The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-05 00:00:00

tie,

LONDON:
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 5. 1842.

The accounts reneged by the Overland Mail from
India, will be read with painful interest. A force,
amounting to between 5,000 and 6,000 men, had estab-
lished themselves at Cabool, and remained for some time
in friendly intercourse with the inhabitants. Intrigues,
however, were carried onin'secret,- and a wide-extended
plot was formed for thb deitruction of every English-
man and every soldier ,in the pay of England.
Proy:sions were stepped,, , the Natives were com-
pelled to join with the traitorous Chiefs, and the
English forces Leing reduced to the last extremity.
from want of supplies, agreed to leave the

country, on a gonrnntee that they would be allowed
to return witlumt m(dr:stati(ul They had proceeded,
however, only taco or three days' march when they found
they were betrayed ; they were attacked by the parties
who had promised them a safe passage through the
country, and after a desperate struggle, in a climate to

which the majority of the troops were unaccustomed, all
were put tO death or made prisoners. We have no of-
ficial details of the disaster ; indeed the only report we
have received is by a private letter from Bombay ; but,
taking the circumstances, stated in the letter, into ac-
count, and the numerous communications made
through other channels by the last mail, no doubt can
remain that the expedition has miserably failed, and
that the British arms have met with a reverse, from a

horde of barbarians, which they never sustained from
the best disciplined troops of Europe. We will not
enter into the cause of the war, or the expediency of
sending a small force to a country at such a distance
from our Indian frontier, but simply call the attention of
the public to our present position in the East. With
comparatively small forces we are carrying on great.
wars in two extremities of Asia ; we have numerors
states, bordering on our territories, ready to take advt n-
tage of our circumstances, and a few more defeats would
rouse them to imitate the example of the Affghans, and
set honour and treaties at defiance, to crush our power
in Indin. Russia, even supposing her agents had no

hand in this foul conspiracy, will rejoice at the result ;
SO will the Burmese ;. and the Emperor of Cum. will
-weep with joy when he hears that the red barbarians
have been slaughtered in the West. We have professed
friends too in Europe, as well as in America, who will
feel no sorrow at our reverses, but, on the contrary, take
advantage of our position, and endeavour to press forward
their own measures, while they believe England is unable
to resist. They will, however, find themselves mistaken.
England can suffer little from this disaster, if her Go-
vernment are only true to her interests; and conduct
thernsaves-like men. Let them, therefore, bestir them-
selves ill time ; no expense should be spared to wipe off.
this foul stain—this treacherous attack on men, who left
Cabool under the faith of a treaty, and were cruelly
rnaEsacrcd in cool bleed by those wl:o were sworn to
pry tect them. This country, as "WELLINGTON said,
cannot
,atii.rd to carry on a little war. A great war is
now ~forceli upon us, and if the men in power shrink from
their dt,ty in avenging the insult, we shall have a still
greater war. In order, therefore, to maintain our power
ih India, troops must be sent out not only to punish
the .Iffglinns, but to bring the contest with the Chinese
to a speedy conclusion. One of money spent in
time
might save tunnymillions, and the lives also of
The. Go vernment have no roefasothnetoe
many brave trio
doubt the people of England.
The history
kingdoms proves that when their honour, independence,
or interests are concerned, the people are never back-
and would submit to anything but disgrace.
Questions on the present state of our affairs in the East
will be put to Ministers in a few days, and we have little
doubt that answers will be given which will be hailed
with enthuaiasm by every friend of his country.

Tl:e business of Parliament after the holidays begun
rather spiritless. The Members were slow in assem-
bling. The Ministerial benches remained long unoccu-