The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-04 00:00:00

07

completed, and the produce was estimated at about
115,000 maunda. Calcatta itailf had been tolerably
healthy, but the death of Capt. A. 6. Clapperton, the
master-attendant, is announced. The marine insu-
rance offices of Calcutta had determined no longer to
contribute towards the hire of steamers for out-
ward-bound vessels on which they hold risks,
There had been considerable interest excited at
Madras by an attempt made by government to
convict some of its employfs of placing official papers
at the disposal of the editor of a newspaper. The
crime was brought home to the culprits, but the
means employed for their detection was much can-
vassed.

We append the letter of our Bombay correspondent :
BOMBAY, Gentian 1.
All doubts as to the soecessor of Sir Charles
Napier in the Scinde government were dirnellcd by the
Bombay Government Go.tetfe of the 16th ult., in which it
was announced that, " under instruction, from the right
hon. the governor-general of India, the hon. the governor
in council is pleased to appoint It. K. Pringle, Bt.q., to be
commissioner for the civil administration in Scinde, from
the date of the departure from Kurrachee of It. E. Lieut.-
General Sir Charles Napier, G.C.B. governor of that pro-
vince." You will remember that kr. Pringle was the
gentleman first named some months since, as the probable
successor of the hero of Mesnee. Since then, however,
several others had been mentioned, of all of whom the
party selected is by far the most qualified for the post,—he
having for some time been revenue commissioner of the
southern division, and 1 ittcrly secretary to the Bombay
government. Mr. Pringle toek his departure for Kurrachee
by the steam-frigate Moozuffer on the 20th ult., taking with
him Lieut. Lester, 10th N. 1., of the revenue survey, as an
assistant. It has been stated that the hon. Mr. Clerk pro-
ceeds to Scindc about the end of the year, and that he will
remain there for a couple of months. On his decision as
to the value of the province as a frontier, much
will depend as to whether we will retain it,
or endeavour to get rid of it as quickly as poi-
, Bible. This latter consummation, however mush to be

desired, I see little hopes of being brought about—for the
present, at least. The command of the troops has been tem-
porarily made over to Brigadier Dundee, commanding at
Kurrachec: on whom the charge is permanently to be con-
ferred has not been stated. Colonel Douglas, of the 78th
Highlanders, at present commanding the garrison of Bom-
bay, being amongst those who have been mentioned as likely
to receive the appointment. On no better disciplinarian
could it devolve, yet I doubt whether an army of at least
12,000 men will be entrusted to any officer under the rank of
a major-general. There certainly should be two brigadiers
in Seinde—one at Kurrachee and another at Sukkur, a
major general having command over the whole. That there
are discontented spirits amongst the population, ready for
mischief of any kind, there cannot be a doubt; and for a
time alter the departure of Sir Charles Napier we will require
to be more vigilant than ever, to repress all hopes that may
be entertained by the disaffected of catching us napping, as
there can be no question that the name of the departing go-
senior was a host in itself. That any harm could arise to us
from all the machinations of those who still chafe and fret
under the new order of things, I am far from imagining—
still, prevention is better than cure. Mr. Pringle landed at
Kurrachee from the Moozuffer, on the 24th, and entered the
camp under a salute. Several of Sir C. Napier's staff went
on board to receive him ; and on landing, he at once pro-
ceeded to Government House. The Kurrachre Advertiser
stated that the people are pleased with the change of
rulers, they having the greatce abhorrence of the politico-
military government of the old governor, under which
everything was settled by court-martial or a commission.
The salary of the now commissioner is to be that of a mem-
ber of council at Bombay, viz., 6,000/. per annum. Sir C.
Napier received 10,000/. as governor and commander of the
farces. A magnificent entertainment was given to the re-
tiring governor by the officers of the station, an account of
which I subjoin from the Kurrachee journal. He and his
family were to proceed to Suez by the Moosuffer on the Ist
(this day). They spend some time at Nice before returning
to England. Lady Napier had, in a great measure, recovered
from her late illness, but was far from well. There is scarcely
any news besides the above from Seinde. The &lode Aisso-
elation was busy collecting information as to the causes of the
low state of manufactures and agriculture, with a view to
their improvement. Mr. Gordon, master I. N. who has
been in confinement since April, for having caused the death
of some Siddees at Sukkur, is said to be about being sent to
Bombay for trial. Bands of marauders are said to be hover-
. ing on the frontier and betwixt Mooltan and Lahore; and
• the armed steamers of the Indus flotilla were to be moved up

the rarer to keep them in check. Second Lieut. Gibb, of the
Artillery, died at li urrachee on the 3rd Sept. A report that
Lieut. Berthon, of the 18th N. 1., had been murdered by
some Beloochees, near Shikarpore, turns out unfounded.
The reported sickness amongst the European troops at Kur-
rachee has been officially contradicted by Major Green,
assistant adjutant-gen., who states that during August aix
men and o women only had died ; whereas the Times'
c correspon rat reported that, on an average, a death a day
le
took place The country throughout was tranquil and healthy,
very little sickness being prevaleut, either amongst the inha-
bitants or our troops/
The following commtfnication appeared in the Ketrraches
Advertise,. of Sept. 24:
"Lost evening a sumptuous banquet was given by the society at
Kurrachee to bin excellency Licutenant.General sir Charles Napier,
as a farewell tribute of respect and admiration. The sable mess-
house of the ith,itifles was selected as the scene of (hit memorable
tribute ; and the whole of the arrangements reflected the bighead
credit on the steward, The entrance to the domain was spanned
by a triumphal arch, having the word ' WeLeove ' Inscribed in large
characters, and adorned with numerous lights. An avenue was funned 1
of lathoe-work, decorated with foliage and lump*, to the entrance of
• magnificent three-poled tent, furnished fur the reception of the 1
company, from which again the avenue was continued to the steps of ,
the centre entrance to the mess-house. Over the door-wry appeared •
a Large transparency, with the magic word ' Norma' in the middle,
and bordered with the names of the battles in which, both in Europe
and the East, the distinguished guest had borne to prominent and
hononrable a part. Guns, and martial trophies, flanked the doorway,
and formed a group imposing and appropriate. Os entering the hall,
the coup tool was magnificent: large truutparencim appeared at
either end, sue displaying the arms of his excellency, with the well
known ' Beady, aye ready,' the other the royal arms, and both adorned
with standards and colours. Groups of arms decorated the walls,
and red, blue, and white drapery was festooned with taste and judg-
ment round the whole. A number of costly chandeliers, wall light.,
and candelabra, threw a brilliant Mare of light, and the tables were
admirably arranged, both with respect to effect and convenience, to
hold mine hundred and twenty guests. In the avenue from the en-
trance to the reception pavilion was drawn ti a guano of honour be-
longing to the etb Killen, and all was in r by seven o'clock.
His excellency arrived about tin minutes after seven, and was re-
ceived witk the mull compliments, and the large number of officers
(attired in full deer) pressed forward to greet their honoured guest-
Ginner was announced in due time, and the 'glittering throng'
speedily arranged themselves about the festive board. Grace bar-
ing been pronounced by the Her. Mr. Brereton, the substantial
business of the evening commenced. On the removal of the cloth the
Hon. Colonel Dundee proposed the usual loyal bawls, which were
responded to heartily. The toast then followeiL CoL Demise, in •
prolonged and excellent speech, sketched the career of vie Charles
Napier from his arrival in India to the present moment; dwelling
happily on the prominent incidents, and eliciting ever and anon the
most hearty plaudits of his listeners. ' Scinde,' said the Colonel,' is
now and for ever an integral part of the British dominions, and how-
ever various opinions might be regarding the policy of its original
annexation (and he bad opinions of his own, and strong ones too),
that was no place for their discussion; while, with respect to the
judgment, energy, and valour displayed in the application of the mili-
tary force in a difficult and critical position, but one opinion pre-
vailed, and that opinion accorded the highest admiration to Sir
Charles Napier.' We regret exceedingly that we are unable to give
more [ban a faint outline of the hon. colonel's speech, which was
appropriate and excellent throughout. The toast with which it con-
eluded, ' Health and long Ufe to Sir Charles Napier,' elicited thun-
ders of applause, while the booming of a salute announced to the
Kurrachee world the interesting moment. His excellency, with his
characteristic promptitude, rase to reply. He commenced by express-
ing some fear that the conviviality in which he had that evening
shared, contrasting as it did no strongly with his prelongedattendance
as aunt In a tack room, would probably impair his ability to reply to
the toast in the manner he could have wished ,• and, while doing this,
made • !highly humouroua allusion to the well-known nuree,which was
Gump. We wish our :Nifty to record the speech which followed
bore the faintest resemblance to that which eharacterind its delivery.
He sketched with a marier's hand the aspect of events at the time be
was called into prominent notice, and detailed the share he had lu
i them subsequently. etdogined the Earl of Ellenborougta, Generals
Nott, Pollf, end Sale; and denounced the emanating policy which
' be found in Scinde—endangering, as it did, the very existence of the
British forth entrusted to his controL Ile attributed ell I:tissue:ens to
, the excellence of that form, and dewed his speech, amidst deafening
plaudits, with the kindest 'glebes fur the future welfare of his cam-
paniono in arms. The hill bands of the 60th and Fuoilicre played
• alternately during the evening, and the whole affair went off with
great spirit and eclat"
Scarcely • line of news has been received from Lahore
during the past three weeks. As might have been expected,
' the enemies of the governor-general's policy in the Punjaub,
have seized on the removal of the Ranee from the capital, as
, a fit subject for censure, and condemn the measure as harsh
. and unjust; and deduce from it the conclusion that the
i young Maharajah will never in reality sit on the throne of
his ancestors. The reasoning of this is curious. We remove
' a woman of notoriously bad principles, in order that she may
' not embue her son with her sentimenta, which if once in-
' stilled into his young mind, would render him a more dan-
gerous neighbour than any of the rulers of the Punjaub
who have preceded him, and ultimately probably lead him
to wage war on us, and thereby compel us to dethrone him
and annex his country to our territory; to prevent the risk
of this. we remove his mother from him, and confine her—
ego, we never intend to allow him to inherit his kingdom!
Were it our wish to keep the young prince from his rights,
what easier than to allow him free access to his mother and
her associates, and by this means render hint so depraved and
vicious, that the cause of humanity as well as self-defence
would imperatively demand his being debarred from ascend
ing the throne of his ancestors on his coming of age, and
• assuming the government of the country ourselves ? The
fact that we desire to instruct him, and instil good principles
into hint during his minority, and thus render him fit to
assume the reins of government on his attaining hie majority
could receive no higher testimony than our banishment of
• the Ranee and her confederates from his presence. A'
mother's influence may be exerted equally for her son's
destruction as his advantage : whether of the two, that
of the Ranee would have brought around is apparent.
At a durbar, held subsequent to the removal of his
• mother, the young Maharajah is said to have re-
viled the Prime Minister, ltajah Tej Singh, as the author of
all the Ranee's misfortunes, on which, as the story goes, the
minister directed his young master to be taken away to the
palace. This has been &inlaid holdof as a prognostication of the
fate which awaits the prince—the dagger or poisoned chalice
will be employed in his removal from his kingdom anal this
world at the same time ! I mention these things tc show the
lengths party spirit even in India, where we are happily in
a great measure nearly devoid of political sections, will induce
public writers to sacrifice the interests of truth, and make as-
sertions and draw conclusions which they themselves in
their private character disbelieve. lam sorry to say Colonel
Lawrence's health has suffered so much that he proceeds to
Eng Land for two years. This step has been recommended
by Lord Ilardinge, who doubtless at once saw the ravages
hard work and anxiety bad made qa the resident's constitu-
tion. He leases India, with his kind and considerate patron,
in January next, and let tut hope his humble merits will not
be overlooked is the general beret of adn:iration and /auda-
lieu which lied Hardinge's Wird amongst; you will KO-

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