the
snakes, alliga'ors, and panthers of the New World.
Speaking of the Oxford student the writer says, "His
head is lull of Homer, and Virgil, and Aschylus ; he
could tell vou all the amours of Mars and Venus, of
Jupiter and:Leda ; he could rival Orpheus or Pinder in
the melodies of his Greek verses, and Cicero or Livy in
the correctness of his Latin prose, but, as unfortunately
ha has to write neither about gods nor goddesses, but mere
mortals, and neither in Greek verse nor Latin verse,
but in good English prose, he is utterly at a loss for
thought or expression." 'This would apply equally well
to every trade, profession, or pursuit, with the exception
of perhaps one—the drulgery of an usher at Eton or
Harrow ; yet it refers only to the labours of a traveller
who takes a fancy for writing a hook. Cambridge is
treated with the same ceremony. The Cambridge man
knows how to solve cubic equations, is a master of loga-
rithms and the differential calculus, but as the world is
neither ii geometric world nor an algebraic world, a world
of conic sections or fluxions, but a world of plains
and mountains, of lakes and rivers, of men and
women, flesh and blood, ho finds his knowledge
of little or no avail. Specimens are then given
of the travels of sums celebrated scholars, among
others Cl,lrlte and Heber. and all are thrown
into the shade when Humboldt appears, because
the system of education in Germany is different ; and
an Englishm in who has spent the best part of his youth
in making; " nonsense verses," is totally unable to com-
pete with the Prussian, or Bavarian, or Saxon instructed
in all the elements of useful and general science. We
admit the truth of the censure, and only wish that the
monks of Oxford and Cambridge would make the same
admission, and mend their manners. The article on rail-
ways furnishes deep matter for reflection, while it posses-
ses the same discursive character, and displays the same
eccentricity. One pa -t of it struck us as peculiarly charac-
teristic of the Scotsman, prudent, cautious, argumentative,
and seldom forgetting either himself or his country.
Allusion is made tb the countless schemes for new lines,
and plans are proposed for making selections which shit!)
bring those most useful into operation. Among otb-a.s,
boards are recommended—one for England, an';iher for
Scotland, and another for Ireland ; but Scetiand, of the
three, has by far the strongest claim i:or preference on
the part of the Prime Minister. And why ? Because
the manufacture of kelp was tiestroyed some ten years
ago by a wicked Cabinet Minister (we believe Poulett
Thomson is referred to) largely connected with foreign
trade'; by whom, without inquiry, and without warning,
" the market was thrown open to competition from
without, barilta imported, and the staple . pro-
duct of the north of Scotland annihilated."
" There is now," adds the writer, " a great
oppprtunity of giving us a reasonable comnensation,
and "in the event of a restrictior, we so far claim pre-
cedence.'? This, however, is only a little episode, the
articici altogether is written in a good spirit, and laughs
to scorn those croakers who would crush the enterprising
spirit of ..Englishmen, because one speculation out of
twenty might fail. We ;ire hera a brief extract in
proof; and subjoin some verses from a rhapsody by a
" Provincial Committee of Contributors," too long for
insertion entire :

THE GRAN/1 GENERAL .J I'NCTION AND INDEFINITE EXTENSION
RAILWAY RHAPSODY.
Though the farmer's hope may perish,
While in floods the harvest lies,
• Speculation let us cherish,
. Let theßailway market rise!
Honest trader, whosoever,
Sick with losses, sad with cares,
Quit your burden, now or never,
• Cut, the shop and deal in shares.
Spendthrift—short of (Pink and dinners,
Half•pay-captain, younger son,
Boldly throw while all are winners,
Laugh henceforth at debt and dun.
Comp, ye saints, whose skill in cavilling,
Shock'd at skittleP, cards or dice,
Think.; except for Sunday travellirg,
Railway gaming is no vice.
Hitter haste, each black-leg fellow,
quit the turf or loaded bone;
Like your brother-black Othello,
OWn your occupation's gone.
Tribes that live by depredation—
• "Bulls" and " Bears," and birds of prey
• See the coming spoliation,
Scent the premiums far away.
"Stags!" your rapid forms revealing,
Show awhile your front so bright;
• . 'Hien from your pursuers stealing
' Vanish sudden out of sight.
•
Now no more the Ragfair dealer
hints with horrid breath " Old Cio';
. Putting toith another feeler,
" Any shares ?" he whispers low.
-EVery paper's a prospectus,
Nostrums, news, are at an end ;
"Easy shaving" don't affect us,
Silent even, " The Silent Friend."
Morison. resigns his bubbling,
-Lazenby has lost his zest;
Widow Welch hits ceased from troubling,
Weary Moses is at rest.
'Every station, age, and gender,
• Weep within the torrent dip;
Even our children, young and tender,
Play at games of nursery scrip.