THE FRENCH PRESS ON INDIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 528, 25 November 1857, Page 4

THE FRENCH PRESS ON INDIA.

The Bengal mutiny is commented on at much length by most of the Paris journals, and in general their views and declarations are more favourable to the British cause than was at first the case. The 'Sidcle,' ever staunch to the English alliance, condemns the few French journals that have rejoiced over the difficulties of England, or have ventured to predict the decline of her power. The following is an extract! from that journal: —

i "The serious events which at present1 menace the power of Great Britain have ' naturally communicated fresh ardour to the enemies of the English alliance. .'Certain journals perceive danger for England in Egypt, Persia, India, China, Greece, Canada, and other countries, and, to judg-e from their conclusions, England's days are numbered. We cannot for our part so soon forget that our soldiers wear on their breasts, as a.mark of honour, the effigy of Queen Victoria; Were a revolt to burst out to-morrow in Algeria, which God forbid, and we were to see the English rejoice over that event and prognosticate our ruin, we .should assuredly treat them as-bad allies; we should point out to them the sacrifices made by France at Inkermann and elsewhere. But another reason ought :also to restrain the said journals from condemning the existence of England—viz., the simple fact that she is still upright and unhurt. We cannot lose sight of the history of our ally, formerly our gigantic foe—we cannot forget those wonderful strokes of fortune which her energy had prepared. We know the immensity of her resources—the' struggles she has formerly sustained—and, far from considering present events as a blow, we look upon them as a warning, from which she will derive profit. England will learn (what the Crimean war and the contests with Persia and China have also taught her) that if commerce and finances are powerful auxiliaries they must be supported by a military organisation based on equality. We are persuaded that the English will understand, and will impress that knowledge on their public, men, that the time of old traditions has passed, as likewise that of a tortuous policy. -A frank and decided policy is the only one suitable to the present age. We are convinced that the English are well able to meet their present dangers. We have seen in China how they can strike when necessary, and certainly British patriotism will accomplish all that is required in India. Without aspiring to prophetic powers, we foresee that the first result of the Hindoo crisis will be the transfer of the administration of India from the hands of the Company to those of the British Government. India will become an English colony." The * Gazette de France' (Legitimist) expresses itself in the following terms:— "The old system of colonization has crumbled to pieces, and England has a new world before her; it is on the manner that she will comprehend her task that depends either a new lease of greatness or the ruin of hen commercial and political preponderance. This prediction is by no means cxi aggerated. India has formed the strength and power of England; and it is through that empire that she exercises that undoubted supremacy in the world which Russia now covets, and which formerly was exercised by France. An attack on the Indian colonies is tantamount to an attack on the mother country; all political or military man who have undertaken, or wished to undertake, a campaign against English influence, have turned their eyes towards her Asiatic possessions. The projected expedition of Napoleon to the banks of the Indus lias not been'forgotten, and we have recently seen Russia at work in the same region. As regards the new organization o£ the army, the Company will experience great and perhaps unconquerable difficulties. The system which consisted in employing

native forces as a means of defence is_exploded for everj on the other hand it is equally impossible to confide the active service to European troops. Without entering* deeper into this complicated question England, we perceive, is engaged in one of the greatest struggles she has ever had to sustain/ and on the result of which depend her fortune, her influence, and glory." The ' Univers' indulges in the followingsingular insinuation:—, ■*■ It is a matter of surprise that the majority of the consorts of the kings who rule the petty States of India under the protection of the English Government give birth only to daughters. Is this result to be attributed to the Providence which watches over the interests of the Company, or are the -mid-wives who deliver these queens bribed to substitute female for male children?" i