The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-17 00:00:00

INDIA.

The following is the letter of a Bombay cones=
pondent

BOI\fI3AY, FEBRUARY 16.

have reached us. Secure within their entrench-
All was well with the force at Bushire up to the
23rd of January, the date of the latest letters that
bleats, but somewhat weary of inaction, the troops
only desired that the oft rep,eeted hithodrs of an
impending attack upon their lines might prove
true. The general health of the army was good
still, With the exception of the 2nd Europeans,
Who continued weakly. The climate was variable,
but close, heat alternating with cold hard winds,
accompanied by clouds of dust, A little rain had
fallen, and was gratefully weleonied. Supplies
were plentiful, and the temper of the people from
whom they were obtained is deberibed as favourable
to the invaders. The fear, however, that we may
not be able to ensure them a continued and lasting
proteetiOn prevents an open declaration in our
favour. General Outram had not yet arrived, but
was anxiously expected.
Here the intelligence brought by the last mail
from England of the easy and satisfactory settle-
ment of the difficulties with Russia, has given rise
to a very general impression that the Persian
quarrel will soon be brought to a clout by the
submission of the enemy. Without assistance
from his powerful neighbour, the Shah, it ie
urged, not only cannot maintain a protracted
struggle, but must give in at once; and that
such assistance will not at present be forthcoMing,
recent events in Europe seena to establish beyond
a doubt. But, to turn from speculations to
certainties, from the conjectures of the dinner-table
and the gossip of the bazaar to the sheds of the
arsenal and the hammers of the dockyard—we find
ample proof that the Government sees no present
reason to suspend operations A second mountain
train battery is ready kr shipment; 'Complete in
every particular; and large quantities of spare
ammunition of all kinds is daily leaving the Gua-
wharf. The Light Battalion has sailed for Bushire
direct. The 23rd has before this been embarked
at Perebuhder, and is on its way up, The
officers named for service in the Irregular Cavalry
corps, under Colonel Jacob, . are ran reporting
themselves to their chief at Kurrachee. At that
station, too, has arrived from Jacobabad, in splen-
did order and 800 strong, the first of the Colonel's
two famous regiments of Scinde Horse, unsur-
passed by any light cavalry in the world. The 14th
Light Dragoons, 300 sabres of the Selithern
Mahratta, and 100 more of the Poonah Horse are
lying at Kiskee and Poonah, awaiting the final
ooders to march, Which will be transmitted to them
when the transports now rapidly fitting are com-
pletely ready for their reception.
On the 28th of Sanuary Dost Mahomed broke
up his camp at Jumrood, and, bidding farewell to
the English. Commissioner, departed for Cabul.
Of the nature and conditions of the assistance to be
rendered to the Ameer by the British Government
nothing is yet known. It is natural that rumours
should exist of an intended advance from Peshawar,
and the Delhi Gazette gives as the latest of its kind
a report that an army of 15,000 men is immediately
to be formed on the north west frontier. On the
other hand, wo are assured that all the Dost
requires from us is money, not men ; that well
supplied with the former he will supply himself
with the latter, and
_that he mistrusts the
effect upon his countrymen of the presence of
armed Europeans in any considerable 'tuna -
hers. However, an English political mis.
sion is once more to be seen in Affghan-
istan. Three officers have by this time,
ia all probability, left Peahawur for Candahar,
to ascertain the position of affairs at that
capital, the prospect of an attack by the Persians
and the movements of the enemy generally upon
the great road leading from Herat to Southern
Affghanistan, by Furrah and Girishk. The men
selected for this delicate and dangerous mission
are Major Lumsden, Lieut. Lumsden, and Dr.
Cox. The first named is commandant of the
corps of Guides on the Affghan frontier; the second,
his brother, has been serving on the staff of the
Peshawar division in the Quartermaster Gene-
ral's department; the third is favourably known
to the frontier tribes in his capacity of a skilful
medical man. Each of the three indeed, I believe,
possesses an intimate acquaintance with the lan-
guage and habits of the people they are about to
visit, and each enjoys a high character for tact and
resolution. There appears to be no doubt that
they will find the Persians approaching Canda-
bar. The inhabitants themselves were, we are
told, fully expecting an attack, deeming the
force stationed by Hyder Khan at Girishk
to check the advance of the enemy quite
insufficient for the purpose. The Dost
is said to have enjoyed his visit, and all went
well till the last feW days of his stay, when an un-
fortunate event occurred to mar the pleasant quiet
of the proceedings. A party of four officers belong-
ing to the Slat Native Infantry, after visiting the
Ameer's camp, rode on into the mouth of the Khyber,
"in defiance of the strict prohibitory orders that had
been issued on the subject. After penetrating some
little way into the terrible pass, they bethought them
of returning, as people were observed to be gather-
ing in their front. They turned their horses heads,
but it was already too late. They had been seen,
and several shots were fired after them, one of
which took effect upon Lieutenant Hand, striking
him in the hack and passing through his body.
The wounded man exclaimed that he was hit, but
managed to retain his seat, as they all gallopped
away for half a mile or so, when he fell in crossing
a deep nullah, and before his friends could pull
up and return to him he had received two severe
sword cuts from unseen assailants. Meanwhile,
the firing had been heard in the Ameer's camp,
where Brigadier Chamberlain chanced to
be visiting. Hearing from the Affghan Chief
that four officers had gone on to the pass, the
Brigadier became alarmed, and at once rode out
in that direction with Mahomod Azeem, a son of
the Dost, and some troopers. Lieutenant Hand
was brought in alive, but died that night. The
three survivors were at once placed under arrest
for disobediehce of orders. Stringent measures
were taken to punish the offending tribe. All
the clansmen that could be found, in Peshawar or
elsewhere, were arrested, and the passes were
closed, that their inaccessible inhabitants might bo
oppressed by a straightness of provisions, if in no
other way.
" Sir Henry Lawrence is appointed Chief Com-
missioner in Oude, his place in Bajpootana being
supplied by Colonel St. George Lawrence, his
brother. Colonel Holland, many ,years
Quarter
Master General of the Bombay army. quits India
by this mail. General orders by the Governor
and the Commander-in Chief record their sense of
this officer's long and valuable services. Major
Phayre, an officer of great experience in the
department, is nominated to act as his successor,
and will probably be confirmed in the appoint-
ment.

IMPORTS.

Cotton Piece Goods : Toe business transacted during the
fortnight has been to a limited extent, in consequence of
the firmness of the generality of holders; but there have
been some satisfactory clearances from s'cond hands. Gray
shirtings, 41b to Mlb, have advanced from one to two annas ;
gray iongcloth, 36in by 40in, and gray T cloth, have also
advanced in prices; gray domestics have undergone-little
alteration ; gray T cloths are in very good demand ;
jaccmets continue firm ; and for madapollarns there exists
a good enquiry.
Bleached and Fancy Goods : Bleached piece goods, from
common to middling, are in good enquiry, and have slightly
advanced in value.
Yarns : The prices continue firm.
Metals : There has been very little al.terieion in prices.
EXPORTS.

Cotton Wool : From the favourable accounts received by

the last English mail, the prices have risen a little. We
quote new Dhollera at 128 r, old 122 r to 23r; new Broach
and iSnrat at 130 r to 132 r ; new Oomrawutty 125 r; new
libandeish 118 r; Compta at 116 r to 118 r; sand Sawginned
at 130 r.

Oil Seeds : The price of linseed has advanced by about
two annas.

Opium : The market hat been dull, and, prices have gone
down to 880 r for Indore, and 890 foF Mundleaeir.