The Sun. — 1859-08-11 (London, England)

CALCUTTA, JULY 4.  The affair of the sth Europeans is over, and the quarrel between the soldiers of the old army and the Government may be considered settled. There was something so comic mixed up wi h the proceedings of the men at Berhampore, something so utterly bizarre and unexpected in some of their acts, that you will find even officers disposed to treat the mutiny with c rntempt. It was, however, a serious affair. The regiment was about 600 strong, and had expressed its opinion in the matter of the transfer with offensive clearness. It continued, however, to do duty until the arrival of some deserters from Allahabad, who taunted the men with doing unnecessary duty. Nearly 500 of the men. hereupon refused to do any duty whatever, upon which the commanding officer, Major Maitland, ordered the officers to withdraw. This step exasperated the men, as it implied a danger of assassination, and they elected officers of their own, one Marshall being chosen colonel, and assisted by a major, two captains, and four sergeants. Major Maitland. now withdrew all servants, punkah coolies, rum, and, in fact, everything except rations, which it was impossible to stop without an explosion. Fortunately for all parties, Marshall turned out a man of some capacity and resolution. He threatened to flog the first man caught looting, and carried his menace into execution. Another man, guilty of disrespect, received 50 lashes, and the regiment was brought into a state of discipline to which it was entirely unaccustomed. The men played cricket under their officers' noses, but otherwise remained quiet enough, opening, however, a correspondence with the 6th at Hazareebagh. At last, on the 26th of June, Colonel Kenneth Mackenzie, Deputy-Adjutant-General—not Colonel Colin Mackenzie, who only went up to protect Moorsheg. abad—arrived with 1,000 men of her Majesty's 99th and the Buffs, and four guns. He placed his men and offered the mutineers 24 hours to consider themselves. If at the expiration of that time they returned to duty, a court of inquiry would be held' i;it.o their grievances ; if not lie should employ forv. The men, 39 excepted, submitted, and. the recusants were arrested. The court of inquiry is now sitting, but it seems perfectly understood that the men will be simply discharged.  I feel very doubtful whether even the ringleaders will be punished. The discharge will apparently be nearly universal. Of 50 recruits at Barrackpore, all /demanded it except two. All the men in the arsenal took it at once, and even the Governor-General's band declared their resolution to resign.' The sth, it is known, will go en masse, a id letters begin to come in speaking of discharges by the hundred. We shall, in fact, lose the whole substance of the Company's European army, which has thus, like its native. comrade, committed suicide. The men calculate on a pleasant voyage to England without work, three months holiday at home, and re-enlistment on fresh bounty. They. share, moreover, the feeling of dislike to the country, now so laniintably strong among officers, and have been, finaltP)-.lidle in the tropics for months. The Governor-General has ordered that Thursday, the 28th of July, shall be kept as a day of thanksgiving for the restoration of peace in India: There is literally no further news, except that the Supreme Council has been reduced to one man —Sir James Outram. Sir Barnes Peacock has taken his seat in the Supreme Court, Sir B. Frere is still in Scinde, and Mr, Ricketts is away sick at the Neilgherries. Mr. Harrington, member for the North-west has accordingly been called to Council for the nonce—a step almost without a precedent.