The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-31 00:00:00

INDIA.

TIIE OVERLAND MAIL.

THE WAR WITH BURMAIL

We have received our journals and despatches in
anticipation of the overland mail. The latest dates
are Bombay, July 24; Calcutta, July 12; Malta,
August 25.
The intelligence contained in the missing mail of
June has also been forwarded, but its contents have
been anticipated. The steamer Ajdaha, it appears,
proceeded to within about 790 miles of Aden, and
then put back to Bombay, in consequence, as alleged
by her commander, of inability to cope with strong
head winds and a want of fuel. The following 'sour
Bombay correspondent's letter:
BOMBAY, Jeav 24.
In my last I gave news from Rangoon to the 10th
June. Since then intelligence to the 22nd only has
been received ; and although we have been expecting
despatches a fortn'ght later, none have been received.
The repairs of the I'hlegethon and Mahanuddy
steamers had been completed, and they were being
rigged and stored for service. The barracks were
nearly finished, and the 18th Royal Irish was to
occupy them immediately. The Engineers had
received great and well-merited praise for their
incessant labours to get the troops housed. The
18th and girth had 97 and 47 in hospital, and the
40th and 07th Native Infantry 103 end 84 ; so that
the troops were not more unhealthy than they would
have been in India. From lath May to lath June
thew four corps lost 22 men. Rangoon and Bassein
were nearly rebuilt, and the markets thronged with
traders and sellers, who were punctually paid their
own prices for their goods—and the people were de-
lighted at our presence. The Burmese soldiers had
re-occupied Pegu the moment we left, and had
behaved with greater barbarity than ever to-
wards the people, who fled in all direc-
tions when they could manage to escape.
The I'roserpine had reached within -10 miles of
Prome, having captured 100 large boats laden with
grain for the army ; many of these Captain lirooking
woe compelled to destroy—the remainder he sent
down to Rangoon. lie had surveyed the river all
along, and will act as pilot when the fleet moves up.
The General, and Colonel Thompson, of the 40th,
had been unwell: the former was about to visit
Bassein and Martaban, and the latter Moulmein, for
a little change of air and scene. General Godwin
has applied for 12,000 men to enable him to leave
large garrisons in Rangoon, Martaban, Bassein, and
Peau—which is to he again occupied for good. He
has asked for a light field battery, two troops horse
artillery, two regiments cavalry, four of European
and six of Native Infantry—which will leave India
to join him early in September. Bengal is to furnish
the remaining wing, Her Maiesty's Ruth, and two
Native Corps; Madras sends the British and Com-
pany's troops, horse artillery, the 84th Foot, the Ist
European Fusiliers, and the Ist. 18th, 30th, and
40th Native Infantry, with probably the 7th cavalry;
while it is expected Bombay will furnish the 83rd
and 86th Foot, and the Poona Irregular Horse.
These are at present only rumours, but they are
likely to prove correct. General Godwin will then
have 18,000 or 20,000 as fine soldiers under him a•
any officer could wish for; of these some 5,000 will
require to be left as garrisons in the places named,
leavi•.g him, say 15,000, with whom he might
march to P. kin, if it so willed him. --The Zenobia
steamer left Moulinain for Madras on the 14th June,
and must have put back to that port, for nothing has
since been heard of her : great uneasiness is felt re-
garding her; next news from Rangoon will tell us
what has become of her.—Sir John Cheape, Bengal
Engineers, will, it is expected, command a division
of the grand army ; and Colonel Ashburnham a
brigade, es ho has, like a gallant soldier, applied for
one. The Governor-General is probably by this time
in Rangoon, as by last accounts the Feroze was hourly
looked far at Calcutta, and his lordship intended to
return in her to have a personal interview with
General Godwin, and learn from him what be wanted
to enable him to renew the war with such vigour as
to ensure its speedy termination. It is extremely
probable, too, that the proclamation annexing Pegu
to our dominions will be issued by Lord Dalhousie
at Rangoon.
Everything continues tranquil on our north-west
frontier, and negotiations are In progress with the
Momunds, Swattees, and others, which are expected
this time to secure peace for us for a couple of years
at least. They have consented to pay a small an-
nual tribute, and in consideration thereof are to be
allowed to rule themselves as they used in former
days to do, without our interference.
Matters in the Nisam's dominions continue in
much the same state as they have dont for years.
General Frazer had become completely disgusted
with the Prime Minister he himself had set up, and
had told the Nizam ho would have no more dealings
with him. The Contingent were eight months in
arrears of pay, and nobody seemed inclined to pay
them, both the Nizam and the Minister saying they
had not the means. The annexed has been published
in the Madras Spectator:
HYDERABAD.— (From our Correspondent.) —July 4,
1852.—State affairs here are becoming quite farcical; a
farce, however, which will end in some tragical catastrophe.
Three yeses ago the Governor. General eulogised Seen) 00l
Moolk, in his letter to the Nisam' and the Nisam dismissed '
him. The Resident now complains of Sceraj 00l Moolk's
vicious administration, of false promises and engagements ;
affirms that he cannotbeliove him, and that it is impossible
to do business with him—and the Nizam retains him in office.
Of the two positions I have described, the Nizim was right
in the first, and is wrong is the last. The minister makes
a promise to the Resident, whilst be is making his charges
against him in the presence of the Nimes, to pay money in
five days. The Resident will not accept the promise
from the fieenjool Moolk until it is confirmed by the Nisam.
With so much to impress the minister with the necessity of
keening faith, the time is passed, end given in reliance
upon the minister', engagement, it is the Minister and
not the Nisam who has failed in the engagem. at. This
will be explained in what follows, as is the farce of
farces. The Nisam, in pointing to the TESOU/Ci.'S which
could enable the minister to pay, told his minister to
assign to the Resident the money, he, the minister, had Ac-
cumulated to pay his Highness's family pensions. This
certified to the Resident that the payment would be made,
it is forgotten that the minister had dealt more largely in
fictions towards his master than towards the Resident, and
no money is forthcoming; because the minister, although
he had so apprised his master, had accumulated none.
This one instance is sufficient to show that the Nisam has
not participated in the tricks of his minister, that he had
been sinned against, and not sinning ; but how his folly,
in taking part with the and making his conduct,
which was not so, his own, may be disposed uf, and dis-
united from the consequences likely to ensue, will make a
difficult matter. Ilia Highness has been tiught that it
belongs to his greatness to maintain his own servant, and
he has subjected himself by it to the imputation of having
shared in the petty tricks of his ministur, which were em-
ployed to deceive the II h government, and what is
worse, in the vicious administration of his own affairs. It
is generally rumoured that en official note addressed by the
minister to the Resident, on the subject of the promised
payment, was returned with the declaration, that the limn.
dent would not receive any communication on the subject
from him.

The Delhi Gazelle supplies the following item of
real interest :

The new causeway across the low lands of the river
Jumna at this station is at lest completed. The work con-
sists of a broad embanked road, laid down with metal, from
the water mills of &limpets on the other side, to the bring
of the river, • distance of snore than a mile in length. Mid-
way is • neat and substantial bridge on three elliptical
arches stretching acmes • small branch of the river. From
the extreme end of this causeway to the corner of the old
Fort of SaJeengurh, o• One side, is • distance of about nine
hundred yard., which is now covered by the broad and
turhid waters of the swol,en stream. The causeway on
the Delhi side commences slso from the brink of the
river, and skirting the picturesque wail of the shove
mentioned old fort, is connected with the city of Delhi by
a fine well built bridge of preen arches, which wawa
another dream of the over running immediately under the
walls of the city ; at the head of this bridge is the new
or Calcutta Date, with its two arches and double
roadway. This great work then is at length completed,
and we need scarcely say that it will prove • source of the
greatest comfort and convenience to travellers, merchante,
and traders of all sorts, and it will else eapedite the mail ;
but, after all, this is only lialf a work. The space between
the two river ends of the oau•ewuy will be connected by the
bridge of boats, which we underattind will be brought up to
its new site ss soon as the prevent flood is somewhat dimi-
nirhed bat, surely, at • city lilt• Delhi there ehould be a
permanent bridge across the Jumna. The grand trunk
road has been coinple•.ed to Kurnaul, and its further con-
struction is, we understand, hem:. prosecuted with vigour.
The line, however, thus far cannot he mid to be completed
without • permanent bridge at Delhi, and we trust that the
day snot far distant when the native* of Upper ludia will
have cause to applaud the skill, the liberality, and the wis-
dom of the Britoth government in bautig constructed such
a nee amity and useful public work for the benefit of so large
a community:
The Governor-General continue. at Calcutta, and
Sir W. Gomm at Simla; Lady Dalhousie being at