The Sun. — 1857-04-25 (London, England)

JAMES BROOKE—escaped by a miracle, having had to swim for his life across a creek. In this case, however, summary vengeance was taken on the offenders. With the aid of a steamer that subsequently arrived, Sir Janus, at the head of a body of Malays and Dyaks, avenged the destruction of the settlement by the destruction of two thousand of the Chinese Pirates. It is clear that the war, on the part of the Chinese, is not only against England and the English, but against Europe and America—that the murder of every person of a different race, who may be so unfortunate as to fall within their power, has been decided. We must, therefore, persevere with unflinching resolution, and spare no effort to bring them to a speedy sense of the real state of affairs, to teach them the real power of the so-called " barbarians." Under the circumstances, promut and vigorous action is the most humane course that can be adopted. By teaching them the futility of resistance, and exacting ample atonement for the wrongs perpetrated under their authority and sanction, we shall be exhibiting real mercy, and reduce the inevitable loss of life less than a tenth of that which must result from the adoption of a milk-and-water policy. There must be neither temporising nor inaction. We should send our best officers and men, those on whose energy and determina'ion implicit confidence can be reposed.  We fear, however, that in selecting MajorGeneral the Hon. THOMAS ASHBURNHAM for the Chief Command, the Government have not put "the right man in the right place." He has, unquestionably, many aristocratic connexions and possesses the " handle to his name" so highly prized at the Horse Guards, without which no General can hope for a high command. But we look in vain for the other qualifications so indispensable for the leader in such an enterprise. He is brother to the Earl of AsnBURNHAM, cousin to the Earl of BEVERLEY and Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, and many others of the haute noblesse. But where are the services to justify the selection ? From letters that recently appeared in the Times it would seem that he owed his appointment as one of her MAJESTY'S aide-de-camps for " having, according to the despatches, manoeuvred with great coolness and success as a reserve." Indeed, if we are to credit the statement of the Times' correspondent, "M. L.," there was so much coolness that he delayed executing the orders he had received, and that when the Maichan should have been stormed by the regiment under his command, the troops were quietly reposing in the not very glorious shelter of a nullah, or dry water-course. This might certainly have produced ♦ery "great coolness," but certainly not of the description to justify the selection of such a leader for high employment requiring the utmost , promptitude. According to the same authority, the success consisted in taking possession of an undefended fort, which had previously been deserted by its garrison ! ! The despatch respecting the transaction shows that there was a great mistake somewhere. It contains the following passage :—" It was directed that this—the taking of the Maichan—should be done during the night of the 9th, but the execution of this part of the plan was deferred, owing to miscon ceptions and casual circumstances, until near daybreak." Surely the Hon. Major-General, or rather " Lieutenant-General while engaged on a particular service," should exhibit some higher qualifications for such arduous and important duties as those for which he has been chosen. We know nothing of Major• General ASHBURNHAM, and can have no personal feeling in the mat ter. But the honour and interests of the country are too deeply involved to permit us to remain silent under the circumstances. England has already suffered too severely from the selection of very aristocratic, but very inefficient commanders. The system that has led to such deplorable results must be altogether changed. Red-tapism  has had its day. A man enjoying the confidence  of the entire country is required, and the army lis  must be singularly deficient in tried and experienced  generals, if the best man that could be found  for the emergency is the Honourable