The Express.
London, England, 1857-10-30 00:00:00

PASSAGE OF BRITISH TROOPS THROUGH

EGYPT.

(►IOY • 7I•VELL4 IS TUE EAST.)

ALEXANDRIA, OCT. 20.
We hare had two stirring arrivals here, which
have aroused alike Greek, Musenlman, and Jew.

On the 15th the Peninsular and Oriental steamer
Sultan brought us 14 officers and 235 men of the 4th
and 11th Companies of Royal Engineers en route for
India. On the 16th the excitement was kept up by
a salute fired from a fine 48 gun frigate which
entered this port, and next we saw our gallant
Pioneers, clothed in the garb of peaceable English
husbandman, e., in whits blouses and widcawakee.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's agent of
this place, Mr. Holton, has made such admirable use
of his position to render the transit of troops saves
the desert efficient that he is said to be ready to
undertake to convey comfortably two thousand
English soldiers per month through the Pacha's
sand steppes.
The Pacha does not at all object to English sol-
diers crossing his territory in their uniforms and
accoutrements, but I think government acted very
wiselT in providing our men with white clothing.
allowing them only to carry their great coat, bread
bag, and replenished water bottles—more than this
would unfit men to stand sudden change of climate.
The first batch of soldiers traversed the Desert in
291 hours; the Royal Engineers will have accom-
plished their journey through the Desert in little
more than half the time.
At five o'clock on Sunday evening, the 18th inst.,
Colonel Harness addressed the soldiers in a few,
manly, heartfelt words as to the nature of the ser-
vice rendered by the Pacha to our gracious sovereign
by allowing English troops to traverse his territory,
and expressed the confident hope that no complaint
would be brought against them for violation of
hospitality. The men made mien to cheer their
colonel and the good ship on board of which they
had been so well cared for • but so well disciplined
were they, that they controlled their feelings at first
' bidding; for the colonel said, " Whatever you do,
don't cheer." . . _

Though the men traversing the Desert stop every
six hours for a good repast, they are nevertheless
provided with • day's cooked fresh moat ration,
bread, and a bottle of good drinking water.
Colonel Pocklington, Deputy-Quartermsster-Oe-
neral of Malta, acts here in concert with Mr.
Holton. Both gentlemen have hitherto accompanied
the troops through the Desert, and both are entitled
to • large share of credit for putting their shoulders
to the wheel manfully in despatching our men to the
seat of war.
The Calcutta batch, under Brevet-Major Nicholson,
a much beloved Crimean officer, is accompanied by
Colonel Harness, a fine elderly gentleman of high
attainments and most courteous manners. The
Bombay batch, under Captain Cumberland, is com-
manded by Captain Fenwielt, who has stood the
brunt of many a battle in the Kaffir war.
It must be a severe blow to parent, brother, or
sister, to bid adieu to officers of this stamp; but, bad
I a son, I would bid him God speed to enrol with
mach men, who strive to be equal to the emergencies
of their time.

The friends and relations of the Royal Engineers
in England will be glad to learn from tho accompa-
nying document that their journey up to this place
was a source of great pleasure.
13.8. WORN Oct. 14,1967.

Via the undemigned racers of Royal EagMars, cosayed
from Southampton to klexambsia by the Pimbenisr sad Ori-
ental stears.ship, Sultan, amnia ye ell Ikea Ceptsla Ken
Cook sod his Meows without cagestaladag them es the
extremely plomaat m.n.er la whitit the duties of the ship
bmp amnia at, std a the sant. time spunkily thank-
, Mg thus km theta common couideration of our ornstost.

w.. lozpwl N. Cook iota his offices tor
o salsonsly *mod voyogoksiodigooyfai sass," 11101 g
cordially via *boos ovary kovisalks tad
(Biped) Hi D. Rsrass, Loodsaird.Oskook X..
!NMlk; Cope* R.Z. ; Lothian Ifiebolsoo. llreset-
M441;14- 1-. C. Rayon', Sod-Runge= ;C. 0. Camber
load, Csidoia. ; P. It Ikrokbley, Llsatoonst, R.E. ;
Mons?, Liokikossik, R.I. ; C. E. Wynn% Lisolsoont,
R.N. ;D. C. Walks', Lisatoctud, R.E. ; J. P. Padenoo,
Lkatorst, B S.