The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-22 00:00:00

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

By the arrival of the above mail we have *deices
from Bombay to March 28, and from Calcutta to
March 22.
The renewed preparations for the war in Bhootaa
are said to be on a scale sufficient foe a ten
months' campaign. Substantial bniklinip for the
shelter of the troops in the Dooars are plaaned for,
and a lath of rupees
.has been placed at the dis-
posal of the chief engineer for that wpm. Ue-
Dual Tytler, since his appointment to the com-
mand in chief of all the Bbootan forces, has been
taking great pains to survey the whole country
with the view of forming some comprehensive plan.
On the 17th March a telegram was re-
ceived from the general announcing the
retaking of the Bela pees stockade. This was
accomplished by a rapid escalade performed by
the 19th Regiment Native Infantry under Captain
Rattles. The British loss was five killed and
fifteen wounded. The Bhootan chief 'and fifty of
his followers fell. At Dewangiri the Bhooteas are
yet stockaded in great strength, as also at four of
the pions ; the whole force is estimated at 6,000
nien comprising the supporters of twelve rajahs.
"The organisation, resources, and determined spirit
of the Bhooteaa promise (says the Times of India)
to make of this little war • *tory tough business.
The limitations imposed by the home government
on the ultimate scope of the Bhootaa war have been
announced just in time to check the heedless
clamour for annexation so popular with a portion
of the Anglo-Indians in Bengal. Probably, great
firmness on the part of the home government will
be required in order to restrain men of that class in
case military operations prove suooessful."
The Indo-European telegraph line is in good
working order, telegrams of the 24th March having
reached Bombay on the 26th. The necessity of
another telegraphic line between Bombay and
Kurrachee, in order that the Indo-European line
may be made more available, is daily becoming ap-
parent. One day recently so many European mes-
sages were awaiting transmission that Colonel
Douglas refused to receive any more telegrams of
any description.
The Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal has takes
steps
ito abolish the revolting practice of hook
swinging at the ckunsidc native festival.
The government of Bombay has adopted • rule,
to the effect that both covenanted and UDOOVO•
nanted servants who on the plea of ill-bealtb desire
to retire before the expiration of their term of
service, shall appear before a medical committee in
order toustify their claim for pensions.
Four Hindoo merchants, indicted at the Bombay
criminal sessions on a charge of bribing some
young telegraph clerks to purloin messages for
them, have been found guilty, and each sentenced
to six months' imprisonment, and to be fined live
thousand rupees.
A regularly organised gang of forgers has been
apprehended in Bombay ; and an investigation
shows that each member, by an ingeniously con-
trived system of division of labour, contributed to-
wards forging and uttering allotment papers of some
of the banks and financial associations.

NAVAL AND main=

(110 N LAST MORI'S gums)
ADMIRALTY, Ana 19.

Commend: Thomas Beard hasbesa placed on the retired
hat with the rank of captain.
ADKIBLLTY, Aria 21.
The following flag promotions, dated the llth instant, lave
been made in coesequenes of the death of Bear-Admiral
Thomas Headmen, oaths 10th blatant : Captain George
William boogies O'Callegnaa Mb* remsAmiral. Retired
eaptaisa : William Kaightoa Stephens, George Henry
Parity White, William Windlsaas Hamby, to be retired
rear-admirals, node, the ',striates' el the Orders in
Council of let Aural, 1860, sad 9sll July, 1864.
Ttijlt:,ll owing flag promotions, dated the 13th instant, have
made in consequence of the death of Vice-Admiral
Sir John lll'Dougall, H.C.8., on the 12th instant:—
Bev-Admiral Hoe. Edward }toward, on the reserved list,
to be vioesidintral on the same list ; Beer-Admiral Sir
Alexander Milne, K.C.8., to b. vicoadistiral ; Gavials
Charles Wise to be rear-admiral ; retired Rear-Admiral
John Monday to be retired vice-admiral ; retired Captain
David Peat to be retired rev-admiral, units the provi-
sions of the orders in council of lit August, 1860, and 9th
July, 1864.

Aelautavvz, APRIL 2L —Naval Cadets (semi-
sated).- -F. L Langdale, A. F. Graves, W. H. AL Douglas.
sad F. C. M. Noel.

PORTSMOUTH, Ann. 21.
The Supply, 2, iron screw store ship, Staff
Commander Chas. Bowden, has strived st Portsmouth, having
been in collison about ten miles ott at. Katherine's with
the schooner Bradtecholtne, of Goole, Captsin Sinoffett,
front Birkenhead for the Tyne, with a cargo of machinery
and coals. The schooner sank about tea minutes after the
collision, bat the crew wets oared and brought into this
port. The Supply, which wee bound from Woolwich for
the Mediterranean, lost her bowsprit, sad bad two plates
stove in her bow. The collision took place about tan
' o'clock this morning.
The Urgent, iron screw troop ship, Captain L. H. Hen-
demon, arrived at Portsmouth today from the Channel
Islands, with a portion of the 6th brigaded Royal Artillery.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has arrived
at Portsmouth, to holm t the garrison and fortifications.

Tai VICTORIA CROR3.—WAIL-OFFICR, APRIL 2L
—The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her in-
Unstop to Gooier the decoration of the Victoria Cross on
the anderreenticieed midshipman and seamen of the Royal
Navy, whose claims to the same have been submitted for
her Majesty's approval, on account of the gallextry
played by
_them during the operation in the Straits of
Samoa° Saki, Japes, as recorded against their names, viz.:—
Mr. Duncan Gordon Bops, midshipman of her Majesty's
ship Eoryalos, and Thomas Pride, captain of the after.
guard of her Majesty's ship Earyalus ; date of acts of
Moray. September 6, 1864. Poe the conspicuous gallantry
which, according to the testimony of Captain Alexander.
C. 8., at that time flag captain to Vice-Admiral
Sir Augustus Kuper, K.G.8., Mr. Boys' displayed on
the asesiou of the capture of the enemy's stockade. lie
carried a colour with the leading ...literacy, kept it is advance
of all, in the face of the thickest Sr., his colour4ergeaate
having fallen, °immortally, the other dangerously wounded,
mad he was only detained from proceeding yet further by
the orders of his superior officer. The colour be carried
was sir times pierced by musket balls. Thomas Pride, '
captain of the after-guard, the survivor of the two °oleos,
sergeants who supported Mr. Boris is the gallant nigh
which be made in advance of the attack, is also mom.
mended for the Victoria Cross for his conduct on this oc-
casion. William Seeley, ordinary seaman of her Majesty's
ship Euryalcis ; date of act of bravery, September 6, lA64
for the intelligence :and daring which, according to the
testimony of Lieutensot Edwards, coromandiog the third
company, he exhibited in entertaining the enemy s position,
and foe continuing to retain his position in front, during
the demos, after he had been wounded in the arm.—
Gaterte.
INSTITUTIOX OF NAVAL ARCRITICIS. Mr.
Alexander kilshie, of Belfast, shipbuilder mod Board at
Trade surveyor, whom " end-ou" system of naval con-
striction has received the candid consideration of the
Admiralty authorities, in consequence of the facilities it is
said to present for moisitiog the heaviest guts in the ships
designed by Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor of the
Navy, has been lately promoted from being an 'semis* to
be a member of the Institution of Naval Architecte.
Mintorumwt BOARD or WORKS.—The Metro-
politan Board of Weeks met yeetsiday. A report was
brought op from the Streets Committee stating that in
their opinion it was desirable the Beard should consider the
general question of commove and open spaces, and pass such
orders thereto as might be deemed Decessary. As there
was a bill for the sodomy of a portion of Wimbledon
Common at present before parliament, they suggeeted that
counsel should be instructed to oppose the bill before the
select committee. As it was probable that the chairman of
this Board might be called upon to give evidence before
that committee, it was most desirable that the Board @lambi
discuss the principle upoa which they would be guided es
oath questions. After some discussion the matter
was referred to the select committee for oossideration
sad report. The solicitor reported that the Commando'.
reed and Hoibera lmpearreineut bill had remised the anal
moat, and he promoted • of the est. Mr. Newton
moved, " That the wag formal -order be pored, authorizing
the Streets Committee to take all steps
taining possession of the lends sad required for
the Cassinercial4wad and Holborn improves's/nu net ts
be refereed to the Massie Committee to asiothio for •
loin foe amain tie aboveinentiosed improvements." The
main Ina agreed la.