The Express. — London, England, 1851-03-06 00:00:00

F OIL THE lINISTERIAL CRISIS •• runic.` laurel. P. °Ma, .3, ran-Ms, et ; and .Wll by all *owe Ws sad Sfromaria. Vtt erpreSii. TO CORRF.SPONDENTS. advettimmestelateu. - 1.. r "TM Express...lmam Vas*/ pops. ot• ttr.cher, Mtvertu-street, bj 'Two .'duet ote the My .1 put:kudos. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tan D*l—Morill4e. 4h. 10 n .0•444044, 41t. 04411. Tc4.oooawir—Morgu4, 4340 Aft/moon, A. Mau LONDON, THURSDA 1", .V.IRCII 6. IT behoves the liberal party in the present con juncture to hold together, to take counsel, and to be ware lest they be the . only parte which derive no benefit front the crisis just over. 'ln external appear ance and to the superficial observer it may seem that each of the aristocratic parties in parliament has been much shaken, and that all have declined in strength. This may he doubted. In the tint place, the trade rs of the country party will ultimately have gained more thus be.t by the frank exposwe of what • mere abstraction and nullity protection is, and by the necessity thus demonstrated of the party rallying to another cry. The Ptelites have certainly gained by the num in prcali.or: office in pledged to them. * Lord fonv Itusstia. has certainly gained ground, as bolding, in the language of the French, " the key of the piwition." Rut what is moresigniffiunt than the gain M all is, that the ties of amity and mutual an derst.inding have been drawn closer between the thn mi.amnitie sections. Sir ftur.s and Lord Joust embraced aemss the house: Lord STANLEY and the %logs blew compliments to each other through the lo!.hy that divide s the houses. We do not say that there is any ticason afloat, or that there is need on the ;surf of due radicals of beingsavagely or earl riously suspirious. But the popular party should look sharply to their interests; in other words, should "stand by their order." 'I hi- bast. we must say, that the thorough liberals ought to demand of the whigs and Peelites this aeweion is the pawing of a bill in the' untie of Mr. finest: minion. Lord Join ItessEt.r. and Kir .1,m,,s (Autos have both, no doubt. made declarations in favour of an extension of the franchise ; but from the way in which they guarded it, there is too much reason to fear that the extension will he carefully linuited to changes in constituencies, mien as will Men u.se their numbers without altering their character. Towns would thus have more voters, lacy by time adoption of household or rate-paying sulfa-age, and counties would have mom But can would he taken that the new county voters should be of the agricultural class, and not the extramural town pre iodation burgesses by habit, trade, and conntx iun though dwellers in country. 't ilk is evidently the gist of Lord 'IOM'S grown, 111,m1 of Sir JAW Es Gam ‘Ne's rescreen. Now, what tin' liberal mune, as well us just iee, requirmis not so mud. the lowering of the suffrage in towns —al though that too is meessary—as the inereased action of a min-agricultural populat hat upon rowdies. t'ounties iollutnee towns: then• are some towns us notch in the agricultural interest, as any MIL farm holders. Why should not towns in turn influence counties' And why should not the best hiformed of all classes, who form the true link between town and country, have their vote and their weight ha the counties they inhabit ? With rcspcet to towns, actual towns, of good size and impt,rtant populati . now minim...witted except by theirfreeholders in the county. the legislation must make up its I, and speedily, us to what category their burgesses are to lie included in. 'fu exclude than, permanently from both town and county will lie impossible : and if possible. dangerous. Air the plainest justice being flagrantly denied would drive such numbers to avail themselves of the facilities Of the Freehold Land Societies, that mantic , : may he swamped 17 a league, and of most determined ene mies', even under cover of the immutable law. It strikes us, however, as by no means the interest of the mutiny party either to repudiate that mixed population which dwell extramurally, or even the actual population of small towns. Malting can be more a %idea than that, as a separate interest, with all their unjust eleetoral advantages, the country i suety has been beaten. And it has been beaten chiefly by one caner, its being behind the rest of the country in intidlipzetwe, in "Nod sense, modera tion. and practical views. The' example which their party has just offered, of commandin g so lar g e a sunder of votes without king able to make any use of them, to eommand leaders, form a cabinet, and fairly try a pal ey - this alone is sufficient proof that an red country party is nut lit for parhanumtury action or political ascendancy. The agricultural po pulation is diminishing, and so is the' number of electors. The commercial population is inenusing. and it is utterly impossible in the hue of such pn %MSS for M hip, and writ,' to unite for the purpose of ex tending the franchise in smoking, but in reality pi-u -nerring to the agriculturists their present numencul ameenduncy. Although well known, it is still neceton7 to reflect that more than half of the House of Commons is elected by purely agricultural electors: there are Vat county members, and from tits to KO members still returned by local influence. Amongst the districts which thus return a landlords' ',ornament dwell large number., connected indeed with the agricultural interest, too closely connected with it to be its enemies, butt still viewing disputed questions and class struggles from a more impartial point of view than the leaseholders. There the most previous ele ment of the (doctoral body is at present swamped. And it is precisely this that Mr. Leeear. KING would call into life. Whatever he the future scheme medi tated by Lord Jim,: Itrssr.t.t, and admitted by Sir J awns * Gam fw, this should make part of it. If it did not. that scheme must he worse than nothing. And it behoves refOrmers, by pushing Mr. lAX'KE KaNn's motion, either to carry that. or have some plain and satislautory explanations, that the injustice which it seeks to rvinvtiv will surely be' met and done away with in the bill which we' are promised for next aession. E (Rt. GREY contrived ma Tneaday to commit in his own lier.on a fault while wrongfully imputing it to others. It had been observed be laird Nlox on presenting a petition against the continuance of eon- vict transportation to Van 1 hemen's Land, that "how- I ever expedient it might be to wend convicts to Van Diemen s Land, that was a matter of far less import ance than the question which had been raised as to whether the government of this country had or had not been guilty of a breach of faith towards the in habitants of that (ninny." Eurl GREY denied that faith had been broken with the colony. and alleged that a case had been sought to be made out against government by citing detached portions of sweeties and despatch., that seemed to support such an impu tation. inmeadortaking them in conjunction with the context. whereby it would appear that government had so t falsified its promises. A little examination will show that Earl Garr resorted to isolated pas sages to explain away the imp ression fairly resulting Man the entire contents u the public - documents referred to. It may he added. that Earl GREY'S Frech in reply to Lord Mov rit NILE COntradirted itself. The charge , is. that government. having suspended convict trans portation to Van Diemen' Land for two years, and baying pledged themselves that it should not be re rived, to rots Diessen's Land. after the expiration , of these two years, did nevertheless re‘ive it to that colony. and to that elobory cry/m.1...4y. What said Karl ORItY to this?—that it was always intended that transportation should be continued to " the Aus tralian colonies." But this is a very different thing front rcriting it to mw of those colonies which has nut moat for another comiet ; to a colony in which a ple harts of convicts, attended by gross mismanage- most of them. had rendered the temporary suspension of transportation an obvious necessity. Hut, waiving this consideration, us look at the entire of the speeches and despatches referred to by Earl GREY to see whether their natural and obvious meaning is what he alleges. 11e admits that they conveyed a promise that trunpurtation. as formerly conducted, was to be abolished. For the future the eons lets. instead of being placed wider control in one colony. were tot* dispersed as free men through various colessies. They were not to be sent to any eakay talkatively, inlarge numbers. [See Sir d. THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 6. 1851 GREY'S letter to Earl GREY of 20th January. 1847.] And to whatever province free men of this class were sent, care should be taken to promote simultaneously an emigration to it of considerable numbers of pop. sons untainted by crime. [See Earl OnEv's reply te Sir G. GREY, of the sth of February. 1817.] Plow, this projected new system has never been substi tuted fur the old m:sie of transportation. Van Diemen's Land, as overrun with convicts, and' having at present no room for free people, was clearly unlit to receive even the emancir4s. Vet, before the end of two years, all_the con victs of the empire were again turned into that ! limited area; sent there as ninricts, and therefore; unable to quit the island; sent there collectively in violation of the promise held out in Sir G. GREY'S I letter; and sent there without any free emigrants in violation of the pro:nise held out in Earl GREY'S letter. The only colony to which convicts could not be sent consistently with the promises of government, was the only colony to which convicts were sent. Let us see how Sir WaLiAsi DENtsON, the gover nor appointed b' the home government, interprets their " pledges: Ile had recommended the con tinuance of convict transportation to Van Diemen's Land, in opposition to the wishes entertained and expressed by the colonists. But after the letters to which we have referred had been com municated to him, and published in the colony, he thus addressed Earl GREY :—" As her MAJEsti's government has derided that transportation is to craw, and as that derision has been publicly made known in the colony, I do not consider that it would be possible or desirable to attempt to carry out the suggestions contained in my despatch No. 83. The feelings of a large portion of this community are so fully enlisted in the opposition which has been raised to the convict system here, that any attempt now to revive the system, in any . Artn, would be looked upon by them as a breach of faith, and would cause, I have no doubt, feelings of hostility which would be very embarnessing to government." [Despatch, 20th August, NM] Sir WILLIAN DENisos could have no desire to misinterpret the despatches of Earl OnEv—to quote isolated passages apart from the context with a view to misrepresent their meaning —and we sec how he, as early as 1847, before any controversy had arisen, professes to base understood them. It will he observed by those who take the trouble to compare the speech delivered by Earl GREY on TULN4iLIV with that which he made on a similar oc cos' last session, that he has become much more guarded in his language. Ile now admits that some wrong has been done to the colony, and he labours to shift the blame from Downing-street to the two Houses of Parliament. Ile asserts less confidently the right of this country to perpetuate convictism in the colonies, and is less confident in the enunciation of his views respecting the matetial prosperity which he alleges to be the rrsult of transportation. This change of tune would be of good augury, but fur the miserable special pleading by which he seeks to vindicate the conduct pursued by govern ment tow-m. 64 Van Diemen's Land. _ In reply to the noble earl's insinuations, that the hostility towards convict immigration is abating in V.ut Diemen's Land, we need only point to the anxious intreaties to he liberated front it which con tinue to flow in upon the legislature and government. A fortnight ago Sir WILLIAM :11mi:swan - Di pre sented a petition to this effect in the Commons, and on Tuesday Lord Mosnatax presented one in the Lords. These petitions, it is clear from the teno r of the proceedings at public meetings in the colony, express the universal sense of the free colonists. And in addition to them a memorial front the women of Van Diemen's Land, of which we made mention on a former measion, is actually in the hands of a noble lord for presentation to the Qr rxx. Lim' GREY would have us believe that the northern Australians are anxious to have convicts sent to them. If so, why does he not send his convicts to hi dispersed over the distant sheep walks of that im mense interior, instead of continuing to cram them into the luckless island of Van Diemen s Land, where among their fellows in crime sent before them they can hardly find elbow room? FRANCE. PARIS, \Vrna►roi Erv 4 In the reconstitution of the bureaux, which is the last event of any significance, I have already noticed the exclusion tot the members of the Left, as a result of the alarm endured by the phantom of terrorism which emerged from the speech of M. Ilufraisse, and shook its gory locks at the majority. As children cower together under the influence of fear, so the divisions of the Right have been for the moment closed by this daring demonstration of revolutionary doctrines. But, as usual when men act under the influence of passion, the work has been overdone; and not only the members of the Mountain, but the moderate republicans of the Durance school have been shut out as well from the boards of the bureaux. This tends as much for the moment to strengthen the as the Right, for the bigoted rejection of mode rate liberals by the conservative party will throw the latter into more decided opposition, and nip in the bud all tendency in them to become converts to royalism. 'the .Ibniteur announces that four of the oldest regiments at Paris are going to he replaced by others. In fan it is the custom for all the regiments to form pan of the garrison of Paris by turns, not only from residence in the capital being an object of ambition but the pay is also higher. The common tenn is about three years. When any partiality is shown in favour of retaining any particular regiment in the garrison for a political or other motive, it causes great irritation in the army, and furnishes the ' I enemies of the government with a dangerous handle against it. Thus, when it was the turn of the 62nd regiment to leave the garrison, and orders had been actually issued from the War-office for it to month to Lille, the famous review of Satory intervening, where a battalion of the 62nd cried, 4. Vive Mtn penour r the regiment was countermanded from Ver sailles to Paris, and the 4th was stout to Lille in its place. This was one of the main accusations alleged at the time against Louis Napoleon, and afterwards furnished a weapon of attack to M. Thiers and others in the debate which upset the ministry of Baroche. Sonic of the regiments which leave now are going to the eastern departments. The :19th is ordered to Bourg (dc l'Ain). It is announced that at the same time occasion will be taken to operate some changes in the distribution of the corps funning the garrison. In the highly excited state of jealousy of the legislative against the executive power alterat ions of this kind extended to the corps in the quar ter of the In valides, commanded by General Forey, and specially dedicated to the service of the Assemble. I might tend to produce some irritation. Meanwhile the reasons assigpcd by the Mmitrur for the changes is, that each portion of the troops may take its turn in the forts about Paris. The funds continue to rise slightly. The Fires closed to-clay at 91i•!M), with a rise of IS centimes on yesterday. The Threes closed at 58-10, with a rise of Sc. SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette of the 2Sth alt. publishes a royal ordonnance naming the Marquis of Bcnalua to th . e r oot of Minister Plenipotentiary to the court of Berlin. Senor Juan Villalonga. Captain-general of the province of Valencia. and Senor Melchor Ordo nes. civil governor of the city of Valencia. have been dinnis;sed by the Spanish government. They are replaced respectively by General Caned°, captain general of Galicia, and . Senor Carbonell. a deputy. The Chamber of Deputies was on the 28th ult. still occupied at past-hour with the discussion of the bill concerning the sale of the mines of the Rio Tinto and other places. At the commencement of the sitting, the report of the commission of the settlement of the public debt was read. It is on all points favourable to the government project. A Madrid letter, of the 28th ult., states, as a ru mour. that the Concordat is to be shortly published. and that the Minister of Foreign Atfiirs 1,4 in con stant conference with the Papal Nuncio on the subject. The king is still at Rio Frio. It is reported that the Count of Lueeno is to be appointed ambassador ;at Paris. It is and that the Convordut is to be pub , I fished in a few days. CAPE OF GOOD lIOI'E WAR WITH • THE CAFFRES: 'We have Graham's Tore journals to January 4. Hostilities had commenced is Caffraiim Die Graham's Town Journal of De. 23th, saes: " lktpite the forbearance of his Excellency the Governor towards the Dallies. his anxious solicitude to avoid au appeal to arms, and his untiring kind ness to them, they have by a criminal overt act cam pelled him to bring into hill exercise the power at his 'command for the protection of the colony and their condign punishment. Twelve British soldiers have been shot dead, and several others wounded by these lurking robbers." The details are given in the following dispatch of Colonel Mackinnon : sear Uniondale ("Siren's) Mission Station, December 24,18.50. Sir, —Having marched from Fort Cox, according to y our excellency's orders, at day-break this morning, with a force as per margin,. I proceeded up the valley of the Keiskam ma, meeting with the met friendly conduct on the part of the Kaffirs until within about three miles of this place. I had particularly cautioned the otile,rs and men to molest no one on the march, and not to fire unless attacked. Whilst passing through a narrow rocky gorge of the Keis kamma, where the men could only proceed in single file, a fire was opened on the column of intautrv, the Kaffir police and Cape Mounted Rifles having already passed the spot. The tire was moat re.olutely maintained for a considerable period, and the nature of the ground ems such that the troops could not dislodge the Kaffir+. until they had suffered a serious low, and the Cape Mounted Itifies and Kaffir police could not be used in any way to turn the thinks of the attacking petty. Assistant-Surgeon Stuart, Cape Mounted lilt!, s, 1 corporal and 9 privates of the Gth Regiment, and 1 corporal of the 73rd Regiment, were killed. Brigade-Major Bisset, Cape Mutint.ll !titles, and Lieutenant Catty, Gth Regiment, were wounded se verely (not dangerously), privates, 6th Regiment, and 2 privates, 73rd Regiment, were also wounded. The trool's at last succeeded in clearing the bush and rocks of Kaffir', and in killing a considerable number. I proceeded to the neighbourhood of this stations, afford ing a good clear ground for an encampment, and because I was anxious to afford protection to the inis.ionary. Vike, the headman, assured me he will protect him. As it is imp.. ruible for me to know how far this warlike divroition will rpread, and to your Excellency is left with so small a number of troops to protect the colony, I shall muse back to-morrow by the waggon road to Dailey's grave, and then by Fort White to k'ort Cos. 1 beg to assure your excellency that the conduct of the troops and Kettle police was admirable, and that I received every possible aid from the officers commanding the different corps ' sir, Lieut.- Col. Napier, commanding the Cape Mounted Ritter, C'apt. Robertson. nth 1te.4., commanding the infantry. and Super intendent Davi., commanding the Kafir police. The aer sires of Major Birsitt, my brigade =Or, were on this °e casino, as on all others since 1 hose known him, most I will communicate with Lieut.-Col. Eyre tonight, and order him hack to Kin; William's Town, and 1 ant COD 'incest that your eseelbney will agree with me that his re maining at the Cabousie is not at present advisable. I scud this by a Kaffir of the Mission station, who I re quest may be handsomely rewarded.—l have, &r., (Signed) Geo. MACKINNON, Colonel. His Excellency Lieut.-Gen:rul Sir 11. G. Smith, Hart., G.C.O. The Graham's Thum Jaarnal of Jan. 4, after allud ing to the forgoing affair, says: This, surely, is enough to prove that the present is a war of the . Kaffirs upon the colonists. They tired the first shot, and having obtained a slight advantage, flushed with success, rode OH to greater enormities. The military villages were next attacked,—Woburn, Auckland, und Joluninesherg reduced to ashes, and the whole of their male inhabitants cruelly butchered. Within five days of the first iffEtir another engage ment took place between 250 of the colonial forces and the enemy, at the Churnie Hock, wherein the British loss was 20 men and 2 officers killed, and 11 rank and file wounded,—the Kuflirs in this instance also being the first to rush on to the attack, giving still further proof of their determination to act upon the offensive. This second affair is detailed in the following offi cial despatch from Colonel Somerset: Fort Hare, 30th Dec. 1850. Sir,—Having had a severe action with the enemy yester day in an attempt to open a communication with the Cum mander-in-chief I felt it nee.wsary to transmit to you the substance of my report to him Monier to prevent unfounded exaggerated report, being circulated of the facts. flaying un the night of the 28th and morning of the 29th instant, before day light, forwarded dispatches to his excel lency the Commander-in-chief by a party of the Cape Mounted Itillemen,this party were intercepted:by theenemy, and very properly returned and made their report to me. Feeling the importance of opening an early communica tion with his excellency, and at the wane tune toeing desir ous of ascertaining what was actually in the front, 1 de tailed a party of 150 91st Regiment under I.ieut.-Colonel Yarborough, 70 Cape Mounted. Rifles, under Major Somer set, accompanied by a small 3-pounder gun Royal Artillery, my object being to take up a position on the ridge above the Unmasie stream while I sent a party of the ('ape Mounted Riflemen forward with the mail to Fort Cox. This object was, however, defeated by the enemy showing themselves in con siderable force on our right on the Yellowwood river, about six mils from this post, who attacked us as we were ad- Valleing up the hill towards the Connazie, whom, however, we drove bark and for a time establisher' ourselve, in posi tion ; from the large body of the enemy whom 1 observed collecting, I saw It once that I could nut effect the object 1 had in view, 1 th,refore directed the troops to retire towards Fort Ham ' at this time a very large force of the enemy was also observed coming over from the mountains of the Amanda, and others uswmfoled in the Chunne Hoek. The troops continued retiring in admirable order, con testing every foot of ground with the enemy, whose num bers increased out of every valley, as we passed the succes sive heads of the various kiwis. The day was most oppressive. 1 was able to open the gun upon the enemy several times with good effect. After retiring about d miles, while holding a small valley on a hill, in firing a shot from the small gun the trail unfortunately broke short off, which rendered the gun completely unserviceable. I had it brought on until, when passing 1.1 %alley with rugged banks, the gun fell over, and could be no longer got for ward. At this time we were attacked by a very superior force iu a thorny valley, the troops having a humid° hand encounter with the enemy. Here lam sorry to say several of our brave soldiers fell, including Lieutenant Melvin and !dent. and Adjutant Gordon, 9lst Reg.; Ensign Borthwick, 91st, was wounded; also several men 91st and C. M. Rifle : men were wounded, and several troop horses; also Major Somer.t's charger was wounded. Having forted them ! selves from this difficulty, the troops continued to retire in perfect order, when they were met by 100 men, most judiciously sent out in support by Major k maws, 91st, whom I had left in command at Fort Hare. The hest of the weather was: most oppressive; nothing could memo' the steadiness and gallantry of the trope throughout this most fatiguing and Irving service through a most difficult country ;—I am greatly indebted to Lieut. I Col. Yarborough, commanding 91st, and to Major Somerset, commanding Cape Mounted Riflemen, for the able assist ance they afforded, and the way in which they led their men, and to all the officers and troops fur their steady and gallant conduct. ' The loss of the enemy was considerable, our fire being steady and well-directed, having contested the ground with the enemy for upwards of four hours. The gun 1 have had brought in this morning. I have, &c. 11. SOW:10M Col. Commanding Frontier. It may be remarked that, up to the moment of re ! (riving the first intimation of actual hostilities, the intelligence from the surrounding country was of a most satisfactory character. The journal quoted ahove saes : The chief Krell, we had been assured, had withdrawn the promise of his aid to Sandilli, and hail dispatched two of his councillors with an ox to be presented to the governor in token of amity. This information reach no direct from KreWs country—while from the Tambookie frontier we had corroboratory intelligence of a still more characteristic , and derisive character. The official account furnished by Colonel Mackinnon of the affair in the Antitola seems to , make an impression that he had been decoyed into the in tricacies of that celebrated fastness. Those who know the locality assure us that a more formidable position than the one taken br the Katlirs can scarcely be con ceiveil—the only wonder being that more than half our force escaped the musket balls of the enemy. If this I be so, and we hare no reason for doubting the accuracy of the statement, then notwithstanding our loss—a loss so deeply , regretted—there is good ground, accepting the official des patch in its plain import, for believing that it may not ho quite barren of:the advantage. It has taught us at the outset the true character of the Kaffir* . stronghold; and moreover, that their residence there is inconsistent with the safety of the colony. and will ever peril the lives of the inha bitants of the frontier. Such are the light shades of the piece, the point of greatest moment being the fret that the British government has now a clear ease for the exaction of such a penalty as may secure the peace of this country on a solid foundation. The fastnesses of the Amatola must not remain in the occupation of the Gaika Kaffir*. We extract the following front an account of the events of the week preceding the departure of oar advice 4, as given in the Graham's Town Journal of Jan. 4 : Monday. Dee. 30.—The town is in a ferment, waggons coming in every hour from the surn.unding country, and others moving their household Roods from undefeneible pre mises to places of greater security. Thousands of cattle nn the surrounding slope., which arc embrowneil by the drought and denuded of every blade of grass on which the poor animals can browse. Letters from the inland mail received, from which we extract as follows: .• Burghers Dorp, Dec. 19. 18.10. " There is nothing further of interest to communicate front this qu irtor since my Last, beyond the reports of continual and increasing depredations committed by the Tambookies in the Stormberg. Subsequently to the losses reported up to the 14th instant, there have • it lk eras The tobacco raanufactureca of Glasgow hare furmcd themselves into a society, having fur ita object the racers, 234 roar '°- J ab. 7 5 detection aad expointra of any fraudulent attempt to sdul- 1 . 66 3, - 6i6 c am m ew , t6 6 ftt6.6._7Ste. 73 Bit eflistrai a is m .. 167 rash lag gue. kraut tobacco or spa. Inik robs',—.2 Gime, SO task rad No been stolen nearly 50 bend of cattle in on week —27 from ow: Boer. This individual has been robbed during the last two months of 70 head of cattle ! The Boers naturally exclaim how ran we stand it ? "The dr.ring of the Kaffir; in the district of the Krai River has become so great that a patrol of silt+. men was obliged to be ordered out from Ituffels \ley to scour the country and drive them into Kaffirland. Parties of 20 or 30, armed with guns and aresigitis, and driving numerous cattle have been seen passing towards Kaffirland, and been allowed to pass unquestioned by the Moen who had no means of resistance. It requires no great foresight to pre dict that unless the insole:lee of these barbarians is summa rily punished, and their honer effertuullv crushed, the farms of this district, whirls for the rearing of all kinds of stock are inferior to none in the colony, will be abandoned by their owners, who have for nearly twenty years been in possession of t hem." The following statement has been made to us by the party named: "On Sunday last, about 10 o'clock, as Mr. Jeremiah Goldswain, with his brother+ and their herds , were guard ing their ducks, on their farm Saxibld, about five miles from Graham's Town, he saw a Kaffir chasing au ox, and two other Kettles close by. lie immediately rode to acquaint his brothers, when they all (four in number) went to the spot where he had seen the Kattirs, and [her: they discovered the Kaffirs still in pursuit of the ox, which he had wounded in the head, but not mortally.. They pursued the Kaffir, who on perceiving them sprang into the bed of the river, and concealed himself under the rushes. They lust sight of him, but knew he was not far off. 'They called to him to come to them and they would not kill hum, but not seeing any thing of him, and he not replying to their call, they went out into the bed of the over after him. Two of the party had passed the spot where he lay concealed, when Mr. Goldswain coming to the place, saw the muscle of a gun being levelled at him, not more than a foot from his horse. Ile had the presence of mind to wheel Isis horse round, and thus saved his life, as a bush being in the way the Kaffir could ant get aim at him. On his culling to his companions to come to his assistance, the Kaffir threw down his gun and called fur mercy. lie was eventually brought into Graham's Town, and is now in safe custody." Tue.day:3l.—Thela , t day of the year—one of the saddest and most eventful years in the history of the colony. It found us at its commencement engaged in a struggle with the home government against pollution by . eonvietism—at the elo-e of it we are contending for existence with the hordes of savages on our border. The first created disunion and engendered irascible feelings ; let us hope that the latter will induce u spirit of charity and forbearance, and unite all in the general defence of our common country. Received several communication', relative to late affairs, from which we make the following extracts: ..... . _ _ " King William's Town, 26th December. "On Saturday night all the sawyer+ at Feria Bush were turned out of their houses (which were all ransacked) by a large body of Kattirs, and everything even to their axes taken from them. They were saved from being murdered by the intercession of a petty chief. On the same night three waggons proceeding from hence to Fort White with meal for the contractor were attacked, and one of the drivers, a Portuguese, together with the three soldiers of the tith were murdered. Seventeen of the ox waggons out of twenty-two which took Colonel Eyres division to the Kubousie %Try sent down last week for supplies which were expected from Cape Town, hut were started off again for the camp yesterday, under an escort of 20 men (eight Cape Mounted Ititles and twelve Koval Sappers and Miners) and outspanned at a trader's station about nine or ten miles from this. As soon at they had lit their tires a number of Kaffir* came up to the waggons unarmed, as though fur the purpose of ascertaining the strength of the escort, but they all soon went otr. Shortly afterward: the waggons started, and had only left about half an hour when 200 Kaffir; made their appearance at the station and plundered the trader's store, carrying off all his goods. They then took the same direction as the waggons, as supposed with the intention of attacking them, although all were empty. I 11(201 •arcely say that all the Kaffir+ were armed on this second appear ance, suite with guns, others with assegais. It is said that Ante Saudithes brdher, led them." It would appear from tin; above that the cupidity of the Kaffir* in appropriating the traders' goods otrusioned suffi cient delay to enable the waggons they were fallowing to reach their declination in safety. Theylaare returned since to King Town with the baggage of the division above-mentioned. KAGA. A cuirtsipondent sends us the following :—" On the 22nd inst., William ltickerd and others, residing on the west side of Cowie Forest, went in search of their oxen, and near a fountain on the mountain the party fell in with several fresh trace.; of korses and Kaffir spisirs. The party followed up the spoor into the Kaga forest, where they found seven horses fastened to a tree with Kaffir reins ; upon looking round and talking to each other, the Klan sprang up armed with assegais ' when three of the party tired to gether and shot oue Kaffir dead on the spot. The party took the horses home with them. They appear all to have been rude by the Kuttirs. Itickenl says, from the spreir of the Kuttirs that there must have been at least ten of them, as the spoor of at least three or four Kaffir, were seen fol lowing those that were riding. On the following morning Mr. Knott claimed all the hums, and said that he was then looking for eleven other horses that had been stolen the evening before from him at Raga." FORT HARE. The following gin" a graphic cersionnf the fight between the Kaffir, and the det tehmenta under Colonel Mackinnon at the Keiskanuna gorge, and Colonel Soinered between Fort Hare and Fort Cox : " YOU saw the beginning of the war of 1816, but it is nothing compared with the present. 1 never in my long service have seen the Katfirs so daring. We arrived here in good order on Sunday, the 15th. Everything remained quiet, and not the least own of war. On Sunday, the 22nd, two troops of the Cape Corps marched to f ort Cu,., and remained there till :Monday. Still everything appeared quiet. On Tuesday morning at daylight we marched front Fort Cox up Sandalli's Poet—along a foot road with very dense bush fur four or five miles. Our force consisted of about 16') or 180 Cape Mounted Rifles, 300 men of the 6th foot, a company of the 73rd, and I dare say 80 or 100 Kaffir police, under superinteudent Davis. Altogether there were about A3l men. When near the end of the pass, or perhaps half a mile before the head of the volumn cleared the hush the first shot was fired, which we thought at first might be the officers shooting at birds. But a very few moments served to dispel this idea. Our corps was out of the bush and also the police, coascquentiv the 6th bad to sustain the while attack. They lost 1 facer, 10 privates; the 73rd one pri vate. We lost Dr. Stewart, who happened to be in the rear when the attack was made. Major lissfet, in riding to see what was up was badly wounded, as was also an Aker of the 6th, unfefour or five men, We lost 6 casks of :IMMO . . . . . . nntlnll the :11711% of the killed and wounded. Christmas-day, at 5 a.m., we marched from near Buller's camp, carrying our wounded,—no very easy job. We pro-. ceded from tois camp quietly until we gut to the top of the path whence you may remember may he seen Buller scamp firs, and where there is a pretty thick bush, with some immensely large stones on each side of the road. Here the Kaffir* b• an, and continued hard on us to where we breakfasted under the neck with Colonel :Somerset the day after we left King William's Town in 1817. From here they continued tiring lung shots at us until we reached the Belie Neck. On Thursday we marched from Fort Cox to Fort Hare, with Major Somerset, in charge of despatches, HLLCe which time we have been skirmishing nearly every day. An express was to have gone to the governor's ramp yesterday behire daylight, but the party sent had to return quicker than they started. The colonel then went out with 60 Cape Mounted !tides, 150 of the 91st, and a small gun, and these al-ai had to retire, owing to the gun-carriage breaking. Two officers of the 91st and 21 men were killed and several wounded, including 4 of the Cape Mounted Rifles. There is a party out now to bury the dead. " Furt White, Dee. 20, 1950. "The following are the particulars of u sharp affray . with the Kettles, which took place at this peat on the morning of the 25th iast.: " It being reported that three men of the 4.3 th Regiment lay dead on the Commigce flat, Lieut. Golf sent. a party of twelve men to bring in the bodies, with a waggon belong ing to Mr. A. 1/cycling, of this post. But, as they did not return, two mounted men were despatched to reconnoitre, who met an express from King William's Town, with the report that the whole of the men, together with a man in the employ of Mr. Beveling, had been murdered, and the waggon destroyed. It is supposed that the Kaffirs, considering they had sufficiently weakened the post, resolved on the attack. The following was the result :—The cattle belonging to the post were grating within three hundred yards of it, when two mounted Katfirx, aided by forty or fifty on foot, at tempted to sweep them away, but, in consequence of the prompt efforts of Mr. F. Hawkes and Mr. Besting, they only succeeded in securing 35 sheep, one horse, and a few goats. The cattle were driven to the kraal, and secured by the above-named persons. Finding themselves baulked in their principal object, they collected to the number of 200 or thereabouts, of whom about 60 had guns, and gradually made their way to within 60 or 70 yards of the kraal. Here, finding themselves confronted by 16 or 17 men of the 45th Itegt., they seemed irresolute. This was but for a moment; for their leader throwing his blanket over his head, slued, his assagai, and in a few seconds was seen climbing the kraal hefty with many others, under the fire of the military supported by that of their own men who had fire-arms. The close fire of the military, sided by the civilians of the post (fire in number), was too hot for them, and not being able to get the cattle from the kraal after several attempts, they retr. and, fighting desperately, leaving two dead within 60 yank of the post, and bearing off many severely wounded. There being so few soldiers present, it was impossible to pursue them, or more would have fallen. Being repulsed, they retreated to the distance of a mile or mile-and-a-half from the post, and remained there until the evening, when, the division commanded by Cul. Mackinnon being in sight, they dispersed. " The iuhabitants of the post cannot too warmly express their gratitude and admiration of the conduct of Lieutenant Goff and the few gallant soldiers of the 45th Regiment, whose daring bravery demands this acknowledgment. Also let me remark the exertions of Mr. James liawkia and Mr. A. Beveling, who were foremost among the defenders, in the hottest fire, and who displayed the cool courage and daunt less bravery of the most veteran soldi er . Th e i r con d uct was exemplary, and will be an example to all siviliana in the hour of danger. " ALEX. JAMES." " ES. The liottentot driver who went out with the waggon and soldier to bring in the fLud bodies of the three men mentioned above, was made prisoner by the Kaffir" but escaped when they were a tt ac k e d b y C o l one l Mackinnon. He reports that wh.m the twelve men were passing the Debi Neck a body of Kitties to the number of two or three hun dred pounced on them. They had only time to fire one volley, when they were literally cut to pieces with assegais. The struggle was desperate but unavailing. The men in their dying momenta were seen to draw their bayonets and thrust vainly at their ferocious enemise, who were wresting ing the enemy, in the Fish River pasos, or the their Unlocks from their grasp. The bodies of the men escape of the governor from Fort ('ox, and his arrival there remain on the aput on which they were killed." on the 30th ult. Ili. excellency made a dash f rom the r of ., From King William's Town we have the following intel- with 250 of the Cape Mounted Rifles, furring Ins lass* " ligence. The date is December 26: through the Dche Neck, though opposed by a tura., toot "Ero this you will no doubt have heard the sad news of of the enemy, who kept up a heavy fire, but without, as f ar the commencement of hostilities, mid this beautiful but us we ran learn, occasioning any Mat to the colonial tropa, unhappy country is again being laid desolate by the rest- Ills excellency, it IS Mill, exchanged his hat for a forage. lets SltTageS. I'ur some time the opinion 100 been gaining cap of the Rifles. as a prudent 'incaution against Maio ground very generally, and has now unfortunately proved mule a target of by his assailants. too true, that no reliance can he placed upon the Kaffir.. Fort Cox, no well as all the forts along the line ta m fee - On Monday morning last the inhabitants were much Buffalo, will he maintained, East London being nettle the alarmed by several person. affirming they had heard heavy basa of the military toperwtions now admit to t pl ate. firing towards mann:tit, but nothiog certain was known Supplies may be readily landed there, and then flea aelta till night, when our tears were confirmed by a man who with great facility along that line. came galloping in front l'eirie, stating that they had been Sir Harry Smith L. at present in the midst of the enemy, plundered of everything by the Kaffirs, and had barely holding them in cheek, and preventing them from menet esnipeti with their lives , . The people residing there are toting themselves upon the colony. But at present he (an mostly sawyers, and at the time of the attack many of do no more than this. Tu enter upon offensive operations them were 'oat returning from their day's toil, when they he must have aid, and in the meantime there is danger lest were surrounded and stripped of everything they bad. the troops should be destroyed in detail. Should a angle The same evening two waggon drivers came in, reporting military post be carried the effect may be most disastrous to that the Klatt." had taken their waggon and killed four the colony, while, on the other hand, if reinforcements In, Englishmen. It appears that these waggons left here the at once poured into Kaffirland, the title will Ist turnal, the game morning with government loads without escort. military communications will be opened, anti the 0 1, j , •(1 in Three soldiers of the 4. the Regt.,returning to Fort White, view—the complete subjugation of the GaPatts -be elf e were in company with them. The waggoner/1 state that toothy necomPlished• while the waggung were travelling, a great body of Kaffirs The following is the turn of the information which has came up to them with guns and assegais. They caught been gleaned from the Kaffir messengers, the bearers of the one of the driver., an old Portuguese, the owner of one tits Matches reeeived yesterday from the governor • of the waggons, and run him through with an assegai— They state that all Gaikas, including Minoan, T ola, awl they then ass( gaid the three soldiers. The two men who the chiefs of Elites tribe., ant fighting. Seytile is also t 11: brought the report managed to get into the hush and gaged and has moved down to Line Drift, to prevent any escaped with their lives. The following morning an express communication that way. Mapassie and Nyila, 'I nnlls.l came in front the Keiskamma with the intelligence of a very kit's, have also joined. Ante attacked Vika, the petty chit f sharp engagement between the *mole , and Kithira. [Dere who protected :Sinai's misaion station. They had a wrest some particulars already known are stated.) —The Endive skittish ; the latter driven hack, anti the station &sato. d. threw an assegai at the men who rode this express , and Nos also had Trati, the head man, appointed by the g o _ wounded one of the horses. This occurred only about vernor to aasiatHrownice, murdered, for telling the haters three miles from town. it wag folly to make war through the land for the take of Yesterday we heard very heavy firing again, early in the one man, Sandille morning, which continued till about noon. Some Katfirs A good many Kuffirs were killed in the different entetee. told the missionary Ross they had had a very hard fight molts. The hattira are beginning to ak when the wonders with the trop., the iSslle of which is doubtful. The nil,- stated by the prophet will come to pas, as they have Moen sinnary Birt moved in last night. He had determined to fighting their beat, and the English have nut yet comment% make a stand. a Kaffir chief living in his neighbourhood and still, notwithstanding his predietions of safety, they .iro having pledged his word that he would not join in the war; killed. The tribe, of Kreli and limn (hooka), al.) of but yesterday he sent in word to Mr. Dirt that he was going trudtala, 'foise and Paw, have not at present juitaal in the to tight, and shortly afterward. a mintier of Kaffir.) weft war. to his (Mr. Dirt's) brother's place, seized the cattle, and The eon bug of the Calle corps, throughout the skirmishes, plundered the shop of all the goods. The young Mr. Dirt which 113, , • taken place between the Katfira and the troops, they got hold of, and took him to the kraal, it i. supposed is niention al in Plata of eleaerved tepprolettion. They havo with the intention of killing hint, but eventually they done themselses high honour and the enuitry good service. allowed hint to metope. Several Katlirs were knocked over while escorting the go- Another hand at King William's Town writes, after senior, and after the arrival of hi. excellency at King Wil giving *maw account of the affair under Col. Mackinnon llama's Town, in a skirmish with a strong party of the lee arts have come in stating that we lost sixteen men, enemy, five of the latter were killed and NO gm, taken, while the Kaffir. had tee killed, besides two chiefs. without sustaining any loss themselves. Their g &ma eon " Yesterday afternoon two of Kreili'a men arrived, bring. duct affonis a fine example and gives the fed eitatunige lag an ox for the governor in token of friendship. One of vent to all moms& Krell's men told me that all the Ktiffirs along the road were SareleniY, January I.—We have letters from Fort determined to fight. They were still sore about the last Hare, Fort follies and Whittleaca, all containing infornt.i wa . Uneleinjeta wan also talked shout by them, showing tan calculated to rola.• the colony to &ten ll ill ed resistant,. that they place cousitlerable reliance on his power. 'they The information continua fully the reports of the &erten also said that the Kaffir told them about Mackin lon a of Henn:toes. the Blink Water chief', and who ha+ induced, affair—that the English had been driven away by Sandilla's either by intimidation or threats, mote of the Hotttntots of arms', and that stone were killed. About three o'clock in the Kat River to jail him. A notice. on the subject loan the afternoon Comm, a chief living with Mr. flirt, rent Colemel Somerset is published for general inform:tem, and kin word that he should fight, and that they were going will, we trust, have the de:ired etbet. from Fort Petelaiu alter the waggons which had gone to Kabousie. This our correspondent report. the &Arnett 111 l of all the polite alarmed Mr. 11., anti induced him and till the other Euro- station+ and the olewrtion of all the Kaffir polices. Ila peals to remove at once to King William'a Town . They had says that a large quantity of government stores ha+ bee n only left an hour when the Kaffir* attacked the station and nestronal at these aes end rtationa, and naturally inquiet wept tuff everything, what effort wa* made to save them ?—What is the resident to We were thrown into gnat commotion late on Tuesday magistrate at Peddle doing of a preventive character, and evening by all the l'irie people coining in. They had barn where is the superintendent of Fiume% mid the Fingoes driven off by the Kaffirs, who marvel their liven, hut took undor his charge at this juncture ? These are que-tiotoe we everything they possessed. Tina wax preceded during the cannot answer, but to which replit mita be given hen - alteration by the murder of three soldiers (45th) and a poor after to those impowered to deal with theaubject. Our none- Portuguese of this place. The soldiers were all intoxicated, manident !ass the Engem inquire wonderingly, Where is and it :ippeani this there was some altercation between one the Englidiman now r Surely lie sleepeth." It is added of tit, soldiers anti one Of the Kaffirs who had come up to that Mr. Nightingale, from 'Mamba, Bay, had reached the waggon. 'Phis ended by the soldier shooting the Kaffir, Peddle with hi. eight children. They walked all the way when the other immediately a Waled, mid out came about (22 miles), and are, save this cloth,. on their bucks, quite 40 or 50 Kaftan, who speedily despatched the weldiers, and destitute. The family of the Missionary Niven were also afterwards the Portuguese, and of course took all the oxen, intercepted while witleavouring to effect their escape nn as well es silty muids of meal. Part of Mr. Browniee's horseback. They were nearly stripped of their clothes. people cam property ein yesterday with all their pperty and rattle. Mr. Niven'e life was spared, and he was pe pro \- rmitted to p :So Kaffir. are now allowed to remain on the post. All are teed after being partially deprived of i+ apparel. An turned °Was soon as they conic." attack we hear has hem made on the cattle and horses A letter dated a day later than the above (namely 2;th) deptuotured in the neighbourhood of Fort Beaufort, but the announces the safe arrival of the troops under the command result, in the alownet of direct intellimowe from that place, of la.-Col. Eyre. This communication's adds:— we are unable t, give. The attack wag made by the Kadin " They appear to be quiet between this and the sea. Ru- under Henna:to., a man who for part has been festered by mount have reached u. that Anta and his followers have the colony. It is vetted that Henn:anus had his boric shot lied from the Amatula, and that a great many Kaffir. have under bilk mud was himself wounded. Alice is still in Men killed. Large numbers of cattle belonging to the Feat peril, but we hope that, with the troops at Fort Hare friendly Kaffirs around us have been mowing through to- immediately :Mining, it will be preserved until the arrival day to 13rowalee'a station, or somewhere near it." of senator from thin, interior districts. We have a letter flaw extracts may give a taint idea of the state of alarm from Mr. Loxton, dated Whittlesea, December list. Ito and anxiety into which the people of the frontier are reports the desertion of the K odic police stationed in that thrown, not merely by report:, but by actual occurrences, quarter, taking with them all their arms and accoutre which of themselves would, we may Nutmegs., be sufficient meet's Mr. Loxton had fortified his house as well as ho to arouse the whole colony to determined effort in the Fres could, and was restanal to make a most deter min: stand. neral defence. The intelligence, however, which came Mr. J. 11. Bowler was with hint, and there is no doubt, down this morning is far amore exciting, showing that emu- judging from their skill a, mark:nten, and their well munication with the governor is effectually cut off, and that known pluck, that all that Utt'll tan do will ho his personal danger it. imminent. done by theta tinder their eireumstanevg. The Tamhookio 11 ednerday (New Year'oalay).—To-day the following chiefs, Manch and Nonesi, wen, there, hut it was understood communication was received : that Mapasei hail joined the war party, and an attach by OLIPHANT'S Hoag. hint was expected hourly. The Mott, niets at Shill, had •' Oliphant's Hoek, Dec. 31, 1850. also been iampered with, but the missionary had called a "We have all abandoned our farms, and, what is infi- meeting, and it was determintal unanimously to defend the nicely worse, our crop.. On Friday night intelligence place, and to make the most stet:mous efforts in their power reached us of the dreadful ina.ssucreat the Military Villages, to aid the colony in the struggle for exidence to which it is and on Saturday we commenced packing up and trekking. now called. Major Burnaby, Commandant, has received The whole of this part of the hock was on the " trek" in a information that Major Bissest, Cape Mounted Rifles, and few hours to the village. Those who lived near were ens- Lieutenant Catty, fifth Reginient, who had been wounded bled to loose remota of their furniture ; but plougltl ult fann ry: on the 21th December, ant eking well. ing implements of every description, W.V.'S., pigs 2 poultry, The Governor was at Fort Cox when the intelli- Ste. tic., amounting in value to 111110 y hundred pountla, genet: of Ga. Mackinnon engagetnent reached him, were alianded. Very few peewees had finished reaping and and inuncsliately c aused the following notice to be made stacks. The out hay, attemly cut and bound up, to she extent of three or four million pounds weight, ha. been' forwarded to the colony : left packed up in small heaps on the several farms. 'The principal portion of our wheat crops were left standing, ripe and overripe, and will, of course, be lost. Our napera, principally Flumes, have all left—and the loss will amount to borne thousand of pounds sterling. Many persons who up to last Saturday lived in comfort and affluence will be utterly ruined, and what the result will he God only knows. My own opinion is that the Hoek is full of kutlirs, living at their cane upon the spoil of our farm+, and only waiting the signal to commence the deadly struggle, fur a deadly struggle it will be when it emus. Added to this we have upwards of one hundred Kailas in our camp—aervants, but to .ay the least suspiciowt persons. Only the day after we came here (last Sunday) our worthy commandant—a man against whose pluck not one, of his traducers dare say a word—rode over to his farm, and saw two Kaffirs crouching down behind one of hit stacks. lie put spun to his horse anti rade at them, the scoudrels bolted, and Wiest after them, imprudently I must say, into a dense hush. The fellows ran through a ylei overgrown with high reeds, and Woest drove tooth barrels after them. One loaded with Mora, he thinks settled one fellow, and when we have a little leisure see intend going to see. There has been much dimension here, caused by factious opposititm to our commandant on the part of two or three individuals who have been put down by the pro ceedings of two public meetings, and who will, no doubt, hare to answer for their conduct should our lives be spared after the war. All is now quiet and going on well in the lager. We are all at work ' with a will' entrenching our melees. There is a cool determination, apparent in all, should we he attacked, to conquer or die, fur quarter is out of the question on both sides. Our camp is large, hut we cannot well make it mailer without excluding many housesoccupied by women anti children. Our prospect+ are gloomy, but we must put our trust in Providence and hope for the best. We are all anxiety to hear from town ; pray send us the news by any opportunity." Information has also been received that some Kaffirs have presented themselves at l'igot Park, about 7 miles S.E. of Town. The men (three Flumes) who were reap ing, saw seven armed Katfirs approaching, and instantly fled, followed by the marauders, with what result is not known, as only one of these men has reached town. Ile nays that several other Kaffirs were seen near the spot. alr. Curran and others have since returned front the same loca lity, and report that some marauder' had done a good deal of mischief about the premises. Many articles had been destroyed ; a quantity of coffee was found strewed on the ground, and a pig and a number of fowls had been The crops on the place, fully ripe, are described as being unusually fine, and an attempt is made to gather them by a party of eight or ten men well armed, who have their horses ready saddled in the middle of the field, and while some reap others stand sentry and are upon the look-out around. Mr. Howse reached town from Leuwe Fontein, with Mr. Crouch and some of the gallant little band that went out to his rescue. They report that the spoor of a good many Kuffirs was seen along the road, and in one part the foot marks of about 100 were observed, as though moving in a body. Opposite Fort Brown they saw the corpse of an old Fingoe man, who had been barbarously muniered. There was a gunshot wound through his chest, and another in his jaw ; an as egai was stuck in his mouth, and a knob keerie I tied in Ins hand—the work of his fiendish murderers. From what can be gathered respecting this unfortunate creature, it appears that he had been attempting to remove his cattle ' (120 head) from Fort Beaufort to Graham's Town, i when he was met by Kaffir; and butchered as above stated. One hundred of the cattle became booty to his murderers. Two boys who accompanied the old man escaped, and brought with them twenty head of cattle into town. Heavy firing was heard, they report, in the direction of Fort Cos. Thursday.—This afternoon a party of the Cape Corns, accomproned by Mr. Walsh, late superintendent of Kaffir I police, reached town from Fort Hare, with despatches from Colonel Somerset, announcing that the governor had fully authorised him to organise provisional levies, with pay, ra tions, clothing, ate. Notices upon this subject will be found in our front page, and will convey unmistakably the ear , nestle° with which his excellency has resolved to crush the ; wicked attempt of the enemy to destroy the colony. A party of burghers, under Mr. L. H. Meuradt, came ! in this day from Oliphant's Hoek, for arms and cournuni- Con. Mr. M. brings with him a plan of their fortified lage, which, with the force they have, about 400 men, all good . marksmen, renders their position against the Kaffirs lan impregnable one. It is of the utmost importance that this position should he maintained, covering, as it does, one of the richest grain and cattle districts of the colony, and which, if abandoned, would give the enemy access at once into the heart of the Citenhage district, not to speak of Port Elizabeth. ESCAPE OF THE GOVERNOR. Friday.—This morning the welcome iutelligence reached us from King William's Town, the despatches being brought by Kadin of Pato's tribe, who succeeded in elud- ifead-quarter, Fort Cot. An affair having taken place between a stnong patrol under Colonel Mackinnon and the Kaffir., in the neigh bourhood of concealment, the coloni.t. are hereby warned to prepare to act .111 the defen.ive, as it is impassible to tell at the moment how far the hostile feeling may 4pread. Every information will be afforded, ;and mea.ures taken the moment the general state of Kaltirland develops itself. (Signed) 11. SMITH. A proclamation from the governor had (Iceland the eastern division of the colony under martial law, and all inhabitants, between the ages of ltc and 50, were called upon to enrol themselves under such le ulers as they shall choose, and to place themselves at the disposal of the ()dicers comemmding ou the frontier. FRONTIER DISTRICT ORDERS. Fort Rare, Deremlwr 3th, 1850. Colonel Somerwt desire. to tqlire.s to Lieut . .-Colonel Yarborough, Ntajor Somerset, and the ottieem :md troop.: engaged with the enemy yesterday, his high SULK, of their exertions and gallant conduct. _ . . . Deeply doe. the Colonel lament the loss of those gallant °Mem% and soldiers who fell in the aetion. The communications with Fort Co. having been inter ruptml, it became the Colonel's duty to endeavour to com municate with the commander-in-chief for many important INC&SORS. The result has proved that it was not possible to effect this object, the troops having to contend against such supe rior numbers in most difficult ground for four hours. 'I ho troops had to contend against the enemy (retiring, however, in perfect order) who brought large bodies of fresh troops up on both Hanks from each successive valley as it was passed. Notwithstanding these obstacles and the silvan . tam. on the side of the enemy, the steadiness of the troops I was admirable, contesting every point of ground, and eventually reaching the post in the highest order. Major Forbes, 9lst Itegt.,commanding in Fort Hare, hav ing with great judgement sent out 100 men in support of the retiring force, whose timely aid was of the greatest as sistance. Colonel Somerset also desires to express to Captain Carey his thanks for the able manner in which he conducted a forted march to afford aid and protection to a weak escort, which was said to be on the road from Fort Peddie, through the country occupied by the enemy. This responsible duty was conducted with judgment, energy, and success. Captain Carey, and the officers and troops under him, merit the colonel's thanks and approbation. Colonel Somerset will nut fail to bring the conduct of all ' these troops under the favourable notice of his Excellency the commander-in-chief. 11. SogEstaEr, Col. Com. Frontier. (By command) C. D. BELL, Lieut. C.U.R., Act. Attjt. Major Burney IL A., Com. VENEZUELA. Our Paris correspondent writes yesterday as follows : Letters received by the last packet-boat from the Antilles bring the following intelligence from tho republic of Venezuela : None of the candidates to the presidency having obtained the requisite majority in the general elec tions, Congress, according to Ole provisions of the law, assembled on the 20th January, and, after a sitting of three hours and a half, proclaimed presi dent General Oregorio Nlonagas, brother of the late president. A deputation, appointed to go to Carnena to fetch the new president, quitted I.a Guayra on the 21st January on board a steamer of the Republic. ANNUAL EXPEN4ES OF MASTERS IN CHANCERY. The returns upon this subject, just presented to partia -1 ment, show a total payment under this department of the Court of Chancery, from October, 1849, to October, 18.50, of 41,8041., thus accounted for : Ten IMasters salaries, 25,4841. ; Accouutant-General's salary as Master, 5821.; pension to a retired Master, 1,0001. per I annum ; pension to a retired Master's clerk, with a propor tion to another clerk, 970/. ; compensation to three Masters at 725/. per annum-2,1741.: ten Masters' chief clerks, salaries at 1,000/. per annum each-10,0001. ; ten Masters' junior clerks, salaries at 1501 per annum each-1,5001. ; compensation for loss of office and profits to four Masters' junior clerks, :411. The fees received in the Masters' offices from '2sth of November, 1849, to 24th of November, 1850, amounted to 41,4441., as shown by the suitors' foo fund ac count