The Express.
London, England, 1856-11-15 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

THE EXPEDITION TO THE PERSIAN GULF.

We have received our advice. in anticipation of the
Overland Mail. The dates are:—Calcutta, Oot. 9;
Bombay, 0at.17; Madras, Oct. 16; Ceylon, 0ct.16.
The Bombay Times ot Oot. 17, reporting the events
of the previous fortnight, observes that almost the
only news to communicate is that connected with the
Persian Oult Expedition. The following revised list
of the troops and staff will be found pretty
nearly correct :—Her Majesty's 64th, from Bel-
gaum, and the 2nd Europeans from Hydrabad.
The 4th Rifles from Poona, 20th N. L from
Belgium, the Belooch Battalion from Hydrabad,
and the 3rd Cavalry from Rejkote. Two hundred
sabres of the Poona horse, under Colonel Tapp, from
Seroor, end a like number of Sappers and Miners from
Poona, under Major Hill. Blake's troop of Horse
Artillery from Poona, and Brett's battery from Kur-
.

raches—amounting in all to about five thousand men,
The starting of the force is expected to depend on the
nature of the instructions from home by the mail now
due—this again depending on the reply given by the
Shah to our ultimatum. As none of the troops
have set received marching orders, it will be impos-
sible for the expedition to sail before the middle of
November. The staff is as follows: Gentral Stalker
to command; Colonel Leith, adjutant-general; Capt.
Collier, assistant. Major Pope—thoold he not be
prevented by the Kattiwar inquiries now in progress
—or otherwise Captain Gordon, Lieutenants Grey
and Le Strange (already gone), and Theta will be as
assistants to take charge of the commissariat. The
Quarter-master General's department is under charge
of Capt. Wray and Lieut. Holland (already gone),
—the pay department nceler Major Barr, and Dr.
M'Keuzie is to be at the head of the medical staff.
The force, if not very la-ge, is as compact and
efilcient-looking as need be civsired, and will, we have
no doubt, perform to admiration any task that may
be assigned to it. Once before the walls of Herat,
which we have not the slightest dream of their ever
being, they would disperse a Persian mob of a hun-
dred thousand like chaff before them.

A number of additional ships have within the past
few days been taken op.
The fall of Herat seems at length to be plac2d
beyond all doubt. We are still without particulars,
and the amount of heroism, like that of slaughter, on
either side appears to be marvellously microscopic.
The orders from Downing-street are under-
stood to have been, that our ambassador at
Constantinople should open any communication
received from Teheran, transmitting the substance of
the contents to England by telegraph, and aclieg on
tke orders that might be received in return. These
were to have been forwarded by expren steamer
to Alexandria, so as to overtake the mail. As no
express had arrived at Constantinople at all matters
still remain in doubt, the impression prevalent
from the first gaining ground, that the expedition
will never sail. Meanwhile we learn from
the gulf that the resident at Buehire, Captain
bon, has declined permitting the officers of the
Commissariat and Quartermaster. General's Depart-
ment to land, ash. could not be responsible for their
safety. How was it British officers sent purposely to
make arrangements for the descent of a hostile force
experienced the utmost politeness from the men of
rank of the country we propose to invade P It is the ,
powerlessness of Persia alone that permits the Peron '
to make surveys for the purposes of invasion.
The most profound tranquillity reigns throughout
every part of India.
Our import market wears rather a quiet appanage('
in consequence of the approaching Dewallee holidays,
which commence on the 26th instant. The money
market has been easy, and no alteration has taken
place in the rates of interest ruling at the banks.
Government and other securities are dull of sale, and''.
quotations generally low. Freights have advanced
and command very lair rates, in consequence of more
vessels being required by government for the trans-
port service.