ENGLISH NEWS.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 117, 3 December 1858, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

ARRIVAL OF THE MAIL. {From the Home News, September 16.) Thr great fact in the history of the month, as it will hereafter become one of the most memorable facts in the history of the world, is the decease of the East India Company. It is impossible to regarJ the spectacle of a great corporation, the founder of a vast empire, drifting quietly into oblivion, without being deeply impressed by a sense of the vanity and instability of all human power. The house in Leadenhallsireet betrays no external symptom of this mighty change. The same faces are still to be seen thero; the same porters and messengers ar«s still lounging in their easy chairs, or loitering about tho waiting rooms; all the offices are as full as usu:»l; a!id the corridors aud stairs echo the footsteps of officials aud visitors as busily as ever. Those is cot a single feature i» the aspect of the establishment that could indicate, to the eyes of a stranger, the revoiuti< n which, within the last, few days, has taken place within its wal's. Yet the change is so comprehensive aud complete, that it is very inadequately expressed by the bare announcement of the transfer of the Government from tho Company to the Crown. Tho arrangements that will b» nooessarv to carry out this transfer, to organise the staff by which it is to be put into working order, and to transplant from the City lo the west-end, for the convenience of ParUimenf, the archives of ihe Company, embracing the civil, military, political, and financial history of the conquests of nearly two centuries, are of a magnitude that cannot be readily conceived, except by persona who are conversant in sonic degree with the details of the business transacted in the various departments of the India-house. •It is a practical rebuke to the ambition of men, to observe how tranquilly the stream of human being:? outsido the doors of the extinct corporation, while the body may be said io be lying dead within, flows on in its ordinary course. The routine <>f the street proceeds exactly as if nothing particular had happened to disturb its daily life. Of the crowds who pass and repuss that edifice, perhaps not one in a thousand is conscious of what has just taken p!ac3 there, not one in a thousand turns to look upon what was once the palace, and is no?/ the sepulchre of a dynasty, and the commonest cares of the day possess more immediate interest' for the eager London population th;n the cessation of an authority more wonderful in its rise., progress, and fall than any government the world has ever seen. But whoever stops and reflects upon this event must be seriously affected by the images of past enterprise, sagacity, ■and heroism it will call up before him, and the thoughts of the 4ark and doubtful future it cannot fail to suggest. Even with the utmost confidence in the propriety and wisdom of the change, and a fervent belief that the Imperial Administration will be guided by the purest principles, no man can contemplate the period of transition without being conscious of an involuntary shudder of apprehension. Tho faults of omission and commission laid to the charge of the East India Company are already forgotten; and nothing remains on the public mind but it profound feeling of pride in its achievements, and gratitude for -its services. Seeing what the Company has done in the face of unexampled difficulties, the distinguished men it hag produced, the territory it has acquire.!, the force it has raised and disciplined, the trade it has conducted, the paths it has thrown open to the energy of the middle classes of this ovcr-burihened country, and the freedom from jobbery, .and comipti.in, and sinister influences by which its ■•course has been honorably marked; and bearing in recollection that all this has been accomplished by a body untrammelled by Parliamentary interests, and beyond the reach of aristocratic favoritism, a body that drew its vital breath from the people at large, and that recognised no claims to advancement or distinction except the claims of merit ;-—seeing these things, and will) all these i facts before us, it is not possible to contemplate unmoved the grave risks that must attend the new government, which assumes so heavy a responsibility undfo* circumstances so entirely different. We believe that the success of the East India Company was mainly attributable to its remoteness from the rocks and quicksands to which the vessel of the State at home U ■constantly exposed. No great families hung like birds of prey over its plaee3 of power and emolument ; it was under no obligation to provide for younger sons, hungry depeudants, or political adherents j it had no electioneering (objects to promote; and party intrigues were unknown to its administration. With the highest aud noblest aims, and tho sternest resolution to govern India for the benefit of India, it will, we imagine, be impracticable for future Indian Ministers to render themselves wholly independent of the evils which the East India Company £ were, thus effectual:y enabled to avoid. Parliamentary government, must exercise its inevitable effect ujon iho Indian department, as upon aH otliev departfjieats ■of the State. Ministers must maintain their majorities ; and majorities must, be cultivated, i and kept in good humour by the usual araeni- ■ ties; high connections must continue,, to some extent at least, to take the precedence of mere desert; and although the council may. at first, cheek any tendoucy towards nepotism that may shew itself, it would bo contrary to all'expo-' rienco no{< to suppose that Iho council must, take .its tone from the Minister at last. It is with

no distrust of the hai}ds in which this responsi-j bility is placed, that we give expression to reflections which must arise to all persons whose1 attention has beoti drawn to the subject. Wo believe iho transfer io have become a measure of necessity ; ami our desire is that the perils which are inseparable from it should be seen cleirly in advance. Must heartily do we concur in 1 lie prayer of the resolution moved by Mr. Helps, that it nifty please iho Almighty God to bless the Queen's reign in India, aud prosper her efforts for the welfare of her Eust Indian subjects. The intelligence recently received from China is of a very unexpected character. The submissiyii of his-Celestial Mnjesr.y embraces every point essential to the establishment of friendly relations between China and the outer baibai*ians, and to the recognition of China amongst the civilised nations of the earth. All the ports of the Empire of tlie Sun and Moon are |to be thrown open ; the Christian religion U to !be tolerated; onsuls and ambassadors are to be freely admitted,"even tv Pekin if necessary; and England and France are to he fully indoni- ! nified f»r the pecuniary saciifices they have incurved in bringing about this result. The concessions are complete and final; and what the Times calls the great moral wall of China is blown down for ever. The supporters of tie policy of Lord Pahnerstmi justly take credit for this groat nchieve meat, although the present glory of it descends upon Lord IVrby and hh colleagues, by whom, o»t of office, the whole onrse of our proceedings in the Chinese waters was condemned and resisted. Tt is related of Cardinal Muzavin that he always manifested a preference for lucky people over people of the hisfhpst wisdom and sagacity. When a person was extolled in bis presence, or .recommended to him for offices of trust or advancement, on account of superior talents or attainments, he invariably inquired, "Is he lucky ?" If the answer was in the affirmative, Mazarin's patronage was secured; if otherwise, the superior talents and attainments went fin* nothing. We may readily conceive how L-ird Derby would have been cherished by Mnzariu. Pits whole administration has been a stries of the most remarkable lucky chances on ie.:oi\l, aud this last incident is the crowning stroke of his good fortune. The*e very demands which the Celestial monarch has just conceded to us, and in the cession of which tlie interests of commerce and freedom a!! over (he globe are. more or less, concerned, were condemned by Lord Derby in unmeasured terms. " I am tlie advocate," lie exclaimed, " for weakness iigaiu.it power, for perplexed and bewildered barbarians against the arrogant demands of overweening, self-styled, civilisation/ 3 Nor is it to be furgotten how Lord Malmeslmry denounce.! the wickedness of this war; and how Mr Cohden and Mr. Milner Gibson, ami Mr. Bright went into fits of virtuous indignation at the very first step that was taken to bring the Chinese to reason and justice ; and how the good sense of the country rectified the political error of the Manchester patriots,, by depriving tbem of their seats on tiie next possible opportunity. It will not be very e.isy for Lord Derby to reconcile his futurs course with his | ast views of Chinese affairs; but. seeing what ■ bus foaeu done in the nffiiirs of In.lia and in the matter of the Jews, and what, is supposed to be about to be done on the long-vexe.l quesiicn of Reform, (here is no ground for doubting ilnt Lord Derby will turn his luck iv this last instance to the best possible account, and a-ice he can no longer prevent the vicoi-y he will, at least, wear the Uap-el. A great w.ork lies before him. We imveeftVc'ed a new conquest, which will open up vast acquisitions of wealth aiiil honor to generations yet unborn ; and notwithstanding she former protos:s of Lord Derby aird his friends, we believe they will now labor earnestly to consolidate the benefits conferred--on (he country through the policy of their predecessors.

Since our l»st the prospectus of the Indian and Australian Telegraph Company, limited, has been issued 'I he fir.-;fc section is to extend from Ceylon to Singapore, and ultimately it is proposed to carry the submarine wires to China'and Australia. The capital for the first section is fixed ?.t half a million sterling, in shares of (.30 each, with a deposit of 2*. Tho subscription list has already been .eagerly -filled up, and was accordingly closed on August 27. Of course, no steps will be taken in the matter without the express sanction of Government, and a Government guarantee similar to that accorded ;to the Red Sea Te'egraph Company. The-directors of the -Indian and Auslriliun Telegraph Company have had an interview with the Treasury, at which application was made fov a Government guarantee of 4^ per cent, upon the capital, as '' in the case of the Red Sea Telegraph Company. The application was favorab'y received, slid it is believed will be granted. The shares to-day cosed at £to £ pvem. Tlie prospoct of extended commercial relations with China renders the speedy prosecution of the project essential; and, th refore, it -can scarcely be doubted that the Government will see :the advisability of granting a guarantee. From the first announcement of the undertaking the directors app-jar to have acted with .praiseworthy promptitude.and energy, and to this the smallness of their number lias probably conduced in no small degree. A submarine telegraph ca'.le of about 300 miles is i n course of manufacture at Mr. Henley's works, to connect the colony of Victoria with Tasmania. Nothing further has transpired this week reg*r<3in,' the Atlantic telegraph, and it is not expected that the nature of the defect will be ascertained until the shore portion of the cable is taken up, to be replaced by the new and .«olid line now on its Avay from Plymouth, and which was alone intended for th>.t position Communications-continue to be received through the entire Hue, but they are too faint for anything to be gathered from them. The shares remamwithout fluctuation, the transactions yesterday having been f;t £4!)Band£sJo. An advertisement has been issued of an embryo company for purchasing and finishing the Great Eastern steamship. With reference to this the following communication has been received from the Eastern Steam Navigation Company:— "Sir,—An advertisement bavin £» appeared in this day's newspapers of a company stated to have been formed for the purpose of " Finishing and Working the Great Eastern," I am desired to inform you that my directors have no knowledge of any such company; but a welUconstdered scheme, combining the interests of the present shareholders with ample inducement for the contribution of fresh capital, has received the assent of a majority of their body, and of several of the largest shareholders, and will shortly be - submitted to the proprietors,—l am, Sit, your obedient servant, ■" J. H. Yatks, Secretary. "Sept. 14."

Tii-b Season's Clip.—On many stations sheepshearing; is now nearly completed—on several entirely so—and on others just about io commence. The wool is described to be of good tjiialivy, and the clip is .-at least an average one. A few loads have already been received at the store of Mr. Laidhr.v, in Yfiss, and wo learn that the quantity that is expected to pass through the hands of tlie Yass storekeepers, is not 'likely, to be diminished by reason of the navigation of the Mumnnbidgec —for this season at any rate. It seems that the holders of stations have an objection, to running the risk of having tiro wool damaged by water in the transit along the river, as welt as to the danger incurred from other accidents, and heneo the bullock teams arc likely to be as fully employed in the carriage of wool as in former seasons.— Yass Courier-.