The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-02-02 00:00:00

INDIA.

THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.—At a special adjourned
Court of Directors, held on Thursday, and after two
days' debating, the petition to Parliament in favour of
the existing regime in India was agreed to with four
dissentients.

THE LATE SIR HENRY LAWRENCE.—We are glad to
learn that a committee has been formed in Calcutta for
• Lawrence memorial, which is to take the shape of an
endowment fund for the Military Asylum founded by
Sir H. Lawrence. Lord Canning heads the list of subscri-
bers with • donation of £l,OOO.

HAVELOCK MEMORIAL FUND.-- No individuals have
been authorized to solicit or receive subecriptions for the
Havelock Memorial Fund, but all subecriptiona must be
paid in to the bankers, or to the London or provincial
committees which have been appointed to receive them.

The following is from a brave and skilful officer who
has been in close attendance upon Sir Cohn Campbell
throughout his operations in Oude and the Doab :
Cawnpore, Dec. 16.
Truly the mass of ruins from which we extricated this
brave garrison spoke most eloquently—far more so than
words can express—the severe nature of the ordeal they
had passed through. In spite of all detraction, the acts
of the Indian army proclaim its worth. Faithful to
their trust, heroic in action, and enduring under the
greatest difficulties, its officers have shown to the world
that it is not from the want of the soldier's best qualities
that this great misfortune has fallen upon the country.
I mast tell yet what has been done since we left Luck-
now. While we were yet many miles on the other side
of the Ganges we heard the firing of heavy artillery, and
concluded that the Gwalior Contingent and other rebels
joined to that force, had made an attack on our position
here. This hurried our movements. With all our
wounded, and women and children, we made a forced
march of nearly 30 miles, and arrived at the opposite
bank of the river on the 28th ult., and with a portion of
the force, two batteries of artillery, crossed on the 29th,
and took up a position to facilitate the crossing of the
families, &c. All were safely over the next day. At
this time the rebels were in possession of all the city and
all the cantonments to the north-west of the canal, and
kept up a continual fire on the intrenchments and our
camp, which was very insulting. But Sir Colin's pur.
pose was the safety of the wounded and families above
all other considerations, and he, therefore, merely kept
down this fire—which continued more or less so long as
we remained there- However, on the 6th he was ready
for an attack, and we moved out in the early forenoon
in splendid order—turned their flank, drove them from
their first position, and soon broke them into flight—
passed their camp, and pursued them with artillery and
cavalry for twelve or fourteen miles—captured all their
guns, all their camp and property, and immense store of
ammunition. At the same time a portion of our force
obtained possession of a most important post, which
greatly tended to subsequent successes. On the Bth, a
detachment left in pursuit of a portion of the enemy
that retreated by another road, came up with them, and
took them completely by surprise in the bed of the river,
preparing to cross their artillery into Oude, captured all
the remainder of their guns-18 in number—without a
casualty on our part. This was an immense success. It
has completely broken up this rebel force and dispersed
them. We have since been halted here. Sir Colin is,
of course, much pleased—he has gained all his objects,
and at the least possible sacrifice, and he owes all to his
own excellent management of his troops, and his skill
in selecting the line of operations. He is very careful of
his men, and, if apparently slow, the results justify all
lie does. One learns a lesson in soldiership under such&
general, and I have had the good fortune to be continu-
ally at his side throughout all these and the Lucknow
operations. The campaign hitherto has had very impor-
tant results politically. Our communication with the
Upper Provinces is almost suspended. Occasionally
messengers bring down letters, but no regular post can
be established. It will be a chief part of our next oper-
ations to endeavour to open up this conununication. In
all the actions I have been close to Sir Colin. What a
noble old soldier! He is so cool under the fiercest fire ;
so thoughtful of his men, and anxious about carrying
them into danger, but so collected when his plans are
formed, and so gallant in leading them on. It is is fine
sight to see this old man at such a time ; full of energy
and enthusiasm, yet calm and collected as possible. I
have written 80 much about lain that you will suspect
me of hero-worship. The fact is, there is something
very captivating in his manner.

It is computed that the remittances of silver by the
Pere, which will leave Southampton for the East on the
4th, will not exceed £200,000 or £250,000, the demand
for the East being very moderate. It must be remem-
bered, however, that, commencing with the date men-
tioned, four packets instead of two will sail from South-
ampton for Alexandria each month with mails for the
East. The Indian advices mention that accounts had
been received from London to the 10th of November,
being two days prior to the suspension of the Bank
Charter Act. As a matter of coarse, business in the
Indian markets was paralysed by the crisis here. In
some quarters it is anticipated that the Indian evchangee
will take a favourable turn, and this expectation will
probably operate as a check to shipments of silver from
this side.

It is officially announced that the East India Com-
pany have granted. a guarantee of five per cent. on
£1,500,000 of capital for the construction of the Pun-
janb,Railway froin Mooltan to Lahore, and Umriteir.

WANT OF'TRO'JPB IN BENG—AL.—:ii; WIE;I4-oy7;zia
says, in its last issue received by this mail :—'The ar-
rivals of troop ships in Calcutta no longer continue with
their accustomed regularity. Since the departure of the
last mail not a single soldier arrived from England. Sir
Colin Campbell urgently requires reinforcements, and
Calcutta itself, recently so full of troops, is now well
nigh denuded. Every available man has been sent up to
the North West. This exhaustive process has indeed
been coutinu•.td until it would be difficult to spare a regi-
nient for Eastern Bengal, were it ever as much needed.'