The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-31 00:00:00

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 15.
The question of the Holy Places is on the eye of
solution, the arrangements having been concluded
between the French ambassador and the Minister of
Foreign affairs, and only awaiting the signature of
the Sultan.

This formality has been deferred by the illness of
Ali Pasha, which has prevented him from going to
the palace. The retirement of Ali Puha is still
spoken of, and Fuad Pasha is still indicated by
by rumour as his probable successor in the ministry
of foreign affairs. This change would produce no
alteration in the policy pursued under the direction
of Itcschid Pasha.

The Ottoman government has given its adhesion
to the act of the 2nd of Dec. in France.
. .

The minister of finance has withdrawn from cir-
culation several millions of francs worth of paper
bearing interest, called mimes. It is announced
that ho is going to publish the amounts of his ad-
ministration. In the meantime ho continues to pur-
sue with extreme rigour all the debtors of the trea-
sury, and not a week passes without some being im-
prisoned, without regard for their rank or position.
Three fires had broken out in different quarters of
the capital, but without causing much damage.

MALTA, JAN. 22.
The ships at ma on a cruise have been in sight of the is-
land, and news bee reached of their nightly going to quar-
ters, and daily exercising, but no particulars have reached.
The Terrible steam frigate has gone out to them, and re-
turned with despatches to the Admiral, and one invalid to
go home by the Merlin, which vessel is to leave on
Saturday, conveying the dead body of Mr. Shell, and
having as passengers Major and Mrs. Cameron, Oche Buffs,
who leaves the regiment to command the depot at home.

ARRIVAL

• OF
THE CAPE MAIL.

THE KAFFIR WAR.

The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's
vessel, Hellespont, Capt. Watts, arrived at Plymouth
yesterday, at about half-past 2 o'clock in the after-
noon, from the Cape of Good Hope, having made ono
of the quickest voyages on record out and home, and,
it is worth while to add, within the contract time.

She left Plymouth on'her outward voyage on the
15th of November, arrived at Sierra Leone on De-
cember 1, and arrived at the Cape on the 2lat of
December.

She left the Cape for Plymouth Doe. 28, Sierra
Leone, January 12, and St. Vincent, January 18.
She has a full general cargo, but only three pas-
sengers, Meows. Chadwick, Holland, and Ogleby.
Mr. )Tolland is the editor of the Cape Teem Mail.
Ships in Simon's Bay: the Castor, 26, Commodore
Wyvi I; Seringapatam, receiving ship, and Vulcan
steamer, Master Com. J. Penn. The Vulcan arrived
from England on the 9th December, and had
been employed in conveying troops, &c., to Eaet
London and Buffalo. She was expected to start for
England • few days after the mail steamer. The
Bishop of Cape Town takes passage in her. The
Ithadamanthus, Master Commander Belem, arrived
on the 26th in Simon's Bay, from Algoa Bay, with
passengers and discharged levies ; she sailed the
same doe for Table Bay. The Stvx, Commander
Hall, sailed from Simon's Bay for East London on
the 24th December. The Pilot brig, from Singa-
pore, left Simon's Bay on the 19th December for
England. The Hellespont, on the 24th January,
spoke with the merchant vessel Allegro in lat. 25.30,
lon. 25.45.

The Hellespont brought a heayy mail, in charge
of Commander Johnson, R.N., which on her arrival
at Plymouth was received by Mr. C. Markes, post-
master, and was to be forwarded by the ordinary
mail train, leaving Plymouth at 6 o'clock. As there
was not time to sort the mail after the arrival of the
vessel and previous to the departure of the mail, the
postmaster determined on sending it on unsorted.
The news by this arrival is much of the same
character as that by previous mails. Some skir-
mishing, a few killed, much cattle stealing,
and considerable war preparations by the army.
The expedition into the territories of Kreli,
the principal Chief of Kaffirland, who, while
professing neutrality, has given countenance to
the enemy and permitted the robbery of the
English settlers, crossed the Kei in two divi-
sions, the main division under General Somerset,
who directs the military operations, consist-
ing of 2,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry. This
division was formed of three columns, start-
ing respectively from King William's Town,
the Blinkwater and Whittlesea, under command of
colonel Mackinnon, General Somerset, and Capt.
Tylden. This force was composed of parties of the
2nd, 6th, and 73rd regiments, 60th Rifles, Cape
Mounted Rifles, and other corps. Capt. Tylden was
detached with a party of 900 men (after the junction
of the troops), and was joined by about 100 cavalry,
under Major Somerset, to make a foray at the source
of the Kei, to endeavour to recover stolen cattle.
In this he succeeded, and captured two
thousand head of cattle, after oomo fighting,
in which several Kaffirs were killed. General So-
merset's camp was at Kakadu, near the White Kei,
and on the Bth Colonel Mackinnon and Lieutenant-
Colonel Michel started on patrol duty with 2,000
men, but nothing had been heard of the operations of
this party. They must have been much'impeded by
the heavy rains.
Lieut.-Colonel Eyre, with a force of about 1,000,
left King William's T.iwn on the Ist, and marched
upon Butterworth, the mission station, and the chief
residence of Kreli. In crossing the Kei he met a
considerable body of Kaffirs, commanded by Bookoo,
an inferior chief, who had ollowed the Same policy
as Krell. An engagement ensued, and it is said 49
Kaffirs were killed, including two nephews of the
chief. The loss on the side of the colonial army is
said to be four only. On arriving at Butterworth,
Lieut.-Col. Eyre despatched a number of patrols into
tho country, and captured a number of cattle. In
performing this service he encountered a body of
Kaffirs and Hottentots, who are said to have been
defeated by the first volley of the Cavalry, and to
have fled with the loss of 20.

In the districts of Albany, Fort Beaufort, Cradock
and Somerset, the eases of cattle lifting and pillage
by the Kaffir. and rebel Hottentots has been less
frequent. This was in part due to the presence and
efforts of the 12th and 74th regiments and some co-
loured levies.

The enemy continues his strongholds at Water-
kloof and Fish River Bush. A released prisoner
had stated that at the former place, on the Kromrne
heights the Kaffir camp covered a space equal to
Fort Beaufort Town, and there was a great quantity
of cattle and sheep there. In one case the Kaffir.
were said to have driven off- from a farm 1,900
sheep and 250 cattle ; 450 of the sheep had been re-
captured. The plunderers generally move in largo
bodies, both of horse and foot.
The 43rd Regiment, about 800 strong, Lieutenant
Colonel Skipwith commanding, had amved at King
William's Town from East London, together with
small reinforcements of the 12th Lancers. The regi-
ment made a fine appearance, the officers and men
being mostly young men and in excellent health and
spirits.
Sir Harry Smith had not yet left King William's
Town, having remained there fur ten months. There
are no military operations in the vicinity, and the
hostile Kaffir, are said to be tilling their gardens
within five miles of the town, at a place from which
they can be seen at the post.
The Legislative Council has been in session during
the month, and have passed several ordinances of
considerable importance. The proposal for a grant
of 40,0004 for the repair of prisons has been with-
drawn by order of the Governor. The bill for the
removal of squatters from Government lands has
also been withdrawn, in consideration of the present
disturbed state of that colony. Authority has been
given to a joint-stock company to raise 25,00 W on the
credit of the Colonial Treasury, for the improvement
of the Kowie River, on the condition that an equal
amount is raised by the shareholders. The esti-
mates for the expenditure of 1852 had been sanc-
tioned. The second reading of the constitution was
fixed for the 20th of January.
The passing of many important public measures,
and pledging public credit for large sums by the
Council, which is a purely nominated body, had
excited much dissatisfaction throughout the colony.
The colonists, however, continued to express their
readiness to accept the Constitution in its entirety,
leaving such amendments as might be found neces-
sary to be made in future parliaments.
In reference to this subject the South African
Commercial .Idrertiser says:

Last December, petitions and memorials to her Majesty
and both houses of parliament from the inhabitants of this
colony, backed by a strong recommendation from the Go-
vernor and the Executive Council, reached Downing-street,
praying that no time might be lost in putting the colonists
in possession of those representative institutions which bad
been granted to them by letters patent. abandon sere
warned from all sides that there was danger in delay. By
the mail packet, which leaves Table Bay to-morrow,
December 28, 1831, petitions to the same effect from
the same parties will be forwarded to London, with
the weatranee that the danger of delay hu increased
tenfold since December, 1850. At the conclusion of
Lord John Russell's speech list session, in which he
intimated that the Legislative Council would be revived
and the conntitiation sent back to the Cape to be passed
by that body, one present observed that every word his
lordship had just spoken would cost a human lite and
ten thousand pounds of money. Hu it been so or not ?
Though the people here aro growing weary of petition-
ing, they still entertain a hope that these their last re-
monstrances and dutiful petitions on this subject will
have tome effect. They are hero inserted that the public
may no longer be deceived its to the feeling and wishes
of the inhabitants of the Cape. Delay his already pro-
vided, for a couple of millions, besides the loss of life.
If they wish to be relieved front two millions more, they
have only to permit the Colunial-offico to protract its

Tho following in from the monthly summary of
the ( 'ape Town Mail of Dec. 27 :

In the Orange Itiver Sovereignty, and in Natal, tran-
quillity prevailed et the date of the latest intelligence. The
politiral affairs of both those settlements were, however,
in en unsettled sate. The us.istant commissioners, Major
llowge end Mr. Owen, had arrived at Bloem Fontein, and
were engaged in their investigations into the origin of the
troubles in the sovereignty. A number of the settlers, both
English and Batch, lind presented an address to the corn-
Illnlinollers, m we ell those troubles were ascribed to the int-

proper interference of the local authorities in the quarrels
of the native tribes. At Natal the crops of all descriptions
are said to be this year unusually abundant. The Monists
had experienced much difficulty in obtaining labourers.
The native inhabitants were becoming less manageable than
formerly, and the lack of good regulations fur the r govern-
ment excited much complaint and apprehension Mr. Ben-
jamin Moodie, secretary to the Natal government, who has
for some time put been at variance with Lieut.-Governor
Pine, has received six months leave of absenee, preparatory,
it is understood, to his retirement from office.
The Cape Legislative Council has been in session during
the greater part of tho month. The proposed ordinance,
appropriating 40,0001. to the repair of prisons, lu, been
withdrawn by order of the governor. The bill for the
removal of 'squatters from government land has also been
withdrawn, it not being considered advisable to proceed
with such a measure in the present state of the colony. A
resolution has been passed authori-ing a joint-stock
company to borrow 24,0001. on the credit of the co-
lonial Treasury, for the improvement of the Bowie
River, on condition that an equal amount should be
raised by the shareholders. The estimates for the colonial
expenditure of 1.4.52 have been sanctioned, without altera-
tion. The second reading of thu constitution ordinances is
not to come on before the 214th of January. The course
pursued by tho esuncil (which is a purely nominated hotly,
and does out in any degree poses the confidence of the
colonists) in thus passing important laws and pledging the
public credit for large sums has excited very great and ge-
neral dissatisfaction in all parts of the colony.
Public meetaugs have been held in Copt Town, Stellen-
bosch, Worcester, Beaufort, and Graatf-Reinet, toespress
the sentiments of the inhabitants iii regard to the con-
stitution embodied in the draft ordinances which have
been received from England. Resolutions have been
everywhere passed, with unanimity, gratefully accepting
this constitution, and expressing the general desire that It
should be established at once, and without alteration, leav-
ing any amendments that may he hereafter found neces-
sary to be made by the future Parliament. It is generally
feared that art attempt will he made, in the pro sent Coun-
cil, to abridge, as far as possible, the privil..go r acid fran-
chise, conceded by this constitution—sum,. the no:KAKIS
of the council being notoriously hostile tic the hy.teui of co-
lonial sellgovernmeut which these ordinances are designed
to establish.