The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-15 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

INDIA, CHINA, AND
AUSTRALIA.

We have received our letters and despatches in
anticipation of the Overland Mail. Our Bombay
correspondent writes as follows :

BOMBAY, Jutv 2.

The Governor at Dapoorie, and the Commander-
in-Chief at Poona, have been heard of but little of
late. The Chief of Dhar was formally received at a
grand durbar at Government-house on the 14th, and
Lord Falkland returned the visit on the 18th. On
both occasions a great deal of gunpowder was ex-
ploded and ceremony gone through betwixt the two
rulers, and guards of honour were as a matter of
course in attendance both at Dapoorie and at the
Rajah's camp. The Governor is said to have treated
Mr. Le Geyt, the agent for Sirdars in the Deccan,
rather cavalierly, but this many disbelieve, for his
lordship would, I fancy, be the last man in the world
to do anything tending to lower any servant of
government in the eyes of those beneath him by
slighting him in their presence, however ready he
may be to do them a far greater injury by removing
them from their appointments without rhyme or
reason. His lordship and family continue in good
health : whether he is now as often so full of spirits
as he was • once represented to be I have
not heard. The Commander-in-Chief continues
to improve daily, and but for the wetness
of the weather would I dare say have often been
present on the drill-ground. Great complaints are
being made of the unceasing round of drill now being
carried on, and the recent order for the men to mount
guard in their knapsacks. The drill parties are hard at
it, and it is expected that by the end of the mon-
soon every man of them will be fit to fill the post
of drill-sergeant. The military college and normal
school are well attended, and probably the results of
Mr. Scrivener's labours will prove infinitely moread-
vantegeous to the state than those of Captain Gilley
—to the morale of the European soldiery there can
be no question but they will. Hundreds and hun-
dreds of men may now be seen slate or book in hand,
where before their numbers might almost be repre-
sented by a cypher. As a matter of course the can-
teens and guard-houses are in a great measure
deserted, at any rate during the day time. Major
Foley, the Governor's Military Secretary, has been
appointed private secretary, in room of the Hon.
Captain Carey, who is, it seems, going home by this
evening's steamer and Captain Henry, A.D.C., has
succeeded him, the gallant captain's brother taking
his place on the staff. These Henrys must have been
born with silver spoons in their mouths surely, and
must be endowed with an immense amount of
shrewdness and natural talent—their proficiency in
the art of pleasing seems to be universally admitted
and admired! The Rajah of Dhar comes down to
Bombay to see what is to be seen in the land of
Ducks, especially the railway and the steam factory
in the dockyard. He is said to be a shrewd, well-
informed man, anxious to gain knowledge wherever
he can ; let him but come to Bombay and he will find
many as anxious to impart as he is to imbibe infor-
mation. The Hon. Mr. Bell has been again very un-
well, and is about, it is affirmed, to proceed to the
Cape and Australia for change. Mr. W. Simeon, the
mint master, is also very unwell : he has denied the
truth of the charges made against him by a couple of
writers in the Telegraph, and demanded the names of
his maligners in order to be enabled to prosecute
them before the Supreme Court for libel.
A strange report of the death of M. Le Geyt some-
how or other got into circulation some fortnight
since, there being not the shadow of a shade of
foundation for the allegation. Mr. H. W. Reeves
has been appointed acting sub-treasurer and general
paymaster at the presidency. The death of Mr.
Rivett has given promotion to Mr. Thornton, now
away at the Cape on sick leave. Mr. Oliver has
been confirmed as third magistrate, and is to act as
junior magistrate till Mr. l'hornton's return. Mr.
Leeke has been appointed actin third magis-
trate, and been succeeded in the shrievalty by Mr.
Leggett, who for such a number of years was deputy
sheriff, and in reality performed the whole of the
duties of sheriff, while others received the emoluments
of the office. The advancement of Mr. Leggett to
the shrievalty has given universal satisfaction,
while Mr. Leeke's elevation to the magisterial
bench has been anything but applauded, ex-
cept by his personal friends and acquain-
tances, although ho is represented and be-
lieved by most people to be a very intelligent
and industrious young gentleman. But somehow we
Bombayites do not relish the idea of a good berth
being conferred on a griffin, while there are dozens of

old qualified residents amongst us who are overlooked
for no other reason than that they have not interest
sufficient at head quarters to secure them their deserts.
Another shipwreck, attended with fearful loss of life,
b.s recently (the 21st or 22nd ult.) ozeurred on the
coast, a short distance from the mouth uf the har-
bour, no fewer than 300 pilgrims having met with a
watery grave on the occasion.
Colonel G. Duff, 16th N. 1., has invalided, which
gives promotion to Major Melvin, of the ith
and :he senior of each grade in that corps. Major
Wil.on, of the 26th, has retired from the service. Mr.
Atkinson has been confirmed in the appointment of
first assistant to the Master-Attendant, consequent
on Mr. IL Leeke's elevation to the magisterial
bench. The liumbay (uarter!y .4/ogaziae and Review
has, after reaching its twelfth number, been discon-
tinued—for want of support I presume. It was a
high church periodical, and extremely intolerant in
i's principles. A new publication is to be got np at
taivut a I hear—to which the editor (the Rev. -Mr.
Anderson, of Bombay) of the Quarteny just discon-
tiuued will largely centribute.
The Goveroor of Dieu, the most illustrious Joao
Maria Petra, die d on the evening of Thursday last
at Colaba, ard was interred yesterday evening to the
cathedral church at Mazagon. All officers off duty
were requee'ed to attend his funeral, and 13 minute
guns were fired as the procession passed the saluting
battery at the Apollo pier. The deceased had come
to Bombay for change of air, when the monsoon set
in, and he could not get back to the seat of his
government. The Bombay bank has declared a
dividend at the rate of six per cent. per annum.
Duriteg June 1,166 deaths occurred in Bombay, of
which 21 w. IC from amongst the European commu-
nity. The lion. Mr. Bell is at death's door: he has
resigned the service, which will bring Mr. John
Warden into council, and confirm Mr. Remington as
a Judge Sudder Adawlut. Colonel Aplin, 56th
foot, is very unwell at Poona. 53,900 rm. and odd
(5,31•00 are still required to finish the " St. John's
Monumental Church, Coles," which has now been
several years in course of erection, but seems destined
never to be finished. Bank shares are quoted—
Oriental, 99; Commercial, 291; Agra, 50 per cent.
prem. Railway shares, 221 prem. per share. The
harbour is full of ships, and freights are at 31. kit
London, and 2/. 15s. for Liverpool. The weather
has born tolerably fine for the past week. The total
uf rain up to to-day reaches 40 inches. Lieut.
M. Haig, 24th Bengal Native Infantry, of the Quar-
t. rmatter-General's department, who left Bombay
for Australia sick some time ago, died on the t4th of
May on board the Ararat shortly after quitting
Singapore.