The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-22 00:00:00

THE WAR IN DENMARK.

(RON 003 MC=

FREDERICIA, Milos 17,

12.16 Noolt.—An alarm is sounding. The firing
lute commenced, and Fredericia is in great excite-
ment.

The Prussians are said to be in immense force,
and bent on mischief.

After some cannonading from both sides, and a
brisk engagement between the opposing sharp-
shooters, the enemy has retreated out of range.
Danish loss very trifling, although their outposts
stood firm for two hours against superior numbers.
It was a splendid sight; the weatbercalm and bright,
the whole neighbourhood bathed in sunshine, which
lighted up each battery and parapet, making them
look almost like our Grand Stand at Epsom.
Thousands of spectators crowded every point
whence the Prusaians could be seen ; men and
boys, soldiers and townspeople, rushed to the
ramparts and gazed eagerly forth. With songs and
cheers that might have been heard by their distant
enemies, the troops march swiftly into position ;
everything was ready, and we waited to know
what the Prussians would venture to attempt.
Little of the battle could be discerned with
the naked eye, but through my telescope there
was visible a terribly vivid picture of all that hap-
pened. Here lay the Danish pickets, crouching
behind such •wantyshelter as the bare plain afforded.
An officer far in front makes some signal, and the
first line jumping up, runs boldly forward. The
supports also advance. A few white puffs of smoke
break out among the skirmishers. Then a whole
volley. They turn and come rapidly back to their
former ground, followed slowly by that gallant
officer, who stops to light a cigar.
Up to this moment we might have been wit-
nessing a review ; indeed the Brighton Downs have
seen more smoke and heard a louder noise. But
now came creeping forward another line of
crackling rifles, and it gave a thrill of
ir.terest to see Prussian helmets glancing in
whole battalions just beyond that last gentle
hillock. Can they be aware of the enemy's
proximity !—those Danish skirmishers I mean,
lying so placidly under a ruined wall. Yes,
for there goes a poor fellow rolling over, badly
wounded, too, and they carry him tenderly away
to the rear. A tall German captain appears above
the hillock. ! he is knocked down by this
Dane, who leans his musket coolly upon the wall!
No, the shot has struck a young soldier close be-
hind the captain, and still this last remains erect.
Now the Prussians falter—hurra ! our brave
skirmishers advance once more. That tall captain
waves his sword, and the enemy retires for se-
veral minutes. Such a quiet view of a real
battle was fearfully impressive. As in Sir
Walter Scott's great fiction, where the
Jewish maiden watches by Ivanhoe's sick
bed, it was worse to look on and report the fight
than to share in its dangers. I shut up my glass,
and turned away from too strong an excitement.
But presently another larger puff of smoke, a
screaming rush across the plain, and the Prussian
artillery opens tire. Now an answering roar from
Fredericia, as our guns in the camp reply to this
somewhat unexpected discharge. Shell after shell
is sent by the enemy, and they burst all about the
outworks, luckily doing no harm. Of course the
ramparts are speedily deserted by spectators in
general, and those who wish still to remain get
behind some parapet, or crouch low in a favouring
bastion. Having discovered the range of their
field guns, and found General Sunding ready for
them, the Prussians withdrew in perfect order.
Thus ended the most panoramic engagement it is
possible to suppose.

INDIA.

By the arrival of the Bombay mail we have re-
eeived advice; from Bombay to Feb. 29, and from
Calcutta to Feb. 20.

Sir John Lawrence has been suffering from in-
disposition. His Excellency has placed himself
under the treatment of Dr. Tonnerre, a huticeo-
rabbit.
His Excellency gave his first public ball on
the 15th of February, to which no natives of India
were invited. This exclusion had given great
offence to the native community. The Bombay
Cia:ette thus refers to this occurrence :

One of the earliest acts of Sir John Lawrence as Viceroy
and Governor•Geaeral has been to put a stop to the one-
aided 'social intercourse which has hitherto existed
in India between Europeans and natives, by
ernittiog to invite any native gentlemen to the
first bal: given by him in Calcutta. It appears that
the leaders of the native community of Calcutta lately
offered a direct insult to the Lieutenant-Governor of
Bengal by sending prostitutes to the .kgricaltural Exhibi-
tion on a day set apart for the reception of waive ladies
there by the most distinguished Englishwomen of the pre-
milsecy. This alone was enough to provoke the indignation
of even the most tolerant of Englishmen ; but, without
this, one who knows so touch of India and Indian ways of
thinking as Mir John Lawrence is of .vane cognisant of the
opinions which the people of this as of all other Oriental
countries have on the subject of dancing, and mast there-
fore have been glad of the opportunity of letting all India
undentand that henceforth natives who, in spite of their
loud profealions of faith in the excellence of western ideas
about society, are ashamed to bring their own wives sod
daughters to public assemblies, will be kept at a distance
instead of being courted by the English community.
His Ex.,:elieney Sir Hugh Rose is stated to have
tendered his resignation, and it is added that his
resignation has been accepted. Other statements,
consequent on this, are made ; that Sir Robert
Napier, K.C.8., is to succeed to the Command-in-
Chief of the Indian army : and that his seat in the
Imperial Council will be filled by Colonel Elliot.
Sir Hugh Rose has issued an order providing
that In future the hospitals of European soldiers
shall be attended by European nurses instead of
native sys.hs. The nurses are to be chosen from
among the soldiers' wives of good character in each
regiment, who, while finding useful occupation for
themselves, will be able to do much towards al-
leviating the unhappy lot of the invalid European
soldiers.

The Akboond of Swat has directed all his people
to arm, as he fears an attack from us in the spring.
He is said to be fortifying the Mullakund Pass.
The cotton crop of Western India will, it is
feared, be short this year. Much more than the
ordinary extent of ground has been taken into cul-
tivation. but the yield per acre will, it is thought,
be small, the crops in Guzerat especially having
been blighted by the severe frost of an unusually
cold winter, or spoiled by unseasonable rains.
Mr. Maine has introduced in the Viceroy's
Legislative Council a bill providing that no Indian
labourer shall emigrate without the approval of
the magistrate of his district.

An important decision has been given in the
Small Calm Court of Bombay, recognising the
exemption of native princes from liability to the
jurisdiction of British courts, even when they are
residing in British territory.
A turf club of Western India has been formed
in Bombay.

Nam (Nom Am Jf ustem. Fa.- Irst..—The arrange-
:mai for this triennial musical ',thence are In a forward
stabs, and the programme for the enured performances during
the west has been determined by the committee of
scanagem eat. The principal feature to musical amateurs
well however, doubtless be the DOW oratorio composed sad
just rompletcd by Mr. Costa expressly for the festival. It is
entitled ,Vearries, and will be performed on the second
al prolog of the festival, Wednesday, the 7th September.
MORE THAN EVER AND BETTER THAN Es-EL—This
*wk. 4. the largest and best stock of spring sod summer
patterns ever submitted for public approval The world-tamed
lha tremors at Alfred Webb !Idea.' the originator's oily eats-
haishmmet, 73. Brooketreet, Banoverequare. Yetablished 1841
—4Adeemsi

THI: MAORI CHIEFS IN ENG]

r Some of our readers may remember a party of New
Zealanders who appeared publicly in London on
several occasions last year. Tbey wereoriginally 14 in
number, all nativesof the province of Auckland, and
were either chiefs of subdivisions of tribes or allied
'to chiefs. They were of the Ngapuhi, which is one
of the highest caste, and has always been faithful to
the British crown. Soon after their arrival here,
in May last, they were presented to the Queen, who
became sponsor to the child of one of them. They
were also received by the Prince and Princess of
Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, and others.
Circumstances have made it necessary that the
facts relating to their visit to this country should
be laid before the public, and this has been done by
Mr. T. C. Sneyd Kynnersley, police magistrate of
Birmingham, in a letter to the Daily Post. Mr.
Kynneraley writes :

In February, 1863, they, with five others (on of whom
Sae permanently left the party), were induced by Mr. Jim-
kins to accompany him to Englaod, "to see the wonderful
things of England, which are past description, and to tell
the English people all about New Zealand." Mr. Jenkins
was an utter stranger to them, belga a tradesman at Nelson,
in the southern island, at leant four hundred miles dint-
tent from Auckland. He speaks the Maori leaguers, and
has been employed as interpnter by the local government
of Nelson in their transactions with the very few natives
who inhabit that province. lam afraid his assumed
title of "Interpreter to the Government of New Zealand"
must be reduced to these modest limita. The number
of natives in the whole southern island does not exceed
two thousand, and I am assured that there are not more
than 300 or 4(8) in the neighbourhood of Nelson. He
hes brought with him absolutely no credentials, or letters
of introduction, or evidence of any descripticio, that he is
even what he represents himself to be, or that his project
was sanctioned by the Governor (Sir George Grey), or
Bishop Selwyn, or any one of the clergy, English or native,
or, in fact, by any individual whatever, in or out
of authority. The party, consisting of the above
fourteen natives, Mr. Jenkins, and Moen. Brent,
Lightbanii. and Lloyd (his amociates in the adventure),
sailed from Auckland in February, 1863. Before starting
an agreement was drawn up, by which the natives bound
themselves to Mesas. Jenkins and Co. (in the deed called
"The Company') for twelve months from their arrival in
England, which period might be shortened or prolonged at
the pleasure of „the Company." All their expenses were
to be paid. They were to travel about from place to place
is England, and attend public meetings, at which lectures
would be delivered, and money was to be received at the
doors. This was to be *aid in a bank. and oe their return
divided between the parties, titraixths to be paid to the
company (to reimburse them for expenses incurred), end
one-sixth to the natives.

(I may mention here that this was afterwards one cease
of quarrel ; the natives having understood that the grass
profits were to be divided, whereas the deed, which they say
the► did not understand, speaks of net moats only).
They arrived in London in May. Every one Insoles
that in the summer they were presented to her
Majesty, who became sponsor to the child of
Yocum and his wife, two of the party. They
Wooded public meetings, and for some time fared sump-
tuously at the Grommet HoteL A ver► strong feeling was
at this time entertained by the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl
of Shaftesbury, and others that the undertaking must re-
sult in failure, and that a prolonged stay in England would
be both morally end physically injurious to the people, and
measures were takers to amid them hack with credit and
comfort to their own country. According to the statement
of the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Shaftesbury, both of
whose lettere I have before me, this offer was refused by
Mr. Jenkins. The public meetinp ware thereforsoontinued
They went to Bristol, Exeter, Glowed/a, its, and arrived
in Birmingham in October.

We need not go over the whole story of the
failure of the scheme. Mr. Kynnersley says that
dissatisfaction and discontent prevailed among the
Mammies. The public meetings at which they were
expected to appear in mats once worn by the natives,
but long since disused, became intolerably distaste-
ful to many of them. Disputes arose about money
matters. Three of the party left Mr. Jenkins,
and joined a troupe of performers at the Alhambra.
The lectures, moreover, became less and less
productive. The funds of the adventurers were
exhausted, and as the cold weather came on they
suffered severely ; they became dispirited, gloomy,
and miserable. Some of them were suffering from
illness, and all sensibly felt the extreme cold of the
winter about the time of Christmas. Under these
circumstance, the intervention of friends became
necessary. Mr. Kynnersley writes :

The men and women had considerable pecuniary claims
upon Mr. Jenkins under the agreement made ia London,
and be was under contract to convey them back to their
owe country : but they were willing to give up these
claims to purchase their emancipation, and att4e some delay
a formal deed was prepared and executed, whereby all
agreements were cancelled and mutual releases given from
all engagements. This deed was executed by the nine indi-
viduals above mentioned, vv.., Boatman, Whereto" Pars-
tens, Hind and his weds Tele. Iforomans, Harkin, Kihi-
ringhi, and Julia. Powers and his wife were sent home by
her Majesty at her own private expense. Takerei and Ha-
piniana remain with Mr. Jenkins. Four of the nine have
left Birmingham for London this morning ; four others will
follow very shortly. One is, as I have said, is St. Barth*.
losnew's Hospital. I trust they will all nil for New Zealand
in less than a month.

The realisation of this hope will depend, we be-
have, on the extent to which the public is ready to
co-operate in the work. It is pretty clear now that
these Maories never ought to have been brought to
England, but a regard for our credit requires
that they should now be sent back as noon
as possible. Lord Shaftesbury has signified his
readiness to re-organise the committee which was
formed in the last summer, and promote a sub-
scription for sending them out in comfort. A
committee has been formed also in Birmingham
for the same purpose, of which James Lloyd,
Esq., has kindly consented, to be the treasurer.
Whatever is contributed will expedite the return
and promote the comfort of these nine Maories.
It is not nec.ssary to say more, ..re may hope.

TAR OXFORD DECLARATION.—We understand
that about 9,000 adhesions bare now been given to Use
Declaration. Among the most recent is that of the Rev. E.
AurioL A well-informed correspondent informs us that
the publication of Mr. ilaurice's letters, and of the meat
legal opinion, bits excite] ao extraordinary amount of indig-
nation, and, far from deterring subscnbers, has added many
names to the lot. Already the Declaration moat be regarded
as a decided success, and we trust that scruples about pre-
cise terms in which it u worded, or jealousy of the COMM-
sity in which it originated, will not witLbold nay considera-
ble number of the orthodox clergy from availing themselves
of this opportunity publicly to testify against the attempt to
set aside tbe mods, end deny the authority of God's Word
written.—Berord.

Canal:lf RAT CS.—The following ban ibill has been
'rued at Broseley:—' Cruel Distraint for Church-rates by
the Brceeley Churchwardens, William Nicholas, Eq. and
Humphrey Charlton. leat. On Thursday last a distraint
was made on the goods of James Clarks, • poor labouriag
man with a wife and seven children. a bedridden mother,
$3 years of age, an imbecile sister 43 pears of age, Outte)
last receiving parish relief. The amount of church-rate was
la. 41., for which sad costs,' the above-umed church-
wardens have coined to be taken the following articles:-
1 clock, oak chest, oak cupboard, 2 tables, 7 chairs, tee-
tray, looking-glass, smoothing iron, and straw mattress,
thereby ` emptying the poor man's house,' and causing some
of the children to he on the dur the following night.—
Brawler, March 12." _

,
MURDER AT A 0•11 Tom.—Yesterday afternoon
Dr. Laokaster resumed en adjourned inquest at the Elephant
end Castle, King's-road, Cam len-town, os the body of a
woman unknown, discovered floating in the Regent's Casa
on the morning of the Itith of March with Ip.r skull frac.
tared in such a manner as to leave oo doubt that she had
been cruelly murdered. Dr. Saul, senior surgeon of St.
I Pancras Infirmary, stated that the cause of death was the
fracture of the skull, and he believed the fracture to have
been produced by a blow from behind. From the *widest*
it appeared that when the deceased was found in the water
her clothes appeased to have been tore off ; she had neither
gown, bonnet, nor shawl, and her appearance indicated that
she had been engaged in a fearful struggle. A woman
named Ann Nailer had been missing since the 20th of Feb.miry from White Lion-street, and the body of the do.
ceased bad been exhumed, but was too much decomposed to
be identified. Ann Poultee's mother having stated that her
daughter bad her ears pierced for ver-rioge, Dr. Saul, who
was present at the exhnination, examined the ears minutely,
but could detect no signs of their having been pierced.
Inspector F ,in answer to a question. having stated
that every eadeavour bad been made by the police to get
the body identified. but without effect, the coroner re-
marked be hoped the press would give publicity to the ap-
pearance of deceased, as well as the description of her
clothes, which might probably give some clue to bar iden-
tity. The description of the deceased is :—Height, Mt. Sin.;
hair, dark brown, plain is front and plaited behiad round
face, and apparently about 30 years of age. The only
articles of clothing on her were a rough gray woollen jacket,
the back being much torn ; a red stuff handkerchief round
the neck ; ribbed woollen mittens, of a chocolate colour, on
each arm ; gray and white atockiup, striped Usuriously ;
boots, with elastic sides, much worn ' • one cotton garter.
marked at one end " T. R.." and the figure "2," with red
cotton ; plain white drawers and plain chemise ; old stays,
with braes clasp in front and laced behind, and a bit of
crimson or pink riband round the stays. The Coroner
said, with a view of @cabling the police to make every
further possible inquiry, be proposed further to adjourn
the inquest till that day three weeks, the 11th of April and
it was adjourned accordingly.

TILE EXPRESS,

TUESDAY EVENING,

MARCH 22,

NAVAL AND MitlYAßt

ADIURAIXT, MAIM 2L—AYPOINTIIINIESAND
P10N911.0113.---Cirisia C. A. Campbell, to the Bombay,

Midshipmen J. L. Hose, to the Mediator.
Engineen J. Verooe, to the Hastings, for the &eddy ;
E. &hernia, sad J. T. Pep, to the Eurptios (addiamel),
for (Rama
Acting Ealaser G. H. Lordele, to the Heaths" for the
Lark.

A7Wistant Engineers T. Pringle, to the Colossus, for
Iseders ; F. Holden, to the Colaesus ; W. Chase, E.
Bennet, J. Pickles, A. N'lntire, 0. F. Greases, &IL
Trentham, R. Fathom, and W. T. Power, to the Euryalus
(additional), for disposal.
To be Surgeons—Aasistant Surgeons C. Mortonand W. D.
Smyth, M.D.

WOOLWICH, MAWS 21.
ROYAL ABTILLIRY.--SialOUß ROBBERY or Go-
nnurilarr Ncerr.—Cassidenibto excitement prevailed at
Woolwich this day, from the foot that • very serious and
deep laid system of fraud has been discovered to have been
carried on for a long time by two non commissioned odious
of Royal Artillery engaged in the recruiting service, both
of whom have hitherto been highly respected at this gar-
rison and town, sod one of the offenders, who has absconded,
being the owner of eight houses in this locality, sod pos-
sessed of other property. By direction of the Secretary-at-
Wails military court of inquiry to investigate the came was
this day at the Royal Artillery Barracks, and so/5-
eathas already transpired to prove that a large amount
of government mooey has been misappropriated. The de-
linquents are Sergeant James Sanoders and Sergeant-Ka*
Russell, of the depot brigade, both having been for
years engaged in the recruiting service, and it was
• portion of their dirty to see recruits who
had pared medical examination properly attested
and sworn into the service before the sitting magistn at
Woolwich Police-court. On this being completed, sad the
attestation paper signed by the magistrate and an officer, of
the regiment, the sergeant enlisting a recruit is entitled to
native lie. 6d. It transpired that for • considerable period
the sergeants named have by means of filling up the printed
attestation papers with the names of fictitious recruits, and
atteching the signature of one of the police magistrates to
the documents, drawn large sums of money, the whole
extent of the robbery not being yet fully ascertained.
This afternoon Caption Gilmore and Paymaster& Piers, of
the depot brigade, attended at the police-court with •
bundle of attestation papem, which purported to be thine of
recruits who had been sworn in before Mr. Maude end
signed by that magistrate, bat on inspection Mr. Trail,
who was on the bench, at once declared that
the alleged signature of Mr. Mande was • forgery,
which was corroborated by the usher of the ocurt.
The officers then stated that sergeant Swindells, who had
houses and other property in Woolwich, had absconded, but,
in reply to questions, the magistrate said that the autho-
rities, at the preset stage of the proceedings, had no lien
upon such property. It appears that in numerous cases the
delinquents had not only received lbs. tied. for enlisting
"sham" recruits, but had charged and drawn eight days
pay for such nonentities. Sergeant-Major Russell is now in
custody, to be tried by court-martial.

Mr. William Broaclfoot has bun appointed a
lieutenant in the Royal Naval Rowe.