The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-24 00:00:00

^~.

THE .. EPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 24, • 1846

. .
least retarded civil war. Nine 'pronouncing in the
diet wend the League of the Catholic canton,
it desired to obtain tar these a guarantee &gunge
the invasion of the free-corps. What could be man
equitable or sensible ? Although the Catholic cantons were
not the first to give the example of a confederation within•
confederation, their league may be admitted to nave beak
illegal and contrary to the federal pact, but it was justified
by • right, above all written rights—that of self-defence.
Having this right, we do not hesitate to say that their cause
was that of justice and true liberty. Before proceeding
against them, it was necessary to deprive them of this right
by securing them against illegal attacks, and this is what
the late government of Geneva desired to do. There are
defeats which bring honour ; and victories, discredit. The
emulta, we are bold to say, will only too well justify the
&Ben government. Who does not behold civil war to-day
Imminent in unhappy Switzerland ? Does any one imagine
that the events of Geneva will render the Catholic cantons
more ready to lay down their arms ? We advise the Xrue
de Goitre and M. James Fazy to make much of their revo-
lution ' while they have time, for approaching events will turn
their joy into mourning !' "
The Journal des Debals then ridicules the idea that
Geneva was ruled by an aristocracy, seeing that the
Grand Council derived its title and power from po-
pular elections, and it charges the provisional govern-
ment that, while they have the name and interests of
the people upon their lips, they are urging the
same people to its ruin ; that, under the
invasion of the free-corps, they disguise a hostility
which the laws forbid them to avow, and that they
cry out against the violation of the federal pact, while
they have attacked its defenders; and it hints at a
proceeding which will arrange the difference existing
between the Swiss cantons, by which the country will
be delivered equally from the Jesuits of Lucerne and
the Jesuits of radicalism. At the same time the
D4ats disavows intervention.
So long as Svritzerlandeonfinee heragitation within
her own limits the Debals will not advocate interven-
tion, any more than with Portugal or Mexico.
" We acknowledge," continues that journal, " the per-
fect right of Switzerland to destroy herself. As a neighbour,
we only demand that the may confine the fire within her
own walls. It is necessary, perhaps, that the world should
learn what a democracy is, which will submit to no restraint,
not even to that of common sense, and will suffer no yoke,
not even that of the laws. This example, it seems, is to be
given at the expense of Switzerland. With all our heart we
regret it, but assuredly we know no spectacle less contagious
and less to be feared for our country, tree and under the sway
of wise laws, than the shamelessness of the Helvetic demo-
cracy. As Conservatives, we can only ccngratulate ourselves
on what is passing in Switzerland. It constitutes a terrible
sentence against purely democratic institutions, and decides
the question whether universal suffrage is the triumph of
reason and justice."
The London mails of Tuesday's date were not re-
ceived in Paris on Thursday, the Calais mail-packet
not having arrived at that port, owing, as was said, to
the state of the weather.
Letters received from Berne of the date of the 18th
and 19th, bring a report of a serious disturbance in
that city, detailed below, which originated in the
dearness of provisions, but which is also said to be
more or less mixed up with political causes :
" A short time since a petition was addressed to the
Council of State, in which it was required to take measures
for the prevention of scarcity by excluding foreign buyers
from the market until the inhabitants should be supplied.
This petition was rejected, and on Saturday morning
violent scenes ensued. The gendarmerie who interfered
were encountered with a shower of stones. Waggons of
, provisions were seized by the populace, and other violence's
committed. Processions of insurgents paraded the city,
broke into the guard-houses, setting free those who had been
previously arrested, plundering bakers' shops, &c. After a
tumultuous meeting, the insurgents named a deputation,
composed of four citizens, which they sent to the Council of
State, demanding the revocation of its division, with threats
of force if it refused. The l'resident of the Council answered
that he would act as he might judge best, but would not
yield to force. In the course of the evening the authorities
collected together a military force, and called out the civic
guard, which occupied several important posts. The
night of Saturday passed without further disturbance. Oa
Sunday morning a proclamation was circulated, announcing
that remedies would be taken in regard to the dearness el
provisions, but that all violence would be repressed
by force. During the night, the Council, which
sat permanently at the arsenal, obtained proofs that the re-
volt was favoured and promoted by the supporters of the
party which had fallen from power some months ago. In
consequence of this fifteen persons were arrested, among
whom where the former councillors of state---Sats-Therin,
ex-professor Muller, and the merchant M. Stauffe-Gunther.
These arrests, which were effected without resistance, seemed
to paralyse the insurgents. At ten o'clock, however, on
Sunday morning, some hundreds of them, upon the Place
des Grevia.es, attempted to attack the corps de garde. They
were resisted by a detachment of cavalry, who, however,
did not use their arms. A shower of stones was discharged
against these, when two pieces of cannon charged with
grape were brought with lighted matches from the
arsenal, upon the appearance of which the insurgents fled.
Up to three o'clock on Sunday no new attack had been
made, though loud threats were heard of an attack upon the
market of Tuesday. Every necessary measure had been
taken to defeat such attempt. During the emeute of Satur-
day patricians were everywhere met in the streets among
the insurgents, with a smile on their lips. On Sunday they
had almost entirely disappeared."

institutions which have preceded It; soca as the
Mechanics' Institution; with its museam, the annual
exhibition of paintings, and the Botanical Garden—a
spirit is developing itself in Manchester, which will
achieve these things hinted at by Mr. Pamirs, and
greater things than these. In time it may even cure
the great cotton lords of their propensity to tuft-
hunting, as well as teach the labourers to keep their
houses and persons clean.
When Mr. COBDEN thanked the author of an-
ingsby, at a former stride of the Atheneum, for having
drawn the character of Mr. Milbank, it was because
he knew among his acquaintances, in Manchester,
many full-fledged and more latent Milbank.. Upon
such minds the at once genial and chastening wis-
dom of Lord MORPETII cannot fail to work with
effect, in urging to concentrated, persistent, unosten-
tatious action. A new social era is dawning upon
Manchester, and the influence of its example will be
felt in all our other great towns. Not perhaps by the
same machinery, but by some means or other, Bir-
mingham—the town of PRIESTLEY, WATT, and
HUTTON—wiII assertits intellectual and moral equality
with Manchester ; Glasgow, slumbering on the laurels
won for it by ANDERSON and BIRKBECK, will awaken
to renewed exertion ; and in Leeds, Mr. B uNes may
pause from diatribes against state-education, to show
what himself and friends can accomplish, by voluntary
exertion, in the way of intellectual and moral culture
of their community.

The opposition journals of Paris continue to
reiterate the probability. of a speedy modification in
the Guizot cabinet, arising out of the multiplied and
complicated embarrassments incidental to the foreign
relations of France, consequent on the Montpensier
m • e. These declarations are contradicted, or at
least iscredited, by La Presse, whose connexion
with the government is somewhat indirect; but the
more avowed official organs of the cabinet are signal-
ised by an unusual degree of reserve on the matter,
devoting their more prominent columns to other
topics of the day, such as the movements in Switzer-
land and Portugal. We learn from the despatches
of our Paris correspondent, and from the journals of
Thursday, which have arrived by the usual express,
that the probability of a ministerial change, and that
very speedily, is a general topic of discussion.
According to the National, which repeats its in-
formation on this subject, England persists, and will
persist, in her protests against the contingent rever-
sionary right of the grand-children of Louis Philippe
to the Spanish throne. While this protest must hold
the sword of war continually suspended over Spain,
it will throw innumerable embarrassments on the re-
lations of France and England. The renunciation by
the Infanta would remove these, but it cannot be ob-
tained.

"M. Mole, says the National, " has been private])
sounded ; a statement of the marriage negotiation., with all
the documents and dates, has been put before him. The
story of the Coburg candidateship, which Lord Palmerston
disavowed, has been refuted, and M. Mole, in spite of thene.
cessary reserve on such occasions, has not dissimulated his
repugnance for this double-faced diplomacy. We are
assured, that in this affair he considers there are two dis-
tinct questions to be decided. One respecting the diplo-
matic measures: if M. Guizot has not observed good
faith towards England in these, he must be sacrificed ;
as to the Spanish succeassion, it is a question which
belongs to Spain itself. The contingency against
which England has made reservations may disappear
117 the birth of direct heirs, and if hereafter any measure on
Ike subject should be taken by the Government or Cortes,
the matter may be brought under dismssion. Meanwhile,
England aad France would retain their present position.
But during this diplomatic armistice, their alliance, indispen-
sable to the dynasty and the peace of the world, must be re-
newed. As a mutual concession, M. Brawn on the one
hand, and Mr. Bulwer on the other, would be recalled.
Meanwhile attempts would be made to settle, by common
consent, other questions. Once having entered into nego-
tiation, all sabjects would be examined, and those only in-
sisted on which aro of pressing importance. We are
ignorant if M. Mule has been authorised secretly to communi-
cate with England, but we believe that several communications
have already taken place, and that the Whig cabinet, against
which M. Ouizot had directed his batteries in London, has
unmasked its own at Paris. We believe also, that the
artillery of the former hung fire, but that the bullets of the
latter have already made a breach in the fortress within
which the French ministry has for eta yeas entrenched
itself. The court journals observe a prudent silence. The
intrigue must have time to ripen. It is en train; it pro-
gresses. In 1840, England insults us; we show ourselves
vexed and cry loudly against it ; it is necessary to put on a
bold face; but behold the fleet in Toulon and M. Guizot
drinking the hitter cup of " Peace everywhere and always."
To-day on the other hand, it is England who is offended,
and behold again the fleet in Toulon, and M. Mole, who is
prepared to play after M. Guizot, the same part which the
latter played after M. Thiess. We foresaw such a dnioue-
men, from the first outcry of the journals of the CAUfrwat.
We were then reproached with being English ; wait a little,
and you will see with what tenderneas they will throw
themselves into the arms of England; sad condi*/ sn in
which a government is reduces! to this gruel alternative,
either to die or be enslaved !

Letters from Basle of the 18th, state that the grand
council of that city had held an extraordinary meeting
on the evening of the 17th, to discuss the petition in
favour of the dissolution of the Ultra-montane League.
The unanimity of the people on this subject has influ-
enced several members of the council, who declared
that they would retire sooner than oppose themselves
to the popular will.

While the Opposition journals, which have al-
ways rated so low the entente eordiak and re-
proached the Conservatives with the sacrifices
at which it was maintained, now reproach
them on the other hand for destroying it
for an object of mere family interest, certain sec-
tions of the Conservatives themselves boast of its rup-
ture. In an article published on Thursday by La
Presse, filled with more than the average amount of
anti-Anglican virulence, that journal maintains that
the English alliance is as unnatural as it is disadvaa-
tageous to France. It is the interest of France, ac-
cording to La Presse, to disembarrass itself of the
shackles of the entente cordiale, and. to return to its
natural allies. It repudiates the idea that the sym-
pathy of liberal ideas and the community e free in-
stitutiona existing between France and England,
should be regarded as forming any legitinsate ground
for permanent alliance. It is on natural sympathies,
on the real and nt interests of states—en the
good faith and tVireneerity of intarnatiemal relations,
that ent alliances are alone founded.
" °thing of all that, however," says Le Preens, " Can
Milli between Pante and England. neir alliance has been
only a passing accident. After 1830 s the inte.vst of the mo-
ment was mistaken fora permanent interest; it was imagined
that the nations would be allied by the analogy of their in-
stitutiosis. It was blindness not to perceive that the position
of England in the world was exceptional, and her national
character exclusive. The necessity of her situation forced
her to live at the expense of all other people, and
to ally herself in good faith with none. It was not
then understood that England could live only by using
all. Europe—by dominating on the sea—by smothering
t'ae industry of other people, and sharing with no one inter-
national commerce. And if we look narrowly at her to-day,
I we shall see what excites her discontent against the measure
which appears to her likely to increase French influence in
Spain. We have done worse, in fine, than surrendering
ourselves to these illusions of the entente cordiale, now dis-
sipated ; for we have estranged from us powers with whom we
might have formed an alliance truly cordial and profitable.
Tina is a fault which must speedily be repaired. While France
has no interest in common with England except one that is
theoretical and imaginary, she has with the continental powers
a thousand common interests ; while in every part of the
globe she finds English interests to struggle against, on the
continent she finds various interests in perfect harmony with
her own."
La Presse then goes on to hint that it eees nothing
amiss in the change of policy which it advocates being
effected without any change of ministry. M. Thiers,
it declares to be ten times more English than M.
Guizot, for the former is so by principle, and besides
is the very personification of revolutionary propagan-
dism in Europe. Although La Prase expresses its
great regret at witnessing M. Guizot sustaining for
six years the English alliance, yet in spite of the
unpopularity with which that policy has Sur-
rounded him, he appears to La Presse as
apt a person as any other to establish and con-
solidate the new system of international al-
liances, upon which France must now enter.
The significancy of these arguments will be better
appreciated, if it be remembered that La Presse
is, according to common repute, no stranger to the
salons of Russian diplomacy.
A very temperate article which has appeared in
the Revue de eknere, and one which was but natural
in the declared organ of the provisional government,
having noticed the manner in which the Genevese
movement was animadverted on by. the Parisian min-
isterial and court press, the ire of the Journal des
Debate has been excited to a degree not at all in keep-
ing with the stately moderation which generally cha-
racterises its columns. Although it really imputes
nothing worse to the article in question than being
written in a radical style, which, to say the truth, it
is difficult to discover m it, the 11. bats replies by let-
ting fall on the Swiss Liberals a shower of vitu-
peration.
" We regret," ways that Journal, " that Switserland in
general and the city of Geneva in particular, lately so happy,
so tranquil, and so free, should have fallen into such hands.
If ever in this world there were a revolution unjust, absurd,
and destitute of motive, we do not say of causes, but even of
pretext, it is the revolution of Geneva! The crime of
the government wits, in a word, having hindered, or at

Our usual letters and journals from Madrid to the
17th inst_ hare readied us.

The intended departure of the French Princes an-
nounced in our correspondence of yesterday is con-
firmed by them. The Duke d'Aumale was to have
left for France on Monday last, and the Duke and
Duchess of Montpensier on Wednesday. The latter
were to have slept at Burgos, Tolosa, and Bayonne.
The amnesty so long expected had not appeared, but
it was known to have been signed by the Queen, and
was expected to appear on the 18th. It was reported
to be an ample measure, extending to all military
men up to the rank of colonel inclusive, and to
I civilians up to the title of political chief; the only
exceptions were said to be those who had been in-
vested with commands by the revolutionary junta.
Her Majesty reserved the right of extending her
clemency to these at a future time.
One of the Liberal journals, El Tiempo, states, that
it knows that there exists serious dissension in the
Ministry, and goes so far as to say. that one of the
ministers has tendered his resignation to the Queen,
not being able to agree with his colleagues. It appears
certain that each individual member of the Cabinet
acts for himself, and that there is neither harmony
nor unity in the Ministry.
Mr. Cobden has been elected an honorary member
of the Economical Society of Madrid.

FRANCE. PRCGILEIIB OF FREE TRADE.—The
bee trade agitation continues to advance; an important
meeting was held on Monday on the subject at Havre,
attended by one hundred and fifty merchants of that city,
including the most distinguished members of the Chamber
of Commerce, and the heads of the principal commercial
houses. The meeting was addressed in a speech of consider-
able ability by M. Morlot, who concluded by moving a re-
solution to form an association for obtaining a commercial
reform by the reduction of import dutiesand taxes on objects
of consumption. The speaker was cheered as he proceeded,
and sat down amidst an expression of general applause. M.
de Coninct and M. Clerc afterwards addressed the
meeting, proposing a more unqualified title for the
association, so as to bring it into conformity with the central
society of Paris ; the original resolution was, however,
finally carried. Before separating, the meeting decided that
the object of the association being essentially national, it was
open to all Frenchmen without distinction; but that
foreigners would be only admitted to consult and deliberate
without voting. The conjecture that M. Guizot contem-
plated treading in the steps of Sir R. Peel on the subject of
free trade, forms the subject of the leading article in L'l-ni-
vers of Wednesday. That journal declares that the advo-
cacy extended to that doctrine by the Journal des D.'6a.ts,
the most confidential organ of the ministry, has given the
greatest disquietude to those who believe a protectionist po-
licy essential to the interests of the countr7 ; and it broadly
hints, that the relaxation of the prohibitive system is in-
tended to be a boon offered to propitiate England, and to
repair the mischief done by the rupture of the entente roe
diak, consequent on the Spanish marriages. "Is it not
evident," says the Unirers," that England would willingly
surrender to us ten kingdoms like that of Spain, to be per-
mitted to inundate our markets with her products? In of-
fering her such a compensation, M. Guizot may be very sore
to allay the discontent manifested at the other side of the
Channel; and those who imagine that such a compensation
has been promised, now foresee in the measures, which they
thought at first displayed a noble firmness, only a fresh dis-
grace. The government owes it to its own dignity, and even
to its very security, to undeceive the public as to the disa-
strous intentions which are attributed to it, upon the faith
of the part taken by its leading organ. Its danger is too
imminent not to make it owe us some gratitude for this
warning."

Tni INUNDATIONS.—The Marseilles and Saint
Etienne papers are two days behind hand in Path,
owing to the inundations caused by same of the rivers. The
Loire has risen to a fearful height, and it is feared will cause
great ravages. On the 19th the waters were already two
metres higher than at the time of the terrible inundation of
1910. Roane is completely inundated, and a great many
houses are said to have been washed away in the neigh-
bourhood. At Andresieur, the whole valley of Percy is
under water. One of the faubourgs at Nevers has greatly

Suffered; at Angers the Loire rose Eve metres (about six-
teen feet) in one night, driving back the waters of the
Maine. A letter from Orleans, of the 21st, says :—" Yester-
day, at 11 at night, a sudden rise of the waters of the Loire
carried away part of the viaduct on the Orleans and Vierzon
railway. A house near the brdge was carried away by the
waters but the workmen who wore inside escaped by means
of a boat. The opening of the Orleans and Vierson line is
again retarded by this new disaster. The level of the Seine,
which on the 20th was not more than 70 eentim. above the

low-water mark, marked on the 21st 2 m. 70 centim., having
thus risen two metres in one night.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF AN ENGLISH HOTEL-
isErms.—Mr. Chadwick, :proprietor of the British Hotel,
Quai de la Bourse, at Rouen, in an access of fever, from
which he was suffering, and which at momenta affected the
brain, discharged a pistol loaded with ball into his throat. At
the sound of the report, his nurse Arrived. Though the wound
is a serious one, hopes are entertained of his recovery.
SPAIN.—DINNER TO MR. COBDEN, AT MADRID.—
. . .

On the 14th inst. a grand banquet was given is honour of
Mr. Cobden, at Madrid, by the members of the " Spanish
Commercial Association." The guests uaembled at half-put
six, among whom were D. Alvaro Flom Estrada, the
Spanish economist; the Duke of Sotomayer, Spanish Am-
bassador to the English court; and numerous other persons
of distinction. Counts Santa Olalla, Gonzalo, Moren y
Pena Aguyac were prevented from attending by different
causes. The chair was taken by S. Alvaro, having on his
right Mr. Cobden, Duke de Sotomayor acting as vice presi-
dent. The health of Mr. Cobden was proposed by the pre-
sident, after a short and emphatic speech, in which he alluded
to the services rendered by Mr. Cobdea to his country.—Mr.
Cobd^n then rose and spoke in English, as that language
was familiar to nearly all present : we give his speech at
length :—Gentlemen, it is with the deepest gratitude that I
accept this manifestation of your sympathy; I accept it as a
proof of your approbation of the principles of free trade and
of the means resorted to by the leaders of the League inEng-
land. We stood up, gentlemen, as the advocates of free
trade, not in a party spirit, but in the common interest
of all ; and we obtained our end solely by moral
means, which deserve, I hope, the praise of the honour-
able men of every country. From the very beginning
of the struggle we never entertained the slightest idea
of having recourse to physical force; we placed our confi-
dence in the strength of reason and argument. Our only
weapon was the pen, our loudest artillery the voice of our
orators. We did not make proselytes by force, but by con-
viction. For seven years a fierce struggle WWI kept up
amongst twenty.seven millions of people, without shedding
a single drop of blood. The battle was long and fierce ; but,
once gained, the victory is eternal. All present are no
doubt well aware of the precise object we had in view in
our struggle for free trade. We had, gentlemen, a great
principle in view. We demanded for every Englishman the
right of exchanging the produce of his labour fur that
of every quarter of the globe. We demanded the
suppression of all protective duties. We said to our govern.
ment, you must not concede protection to this or to that
branch of industry to the detriment of another. Equal jus-
tice to all classes is the great principle proclaimed by us. IVe
demand for England the right of buying Spanish corn and
• wool on the same term; as similar productions in England ;
we propose for the sugars of Cuba the same right enjoyed by
those of Jamaica. We demand for the agriculturists the
right of buying articles of Spanish manufacture which they
may stand in need of, on the same footing as if they were
British produce. What we advocated has become the
dominating policy of the people of Great Britain.
Gentlemen, the cause of free trade is not confined
to one country alone, it is the cause of humanity
and civilisation all over the globe. And where may I hope
to meet with greater sympathy than in this illustrious
capital of the Iberian Peninsula ? To no country does free
trade offer greater advantages than to Spain; to no country
has nature been se prodigal in her gifts. Spain produces
what other lands must acquire by labour and by industry.
Commerce is the exchange of articles of equivalent value,
and the nation that exports is, likewise, in the necessity of
importing. There are individuals in every country who
say, " 11e must produce within our frontiers all that we
stand in need of, and we will be then independent of the
stranger." If providence had meant such to be the case,
it would have framed the earth on a far different
plan, and given equal advantages of soil and clime to every
nation. My country for instance would have been gifted
with the vine and the olive, and other blessings denied to us,
and other countries would possess iron and coal mines which
so largely compensate with us the absence of other natural
productions. But no . providence has in its wisdom assigned
peculiar productions to each land, so that nations in acquir-
ing the comforts of life might learn to live united with each
other in the bonds of harmony and of peace. I am
confident, gentlemen, that, before long, this great
nation will have emancipated its commerce from
the restrictions which, but a short time since, weighed
upon the commerce of my own country. Another
page of your history will be filled, like the im-
mortal page which records that three centuries ago a
great man left your shores to discover a new hemisphere.
You must not accuse me of detracting from the glory of that
great man, when I say that in my opinion the establishment of
free trade will confer greater benefits on your country than
the discovery of America. The genius of Columbus procured
to your country a large continent exclus:vely inhabited by
savage tribes ; free trade will open to your enterprise a civi-
lised world, and every nation will press forward to offer you
the various productions of their industry in exchange for
those of your favoured and productive soil. 1 conclude,
gentlemen," said Mr. Cobden, in good Castilian, " by drink-
ing to the universal adoption of free trade, the surest
rantees of the peace of nations." The meeting was then ad-
dressed by several Spanish merchants and nobles, advocating
the general principles of free trade, and especially the liberty
of discussion ; at the conclusion the meeting expressed its
gratification at the presence of its ill ustrious guest.

ITALY.—The political reforms of Pius IX. have
found an unexpected support in some states of Italy,
where the desire prevails of shaking off the yoke of Austria.
Tuscany and Sardinia have Allied to the Pope, and Naples
is upon the point of making her peace with his Holiness.
The Italian patriots favour the idea of a confederacy, like
that of Germany.

The Pope haat just authorised the publication of a
journal which will render account of the causes tried in the
Roman Courts, by publishing the proceedings. Hitherto the
pleadings were always carried on in secret, and the public
never knew what took place unlessasentence was proclaimed.
The Pope wishes all the acts of his government to be made
public ; but this resolution is still kept a secret.
GERMANY.—I3Eaws, Ocr. 15.—The Austrian
Ambassador to the court of Berlin, Baron Trantmannsdortf
is returned to his post, notwithstanding the general
rumour; that he was to be succeeded by M. Neumann.
The communications between the two capitals will, how-
ever, be carried on, not so much through the ambassadors,
as through cabinet letters—which is to be attributed more to
the friendly footing established between the two ministers
for Foreign Affair, than to any adopted system. We do
not wish to give any ground, says the Cologne Gazette, to a
misunderstanding, as if at the present moment the relations
between the two cabinets, were not on so good a footing as
formerly—on the contrary, Prince Metternich perhaps never
found it so coy to transact affairs with the Berlin cabinet, as
at the present moment ; but that l'russia and Austria find
it requisite to employ different methods, and look upon
many things in a different point of view, will be at once
understood by all. M. de Rochow, the Prussian Ambassa-
dor to St. Petersburg, is expected at Berlin from the
Russian capital, where he did not succeed in obtaining that
position which is dus,to a Prussian Ambassador. Count
d'Arneim is also expected on leave from Paris.

COLONIAL.
cAPE_OF GOOD HOPE.

We have received Graham's Town papers of the
25th of August. These p.pers contain the official reports
of Sir Andries Stockenstrom, Colonel Hare, and Colonel
Johnstone, detailing the combined attack made upon the
Kaffir positions in the Amatola mountains (the portion
of the Winterberg range, at the sources of the river so
named), by the forces under their command, adverted
to in the intelligence which we published on Thursday.
According to Sir Andries, the Kaffirs did not succeed
in concentrating their force, as was evidently their intention
in the first instance, but they made a bold stand in detached
positions, though they were finally dislodged from them all,
in the most gallant manner, with comparatively little loss on
the part of the colonists. Driven from all the gorges of the
Amatola range of mountains, they were in full retreat towards
the Kei river ; and the cavalry horses were so completely ex-
hausted by the fatigues they had undergone, that they were not
in a condition to follow up the advantages gained until they
obtained rest. In the meanwhile Sir Andries Stoekenstrom had
resolved upon remaining with the force under his command in
one of the valleys of the Amatila hills until he received
supplies from the rear to enable him to advance to tho
in order to convince the Kaffirs that it was not a temporary
inroad on their territory, but a fixed determination to punish
them effectually for their unjust aggression on the colony.
The loss on the part of the force under the command of Sir
Andries was finer killed and four severely wounded, but the
number that fell on the side of the Kaffirs could not be
ascertained.. Thirty-nine dead bodies were however seen at
one point, and many more fell in the different skirmishes
in the ravines. One of Colonel Hare's vidette's had had a
brush with the Kafiri; but Colonel Johnstone's party had
not succeeded in coming to close quarters with any of them.
In his retarn Colonel Hare says: " By the concurrent state-
ments of the women and prisoners, it would appear that the
Kaffirs had decided upon returning towards the colony; and
this seems to be confirmed by numerous spoors of consider-
able bodice having been seen by my skirmishing parties
going in that direction;" and, "I have no dou'ff in my own
mind that the Kaffirs have formed the resolution of not meet-
ing the troops, and that their plan is to harass us by their
movements forwards, this appearing mole es ident by nume-
rous spoors seen returning between my division and that of Sir
Andries, and the camp of his Excellency." Sir Andries'
dispatch hears date the let of August, hut there is a post-
script, which appears to have been written on the 4th or sth.
Col. Hare's is dated the 7th, and Col. Johnstone's the 10th
of August. It appears (from a statement in the Fron-
tier) that his Excellency the Governor had, at the request
of the senior medical officer, increased the rations allowed to
the forces in the field, by the addition of an allowance of
coffee, sugar, and rice, to the biscuit and beef. The import-
ance attached to this very simple affair is a proof how nig-
gardly the colony has been treated by the Home Government
in such an emergency; for the account concludes with the
hope that the Governor will not be compelled afterwards to
pay the cost of the additional rations out of his own pocket.
During the quarter ending on the hth of July, the number
of vessels that entered inwards at Port Elizabeth was 46, of
8,615 tons, and outwinis 40 yeasts, of 7,464 tons. The value
of the imports was 101.3091., and of the exports 6.1,6131.
The export trade, as a matter of course, lids been greatly in-
terrupted by the Kaffir invasion.