The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-17 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—The past week has been
the mod propitious one for the colony since the commence-
ment of the present war. The reaction, so long and anxiously
looked for has, it may be hoped, now commenced, and the
enemy begun to taste the bitter fruits of his late misdoing*.
It is with no ordinary satisfaction we refer the reader to the
official despatch of Col. Somerset, detailing the sharp, brit
liant, and decisive action on the Gwanga. That document is
no: the worse that it is unassuming, that it rather underrates
than otherwise the results of that affair, and that it preserves
throughout a tone of moderation which at once insures the
confidence of the reader in the perfect accuracy of the whole
statement. We have already given an opinion of that
action, the favourable complexion of which is heightened by
further reflection and fuller information. No affair of the
kind could be better conducted or be more creditable to the
victors. It is due to Colonel Somerset to say that he dis-
played equal gallantry, activity, and judgment, and of all
the officers and men under his command, that he was ably
seconded by them. The effect of this engagement upon the
confederated Cuffre tribes will, there is reason to believe, he
most salutary. Already, it is attirmd, the good effects are
beginning to be apparent. Many Cottrell are hastening
from the colonial border, while there are symptoms of dis-
may and irresolution amongst some of the nearer tribes,
who, incited by recent successes, were redoubling their
efforts to overcome, if possible, the resistance made by
the white man. Frorn all Olt can be learned by the
designs of the confederated chiefs, a very comprehensive
plan had been adopted by them to harass and lay waste the
colony. The frontier posts were to be swept away, and
towards the accomplishment of this end the communications
with head-quarters were to be cut off, and then a rush, on a
grand scale, was to be made upon this settlement. A large
force of Kreilli's Celtics were marching down to join in
this hopeful project; but these, it is thought, will now
slacken their speed, while many, if not all, will decline an
enterprise which they have been now taught is not quite
so easy of accomplishment as they had been led to
expect. Umhala, it is reported, already demurs, and com-
plains that he has been deceived by those chiefs who have
involved him with the English, and it is even thought 'O7
some that he will at once withdraw from the coalition.

Still, notwithstanding all tbe.e cheering circumsts. noes,
the colony must not fur a moment be thrown off its guard.
Should the; Caffres recover from the effects of this sharp
blow, it is not improbable that they will prosecute the war
with greater activity and far more vindictiveness than ever ;
and, though their loss in the various engagemomte with the
colonists has been severe, yet, let it not be PJrgotten that,
if united, they may still precipitate tbetwie.ves with over-
whelming force upon this country. The oole.iiy, then, has still
an arduous task to accomplish, wkicla consists not merely
in the stubbornness and strength of v'.e enemy, but in the ,
difficulties of the country. The com'neneement of this great
undertaking is about to be math, his Excellency the Go-
vernor taking the field as Comay.nder-in-Chief this very day.
Every true and loyal colonist will most fervently wish him
God speed. We have eLsow'Aere remarked that the upper
part of tke boundary line will be operated upon by the
burgher force under the command of Commandant-General
Sir Andreas Stockenstrom, on whose experience, judgment,
and energy, the pu'Aic may in this warfare place the
strongest depcnden,e. We trust we have seen the last of
merely defensive operations, which against an enemy like
the Caffres are •alwara ruinous. The war must now be pro-
secuted vigoross y within the enemy's territories—he must
be made to fr el the weight of British power—he must, if he
be spared, he subjugated and placed under efficient control,
and then, and not till then, will the colony be secured
against w recurrence of the calamities by which it is now
visited..—South African, June 25.

ADDITIONS TO OUR MUSEUMS OF NATURAL HISTORY.
—Mr. Louis Fraser, late curator of the Zoological Society of
London, has just returned to this country by the Peninsular
and Oriental Steam Company's vessel Montrose, with a fine
collection of natural history, both living sad dead, which
has been collected, during the past summer, in the Regency
of Tunis, to which place he repaired in March last, at the
express desire of the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby. Among
the living animals are a pair of very fine young lions; an
ostrich ; several specimens of the Barbary deer ; also a male
and female of a very rare species of gazelle, from the Jereed,
all of which were presented to him by her Majesty's agent
and cor.sul-general, Colonel Sir Thomas Reade, K.C.8., to
whom he is indebted for much kindness and attention.

ecntrt.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, u(nt (tt ToC'S*
afternoon in the char-il-banc, drawn by lour ponies, to Neu.
port. Her Majesty and the royal party returned to Obborae,
house by way of Barton.
Lord John Russell had the honour of joining the
royal circle at dinner in the evening.

Mr. Cavan and Mr. King had an interview with
Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office.
A deputation of the Philanthropic Society, consist.
in gof the Hon. and Rev. Robert Eden, Mr. Paynter,
Gladstone, and the Rev. Sydney Turner, Chaplain to the
Philanthropic Society, had an interview with Sir Georg,
Grey yesterday at the Home-office.
Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes,
had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
yesterday in Downing-street.
Mr. McLachlan had an interview yesterday with
Earl Grey at the Colonial-office. Mr. Jeminghain had alp
an interview with the noble earl yesterday.
Despatches were sent off yesterday evening from
the Colonial-office for the Governors of the West India
Colonies.

THE PRIVATE APARTMENTS AT WINDSOR CASTLE,
—No orders to view the private apartments will be available
after Friday next, the 18th instant, in consequence of the
approaching return of the Court.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager has sent a &ma.
tion of 101. to the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund. It
amounts to upwards of 1,0001., and was formed under the
patronage of the late lamented Commandant-General, Lord
Bloomfield, and lady. It is for the relief of the wives and
families of soldiers of the Ordnance corps Embarking at
Woolwich for foreign service, as they receive nothing from
the government until official accounts are received of their
husbands' safe arrival at the place of destination.