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

trontiribitton

SUN OFFICE Three o'Cloch.

CHINA AND INDIA,

By the Overland Mail front India we have received
letters, papers, and advices front Bombay of the 4th of
May, Madras of the 13th of April, Calcutta of the 21st,
Caubul of the 12th, Candahar of the sth, Lahore of the
10th, and from Delhi of the 30th of the same month ;
also front Chusan of the 3d of March, from Macao of the
6th, and from Burmah of the 30th of that month.

Of this mass of intelligence the news from Affghanis-
tan only is of paramount importance. Since the date of
the accounts brought by :the last Overland Mail, our
arms have sustained two reverses, and achieved an equal
number of triumphs in Affghanistan.
The first and most important of our reverses is the
surrender of the fortress of Ghuznee by Colonel
PALMER on the Ist of March, and the supposed slaughter
of the garrison by the Ghazees tribe as soon as they had
marched out of the city. COI. PALMER was aware of
the murder of Sir Wm. M'ICAonTEN, the seizure of
General ELPHINSTONE, and the destruction of the Bri-
tish army at Caubul ; and yet, with an inconsistency
for which we find it impossible to account, he
stipulated that his small force should be conducted to a
city the inhabitants of which were madly drunk with
the blood of nearly ten thousand of his countrymen !
When the garrison surrendered, Colonel PALMER
states than he had but 300 men ; of whom
100 were wounded ; that he had not more
water than would have supplied him forty-eight
hours, and that, to escape massacre, no other course was
left him. As if apprehensive that all this would not form
a sufficient justification, he adds that General EL-
muNsToNE had ordered him to abandon the cita-
del. This is very extraordinary, and reflects no
credit either upon ELPHINSTONE Or PALMER.
That under the influence of fear General ELPHINSTONE,
when a prisoner in the hands of the Affghans, should
order Colonel PALMER to evacuate so strong a fortress
as that of Ghuznee, is not more surprising than that
Colonel PALMER should pretend to pay the slightest
regard to it. The whole affair appeared to the Go-
vernor-General so suspicious that he had directed a
court-martial, to inquire into the conduct of both officers,
and also into that of the political chiefs in connection
with the destruction of the army at Caubul.
The second reverse is trifling and temporary, save that
it has cost the country the, life of two brave officers—
Captain HAY and Major ABTHORPE. General ENGLAND
was repulsed in attempting to force the Kojuck
Pass, and retired to Quetta to await the arrival of re-in-
forcements. There was no doubt that his second
attempt would be successful, as he had difficulty in re-
straining the valour of his men who called loudly to be
led a second time to the charge.

We now come to the really bright side of the picture,
and gloriously bright it is. The gallant General SALE,
besieged in Jellalabad by AKRBAR KHAN, at the head of
6,000 Affghans, being apprehensive that AEHBAR was
about to raise the siege to attack General Pou.ocx in
the Khyber Pass, made a sortie, in which he com-
pletely routed the Affghans, burned their camp, seized all
their stores and ammunition, and recovered four of the
British guns taken at the Caubul massacre. The victory
cost this country the life of one of the bravest and best
officers in India, Colonel DENNIE.

In a style equally gallant and daring General Pen,
LOCK forced the Khyber Pass on the sth of April. Lieu-
tenant CUMMING, a promising young officer, was here
killed. There was not the least doubt entertained of the
junction of the forces under Generals SALE and Por.-
Loci( being safely effected.
Lord ELLENBOURGII was commencing a course of
vigorous operation. Accompanied by his Secretaries he
had proceeded to the Upper Provinces of Bengal to be
nearer to the grand scene of action. It is much re-
gretted that Lord ELLENBOBOUGII did not pro-
ceed by the Overland route to India, by which
means he would have arrived in Bombay al-
most simultaneously with the breaking out of the
insurrection in Caubul. The news of the murder of the
SHALT SOOJAH, by his own people, was confirmed.
More welcome intelligence could hardly reach the new
Governor-General. It rids him of that worst of all in-
cumbrances—a treacherous ally.
G reat complaints are made of the paucity of officers in
active service in India. One Journal states that there
were not two to each company. This is a great evil, and
unless speedily remedied, may prove the destruction of
thousands of our men. The war in Affglianistan has
already demonstrated that no men fight better than our
Sepoys, when well officered. But without an abundance
of officers to lead and encourage the men in battle,' and
to inspire them with enthusiasm for the honour of their
flak, no army can be expected to fight well.

From China the news is of no importance. We give
" Celestial" Proclamation against the "red-bristled bar-
barians," which only served to amuse the Plenipoten-
tiary. The forts along the Canton river were nearly
finished, and part of them had been unmasked. A
Proclamation had been issued by Sir H. POTTINGER, in
which it is declared that Hong-Kong and Chusan will
remain in the possession of England till our demands
are complied with by the EmPEnott ; and that
they :shall . be considered free ports, equally open
to . the ships of all nations. The Chinese in-
habitants are invited to return and reside under
British protection. Amoy is also to remain a free port
in our possession for the present. Sufficient warning
is to be given, to permit all property to be removed
from it should it afterwards be resolved upon to restore
it to China. One of the stipulations to be in-
sisted on before these possessions be returned, is
perfect immunity from punishment for the natives
who may. have thrown themselves on our protec-
tion during existing troubles. The forces with the Ex-
pedition were in excellent health. The Head Quarters
of the General Stair was at Ningpo. It was understood
that the naval and military commanders to the north-
ward were authorised by the Plenipotentiary to act, in
case of emergency, according to the best of their dis-
cretion. The Bengal Volunteers had embarked for Cal-
cutta ; the 37th Madras Native Infantry were just about
to return to India ; the English troops were ready to,
land and be housed in barracks at Hong-Hong. The
Bombay Journals complain of Sir H. POTTINGER'S in-
action. We suppose he is merely waiting for reinforce-
ments from England.

The French Journals received this morning contain
but little news of interest. We give the following ex-

,racts frora them :

Yes!prday we noticed an absurd paragraph about an Eng-
lish squadron sailing to occupy the Regency of Tripoli; and,
to-day, we find the following letter, if pos,ible still more ridi-
culous : _ _

" A letter from Toulon, May 30, says :—' According to in-
formation derived from the beat sources, we have every reason
to believe that the American squadron in the Mediterraneon is
at present in Morocco, and it appears certalt that instructions
were lately forwarded to the little French squadron commanded
by. M. Tarpin, relative to the attitude which it was to assume
verth respect to the American squadron.'"
The Journal de Smyrne of the 1911, ult., says:—" The
French brig La Fleche has just returned into harbour from the
coast of Greece. She conhrms the account of the attack by
pirates upon the Petit Matelot, and states that no similar at-
tempt has been made."
The birthday of Queen Victoria was celebrated at Vienna
by a splendid banquet given by the British Ambassador to the
Grand Dignitaries of the Court and State, and the Corps Diplo-
matique.
A letter from Tours states that a company of foreign bankers
has made offers to the Government to undertake the execution
of the railroad between Orleans and Nantes.— Go/ignani's
Messenger.
The Journal de Srryrne announces that serious disturbances
took place at Ainatz, on the 4th and sth of May. Ibrahim
Bey had caused six of the Primates of the ccuntry to be treache-
rously arrested ; on this the people rose, besieged Ibrahim in

his palace. and obliged him to set the Primates at liberty.
In this affray nine Turks and three of the rioters were
wounded. The latter assembled next day to form a sort
of popular Government ; they have also made purchases of
powder and ball, with the intention of resisting the trcops
which may be shortly expected from Constantinople.
The Fleche French brig, which arrived at Smyrna on the
18th. brought arrivals from Arivali of the 12th :—'• Outward
tranquillity," says the Journal de Smyrne, " prevailed in that
place ; it is, however, evident from the irritation of the people's
minds, that it is requisite for the Porte to adopt speedy and
energetic measures. The appearance of the Fleche had an
excellent effect at Arivali."— Commerce.