The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-20 00:00:00

COLONIAL._

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—Steels has immor-
talised the letter of a non-commissioned officer of his day ;
the letters of the non-commivioned and privates of our day,
see in sentiment quite equal, and in shrewd judgment of
what goes on around them far superior. The more general
diffusion of knowledge in general society has affected the
ranks, and regimental libraries and savings banks are carrying
on the good work. We have, of late, more than once pre-
sented our readers with extracts from the letters of indi-
viduals belonging to thee: classes at present serving in the
Cape Colony. Another is at present before us, containing a
view of Bleck Drift Camp, very creditably executed ;
verses expressive of the feelings of the soldiers who, after
serving their limited time at Ceylon, are stopped at the
Cape on their way to England, to tight the Kaffirs ; with
an account of the places and persons represented in the
drawing ; and some rattling gossip for the friend to whom
the letter is addressed, intermingled with remark.
that indicate sincere religious feeling. " Moist of the
regiment," says this shrewd observer, " are of opinion front
the succours having arrived from England that we shall
soon return home. I hope their expectations may be ful-
filled; but if I get out of the colony before March next (the
letter is dated 19th November), 1 shall be agreeably de-
ceived. We have been trying to knock up some sort of a
treaty with the Kaffir chiefs. Sandilla, the paramount chief
of the Gaika tribes, tendered his submission on the 2nd inst.,
and stated that in fourteen days from that date he would
bring into camp all the cattle in his possession. On these
terms it was accepted; but, lo' on the 18th he returned
with about 150 lean, ill-favoured cattle, and wanted to
gammon us 'that was all he bad.' Hn was told that antes,
he brought in 2,000 head of cattle by the 22nd, hostilities
would be recommenced. Whether he will return with the
stipulated somber remains to be seen : if he does not, I
think the government too far compromised to begin the mar
anew; and I predict that it will be finished, as it began, in
a bungling unsatisfactory manner. We shall (1 mean iss
of the military) have nothing to plume ourselves on but the
endurance of unparalleled hardships in the service of our
beloved Queen. For all our marching and counter-marching
we shall have nothing but an expensive war and disaatistled
colony, without any corresponding result." No one who
has studied the history of the Cape colony, and observed at-
tentively the progress of the present war, can entertain a
doubt the writer has correctly estimated the amount of
wisdom in its councils, and the probable results of their de-
terminations. The privations of the troops may be inferred
from the following simple statements I suppose by this
time bread in England is very cheap; nowhere, they charge
us soldiers Is. 3d. per lb. for wheat meal; Is. for a pound
of coarse sugar; and (oh, ye gods! who wouldn't smoke 1)
9d. for a clay pipe." Even in these desolate regions, and
amid this semi-starvation, however, the gentle pinion seems
to assert its sway :—" The Kaffin are as numerous as pos-
sible on all the hills around the camp, and numbers of their
women and children are about the camp wiling
bundles of wood and their personal ornaments
for small pieces of tobacco [compare this with Barrow's
account of his first interview with the Kaffir'
in 1799] and meat. They appear to be regularly
starved, and are to be pitied, for they, of course, are against
the war, and never had their opinion naked. There are
some good-looking little dears Among them, though it takes
a long while to reconcile one's self to their thick lips, flat
noses, and woolly pates. However, our boys are not very
particular, and most of them have now a sable Dulcinea. I
expect, is the event of active hostilities, some of them will
be quite broken-hearted, for the ladies will get orders to
sheer off as a matter of course." Speaking of the environs
of the camp, he says—" Near the • centre of the valley
stands the house of the late diplomatic agent with the Kaffir
tribes, which is now falling fast to decay. Its ruin is the
more to be deplored, inasmuch as the grounds around
it are laid out, and have been planted with all
aorta of edible vegetables, some the productions of
distant lands, and others indigenous to the country, which
have been brought to a high state of perfection. They have
indeed been beautiful, and must have conveyed to the abori-
gine* a striking lesson of the benefice of civilisation, showing
them how by industry they might live in comparative ease
and comfort, could the y only be induced to drop their pre-
sent barbarous, thievish, and wandering mode of life." This
is a natural enough remark from one who has only seen the,
ruins of the " diplomatic agent's house and gardens." We,
however, whip know what a staunch supporter he wax of the
mistaken policy which encouraged the Kaffin to repel the
influence of civilisation, and how unscrupulous in stretching
• point to afford seeming arguments in support of a system
of management which rendered his agency necessary, will,
with us, feel anything but grief at his being dislodged.

450Uft.
The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early
walk yesterday morning in the gardens of Buckingham
Palace. H.R.H. Prince Albert rode out on horseback yes-
terday. The royal family took their accustomed walks and
rides yesterday in the royal gardens.
the Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty
yesterday at Buckingham Palace.
Their Royal Highneesea the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary, accompanied by his Serene High-
ness Prince Frederick of Besse, visited the Zoological
Gardens yesterday.

A Cabinet Council was held at three o'clock yester
day afternoon at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present
were-Lord J. Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Sir Gee. Grey, Viscount Pal-
merston, Earl Grey, the Earl of Auckland, Sir J. Hobhouue,
Viscount Morpeth, the Earl of Clarendon, the kf argots of
Clanricarde, the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, and the Right
Hon. H. Lsbonchere. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
was prevented from attendiag the council by indisposiuon.
The council at one hour.
Count de St. Aalaire, the French Ambassador,
transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office.-Count
de Schiminelpenninck, the Netherlands Minister, also trans-
acted business yesterday at the office of the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs.
The Earl of Chichester had en interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. -Sir William
Hestkoote had an interview with the Right Hon. E Strutt
yeeterday, at the office of the Commissioners of Railways in
Great George-street.
Despatches were sent off last evening from the
Colonial-ofilee for the Governors of Hong-Hong and Ceylon,
sad ales for the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Island&
Lord Howden has arrived in London with such
terms respecting the affairs of La Plata, as M. Guizot would
consent to. His lordship will sail for Rio in a few days.
(From last night's Garatta.)
WHITZBALL, FEB. 17.—The Qom has directed
Were patent to be passed under the Great Seal, constituting
and appointing the Right Hon. Lord Langdale, the Right
Ilea. Lord Beaumont, J. Humphry Esq., one of her Ma-
JeMy's soanseLll. B. Ker, Esq, hamster-at-law, W. Coulon,
barrister-at-lav, G. Frere, EN., and F. Broderip,
Esq., her Majesty's commissioners foe inquiring whether
*. burdens on land can be diminished by the establishment
if an effective system for the registration of deeds and the
simplification of the forms of conveyance,
WAR OFFICE, rim 19.
rith U. Drego-lap P. IL Sbetreti to be lieut..eoL, by par., vice
WOW, who ref.: Gam. R. de Palle So be major, by par. ; Unit. H.
F. Cast to be apt, by par.: Unit G. Chetwode, Mb P., to be
lbeat, by par.
ate Lt. Drip.--8. IL !Ration* be anent, paper., vice Bailer,
who rei-
llth lA. Drega-Lieat. W. Rada, tom Rai L. Dregs., to be
Beat., visor. Ilboismotoorlto ratatvinmali....er lath Lt. Dn.& ; Lieut.
J. IL Flawkislobo vim kall• aslr,
asts&-ams. w. & essases asst. wawa pm, vice Hem
derma, dee.; rm. C. H. tavlume le he Rent. by aro., vire
ms, whom mew by per. but Imo maw; O. EL ife.ol to be aw.,
lidthirfeept. J. J. Ball, Roo 112* P., to be apt., vice Thum, app.
to 27th P.
sopYlth F.-Ciat. R. J. Warm, frame 26R P., to be eept„ vice Ball,
to sets P.
list 74-Lient. J. J. Ilort to be 05$. by par., vies
whose woo bp been canc.
62nd P.-Ear. G. X. Ambrose to be Rea ; wetland par.,',lce Bari.
roe, att.
671.11 P.-Colour-Step. Andrews to been., withotaper., Roe Diem
74tatLieut. 3. W. De Batts to be amt., by pm...lft de Ilao.
mares. who rat.; Dia. J. Jego to te lieut., by per.; C. T. IJadow
to tie 07„ by par.
fte. T. Gore to be lied., by par" Mae Loom, who ;
1. Ito le that., by ply, Aso /WM, who
mt.; 12.'veme, m ma, by per:
91th T-Lierit. O. /t. areas, Rear Nth lo be Heat, Mee 0. D.
D. Oevamds who ash.
lath 20.Uest. G. A. D. Cleveland, from lath P., lobe Beat., .W
Bred*, who aid- •
SAW .1. Relgt-31. 8 Raba to bas. widest pea, vim gnome,' I
Beaver.-Apt- W.ltoblema, at Boyd Zugbitere, to be satar la
the mom.
EarATCI4 la the Gasietre or Dee. 29, 1816.-For Er. R. G. 13, mean-
bury to be Bast, le.Apo neussolo, pima.; ma, vies tit,prom.
Raeriamnive.-LieaL 0. L. Preby, at Urd P. boa ben apse L,
hada. alma& bloat( without Mare.
Aneff.a.rc Tio 1L
pa -0011:o of Royal Marines t I. J. D. CCOnany,
gest., Y. R. Remy, r, t9be Om. Lista.