The Sun. — London, England, 1852-01-07 00:00:00

AV` sorted, which well records the result of the various suc cesses:— " The country recently occupied by liacomo's force comprises a mountain range of twenty square miles of country, intersected with almost impassable forest ra vines, affording shelter for an innumerable force, and p r otected by immense ridges of rocks, every one of which affords 3 strong position. " In the course of the next three or four days I shall have fully ascertained whether the enemy has finally abandoned these formidable fastnesses, which will enable me to allow Colonel Michel's brigade to return to King William's Town. But the clearance of this position is of such importance, the holding it giving such strength to the enemy, I dare not do so until I have thoroughly e stablished that point. " We have driven the enemy from all his positions, and have bivouacked on, and possessed ourselves of all his encampments. " By report from Kafir women, I learn that the man who are now remaining lurking about are in attendance on the wounded, whom they cannot get off, and who are said to be very numerous." The Commander-in-Chief is well aware that no diffi culties, no fatigue, no danger, nor intricacies of country, can resist her Majesty's arms, when directed with the military skill and ability exhibited by Major-General Somerset, whose services throughout this campaign, and especially during the last three weeks, will, his Excel lency with confidence assures himself, upon his report, as the supreme civil and military authority in South Africa, be laid by her Majesty's Government and his Grace the Commander-in-Chief before the Queen, for her Majesty's gracious consideration. His Excellency also rests convinced that the services of the gallant officers brought; pr ominently to his notice—namely, Lieut. - Colonel Michel, 6th Royal Regiment ; Lieut.-Colonel . Fordyce, 74th Highlanders; Lieutenant Campbell , Roy al Artillery; Lieutenant Field, Royal Artillery ; Colonel Sutton, acting-assistant quartermaster - g eneral; lieutenant Green, deputy-assistant quartermaster general; Lieutenant Bell, field adjutant; Lieut. Jeasy, acting as staff officer; Lieut.-Colonel Yarborough, .91st Regiment; Lieut.-Colonel Nesbitt, 60th Royal Rifles; Lieut.-Colonel Percival, 12th Regiment ; Burns, 2d Regiment; Major Pinckey, Lieut.-Colonel 73d Regiment; Major Kyle, 49th Regiment; Major Somerset, com manding Cape Mounted Rifles; Captain Robertson, Royal Engineers; Captain Mans er g h, commanding 6th 14 `'giment ; Lieutenant Harris, Royal Marines; Cap tains Verity, Ayliff, Tainton, Musgrave, and Wynne; Lieutenants Harwell and D avenish, commanding F.vies; Surgeon Fraser, 47th Regiment, senior medical officer; Ensign Somerset, Cape Mounted Rifles, aide-de-camp, and of the officers and soldiers generally of the 2d, 6.h 12:11, 60th, 74th, and 91st Regimen!› ;the Cape Mounted Rifles, and detachments of Royal Sappers, 45th Regi ment, Royal Marines, and 73d Regiment will not fail to be submitted in like manner. To the Irregular troops his Excellency desires to express his admiration of their conduct—of their devotion and loyalty, affording a bright example to the whole colony. A. J. CLOETE, Lieut.-Colonel, Deputy Quartermaster -General. Head -quarters, King William's Town. Oct. 31, 1851. 1. Mr. Edward Driver is appo inted Lieutenant i n the Fort Peddie Fingo Levy. A. J. CLOETE, Lieut.-Colonel Deputy Qaart‘:!rraaster-General. DEATH OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FORDYCE. (From the Cape Town Mail extra, of Nov. 17.) The frontier post brings the lamentable intelligence of the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyc) and Lieutenant Carey, of the 74th Regiment, as well as of several soldiers of that regiment and other corps, who were killed in a series of desperate engagements with the enemy in the Wsterkluof. The suejoieed letter end extracts comprise all the important particulars which were knevve at Graham's Town relative to these dis asters!:— GRAHAM'S Tower, Nov. 11,—Accounts have just been received of one of the most distresaitig and calamitous events that have occurred in the cows.? of :he war. W e have endeavoured, as far as possible, to come at some thing like a correct, statement, but, as is usual in such cases, the reports vary considerably ; and we must wait for official returns before the truth, as regards losses, can be ascertained. I just give you what I have heard. There has been severe fighting in the Waterkloof, and the two Commissioners it appears were present among the troops on the °cession. Colonel Fordyce., of the 74th, has been killed, having been shot by a Hottentot, who was concealed in a tree; he lived only about fifteen minutes after receiving the fatal wound, and his last words are said to have been, " What will become of my poor regiment ?" Captain Carey, of the same regiment, has also been killed; and the men, killed and wounded, partly belonging to the 74th, and partly to the 91st, are said to amount to be tween 70 and 80. Lieutenant Gordon, of the 74th, has been shot through one or both thighs, and his survival is doubtful. Should he live, he will have to submit to amputation. The loss of the enemy we have not beard stated, but suppose it must have been considerable. We are anxiously waiting for further particulars. This is, indeed, a most terrible blow, and has thrown a gloom upon every countenance. Col. Fordyce was much re spected, and, indeed, beloved by his regiment, for the welfare and prosperity of which he seemed to live. His brother, the major, has just left on account of his health, so that the command will devolve,upon some of the junior officers. DIVISION ORDERS. Camp, Blinkwater, Nov. 9, 1851. It is with the deepest regret that Major-General So merset announces to the division the death of Lieut.- Colonel Fordyce, commanding the 74th Highland2rs. Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce fell mortally wounded in action with the enemy on the morning of the 6611, and died on the field. From the period of the 74th Highlanders having joined the Ist division, their high state of discipline and effici ency at once showed to the Major-General the value of Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce as a commanding officer; the subsequent period, during which the Major-General had been in daily intercourse with Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce, so constantly engaged against the enemy in the field, had tended to increase, in the highest degree, the opinion which the Major-General had forsied of Lieut.- Colonel Fordyce, as a commander of the highest order, and one cf her Majesty's ablest officers, and whom he now so deeply laments (while he truly sympathises with the 74th Highlanders in their irreparable loss) as an esteemed brother soldier. The reports of the 74th Highlanders will be made to Captain Monkland, the senior officer. Captain Monk land, being detained at Fort Beaufort from the effects of a severe accident, the command in the field will devolve on Captain Patton. By command, C. H. BELL, Lieutenant, Field Adjutant Ist Division. ' (From the Frontier Times.) Camp, 131inkwater, Nov. 9, 1851. Really, that old chief Maccmo shows more tact, and the enemy generally more courage, than most persons give them credit for. It now appears evident that his retreat to th e B uffalo Poort, an d t h e reports circulated by their women that he h a d en tirely abando ned Water k'oo , was B. mere ruse to throw ns off our guard: however we were not ignorant that t he enemy had hi s strongholds still i n these eternal astnesses , that much valuable life would b e l ost b expelled from thes e e f ore he should be e ntirel y immense mountainf o rests. lf Cer tainly, even the much la mented Colonel Fordyce himse never for a moment anticipated such an amo unt of opposi tion as was met with on Th urs day, after the hard work we mountains; none ot, had for 16 days previously in us expected to meet such fierce resistanc e as was shown on the 6th instant, and although ouerf9rce was large with both brigades, the event proved that i e and was not suffi ciently so in such a broken coun tr y , with s uc h an enemy. On Thursday, we recommenced operations for patrolling the Waterkloof. ColonelFrdyceecgoamin i; Colonelot m ending one brigade, marched from the top Sutton, eo-operating, commenced from the th e kloof. Colonel Fordyce's division had n o t prce t° e rn e d e o d f very far, when they w e r e mos t warml y engaged by the en emy, who, it would appear , had taken up a position waiting our arrival. The first volley knocked over our poor Fordyce, and several of his brave men; he fell mortally wounded from the shot of a Hottentot, and died ten minutes after. Lieutenant 11. Carey, 74th High landers, was likewise killed, while the regiment was re tiring. Both bodies were brought out, and buried at Post Retief. Never had the country more cause to grieve than at the loss of this brave and intelligent commander who fell, at the head of his re g iment, in this inglorious war. We were at it again yesterday, and I am happy to say with better success; but still, for two days' work, o u r loss may be considered at very se vere,viz.:— gilled.-14th—+2 officers, t 1 sergeant,"2 rank and file. 91st-1 rank and file; hat River Levy, 1 rank and file; Beaufort (West) lOu L ev —, + % bevy, $1 Wounded.-74th—§1 officer, 9 rank and file. 91st-3 Tank and file; Fingo Levy, 2 rank and file. To the present time the above are all the casualties re ported, but mere are supposed to have occurred which are not yet known. It is not anticipated that further operations will be re svoaed till large reinforcements arrive. The command of the 74th Highlanders devolves on Captain George Monkland, the senior officer. Any man may feel proud to command such a regiment. LIEUT ENANT-COLONEL . EYRE'S DETACH. MENT Camp, Governor's Kop, Nov. 4. Sir,—lt is with much pleasure that lam enabled to his Excellency the Commander in -Chief a spirited affair that cccurred yesterday . be tween coui-an p yof the 73d, under Lieutenant, Ta.nox, and a body of rebel Hottentots and Kafirs, who were endeavouring to drive cattle ou t of the colon y . I h ad detached te company on the Ist instant to a situation favourable for an ambuscade, at some distance from our camp, with directions to waylay the several paths lead ing to the Commit tee ' s Post, an d to remain there for a couple of nights. On the first night this party surprised and killed two Kafirs returning f ro m the colony. On the 3d instant they f e ll i n with a body of rebel Hotten tots and Kafirs, about fifty in number, having twenty four head of cattle. Lieutenant Knox immediately divided his party into three detachments, and attacked t h e enemy, killing six and wounding severely many others, and recapturing the whole of the cattle, without haring any casualty. I beg particularly to bring to the notice of his Excellency the zeal and intelligence dis played by this officer during the whole of this detached service in which be was employed. Lieutenant Knox was • Colonel John Fordyce, 74th Highllndere, commander of the brigad e. Lieutenant 11. Carey, 74th Hi g hlanders. t The zergeant could not be brought out, wag _.t in the bush. I Captain Devenish, gun-shot behind the ear, ball lodged in the neck. § Lieutenant John Gordon, 74th. 1 THE ably supported by Ensign;Williams, a promising young officer. Lieutenant Knox also speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of his guide, Mr. Paul Koester. I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of Lieut. Knox of this transaction.—l have, &c., W. EYRE, Lieut.-Col. 73d Regt. Comdg. 1 Lieut.-Col. Cloete, C. 8., K.H., Gen- , LIEUTENANT KNOX'S BEPORT. Camp, Governor's Kop, Nov. 3, 19 51 . Sir,—l have the honour to state that , in obedience to your instructions, I proceeded on patrol at three A.M. on the Ist instant, from the camp at Governor's Kop, ac companied by Mr. Koester as guide, with the following force:-1 subaltern, 3 sergeants, 92 rank and file. Entering the Fish River Bush directly in front of your camp, we crossed the Hlatana valley, and at eight A.M. reached Wildeman's Kraal, a place situated about half way between the Spitzkop and Committee's road, a ravine, deep, and affording the most complete conceal ment on every side'f rom observation. There I bi v o uacked, and after the men lead refreshed themselves I detached a party to watch the road that passed the Spitzkop. At three:roc, I sent a party to the Spitzkop-road to relieve the one I had detached in the daytime, and at the same time, accompanied by Mr. Koester, I proceeded myself with a party of 30 men to waylay the Committee's-road. On reaching the place we examined the road, and found the fresh spoor of three Kafirs going out of the colony, but no cattle. At half-past seven P.M. two Kafirs returning from the colony approached our ambuscade; we fired, killed both, and took from them their arms and ammunition, and a large bag of red clay. We saw nothing more during the right, and returned to our bivouac at daylight on the 2d. The Spitzkop party also returned, and had seen nothing. At seven A.M. I sent parties again to watch the Spitzleop and Committee's roads. They were re lieved at three lex. by the night watches—Ensign Wil liams and thirty men at the Committee's, and a sergeant and twenty men at the Spitzkop. They returned at daylight, having seen nothing. This morning we breakfasted early, and left our bi vouac at six A,er. on our return to camp. We were jest beginning to descend into the Hlatana valley, when we observed on the opposite hill about fifty rebel Hottentots and Kafirs driving some cattle down our path to meet us. As soon as they observed us, they left a portion of the cattle in sight on the path, and hurried the remainder ender cover towards a kloof on their left. This move ment I did not perceive, but, anticipating their making some attempt to escape by either flank, I detached parties to the right and left. Mr. Koester accompanied the party to the right; I remained with the centre, doubled down the hill, up the other side, and captured the cattle on the top after some resistance. Perceiving that the greater number of the enemy were on the right, I sent a party off to co operate with the one I had previously detached with Mr. Koester. These parties secured the remainder of the cattle, and we then hunted the enemy down the hill, and followed them for a great distance, till we saw them fairly on their way to Committee's. We then returned, and found ourselves in possession of twenty-four head of cattle, after au hour and ten minutes' fighting; four Kafirs and two Hottentots were killed, and a great many severely wounded. We marched on with our booty, and reached camp at ten A as. this day. The arms, ammunition, &c., we captured during the patrol amounted to three firelocks, one assegai, two powder horns and belts, ten rounds of service ammuni tion, and a tin of powder. I had no casualties in my party. I beg to bring to your notice the able support rendered me by Ensign Williams, 73d Regiment, and the un wearied exertions and invaluable assistance of Mr. Koes ter, the guide, I have, &e., ALFRED C. KNOX, Lieut. 73d Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Eyre, &c,, commanding Lower Albany. GENERAL ORDERS. Headquarters, 8. - ing William's Town, Nov. 6, 1851. 1. The Commander-in Chief desires to express his admiration of the ability and persevering energy with which Lieut.-Colonel Eyre has conducted the detence of Lower Albany, and his able disposition of the troops placed under his command; and he desires to express his best thanks to the Lieutenant-Colonel, as well as to every officer end soldier uuder his command. A very spirited affeir occurred on the night of the 2d instant, under the command of Lieutenant Knox, of the 73d Regiment, during one of those arduous night patrols and Riot watches, in which, while a party of fifty rebel Hottentots and Kafirs were fleeing with their booty ' (twenty-four head of cattle) out of the colony, they were in a moment unexpectedly attacked, six Kadrs killed, many severely wounded, two stand of arms taken, and every head of cattle recaptured. The Commander-in -Chief is well aware of the severity of this species of harassing duty, by which alone ma rauders can be effectually punished. Nor can Finch duty be placed in better hands than those of Lieutenant- Colonel Eyre and the 73d Regiment, and the troops under his command. Major Armstrong, with the detachment of his own horse and the Cape Mounted Rifles, stationed at Waay Pleats, equally and well deserves the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief. Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre has drawn the marked at• tention of his Excellency to the highly meritorious ser vices of dr. Koester, the guide, which services are fully appreciated by the Commander-in-Chief. 2. His Excellency has received no official report of the success of a patrol of " Stubbs' Horse" over a party of marauders, near Howison's Peort, by which seventy head of cattle were recaptured, three Kafirs killed, and three guns taken. The services of Captain Stubbs and his Rengers, daring the whole of this war, are entitled to every praise, and merit the gratitude of the colony. 3. A general court-martial will assemble at King William's Town to-morrow, the 7th inst., at eleven o'clock, for the trial of such prisoners as may be brought before it: — President—Major Pinckney, 73d Regiment. Seven members to be furnished by the 2d Division. Officiating Deputy-Judge-Advocate, F. Coddington, Esq. The dates of commissions and names of the witnesses to be sent to the officiating deputy-judge-advocate. A. J. CLOETE, Lieut.-Col., Deputy-Quartermaster-Gen. OPERATIONS AT WATERKLOOF. MAJOR-GENERAL mp S , O B ll iin E k ß w S a E te T'S r,No R y. E 9 P , ORT. 1851. Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, for the in formation of his Excellency the Commander-in-Cbief, that, in accordance with the arrangements laid down in the enclosed memorandum, I assembled the troops at the several points indicated on the Kromme Range, on the morning of the 6th instant. About seven, A.M., I observed Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton's mounted force moving up from the Bush Neck. In the meantime, Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce had, agreably to my previous directions, placed the troops of his brigade in position on the ridges, and occupied the belt of bush that intersects the enemy's position by four companies of the 74th Highlanders, supported by two companies of the 12th Regiment, under Lieutenant- Colonel Percival. This arrangement became necessary to cover the advance of the detachments of Fingoes and Levies, which I had directed Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton to move up by the Waterkloof. While carrying these arrangements into effect, I regret that Lieut.-Colonel Fordyce received a mortal wound by the enemy sta tioned among some rocks on the extreme left of that position. A body of the enemy appear to have con centrated on that point, but were driven from it in the most spirited manner by the 74th Highlanders, not, how ever, I lament to say, on account of the strong position, without suffering severe loss—one officer (Lieutenant Carey), two sergeants, and two rank and file being killed, and one officer (Lieutenant Gordon), and eight men wounded; the 74th Highlanders, under Captain Duff, driving the enemy from this part of the forest and the rocks, and holding the position until I withdrew Use troops in the afternoon. Lieut.-Col. Sutton's detachment passed up the Water kloof, as far as Mr. Brown's place, and came out at the Mund Ifs farm without seeing any thing' d very judiciously by Lieut.-Col. enemy! The left of the position was in the meantime occupied nl"e'l Captain Robinson. Y th a ,e r w bo a r t o e u r g k h io , 0 commanding I withdrew where cnt;sp opened them guns 9lst into position opposite the the troops and formed camp o Captain Robinson. on my own P " iti°ll Without further loss, the enemy not showing at all. good effect. A dense fog coming on at three r.M. - footpath t with of bt bye Lieutenant -Colonel Michel had, in accordance with the previous in securing the lower employed the force under Mr. Blakeway's lower ridge; of the Kromme as far as serving some parties but met with no opposition. Ob and the rocks at the the the enemy occupying the forest asc ent from Fuller's Hoek, I communicatedp o oiot of the n with Lieutenant-Colon e lhim to move his force up the ridges to tV iel ' i t i he evening o_cthe 6th instant at point on the morning of the 7th, to co-operate with req nesting The night having been exceedingly own force. did not move until seven the following foggy and wet, I hour I marched the native troops morning, to the point above Faller's Hoek, and Eingoes in advance9lst at which Regiment, detaching Captain Ayii i f t i l,,P , Pred by the _ by two companies of the 12th Regiment, the Waterkloof. Having placed the goo , to the head of Robinson and Lieutenant Field, so as supported to cover souvnder Captain the rocks, they were opened with apparently great effect officers. The Levies and Fingoes, enteringet t b h y these supported by the 91st Regiment and a company of bush, European levy under Captain Stevenson, drove the the ene my from the bush at that point, who kept up a smart fire. Three of the 91st Regiment were here wounded, and two Fingoes slightly so. At ten A.M., Lieutenant-Colonel Michel'a brigade, having ascended the ridges, advanced on the corner of the belt of bush and pushed forward, scouring the forest as they proceeded; the enemy firing several well-directed shots from some points of the rocks, but with little effect, except in one place, where I regret to say Captain De venish, of the Beaufort West Levy, received a serious wound in the head. The object of clearing the extreme point of the belt having been effected, I requested Lieu tenant Michel to: halt his men to refresh. In the mean time I recalled the troops and levies from the se veral points they had occupied, and again formed camp on my position. These operations have shown me that the enemy are still occupying, though in small parties, several strong points of the Kromme Range, for the purpose of maraud ing, and probably also for taking care of their wounded, who I suspect are more numerous than I am able dis tinctly to report them, from the rugged and bushy na ture of the ground where the contest was maintained. From fifteen to twenty were this day certainly killed — four Kefirs and one Hottentot having been slain by the Kit River levy, besides a good many by the 74th, and t h e c ompany of the European levy. On our side one , and ono of the Kat River levy, m an of this latter force having also been slightly wounded. At 2 P.M. a storm of hail, accompanied by violent rain, set in, Which lasted daring the whole night, On SUN, LONDON, the morning of the Bth I marched the Mtncszana detach ment, under the command of Captain Stevenson, back to their stations, and returned with the remainder of the troops to this camp. I have, &0., H. SOMERSET, Major , Genetal. Lieut.-Colonel Cloete, C. 8., Dep. Quartermaster. General. GENERAL ORDERS. Head-Quarters, King William's Town, Nov. 13, 1851. 1. The Commander-in-Chief has this day received the report from Major-General Somerset that the gallant and enterprising Lieut.-Colonel Fordyce, .74th High landers, has fallen in action with the enemy, on the 6th instant. His loss to her Majesty's service is a severe one, and his Exeelleiacy conceives he cannot express his regret in terms more applicable than in the division order of Major-General Somerset, which is herewith pub lished. Gallantly thus falling in the service of his Queen and country will perpetuate the memory ,of Lieut.-Colonel Fordyce. The service has also to regret the loss of Lieutenant Carey, 74th Highlanders—a rising and promising officer. Head-Quarters, King William's Town, Nov. 7,1851. 1. Mr. C. L. Nightingale is appointed lieutenant in the Levies, vice Guiney, killed in action. A. J. CLOETE, Lieut.-Col., Dep. Quartermaster -Gen. GENERAL SOMERSET'S DIVISION. (From the Frontier Times, Nov. 25.) CAMP, BLINKWATER, Nov. 19,1851. —The sad gloom thrown over everything here by the death of the much lamented Fordyce appears but slowly to pass away—in deed, the general feeling seems to be," who will be next?" Many openly declare they will go there no more to be butchered like cattle. It is a fearful sacrifice of human life to send men as brave as ever shouldered a firelock to such a place, with an enemy to contend against; courage here is of no avail, discipline and steadiness under fire only render the men better targets for the larking sa vages. However, it is generally reported that we are to make a forward movement to the Kei, when we hope to have open work of it, and get a little good meat, which is quite out of the question at this place. The Kafirs are daily stealing cattle from here and Fort Beaufort, and generally succeed in getting off with them. Yesterday they stole about fifty or sixty of the Com missariat oxen; but by timely notice and the activity of a party of dismountedßifles and Port Elizabeth Fingoes the greater part wer M e retaken, and three of the enemy shot—one sergeant was wounded on our side. It is evident from the night fires that the enemy is very numerous still in Fuller's Hoek and Waterkloof, and indeed in the whole of these parts. Their being here is a tax on the neighbourhood, for es they have no cattle now they live upon us. Since the above was received, we have intelligence from the camp to the 24th instant, from which it appears that a waggon with supplies, belonging to Captain Bruce, 74th, and guarded by a detachment of that regi ment, under Lieutenant King, was attacked by the enemy and pillaged on Saturday, and the oxen stolen. The party were proceeding np the Bankwater Hill towards Post Retiel. The empty waggon was recovered the following morning. The enemy are now known to be as numerous in the Waterkloof as ever. A correspondent at Fort Beaufort writes:—" Novem ber 15.—Information has just been brought in from the Major•Greneral's camp, that the Kafirs cut a span of oxen loose from one of the waggons in the General's camp last night; two Kafirs were also shot near Beau fort by a party of Fingoes, who ware out patrolling; the gun of one of the Kafirs who was shot was brought in, and the other Kafir, with a double-barrel gun, fell into the river as he was shot. A party of Fingoes has jest started to search for the gun in the river. The above span of oxen which was taken from the Gene ral's camp, was actually taken out of his own baggage waggon. "18th.—Information has just been brought again of the Kafirs taking eight spans of oxen at Blink water camp, from the herds; the enemy were soon overtaken, and the oxen recovered, with the exception of eighteen, which the Kafiri got safe off with; four Fingoes were wounded, one of whom has since died of his wound. The oxen taken were thirteen of Mr. Prior, and five of Mr. Yellen tine. Last night the Kafirs crept up close to the centries, and fired at them, but did not hurt any. " Nov. 19.—Mosers. Knott have been robbed of all their sheep and horses, and it is expected that all the cattle will be swept away next. It was well known that failure in getting the enemy out of Waterkloof would lead them to do more mischief. There is scarcely a day passes without the enemy getting cattle from General Somerset's camp; they stole a span the other night, not ten yards from the General's tent. If he remain here much longer, you may perhaps hear of his being walked off with." The freight-ship Sir R. Seppinga arrived on the 18th from the Mauritius with Captain Fenwick, Lieutenant Siborn, and 109 men, women, and children of the Sappers and Miners ; also Lieutenant Robertson, and 35 of the 2d battalion of the 12th R,e giment. Leaves of absence have been granted to Lieutenant- Colonel Cole, commanding Royal Engineers, Lieut.- Col. Cooper, 45th Light Foot, and Dr. Dick, 2d bat talion of the 12th Regiment. Commissary-General Maclean has arrived, and assumed charge of his department ; also Deputy- Commissary-General Tably. Deputy-Commissary General Green will return to the frontier. Lieut. Greville, of the 6th Rifles, has been appointed Aide de-Camp to the Commander-in. Chief. The before-mentioned appointments on the staff of the army have taken place. Lieutenant-Colonel Cloete, C.8.K., is to be Quarter master-General of the Royal and Burgher forces, with the rank and pay of colonel on the staff. Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton, C.M.R., to be Assistant- Adjutant-General. Brigade-Major Robinson, 2d Royals, to be Quartermaster-General, and attached to head-quar ters. Captain Haines, 73d Regiment, now doing duty as Major of Brigade during Major Bussuck's absence, to be Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster- General, and attached to 2d division. Lieutenant Whitmore, C.M.R., to act as Major of Brigade, vice Farmer. The mails by the Harbinger are in charge of Cam mender Robertson. _ _ — Arrived at Sierra Leone, while there on the 16th of December, her Majesty's steamer Firefly and the screw steamer Gambia. The Gambia brought news of a disturbance on the coast, in which she lost two officers and seven or eight hands. A descent has been made on the State favourable to the suppression of 31avery, and she had been called on for assistance. The West India mailboat Severn arrived on the 22d of November at St. Vincent. Tae Harbinger spoke the barque Sternshall, in lat. 36 N., long. 20 W., standing to the westward. The Harbinger experienced on the first part of her passage home light south-easterly trade winds and fine weather throughout, latterly strong north easterly trade winds, and a continuance of north easterly gales until within a day's sail of the Lizard. During the last twenty-four hours of her passage her speed has averaged 12i knots, and at times over 13, with a pressure of 61b. only. Her Majesty's ship Styx, Commander Hall, has been actively engaged in the transport of troops, horses, and munitions of war, between this and East London, for which port she sailed with the dispatches brought by the Harbinger (mail steamer) on the 27th. She has made some splendid trips, and was well selected to be the Hermes successor. The Rhadamanthus has also been engaged in the same service. Her Majesty's brig Dart, Lieutenant Hoskins, left on the 7th ult. for Quillenaane. On the 7th the Marines of her Majesty's ship Castor, who have been serving in the field, are ordered to join their ship on the arrival of the 43d Light In fantry battalion in the Vulcan. Her Majesty's brig Grecian arrived on the 25th ult. from Rio for this station. Her Majesty's ships of war now in Simons Bay, are the Castor, Grecian, Rhadamanthus, and Seringa patam coal depot. THE NEW CONSTITUTION FOR THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. The ordinances, embodying the new Constitution for the Cape of Good Hope, together with a dispatch from Earl Grey, were presented on the 21st November to the Legislative Council of that :colony. We give below an abstract of the ordinances which contains all the important provisions. We publish the dispatch of Earl Grey in full. The general sentiment with regard to the Constitution bestowed upon the colony appears to be one of satisfaction. At a public meet ing held at the Town-hall, Cape Town, on the 2d December, a series of resolutions were unanimously adopted accepting the offered Constitution, and pray ing that it may be sanctioned by her Majesty's Go vernment without any material alteration and without further delay. The follo wing petitions were also unanimously adopted : PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF CAPE TOWN. The loyal Address and humble Peti . ti9n of the under signed Inhabitants of the Municipalities of Cape Town and Green Point. Humbly show e th—That your Majesty' s faithful and loyal subjects gratefally acknowledge the boon which your Majesty has been graciously pleased . to confer in the liberal f orm of governm ent embod i ed in the letters patent and two draft ordinances, con stituting a Parlia ment for thi s colony, pu blished i n the Cape of Good Rope Governm en t G a zette of the 27th day of Novem ber, 1851. i9 t n a t i h l teh a re s That your petitioners willingly defer, for the consi deration of the future Parliament, such matters of de tail into immediate opration together with such ps a o : ii i t n sd o ri t na a f bsolutely re quired to bring the said ordi- Va s peti tions on this su b jectae with the o :t ea s s u tp,, b rr o en r s d ne i no n - ttaeeitdne a rrange ments,o y ou r accordance Majesty public, as well adapted last year, and sincerelyprop osed to the And as the presen te mtLegislativeoosmt eet the d th e scheme now the colonists. wishes of of this settle ment, to which these important. ordinances have been submitted for considerationof the in no sense represen ts . Council wants and . inhabitants, your peti tiOnus humbly but most earn jesty may be graciously pleasede pray that you r stly M a n - to withhold your co - se nt se nt from any alterations introd uced s hall be found inconsistent with by that body whic h the principles and pro- visions of the said draft, and that the whole, as nearly as possible as it now stands, may receive your Majesty's section, and be put in force without further reference or delay, so as to restore peace, harmony, and confidence throughout this portion of your Majesty's dominions, and to promote its future welfare and happiness. And your Majesty's humble petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, Sce. PETITION OF THE CAPE TOWN MUNICIPALITY. To her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. The humble Address and Petition of the Commissioners for the Municipality of the City of Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope: Showeth,—That your petitioners have read with sin cere satisfaction the draft ordinances, published in the Government Gazette, for constituting a Parliament for this colony. That ryour petitioners gratefully acknowledge the boon conferred upon the colonists, in the liberal form of government embodied in those ordinances, and thank fully accept the same as the means, under the blessings of Divine Providence, of restoring tranquillity through out this unfortunate dependency, besides being of lasting benefit to the inhabitants at large, and your petitioners th e refore pray, that it may please your Majesty to pass the said ordinances without any delay, and without any material alteration in the leading principles thereof. ' And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. Town House, city of Cape Town. Cape of Good Hope, Ist day of Dec., 1851. DISPATCH FROM EARL GREY. Downing -street, Sept. 15, 1851. Governor Lieutenant-General Sir H. G. Smith, Bart., &c. &c. &c. Sir, —In conformity with the intention expressed in my dispatch of the 13th August, I now transmit to you two drafts of ordinances to be passed by the Legislative Council of the Cape of Good Hope, for the purpose of bringing into operation her Majesty's letters patent on the 23d of May, 1850. The object of the first of these draft ordinances is to determine, as required by the letters patent, the mode of constituting the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, w hich, with the Go vernor, are to be the future Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope ; the purpose of the second ordinance is, to sanction 2. , Is 3 c , e o r u t a i h n a e r expenditure alreadyalready i p n r c i s u e r d r e , d i c r e ate certain permanent ch arges on th e reve nue, and to p M r a e j s e c s r t ib y e a d n b y dytehpearoturrdeerfreimn C th o e un m ei e l th of od J o an f uparrhoyca, e v e e lds n isn o og t , thought it necessary or ad v i sa bl e t o rec ommend to her and by the letters Patent i ssue d in consequence of that order. It appeared t o me t h a t, independently of any constitutional question which may be raised as to the power of the Crown to vary the terms on which a Con stitution had already been granted to the colony, no suf ficient reason had been shown for departing from a course deliberately taken on the best consideration which her Majesty's servants cou ld give to the subject; especiallywhen th e power of amending the o rdinan ces by Order in Council, reserve d by the letters patent, is so extensive that th ere w il l b e f u ll power to consider and adopt, in the last stage, any c h a nges in the ordinances passed by the Legi s l at i ve C ounc il which may be deemed expedient. I have t o a dd t h a t a further proof of the ex pediency of this co urse i s a ff or d e d by the fact, that even with the full inf ormat i on been found impr act i ca bl e, in preparing the draft now submitted to you have furnished, it has Yee, to avoid leaving some blanks to be filled up, and some doubtful points to be determined on the spot, by yourself end your Council, who possess more minute local knowledge than can be commanded in this country. 3. In framing the first of these ordinances I have, as you will perceive, made great use of the provisions of the draft order in council, transmitted with your dispatch, No. 12, of January 21, 1851. They have, in fact, been in great measure transferred into the draft ordinance, with such alterations as were rendered necessary by the difference between the constitution of the Legislative Council proposed by Mr. Porter and that to a hich her Majesty's Government have on consideration determined to adhere, as the best calculated to secure a fair repre sentation of the interests of different classes and diffe rent districts, and to create a body which shall possess a character of its o wn , d u ly independent of the House of Assembly. With t hi s view her Majesty's Govern ment have adopt e d t h e sug gestion of the Attorney-Ge neral in his very able minute of the 15th of January last, that the Legislative Council should be composed of fifteen members to be elected by the same body of electors as the Assembly; eight for the western and seven for the eastern district of the c olony—leaving the divisions by yourself and the cordcil. But in providing that the Le gislative Council should be thus elected, it has been considered advisable, for the reasons explained in the twenty-fifth paragraph-Of the report of the Committee of Privy Council on this subject, that the votes should :1?e taken in such a manlier as to guard, as far as possi lele, against the exclusion of the minority of the electors in either district of the colony from their fair share of influence in that branch of the Legislature. Accordingly, you will find that the clauses of the draft ordinance upon this point have been so framed as to answer this object, and with the view of more perfectly insuring it, regula tions having a similar tendency have been introduced as to the nomination of candidates. You will also observe that the mode of voting for the members of the Legisla tive Council is further calculated t o e xcl ude from the exercise of the privilege persons who, though they may have the requisite property qualification, have not had the advantage of even so much education as to enable them to write. This has appeared to be a proper and useful limitation of the right of voting, and will, I hope, have likewise the effect of creating a greater desire amongst the inhabitants of the colony for the advantages of education. 4. In adopting the clauses relating to the registration jesty's Government have been influenced by their con of voters proposed by the Attorney-General, her Ma viction that if a franchise is to be created which renders a system of regi stration necessar y , the safest course that could be follow ed was to r ely entirely on Mr. Porter's jthuedgdmreanft ordinancet and d local knowledge, a dh er i ng i n thi s p ar t o f to his reco mmen d at i ons , i nstea d o f in reviewingappear the attemptingof to introduce improvements of d e tail, w ith ou t a scertaining what l oca l reasons may ex i st for a t hme m eans some nd ate n. I shall, of t theprlr however, which clauses of the draft ordinances, point out the changes w hi c h, unless there are local reasons against them, would appear to be advisable in the scheme of registra tion as originally devised by him. But I must in the first instance call your attention to the preliminary and very important question, whether it may not be possible, by adopting a different franchise, to dispense altogether with any registration of votes. L. It is impossible to consider the clauses relating to registration which have been proposed by the Attorney - General, without being struck by the extremely cum brous and complicated nature of the machinery by which this is to be effected. If the object, however, is to be attained at all, I do not believe that this machinery is capable of being simplified or materially improved; if there is to be a register of electors, it seems impossible to avoid calling on those entitled to vote to put in their claims, giving to those who w ish to dispute these claims an oppor tun ity of stating their objections, and providing some authority finally to decide upon all claims and ob jections, and to settle the list, taking care at the same time that due publicity is given to the various proceed ings. All this can only be done by som e such ma chinery as that p ro p osed, which is copied in a great measure from that established in this country by the Act of Parliamentary Reform, and of the different Acts s i nce passed to amend it in this respect. But the working of the system of registration, even with all the advantages afforded by the great faci lities for communication which exist in this country, has not been such as to afford much encouragement for its introduction into the Cap e of Good Hope. No doubt the establishment of a register, by which the right to vote of persons claiming to do so is not open to dis pute at the time of elections, has its advantages in many respects, and especially so by rendering it pract i c able to abridge the time during which the poll is kept open, but still the mode of proceeding adopted in forming the re gister has been attended with much inconvenience. The trouble and expense attending it have been found to be a grievous burden both upon candidates and electors, while it has had a still more injurious result on the sys tem of periodical registration, and the machinery by which it is conducted—that it tends to perpetuate the excitement of electioneering contests, exasperating the bitterness of party conflicts, and depriving practically of political power, those moderate men who decline identi fying themselves with any l• • pu ttical party; these being the very persons whose influence it would be desirable to increase, so far as this can be done. 6. The force of this© objections eections to a mode of registra tion requiring claim s to be ut in by all who obtain the a right of voting, an d 13 • I i nves tigation of those cla i ms, has been 80 , 0 periodica P ar liament, that in Act the most recentstrongly felt by of this class—that fo r amendin g the So laws which regulate the l ' ficat i on l a nd registration of Parliamentary voters in ia Irel an dt (13 and 14 Viet., cap. 69)—an endeavour what has been ma de to establishmay b© termed a e self•acting registration. This has been effected by making _ the emere f ac t of occupying pro. a c petty rated to - em ertain amount one of the qualifica tions of electors (and in • the principal on e) , the practice name of every Person e ntit l e d to vote being placed on the register so without any in t e rference on his part, and m without any et a - ' 7. The effect a being sent in. of this is, to a great extent, to make the rate book answer th e purposes of a register, and if it had not been that th ere exis t in Ireland other rights of voting arising from the poss ession of property, which it was not expedi ent to abolish, but for the maintenance of which A register was essential, it is probable that regis tration would have been altogether got rid of. 8. It would, in r ay o pinion, be very desirable to esta blish such i a kmple - syaleen at the Cape, where there is no embarrassment, arisingd from existing rights, and where, from the great extent of the country in propor tion to the number of inhabitants, and from the compa ratively rude state of society, the formation of a register cannot but be attended with peculiar inconvenience. This, however, could only be done by adopting a dif foment franchise from that proposed in the draft ordi nance, and adopted from that which was agreed upon by the Legislative Council, before the res i g nation of four of its membe rs , because, in order to prevent disputes and delays in taking the poll at elections, it is necessary that it should be previ ous l y ascertained who are the persons entitled to vote. Hence, though there is no objection to the franchise suggested in the colon y , on the score of the proportio n of inhabitants whom it would admit to the right of voting, much advantage would result from substituting for it a qua lifi c ation, as nearly as pos sible equivalent to i t i n this respect, and following the principle of the Irish Act above referred to. 9. It would be impossible, with the information acces sible in this country, to judge whether this could be tee complished,:and still more to frame the necessary pro visions for doing so. But I should wish you to consider, with the assistance of the Legislative Council, whether the right of working might not be made to depend on 1 the feet of i — Dav 4 4 goes or Wu, so as to make the liat WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1852. of persons assessed under the road ordinance, or by tho municipalities, serve the purposes of a registor. If you should find this to be practicable, you will either amend the draft ordinance accordingly, or you will transmit to me you suggestions as to the best mode of doing so, with a view to the introduction of the amendments by her Majesty in Council. fo. Having thus explained to you the views of her Majesty's Government on the two most important parts of the draft ordnance, I will now proceed to review its clauses in their order, making such observations as seem to be necessary for a clear comprehension of its provisions. 11. In section 2, the presidency of the Chief Justice over the Legislative Council is retained, agreeably to the provisions of the letters patent. He will also be enabled to take part in the debates of that body, as in this coun try the Lord Chancellor is not debarred from speaking in the House of Lords by his presiding over the delibe rations of that House of Parliament. The quorum of three for the Legislative Council, i❑ section 3, is adopted also in analogy with the practice of the House of Lords; and because experience, proves that much inconvenience results in practice from requiring, for the formal trans action of business, the presence of a large proportion of the members of a deliberative assembly. 12. Section 4 is to filled up by defining the western and eastern divisions of the colony, unless those terms have already a definite legal meaning. 18. In section 6 the term of the duration of the House of Assembly is fixed at five years. The efficiency of a representative body depends, in my opinion, in a great degree on its being elected for such a term as to enable the members to acquire some experience, and to devote themselves to the discharge of its duties with constant reference to an impending election. So short a period as that of three years for the duration of a representa tive assembly is, I believe, unprecedented in British co lonial legislation. 14. In section 6 the quorum of the House of Assembly is reduced to seven, as a number more likely to be prac ticably serviceable than fourteen. 15. In section 7 it is proposed that Cape Town, in stead of returning four members, as in the draft order in council, should be divided into two electoral districts, a provision which will, in the judgment of her Majesty's Government, be more likely to secure a fair representa tion of various interests than the election of four mem bers by an undivided constituency, unless in the latter case some arrangement analogous to that provided for the election of members of the Legislative Council were introduced. The boundaries of the two divisions must be defined in the ordinance. . . 16. The clauses relating to the qualification and regis tration of voters, from section 8 to section 37, are adopted substantially, as I have already stated, from Mr. Porter's draft order in council. Apart from the general objec tions to them, which I have so fully entered into above, there are some of their details which, if they are to be retained, would appear to require consideration. 17. The double set of provisions for the registration of voters in the two boroughs of Cape Town and Gra ham's Town, and for the registration of voters in all the other electoral districts, appears cumbrous, considering the small number of boroughs for which this exclusive provision is made. Mr. Porter has, no doubt, followed the English system; but it might be practicable to sim plify it for adaptation to the wants of the Assembly and constituency so far less numerous. 18. The clauses from 33 to 37 inclusive, respecting the mode of dealing with objections to voters in other districts than Cape Town and Graham's Town, seem also somewhat inconveniently inserted among other clauses concerning the manner of taking the poll. 19 1 Section 14 provides for the making of claims and objections in writing, but does not follow the English precedent in giving any forms for such claims and ob- j ections. 20. These are points which I wish to bring to your notice and that of the Legislative Council, but without requiring their amendment, if your advisers, who have taken so much pains in framing these provisions, see substantial reasons to the contrary. 21. I have no observations, in addition to those I have already made, to offer on the sections regarding the manner of taking votes at elections for the Legislative Council and House of Assembly respectively; except that in section 39 the provision that the poll shall last from sunrise to sunset appears likely to lead to disputes. lam not aware of any reason for departing from the precedent of the English Reform Act, which limits the duration of the poll by hours. 22. In sections 65 and 66, provision is made for peti tions against members of the Council for want of qualifi cation; but no provision is made for petitions against members of the Council or Assembly on other grounds. As there may have been some reason, of which lam not aware, for this omission in the draft order in Council, from which these provisions aro taken, I think it suffi cient to call your attention to it. IV may, probably, have been thought that other petitions would be better provided for by separate enactment of the Legislature. 23. In section 71, I have caused provision to be made for the case of a vacancy occurring when either House is not sitting. This arrangement is founded upon the English statute 24 George 111., cap. 26, to obviate the inconvenience which has sometimes been experienced from allowing a long interval to take place between the occurrence of a vacancy and the election to supply it. 24. In section 72, power is given to the Governor to dissolve the Assembly without the Council, following the distinct directions of the letters patent. 25. In section 77, provision is made for certain officers of the Government having seats without votes. This is in accordance with the recommendation of the Com mittee of Privy Council, to which this subject was referred. And after having given full weight to the objections to it urged by the Board of Commissioners, her Majesty's Government continue of opinion that a plan which, although not in accordance with English usage, has been successfully adopted in the representa tive institutions of other countries, is likely to be of advantage to the public service in the Parliament of the With regard to the powers of the L eg i s l a t ure th us c C o a n i6 s e t : ituted, I am of opinion that as these powers to make laws for the government of the colony are derived di rectly from the letters patent, they could not be con sistently restricted by any words in the ordinance, either reqairing the concurrence of a given proportion of the Legislature, in order to make alterations in the provisions of the ordinance itself, or requiring acts making such changes until th e Q ueen ' s pl e asure could be taken upon them. the reservation of 27. But though no restriction can be imposed by an ordinance passed, by the present Legislative Council, on the powers to be exercised by the Parliament which is to succeed it, I have to convoy to you her Majesty's com mands not to give your assent, but to reserve for the sig nification of her Majesty's pleasure (unless you should consider them so objectionable as to require to be at once rejected) any bills which may be tendered to you for the purpose of making alterations in the constitution of the colony. This will, of course, not apply in cases in which you shall have previously been instructed to assent to bills of this description. 28. With regard to the other ordinances for regulating in certain respects the appropriation of the revenues of the colony, I have had fully under my consideration the objections taken by the Board of Commissioners to the reservation of what is commonly called the civil list, and it has appeared to me that restrictions on the power of Parliament to deal with any portion of the revenues of the colony would be inconsistent (for reasons already noticed) with the principle of the letters patent. 29. On the other hand, I think that those public ser vices which more particularly require a fixed appropria tion, ought (for reasons given by the Committee of her Majesty's Privy Council) to be fully provided for, leav ing, however, unimpaired to the Parliament its power to alter that provision by Acts passed in the usual mode with her Majesty's assent. 30. It will be necessary, therefore, that the schedules of the ordinance (which are in the same form as those contained in the Acts for the government of New South Wales) should be drawn up by yourself with the advice of the Legislative Council, altering the particular heads, if you deem it advisable, as they are specified by way of indication only. The sums to be inserted should not exceed those actually required on the present scale for the specified services in schedule A, and for " public worship," or what may be reasonably expected to suffice for pensions, and for the maintenance of the relations of her Majesty's Govern ment with the border tribes. In making an appropriation for the latter object, you will not fail to bear in mind that considerable amount is, in fact, contributed to the colonial revenue by the tribes inhabiting a wide extent of territory beyond the colonial boundary, by their con sumption of goods which have paid duty on their impor tation into the colony. You will, therefore, take care that in this schedule such appropriations are made for the service both of British Kafraria and of the Orange River sovereigns, as may fairly be assigned to them on this ground. 31. The maintenance of the existing interests of public officers, a matter of which I do not think the Board of Commissioners have in the slightest exaggerated the importance, will in those arrangementshe Legislature, g e i amplyisl ait interest, e, se cured,sttot their which the Crown nothing mustbut b o a a n p For a fuller explanation of my views on this subject, refer you to the 20th and 21st paragraphs of I have to of the 10th December, 1850. my dispatch, of hordinance will require no 2 The remainder t o 3 . particular observation from me. Schedule E will contain a a rt c y t , c o a f n 100 a n accurate enumeration o f t he several a pp ro p riations of which have taken place since the Legis lative Council ceased to meet, and for which the sanction p u blic money, of the Legislature is now required. 33. In conclusion, I wish to observe that the marginal notes to these ordinances have merely been inserted for the immediate purpose of assisting the reader, and will require revision before they are returned for the conside ration_ of the Privy Council. 34. When the ordinances have been passed by the Legislative Council, you will transmit them to th m tat e w , eiv w lie i rb t y h e such further observations as you may think requisite, when it will be the duty of her Majesty's servants carefully to consider what amendments it may be expe dient to make in them when they are submitted to th e Queen in Council, manaint f yd o s r oaf thett doinge p n u t i r o p sn o o i : e he o xo f ue b el d e p i t n t g hbeyja the finally beauthority brought enacted; and as there will then bo ample opportunity of m a ki ng a poth n ofei ytahtwhich alterations last noewpp Parliament,odr demands which isbheignehclyessiamrpyo, important t e it fully before me. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) GREY. THE CONSTITUTION. The subjoined abstract from the constitutional ordinances comprises all the more important provi sions of the new Cape constitution THE PARLIAHENT.—The Parliument of the Cape of Good Hope shall consist of the Governor, Legislative Council, and a Hous e o f A ssembly. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.—The Legislative Counc ehall consist of the chief justice, se president, and of fifteen elective members, eight of whom shall be chosen in the western districts, and seven in the eastern. Of the first council, the eight members (four from the western and four from the eastern districts) who were elected by the fewest votes, shall retire at the expira tion of five years, and the remaining seven at the expi ratio❑ of ten years; and the members afterwards elected shall hold their seats for ten years, unless the Council shall be sooner dissolved by the Governor. A member of the Legislative Council must be thirty years of age, and must own landed property, uumortgaged, worth 1,0001., or else landed property of that amount, which, though mortgaged, will, with his moveable property, constitute him the owner of not less than 2,0001., over and above his just debts. Every candidate for the Le gislative Council must be nominated by a requisition signed by twenty-five electors, and must have accepted the nomination before he can be voted for. The list of candidates thus legally nominated shall be published in the Government Gazette at least fourteen days before the day of election. No elector can sign such requisition for more than one candidate. TEE ASSEMBLY.—The House of Assembly shall con sist of forty-six members, to be elected for the term of five years. Seven members, exclusive of the member presiding, shall form a quorum. Every person qualified to vote shall be qualified to be elected a member of the Legislative Assembly. The electoral divisions shall be the Cape Division (exclusive of Cape Town), Malmos bury, Stellenbosch, the Paarl, Clanwilliarn, Swellendam, Caledon, George, Uifenhage, Port Eliztbetb, Albany (exclusive of Graham's Town), Fort Beaufort, Victoria, Albert, Somerset, Graaf-Rennet, Cradock, Colesberg, Beaufort, and Worcester, Cape Town (to be divided into two electoral divisions, one of them including Green Point), and Graham's Town. Two members shall bo elected for each division. The House of Assembly shall elect one of its members as Speaker. THE FRANCHISE.—Every male person, who shall have occupied for his own use and benefit, within any electo ral division, for the space of twelve months next before the day of registration, any tenement of the value of 251., shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for mem bers of both houses. But no servant, or other person, shall be deemed to have so occupied any premises, of which, in law, the possession would be deemed to be in some other person. Joint occupiers of tenements of suffi cient value to qualify them severally shall be entitled to vote. No person shall be an elector unless he is of the full age of twenty-one years, and either a natural born British subject, or a British subject who was, before the lath of January, 1806, a subject of the Batavian Government in this colony—or else, if of alien birth, naturalised by some Act of the Imperial or Colonial Legislature. - No person shall be entitled to vote who shall hold any office of profit under her Majesty within the colony. Uncertified insolvents, insane persons, and convicted felons (not being pardoned), are alio excluded from the franchise. THE ELECTION.—The members of the Legislative Council shall be elected before those of the House of Assembly. Polling places (at least one in every field cornotcy), and returning officers, shall be appointed by the Governor. In the election of members of the Le gislative Council each voter shall be entitled to give as many votes as there are members to be elected from his section of the colony (western or eastern), and be may give one vote to each candidate, or may distribute the votes among the candidates in such proportions as he shall think fit, or may give them all to ono candidate. The voter shall write against the name of each candidate in the printed list whom ho may desire to have chosen the number of votes which he shall give to such candidate, and subscribe such list with his name at length ; and every such signature shall be attested by the officer taking the poll. These votes shall be summoned up by the committee of scrutineers, nominated by the candidates in each province, and the names of the members elected shall be announced by proclamation in the Government Gazette. The day of election of members of the Legis lative Assembly shall then be announced by proclama tion, and the election shall take place after an interval of not less than thirty-one days from the date of such proclamation. The member shall be duly nominated by two resident electors, at a public court, held in each electoral division; and if the number of persons pro. posed shall not exceed the number to ba elected, such persons shall be deemed to be elected. Otherwise a show of hands shall be taken, and if any candidate shall de mand a poll, the returning officer shall fix and announce the day on which the poll will be taken at the several polling places, which shall be after an interval of not less than three days from the day of nomination. Se curity must be given by each candidate for the payment of an equal share of the expenses of the poll, not how ever exceeding the sum of 501. The returning officer of the division shall cast up the votes given fur the several candidates, and shall, at another public court, declare the state of the poll, and proclaim the member or members returned. SESSIONS OF THE PARLIAMENT.—The Governor shall summon the two Houses to meet at such time and place within the colony as he shall thi❑k fit, within twelve months next after the promulgation of this ordinance. A session of the Parliament shall be held once at least in every year. The Governor may prorogue the two Houses whenever he shall see fit to do so; and he may dissolve one or both Houses at his pleasure. In case of the cccurrence of a vacancy in either House, from death or any other cause, the Governor shall, by proclama tion, order a new election to be held; the member so elected shall hold his seat for the unexpired term for which the member occasioning such vacancy was elected. GOVERNMENT OFFICERS.—The Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Treasurer, and the Auditor, shall have the right of sitting and speaking, but not of voting in either House. LEGISLATION.—AII Bills granting supplies or im posing taxes shall originate in the House of Assembly. No Bill appropriating any sum of money from the public reve nue shall be enacted, unless the Governor shall have re commended the House of Assembly to make provision for the specified public service for which such money is to be appropriated. The Governor may assent to any Bill, or may refuse his assent to it, or may reserve it for the signiEcation of the Royal pleasure upon it; or ho may return it, with amendments, to either House at his pleasure. But a Bill assented to by the Governor may be disallowed, within two years, by order of her Majesty in Council. All debates shall be conducted in English, and all records of proceedings of the Parlia ment be kept in the same language. TRAVELLING EXPENSES, &C.—Every member of either House, who resides at a greater distance than ten miles from the place at which Parliament meets, shall receive 11. per day for every day spent in tra velling to and from, or in attending at, any session of Parliament. FIXED APPROMATIONS.—UntiI the Parliament shall otherwise direct, there shall be reserved out of the revenue of the colony the sum of for defraying the ex penses of the several services enumerated in the sub joined schedules, A, 13, and C, and D :—" Schedule A— Governor; chief justice; two puisne judges; salaries of the attorney and solicitor-general, Crown solicitor, and contingent and miscellaneous expenses of the adminis tration of justice throughout the colony; colonial secre tary and his department; colonial treasurer and his department; auditor-general and his department ; salary of clerk and miscellaneous expenses of executive council. Schedule B—Pensions. Schedule C—Public worship. Schedule D—Border department. SEABORNE MAILS. [N signifies that the mails are sent frora the General Post-office by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.] When made up in From what ---„,, PLACES. General Pos t -office port (Us- " nen London. patched. due. America (by Brit. pkt.)NJan 9 .. .. Liv erpool .. Jan. 12 America (by U.S. pkt.) N l Jan. 27 .. • • Liverpool .. Jan. 21 America (by U.S. pkt.) M • • ..Southampt. Jan. 9 Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month I Plyrnoath Jan. 3 Alexan d r i a * ........ N 19th Sc. 30th of mo. Dover .. Jan. 18 Belgium •• .. ..N Daily • • • • • • Dover .. Daily .Brazil .. . • .. M , 9th of the month Southampt. Jan. 1 6 Buenos Ayres .. .. Mj9th of the month ( Southampt. Jan. 16 Callfornia(viaChagres)M.3d & 17th of monthlSouthampt. Jan. 5 Cape of Good Hope Nll4th of month IPlymouth • • J O3l . 3 Constantinople* .... N 7thl7th 27th el m° Dover .. Jan. 10 Central America .. M2d & 17th of men. Southampt. Jas. 5 Channel Isles • • .. Nllon., Wed. &Fri. Southampt. Tn. Th. Sat Chill • • • • •• • Mll7th of the 'month France • • • .. M& NI Twice daily .. • • Dover •• T 0 y Greece* . • .. .. N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover • • Jan. Tne Sat. Holland .. .. N . Tuesfty & Friday London ndon •... Southampt. Jan. 2 d O en Moa..Thti .. .. .. mlWedgps• Ronda/As .. .. Iftland .. M& N ,Twice daily .. • • 1h ad Twicedatly Ho y e • • . ' Oth of the month Southampt . Jan, 23 India (via Southamp.) M'2 oth NllTth4f th & e month Southampt. Jan. 20 mlnedrite(vintiestenrselll(vesta I ) N rh& 24ihe f m m o o n n th th so Dover p t. . . .. T T aa n. 23 n . 18 Southampton) • • Si2oth of the Mediterranean (via month.. Dove! .. empt. .I .ran en. . 5 15 f 24 thh t e h e month s outhampt. Jan. 16 Mexico l htarß er eni e e 5 ).... ...... ...... m bi l.l. 8 9 2 th d th o & o f t r 17th,rith,19th,27th I Dover Jan. 10 Malta* • • • • 1I & 30th of month Naples* .. .. .. Nl s th 15th 25th ofme Dover • • Jan. 12 Papal States* .. .. N i sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. Jan. 12 Peninsular_ .. .. M 7th 17th 27th of mo Southampt. Arrived P eru _ .. .. •• M 17th of the month Southampt. Jan. 20 Tuscany* .. .. .. N sth 15th •s 5 th of mo Dover .. jar" 12 West Indies .. .. M 17th of the month Southampt. Jan. 20 W.. 4. Trlrline ( ~. , + i Naples* .. .• •• Papal States* .. N Peninsular.. M Peru " •• Tuscany* N West Indies .. M West Indies (except Havana & Nassau) M2d of the month .., I Southampt. 5 French The p mass to those countries thus marked (*) a re conveyed by via M The direct Havre mail from London via Southampton during this month will be made up three times a w ee k only, instead o f d a il y . Ckuroania.—Malls to and from C a li fornia, via the United Staten are now despatched and due by every American packet NEW YEAR'S DAY IN LANARK.-OR the first day of every year for about two centuries, a small fund has been dispensed by the magistrates and town council of Lanarkr.n amongst a number of the poorer inhabitants. The theoiglyof this fund is rather interesting . On the first day of ... ear, ' Sir Wyndham 1644, one of the Carmichael family, in the vicinity of Lanark, an ancestor of the present n Lanark, and Car michael Anstruther had occasion to ob serving numbers of the townspeople running smoking with a hot house to house with jugs and kettles,iat,,, he inquired the i about from drink, familiarly termed the the poor people do who he remarked—" Ay, but what meaning of it. On being told t‘ii‘diaatetitpwas an ancient custom, th e e reply, " they must just cannot afford it? " " 011, " w ge without it." " Well then," n he further observed, "they y longer." Captain Carmichael, shall not go without acting upon the the interest of which is given to poor kind it any intention which his words indicated, "mortified " a sum, people in small sums proper , w hich they are free to exp en d i n any way they the procuran ce o f t h e " hot thin k h- i v i n dispensable under the d ee d o f mortifica tion. On Thurs da y the money was dist r ib u t e d amongst dup wards of fifty in i . v iduals.—Scotsman. WRESTLING FOR A BOAR'S HEAD.—By ancient charter or usage in Hornchurch, a boar's bead—that noble dish amongst our ancestors—is wrestled for in the field ad joining the church, in the afternoon of Christmas-day, a boar, the property of the parish, b-ing slaughtered for the purpose ; and this year a large number of persons assembled to witness the sport. The boar's head, elevated on a pole, and decorated with ribbons, was brought into the ring, which six competitors entered, and after a good display of strength and agility, the prize was awarded. If the head is taken by a champion out of the parish, it IS said the charter is lost.— Chelmsford Chronicle. THE LONDON GAZETTE, Jan. 6. FOREIGN OFFICE, JAN. 1, 1852. The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Lord Augustus Loftus, now Paid Attaché to her Ma jesty's Legation at Stuttaardt, to be Secretary to her Majesty's Legation at that Court. The Queen has also been graciously pleased to appoint George Frederick Herman, Esq., now British Vice- Consul at Bengazi, to be her Majesty's Consul at Tripoli. WHITEHALL, JAN. 2. The Right lion. Sir George Grey, Bart., G.C.B , one of her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, has ap pointed the undernamed gentlemen to be Inspectors of Coal Mines in Great Britain—Thomas Wynne, Esq.; William Lancaster, Esq. Royal Regiment of Artillery—Second Captain James Drummond Telfer to be Adjutant, vice Maude, promoted. March 9; Second Captain Disney Frederick Russel to be Adjutant, vice Domvile, promoted, April 16; Second Captain John Fraser Ledington Baddeley to be Adju tant, vice Wodehouee, promoted, April 29, 1851. Corps of Royal Engineers—Second Captain Conolly M'eausland to be Captain, vice Howorth, retired on full pay; First Lieutenant Millingto❑ Henry Synge to be Second Captain, vice M`Causland ; Second Lieutenant Henry Sandeman to be First Lieutenant, vice Synge, Dec. 20, 1851 ; Second Lieutenant Gerald Graham, with temporary rank, to be Second Lieutenant, with per manent rank, June 19, 1850. Curps of RJyal Sappers and Miners—Second Captain Harry St. George Ord, of the Royal Eugineers, to be Adjutant, vice Fanshawe, who resigns the Adjutancy only, Jun. I. ADMIRALTY, DEC. 30. Corps of Royal Marines—Gentleman Cadet Edward Congreve Langley Durnford to be Second Lieutenant; Gentleman Cadet Edward Gladstone to be Second Lieutenant; Gentleman Cadet Ussher Lee Morris to be Second Lieutenant; Gentleman Cadet Joseph Georwa Shanks to be Second Lieutenant; G(.ntleman Cadet Arthur Charles Joshua Mc Meekam to be Second Lieu tenant; Gentleman Cadet George Frederick Walker to be Second Lieutenant. Warwickshire Regiment of Militia—The Lord Lieu tenant has cancelled the commission of Philip Tranter, Gent., to be Surgeon, dated April 25, 1851. PORT OF PENZANCE. We, the undersigned Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, do hereby, under the authority of an Act, passed in the session of Parliament holden in the 9tilti and 10th years of the reign of her present Majesty Queen Victoria, intituled " An Act to amend the laws relat ing to the Customs," appoint the following place within the por: of Penzance, to be a legal quay for the lading and unlading of goods, and du hereby declare the extent of such quay to be as follows ; that is to say : all that open place, called the New or Northern Quay, situate at the harbour of Penzance, and extending, in a northerly direction from the entrance of the said har bour towards the West Cornwall Railway terminus, thirteen hundred feet. Whitehall, Treasury Chambers, this 31st day of De cember, 1851. (Signed) H. RICH. C. WOOD. REDUCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT, The lircls Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury' having certified to the Commissioners for the Redaction cf the National Debt, in pursuance of the Act, 10th Geo. IV., c. 27, sec. 1 that the actual surplus revenue of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. beyond the actual expenditure thereof, for the year ended the 10th day of October, 1851, amounted to the sum of two million nine hundred and seventy nine thousand and eleven pounds eleven shillings and six peoco; the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt hereby give notice, that th© sum of seven hundred and forty-four thousand seven hundred and fifty-two pounds seventeen shillings and tenpence, being; one-fourth part of the said surplus of two million nine hundred and seventy-nine thousand and eleven pounds eleven shillings and sixpence will be applied, under the provisions of the said Act, between the 7th day of January, 1852, and the sth day of April, 1852, to the following purposes; viz.: To be applied to the purchase of Stock £744,752 17 10 Add Interest receivable on account of Donations and Bequests to be ap plied to the purchase of Stock .. 3,877 11 10 £ 748,630 9 8 National Debt-office, Jan. 1, 1852. A. Y. SPEARMAN, Comptroller-General. BANKRUPTS. Edward Hanson Palmer, brewer, Brentford, to sur render Jan. 17 and Feb. 20, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Cannan, official assignee, Aldermanbury; Laurance, Flews, and Boyer, Old Jewry-chambers. Henry Robert Sabine, card maker, Poppins-court, Fleet-street, Jan. 16, and Feb. 13, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee; Brisley, Pancras-lane, Cheapside. Philip Summers, fancy printer, Tabernacle-walk, Finsbury, Jan. 20, at one, and Feb. 19, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman.. street-buildings; Laurance, Plows, and Boyer, Frede rick's-place, Old Jewry. Robert rower, builder, College-street, Chelsea, Jan. 13, at two, and Feb. 19, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street• buildings; Clark, Finsbury-place. Joseph Coles, corn dealer, Buckinghamshire, Jae. 15, at one, and Feb. 14, at eleven, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers. Newbon and Evans, Wardrobe-place,Doctors' Commons. John Cogle, miller, Limington, Sumersetshire, Jan. 15, and Feb. 18, at one, at the Exeter District Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Exeter; Reed and Soil, Bridgwater; Stogdon, Exeter. Thomas lichens, timber merchant, St. Thomas the Apostle, Devonshire, Jan. 21, and Feb. 23, at eleven, la the Exeter District Court. Hirtzel, official assignees Exeter; Bruton, Exeter. Thomas Robinson, broker, Kingston upon Hull, Jan• 28 and Feb. 18, at twelve, at the Leeds District Cour'. Carrick, official assignee, Hull; Preston, Hull. Hugh Brown, ship chandler and sail maker, Liverpool , Jan. 16 and Feb. 12, at eleven, at the Liverpool Dis• trict Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool; Greatley , Liverpool. INSOLVENT DEBTORS. W. Davies, cabrio!et driver, Barnet-grove, Bethnal-green. Thomas Horsfall, traveller, Dyer's-buildings, Holborn. A. Bayley, stock broker, Harriet-street, Upper Holloway' T. Pearson, commission agent, Minories. C. A. Jaquin, machinist, Monk well-street, Falcon-square. J. M. M.. Malian, dentist, Gower-street, Bedford-square. Augustus 'William Enever, clerk to a wine merchant , Mark-lane. John Grant, grazier, King's Sutton, Northamptonshire. Francis Butcher, licensed victualler, Saint Mary Axe. Henry Trimbey Grey, rope maker, Stepney-green. Moses Jacobs, accountant, Berwick. street, Soho. Ann Green, lodging-house keeper, Southampton" buildings,:llolborn. Thomas Lonsdale, grocer, Blackburn, Lancashire. Charles Glover, licensed victualler, Hindley, Lancashire. S. S. Middleton, knife manufacturer, Ecclesall, Yorkshire. James Woodrow, commission broker, Withington, near Manchester. Edward Fawcett, rag dealer, Salford, Lancashire. John Morrell, boot and shoe maker, Leeds. James Loosemore, farmer, Molland, Devonshire. John La wrence, woolsiapler, Petworth, Sussex. John Thy, chemist, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Richard Cross, Chester. Joseph He nr y Farrand, grocer , Liverpool. Thomas Percival, shoe maker, Bowness, Cumberland. John Moss, dealer in pigs, Sootter, Lincolnshire. James Bywater, tailor, Radford, Nottingham. Samuel Boston, shopkeeper, York. William Wray, mill owner, Leeming, Yorkshire. Henry Pickering, blade grinder, Sheffield. Thomas Marshall, publican, Selby, Yorkshire. William Willis, butcher, Coventry. E. Wilson, manufacturer of plated wares, Bieminghares Job Ross, journeyman clothier, Stanningly, Y or k s hi r e. James Jubb, innkeeper, Skelmanthorpe, Y or k s hi re . Bobert Rigg, dealer in drapery, Rochd a l e , L ancas hi r e. Otho Guilford, journeyman baker, Brighton. Israel Spencer, Brighton. Bechamp Ely, boot and shoe maker, Toft Monks,Norfolk . James Orman Rivers, labourer, Kirton, Suffolk. Mr. Abbr.- Jot Lawrence, the American Minister, trans" acted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. Earl Grey arrived in town yesterday morning from visit to the Marquis of Lansdowne, at his seat, Bowo og Park, Wilt s hi re. Mr. Cunard ba d an interview with the Noble Earl yesterday at the Colonial-office. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Holloway's Pills a safe and certain Cure for Dropsy.—This insidious disease arises fro° various causes, and frequently from some obstruction to the free circulation of the blood, generally exhibiting itself by! swelling of the feet and ancles, ascending gradually until affects the whole of the body. Those who are thus afflicte d should immediately take Holloway's Pills. This invaluable, medicine purifies the blood and invigorates the system, so th s ' many of the worst cases of dropsy have been cured by W I Females at the turn of life should have rec o urse t° means. esexcellent Pills, being the safest and most excellent re medy ever used.—Sold by all vendors of medicine, and st P r ofessor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 3d inst., at Park-lodge, Blackheath, the wife of Murray Richardson, Esq. On the 4th inst., at Brighton, Mrs. Henry S. King, of the Elms, North Lancing. OF ♦ DAITCHTER. On the 3d inst., at Wear-house, near Exeter, LA' Duckworth. On the sth inst., at Holford-square, Pentonville, the wife of T. H. Crampton, Esq. MARRIED. On the 3d inst., at St. Matthew's, Brixton, Anthony Beswick, Esq., of the Ordnance-office, to Sophia Carolin e Fry, second daughter of the late Arthur Fry, Esq., surgeon, Royal Marines. On the 3d inst., at Plumstead, George Edward, fourth 0 1 of W. Gates, Esq., of Shooter's-hill, to Henrietta MacgaviT eldest daughter of 11. Silverlock, Esq., of Doctors'-common'' DIED. On the 31st ult., at Percy-circus, Pentonville, Daniel 1 3 ' Rolt, Esq., aged 43. On the 2d inst., at George-street, Portman- square, — 1 sa E. L. J. Bonnet, aged 51. On the 2d inst., T. Martyr, Esq., of Greenwich, agod 7 3 . On the 2d inst., at Albert-street, Blornington-road, Bi rg. Elizabeth Parrell, relict of the late Charles NV. Parrell, Es t i" of Halstead, in Kent. On the Ist inst., at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Harriet, wife of Mr. J. W. Fowler. Oa the 31st ult., at Stonehouse-cottage, near Stroud, Glow cestershire, Mary, widow of the R ev . W. P . L ew i s , of New house, near Cardiff, Glamorganshire. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUN",', S No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tilt Sun Offi ' ce NO* L. O l Strand, in the Precinct of th e S avoy . i n O s multi WednlAday s January 7, 1852 I it;