The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-30 00:00:00

INDIA

(From the Times correspondent's letter, dated April 2.)
The most important piece of intelligence that has
reached Bombay from the North-West Frontier
during the past fortnight is the meeting of Sirdar
Gholam Ryder Khan, the son and ambassador of
Dost Mahommed, with Mr. J. Lawrence, the chief
commissioner of the Punjab. Mr. Lawrence reached
Peshawur on the 11th of last month, and waited
there some days for the Sirdar. This unexpected
delay in the arrival of the Affghan Chief gave rise
to various rumours at Peshawur, and it was at last
currently reported that he had been stopped in the
pass by the Khyberees, plundered of the presents he
was bringing down for Mr. Lawrence, and sent back
to Jellalabad, the mountaineers declaring that they
would not permit the Dost to enter into a treaty
with the Feringhee Kafirs. This story obtained
credence the more readily from the known cha-
racter of the Khyberees, and also from the
apprehensions they might naturally be expected
to entertain from the establishment of friendly
relations between neighbours so peculiarly situated
with _regard to thetnselves as the Ameer of
Cabul and the British Government. However
all fears, so far at least as regarded the compulsory
return of the embassy to Affghanistan, were set at
rest by the appearance on the 17th of Ryder Khan
and, his retinue at Hurree Singh's " thanah," or
outpost. This spot is described as being just with-
in
,our boundary, and close to Jumrood, a town
near the eastern end of the Khyber. Captain
Barr's troop of horse artillery were there to meet
him, and fired a salute of 17 guns. Her Majesty's
24th Regiment was also on the ground, and the
Ist Irregular Cavalry went out nearly as far as the
Khyber to escort him in. On the morning of the
19th his interview with Mr. Lawrence took place.
There was a considerable military display, two
Native Infantry Regiments Feing present, in addi-
tion to the troops mentioned above. The Sirdar
is described as an immense man, with a fine black
beard. Re was attended by a large retinue, many
of whom are said to have worn English shakos and
plumes. and other regimentals,. and to have been
riding in dragoon saddles. The result of the con-
ference is not yet known, but every confidence is
placed in the sincerity of the Dost, and. no doubt
is entertained of a favourable result.
Meanwhile the Peshawur frontier continues.
in a very disturbed state. Operations have been
undertaken against the Bussee Khel in revenge for
their murderous attack on Lieutenant Hamilton's
workmen at Bucldebeer. It is not easy to get at
these tribes in their, mountain fastnesses, but on
two occasions some loss has been inflicted on them
in' men and cattle. On the 23d. of February Lieu-
tenant Tyrwhitt, commanding a fort near the
mouth of the Kohat Pass, about 20 miles from
Peshawur, made a spirited dash into the hills with
some 50 of tho 14th Irregular Cavalry and as
many sepoys of the 9th Native Infantry, and,
taking the Bussee Khel by surprise, burnt several
villages and wounded some half-dozen of the
enemy. The alarm soon spreading Mr. Tyr-
whitt retired in good order, the mountaineers,
though far superior in 'number, never daring
to close with him. On another occasion a
foray was made by a small force commanded
by Major Eld, of the 9th Native Infantry, under
the direction of. Captain James, the deputy com-
missioner, which, by lying in ambush all night in a
deep nullah, captured, and returned in triumph
with upwards of 1,000 head of cattle. These skir-
mishings, howeVer, though sufficiently exasperat-
ing to both parties, do little or nothing towards
permanentlyhaebeenassenaquti
blien
edag the
hafwrounrte
,ifrre.
naßwuht ao
ieh
greatfrce
things are expected. It has been placed under the
command of Colonel Craigie, and consists of four
mountain train guns with a company of Artillery,
the 20th Native Infantry, four companies of the
4th, and three of the 9th, and one squadron of the
16th Irregular cavalry.
Major Edwardes was going to Meeranzie with
Brigadier Chamberlain's force at the end of March,
and Captain James was to remain in charge of the
district during his absence. -
In Cashmere the disagreements between Gho-
lab Singh and his nephew, Juwahir Singh, are re-
ported to' have led to several passages of arms be-
tween the parties. Juwahir Singh 'is at 'Lahore for
the purpose it is supposed of consulting the British
authorities.

The' 14th Light Dragoons wero at Mhow, in
Malwa, on the 14th of last month ;.thence to Poona
are 28 marches, so the regiment may be expected
to reach the cantonments at Kirkee by the middle
of this month. They muster about 700 sabres, and
are ready and anxious to follow their comrades of

the 10th and 12th to the Crimea. It is probable
that before despatching them to the seat of war the
stud-bred horses on which the reg;ment is at pre-
sent mounted would be exchanged for Arabs, which
are easily obtainable in this presidency, and, in the
opinion I believe of all officers who have served in
India, are far superior to the country horses as
chargers.
_ _

le writing the above, I have heard of the
arrival of the steam-frigate Ajdaha, from Bushire,
after conveying thither from Suez Mr. Murray, our
new Ambassador to Persia. The news she brings
is important. It is probable that amicable rela-
tions will not much longer be maintained between
the British and the Court of Teheran. The Shah
makes no secret of his preference for analliance with
Russia,, which offers him protection, indemnity, and
aggrandisement, and which, moreover, has a con-
siderable force upon his frontier. Mr. Murray
lingered at Bagdad—having chosen that route
rather than the more exposed one by Ispahan and
Shiraz, which was obstructed by snow—for several
days, hoping to hear of some decided success in
the Crimea with which to counteract the influence
of the very astute diplomatist who represents
Russia at Teheran. Disappointed in this hope, he
quitted Bagdad for the Persian capital a few days,
it is believed, before the Ajdaha left Bushiro.
Meanwhile altercations were daily becoming more
bitter, and the estrangement more complete be-
tween the Shah and our Charge d'Affaires, Mr.
Thomson, and on the day the Ajdaha sailed a ru-,
mour was current—though probably not deserving
of much credit—that the British flag was struck at
Teheran.

Mr. Murray had been received by the Turks
with salutes and other marks of honour. But the
Persian nobleman, who commands the part of the
coast near Bushire, instead of himself meeting. our
ambassador on his landing 'merely sent his son,
with a request that Mr.. Murray would accompany
him to his (the Governor's) tent. This offer was
declined as au intentional slight, of which the
Governor's subsequent intentions have not removed
the effect.

Sir Henry Somerset was sworn in, on the 26th
ult., as Commander-in-chief and second member of
Council, and took his seat accordingly. His Ex-
cellency left for the Hills two days later. The bishop
has also gout) to the Hills, after visiting Kurrachee
and consecrating a church there.
L9rd Elphinstone and staff leave 'forMahablesh-
wur on the 9th.
The Governor-General and Lady Susan Ram-
say 'reached Ootacamund in the liQiighorries on the