The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-04 00:00:00

Cte mt.

LONDON
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 4, 1842.

INDIAN NEWS.

13y an Extraordinary Express from Paris we learn
that the Overland Mail from India arrived at Marseilles
on Wednesday night. It brings. no news from China
nor did we expect any, as sufficient time has not elapsed
for conducting the operations which Plenipotentiary Sir
H. POTTINGER designed to carry on against Pekin.
We have important, and to some extent distressing in-
telligence from Affghanistan. The most painful news
is the surrender of the strong fortress of Ghuznee,
where Colonel PALMER commanded, the celebrated
storming of which by General KEANE was rewarded
with a Peerage and a pension. Compelled by hunger
to capitulate, Colonel PALMER agreed to evacuate the
town, on a promise for a safe conduct for himself and
his men to Caubul. From this circumstance we may
infer that he knew nothing' of the destruction
of the army commanded by General ELP/lINSTONE, and

the foul murder
.of BURNES, and. 2.I4NAcuTEN. The
mail which brought the first account of the destruction
of our troops in Caubul, brought likewise the news that
the Affghans had taken the town of Ghuznee, and that

Colonel PALMER was shut up with a single Seboy regi-
ment in the citadel, with provisions for six months. The
probability is, that he had not supplies for one third of
the time. The snow was then very deep, and the
Sepoys, accustomed to the mild climate of Ilindostan,
were suffering dreadfully from the cold. That so strong
a fortress should have been left in so weak a state of
defence, is very discreditable to the British authorities in
Affelanistan.
This is the sad side of the picture.. Fortunately, the re-
verse side presents a more cheering appearance. Colonel
POLLocK has forced the celebrated Khyber Pass, and
fortified all the works commanding it, preparatory to
marching to the relief of General Sir R. SALE, at Jells-
labad. That Gallant Officer not only held his ground,
but made a sortie, in which he routed and killed a con-
siderable body of the enemy. General KNOT, at Can-
dollar, made frequent sallies upon the insurgents, in
shies they invariably had the worst of it. He was in
expectation of being joined by General ENGLAND with
reinforcements.

The possession of the Khyber Pass is some consolation
for the loss of Caubul and Ghuznee. It places one or
the great gates of the kingdom in our power, to open
and shut at our pleasure. We have not yet heard at
what sacrifice of Inungn life this advantage was pur-
chased, but we should suppose it considerable.
Rumours were afloat that SITAR SOO,I IR was poisoned,
and that the assassin AITITBAR KHAN was severely
trotmded. This news, if true, is very importauL SHAH
:•SooJAll conic! not die at a more propitious moment, as•
re;;;ards the interests of tni3 country. His death would
rid us of a treacherous ally, in favour of whom the
Indian Government entered into engagements totally at
variance with every dictate of sound policy. At half
the expense of a single campaign in Afghan-
istan—and Goo knows bow many more cam-
paigns are before us—we could have purchased
the firm friendship of DosT MOHAMMED, whose
devotion to Russia was at no time so great as to give
way to the influence of a well-timed present. We pre-
ferred, or rather Lord AUCKLAND preferred, trusting to
a fool, not remembering that in ninety-nine cases out of
every hundred, where you find a fool you find also a
knave. We do not expect the arrival of the India papers
before Monday.
From China we have no news whatever.

A considerable sensation was excited last night in the
House of Commons, by l‘fr. FERRAND exhibiting
placard which has been profusely circulated in the
manufacturing districts, and has excited a much
greater sensation there than in the House of Com-
mons. Our readers will scarcely be surprised at
that, when they read the placard, which will be
found in our Parliamentary report. It is satisfactory to
lmrn from Sir J. GRAHAM, that no outrages have taken
place, but we would not hare the Government and the
landowners therefore infer that the minds of the people
have not been and are not intensely affected. Deep
water is still ; the bubbling noisy splashing brook, runs
over the surface and conceals no danger from the view.
A Correspondent at Birmingham, where also the placard
has been posted, says— _ _

Such has been the effect which the exhibition of these
placards tended to create in Birmingham, that it appears to
have done more towards reconciling the hostile feelings of the
Chartists towards the Corn-law Repealers, than anything that
has heretofore taken place.
Immediately on the receipt of (he posters, I caused one to be
exhibited in the immediate neighbourhood of my residence,
and such was the interest felt, that 1 was literally besieged by
applicants, chiefly Chartists, for clpies of the same ; and the
neighbourhood has been crowded, so as to render it impassable.
Whilst Arthur O'Neill was lecturing on the subject of the
placard to a crowded meeting of " Christian" Chartists, at his
church, the friends of O'Connor were equally alive in obtaining
numbers of the bills to distribute amongst their friends. So
that I think we may venture to hope, by these unexpected con-
cessions, approving the language and motives of the Corn-law
Repealers by their late opponents, the Chartists, that the good,
old spirit of union is again taking its wonted place in the hears
and affections of the men of the Midland districts—of the heart
of England—of Warwickshire—of Birmingham—of the toy-
shop of Europe, and armoury of the world.
I- hail the signal concession of the Chartists of my native
town as a good omen of the future. What benefit is to be an-
ticipated by either party from incessant bickerings and eternal
differences about nothing. Such conduct may conduce to the
interest of the public swindler and Jew-jobber, but not to the
interest of the public tradesman, the enterprising merchant, and
the humble mechanic. _

The placard will speak for itself. Whatever danger
may come ; however intense may be the feelings of the
people—and we have long been well assured that they
would neither lay themselves down and die, nor accept
that as alms which they demand as a right—we hay
the consolation of knowing that we have warned the
Government, over and over again, of the terrible perils
which unjust legislation is bringing on the empire. Sir
ROBERT PEEL has proclaimed in the House of Com-
mons, that the authority of Parliament is falling into
contempt ; and now we have starving multitudes echoing
the cry of murder against the Legislature. Is it possible
for a body, based in corruption, and openly accused of
such foul deeds, to excite any other sentiments than
contempt and indignation ? Mind has its own laws as
well as matter ; and an apple does not fall to the ground
with more certainty than such sentiments arise, when
those who claim honour and meek obedience, as the
protectors of the people, are convicted of betraying and
starving them.

We received last night the Hamhurgh Mail, with
intelligence from different parts of Germany. The only
communication of importance is from Berlin. The King
of PRUSSIA,it would appear, since his visit to this coun-
try, has turned his attention to the great influence of
newspapers on the community, and a Conference is to
be held in a few days, at which his Majesty will preside,
the object of which is to do away with the present la*
of censorship, and establish anoth'er on the most liberal
principles. The Minister of the Interior has published
a circular, addressed to the Chief Presidents of
the provinces, enjoining them to send in general
accounts of the periodical press, and daily literature.
All the Journals which require a license from the Minis-
try are to be included in this report, which is to state
the character and standing of the Journals, their value
and usefulness, the number printed, their circulation in
the provinces, and their class of readers. Accounts of
foreign Journals are to be added, stating the numbers
circulated, and among what classes. The plan, on the
whole, is good, but some parts of it are highly objection-
able. A public functionary will make a return of the
" value and usefulness" of a Journal according to his
own political or religious opinions, and may, therefore,
make a very unjust impression as to its real
merits. If the same rule were to be applied
to the journals of this country, we suspect Sir JAMES
GRAHAM would be much puzzled in making use of the
return. He would find some discrepancies between the
reports of the Lord Mayor of London and the Lord
Mayor of Dublin.

Many of our English readers know little, and probably
care less, about the dissensions which have so long pre-
railed in the Scotch Church, but as missionaries from
one of the sections are to proceed to this part of the
II kingdom, to enlighten the benighted inhabitants, it may
be necessary to give the public some insight into the
character of these divines. however much they may be
distinguished for piety and zeal against Intrusion, and
many other qualities which they regard as great virtues
of one attribute, that of mercy, they . seem utterly
destitute. "By their fruits ye shall know them." We
shall therefore state a few facts, in order that those in-
terested may be able to judge. The dissensions date
from the year 1834, when the party that had long
formed a minority in the Church gained the ascendant,
And they bare held it with a high hand ever since. They
paFsed a law which all the civil Courts pronounced
illegal, and with a view to enforce that law, they hare
gone on,. year after year, deposing from the holy
ministry some of the most useful members of the Church.
Within the last thirteen mouths only they have deposed
some seventeen or eighteen clergymen, under various
pretences, but virtually for obedience to the law of the I
land. They deposed only one of their own party, but that
was for a high offence, a scandalous case, which
could not be concealed from the public eye. Some
of the cases this year mark in a peculiar degree
the spirit which animates these men. One of these
is that of Mr. WiLsoN, of Stranraer, now about
seventy years of age, who had filled the office for
nearly forty years, and was much beloved. The other is
the case of Mr. DUGUID, presented to a living by the
Duke of RICHMOND, with the approbation of a vast
number of parishioners. 4n addition to these penalties,
they have suspended from their judicial functions eleven
clergymen at once, and threaten to suspend or depose
all who refuse obedience to their illegal Veto Act. Con-
duct like this has all the appearance of madness, and
might be regarded with pity, were the consequences to
those thrust out of the Church not so afflicting. As a,
contrast to this we may add, that till the Non-Intru-
sionista obtained the majority in the Assembly, the depo-
sition of a clergyman was a matter of rare occurrence,
happening not oftener than once in ten years, and gene-
rally for itnmorality.

The French journals of every shade of opinion, loudly
condemn the Chamber of Deputies, for the rejection
of the three Railway Bills mentioned in The Sun of
yesterday.

There is a dearth of news of any interest in the French
journals, save what is given in our Fereign Summary.
The Rainier steamer arrived at Toulon on the 28th of May
from Algiers, which it left on the 25tb, with 350 passenrra,
well military as others. It left at Algiers the Is oe, the
Euryale, the Etna, the %autour, the Fulton, the Clouded",
and the Tartarc.
On the 23d of May the extedition left Algiers to join the
Governor-General at Alilianah, or in the environs, as we have
announced. The several corps commenced their movements
on the 22d, to proceed to the point of union, which was said
to be the map of the Chiffa, between Blidel, Beuffaricfc, and

leah. Lieutenant-Colonel Regnault is immuring with a
battalion towards the approaches of the Massif, to protect the
reapers. It is generally affirmed that the crop of hay will be
extremely abundant.
The Arabs show themselves at almost every point in the
vicinity of the Sahel. They are seen sometimes in bands of
7,8, 15, or 20; sometimes they are much more numerous;
we have counted as many as 300 horsemen. Accordingly,
fearing an attack on the side towards the Rassanta, where the
military criminals are employed in mowing, Colonel Marengo
set out on the 23d with 60 men, to reinforce the battalion
already there ; he has taken a piece of artillery with him.—
Commerce.