The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-18 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 18, 1855.

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

We are now enabled to lay before our readers
extracts from the Indian papers, which reached
Suez on the Ist of May by the Ganges. They
were despatched from Alexandria on the sth by
the Melita, screw-steamer, and from Malta on the
10th by the Thamise to Marseilles.
Up to the sth the Oriental had not been tele-
graphed at Alexandria as having arrived at Suez
with the Calcutta mail, for which the Vectis, to
carry on the overland portion to Marseilles, and
the Euxine, to carry on the heavy portion to
Southampton, were waiting at Alexandria.

(Prom the Overland Bombay Times. Avg 16.)
SUMMARY.—We have had some sharp fighting
around Peshawur. A field force under Colonel
Craigie, consisting of the 4th, 9th, and 20th
Bengal Native Infantry, a mountain train of two
3-pounder guns, and two 12-pounder howitzers,
and a troop of cavalry, proceeded out to Mnsha
Khail, where they arrived on the 7th of March.
On the 19th, orders were issued for the troops to
march at midnight, leaving the camp standing.
About nine miles from camp a halt was made till
laybreak, and at sunrise the force reached the first
ridge of the hills, where a view was obtained of
the valley in which operations were about to be
commenced. A detachment of the 4th Regiment
descended on the ridge to the left, and burned a
village on their way. At the same time the 9th
Regiment descended the ridge on the right, closely
followed by the mountain train and 20th Native
Infantry, the cavalry remaining on the 'heights.
The people now began to retire rapidly, carrying
with them their families and their cattle, and the
advance were soon afterwards engaged with a small
party of hill-men, the conflict being of short dura-
tion. The 4th Regiment having burned a village,
..ejoined the main body, which now penetrated
about a mile and a half into the hills, and here the
enemy were found assembled in force to oppose them.
rhey were posted behind rocks and earthen fences
—an admirable position for giving effect to their
matchlock fire. The mountain train now opened in
support of the infantry, but after the discharge of
a few rounds from tLe guns, the whole force was
ordered to retire, the train covering the retreat,
tnd the troops as they withdrew set fire to the
stacks of wood prepared for the Peshawur market
and such cottages as fell in their way. They
reached camp at half-past four next morning, after
a long and fatiguing march of 30 miles. Our loss
amounted to 9 sepoys killed and 27 wounded ; 19
of the hill-men are said to have been killed. On
the 24th of March the Momunds came down in force
from the hills in front of Mutta to attack the gar-
rison of Abuzai, consisting of two troops of the 10th
Light Cavalry and three companies of the 62d Na-
tive Infantry ; these at once turned out to meet
them, and an action commenced which lasted for
several hours ; the enemy were beaten and com-
pelled to retire. The death of a thief who was
killed at Peshawur in Colonel Brown's compound
is now to be made the subject of legal investiga-
tion, a court-martial having been convened for the
trial of Colonel Brown, by order of the Commander-
in-Chief. On the 30th March a treaty of friend-
ship with the Caboul government was signed by
Sirdar Goolam Haidur Khan, on the part of Ameer
Dost Mahomed Khan, and by Mr. John Lawrence,
chief commissioner of the Punjaub, on the part of
Lord Dalhousie, in full durbar at Peshawur, under
a Royal salute of 21 guns. The treaty was read
out before the assembled British officers and Aff-
elan chiefs in both languages ; and we are thus
enabled to state that it contains three articles ;
by the first of which friendship and peace
are established between the British government
and Dost Mahomed Khan and his heirs ; by
the second, the E Lst India Company engages
to respect the territories now possessed by the
Ameer, and not to interfere therein 2 and by the
third, the Ameer and his heirs undertake not only
to do the same towards us, but to be the friends of
our friends, and the enemies of our enemies. This
result will be received by the public in India and at
home with satisfaction—a wise and dignified for-
giveness of the past, with its mutual errors, and a
timely return to the line of true policy in Central
Asia from which we went so widely astray in 1838.
Opportunities come as seldom to nations as to in-
dividuals. We wasted one, and havebeen fortunate
to find another, and to use it rightly. Sirdar Haidur
Khan was to return towards Caboul on the 31st of
March, and as he has been treated with distin-
guished courtesy and honour, both by the military
and civil a,nthorities, and received very kingly pre-
sents, we doubt not that he has gone back with a
feeling of increased security to his inheritance,
though he has not (as some feared) added to it one
acre yf British territory. There seem to have been
considerable disturbances of late on our Burmese
frontier ; these are things to be looked for for a
long time to come, nor will indeed the country be
wholly quieted until it is all our own. The sank of
Bengal has lowered its rates of interest on loans
and discounts by 1 per cent. A native monster
meeting was held at Madras on the 2d instant,
when it was resolved to forward a petition to Par-
liament, the objects of which are to refute the
denunciation of Sir Charles Wood, that the two
petitions forwarded from the Madras Association
in December, 1852, were a tissue of misrepresenta-
tions and exaggeration ; to point out the deficien-
cies of the India Bill as respects the mode under
which admission to the civil service is in future to
be regulated, so far as the natives are concerned, in
requiring candidates to pass their examination in
England, subjecting those of the community to the
loss of caste as the consequence of their -boyage to
and temporary residence in Europe—to repeat the
request for a public commission of inquiry into the
actual condition of the Madras Presidency, as the
only means by which the Parliament and people of
England can be made fully acquainted with the
state of the people and the extent of the grievances
under which they have heen so long suffering—to
reiterate the prayer contained in the two preceding
petitions for the introduction of constitutional go-
vernment, based on the example of the Crown colony
of Ceylon ; to request that candidates for govern-
ment employ may be examined and passed in this
country through the media of the universities which
have been promised at each of the three presi-
dencies ; to solicit that India may be placed directly
under the government of the Crown ; and seventh,
and last, that the native temples•may be managed
by definite regulations, and rendered subject to
efficient control. Early on the same day a meeting
was held in the College Hall at Madras, on the oc-
casion of the opening of Dr. Hunter's enlarged
" School of Industrial Art." The meeting had been
called with a view to ascertain the interest with
which the public regarded such an undertaking,
and to show the progress that had been made during
the last five years. The school has not only paid
its expenses, but 14,000r5. have been accumulated
during the time it has been in existence. Models,
&a., to the value of 4000r5., have been sent out by
the Court of Directors, and a sum of 6000r5., also
given by that body, has been sent to Genoa,
Florence, Pal is, and Scotland, to procure models,
&c., for the use of the pupils. There were 70 pupils
in the School of Arts and 30 in the Industrial ; but,
owing to the distance, a falling-off was anticipated in
these numbers. The native pupils lad, however,
hired conveyances to bring them to the scene of their
studies, and the society intended to have some light
conveyances, made by the pupils, for the same pur-
pose, which would also be used for the Saturday
excursions, on which occasions geology, photo-
graphy, drawing, botany, &c., would be learned in
conjunction with the students of the Medical Col-
lege. Dr. Hunter suggested the propriety of esta-
blishing a Society of Arts among the gentlemen of
Madras to act in communication with the London
Society ; he had corresponded with that body for
the last two years, and they had strongly urged
the matter, promising in the way of assistance to
interchange models and so forth, and to afford all
the information in their power to advance and per-
fect the working of the project.—We have to cor-
rect an error into which we fell in our last overland
summary, in reference to the Bishop of Bombay
having drawn his thousand rupees per month as
visitation allowances. A modification made under
the authority of Government, states that all the
visitation allowances he has claimed during his
four years term of service is 425 rs.. Though, in
point of fact, the error was very immaterial, he
having just as little claim to his bishop's salary
while he did no episcopal duty as to his visitation
charges, while he never visited, it is very important
to have an official intimation which affords a mea-
sure of the actual work he has performed. He
was entitled to have claimed some 24,000 rs. to
cover his travelling charges, assuming that half the
year was spent in visitation, in place of which all
he has ever drawn is 425 rs., or less than half a
month's allowances, indicating the perfect correct
ness of all the other parts of our statement. We
beg to make a present of this piece of information
to the Chairman of the Board of Control, so that
he may have no excuse, if questioned, for stating
that no official information had reached him on the
subject. That now transmitted is direct from the
Bombay Government, and has appeared as ouch

in all the journals of the presidency.—The Friend
of India, in reference to a late scandalous libel
o
case in the Supreme Court at Calcutta, where
a chaplain of the Hon. C napany's service sued a
young lady for having said that he had attempted
an act of indecent violence upon her, and where the
judgment was for the defendant on the score that
she had established the fact, hopes that the Court
of Directors will dismiss him from their service.
We should have hoped that his reverence might
have been at the door of the Supreme Court by the
proper prosecuting authority, and been brought up
criminally for an assault with attempt to violate,
which could, of course, have been proved by the
same evi lence on which his intended victim was
acquitted. Really these Church scandals amongst
us in India are beginning to grow something pry-
fectly outrageous. It is not yet six months since
we had one of the most shameless cases of adultery
on the part of a clergyman's wife in the Bombay
presidency, while, if we mistake not, within the
year two or three have come to light in the Bengal
diocese. We are not aware of the doings in Ma-
dras. With family scandals such as these every
now and then coming to light, and always such a
frightful difficulty in the way of reaching the delin-
quents, a question is apt to be raised whether it
would not be greatly for the benefit of Christianity,
that we abolish the establishment in India alto-
gether, giving each European regiment a regimental
chaplain, who mightdo service atthe station where
his corps was quartered, leaving the rest of the
community to provide spiritual instruction at their
own charge for themselves. In churches maintained
on the voluntary principle it is always found easy to
turn a transgressor about his business, and when he
ceases to please his people, his church soon becomes
utop
esnu pi
tptohrat
thtihmi;
isOthuer
driereveerteiennd
ifnriwenhdies
too cold to hold him, and his emoluments too small
-nd
hmthaye currentP
of public opinion is at present setting, and that it
rests with themsel,ies whether the drift shall be
rapid or slow ; the Bishop of Bombay has already
knocked 20 years off the existence of the Church
in India. The Supreme Government has ordered
the construction of a hue of telegraph from Mirza-
pore via Jubbulpore, Seeonee, Nagpore, and Hy-
derabad,, to Bellary, connecting the capitals of the
presidencies and the Punjaub. The Prussian tra-
vellers Schlagentweit, who arrived in Bombay in
September, and left in December, have reached
Calcutta, via Madras. The Court of Directors
allowed the most distinguished of the brothers 700
rupees a month and his travelling charges, this not
being an excessive sum. The man who runs the risk
of an Indian climate is entitled to set aside what is
assigned him in the name of salary as something to
take home with him. Mr. Adolphe Schlagentweit,
however, conceived that he might take two bro-
thers along with him to assist him, without ex-
tra charge save that of travelling. On reaching
Calcutta, he found he had misreckoned his esti-
mates, and applied for and obtained from the
Deputy-Governor of Bengal salary and travelling
charges for one of his brothers. The travelling
charges of the party, we should presume, could
scarcely be covered by less than 1,500 rupees a
month, the salaries amounting to as much, and as
this will probably extend over 18 months at least,
the total will amount to close on 6,000/., an expense,
we should suppov, considerably larger than was ex-
pected to be incurred when the expedition was ar-
ranged. The cost of publication of the book em-
bodying the results of these investigations, abound-
ing, and it must needs abound, with drawings,
maps, diagrams, &c., will in all likelihood cost at
least 2,0001. more, and if the work could not have
been as well performed by officers on the spot—as
we are confident it could—it is simply because of
the studious neglect with which men of science
have always been treated by the Court, and, unless
under such distinguished men as Lord William
Bentinck and Lord Dalhousie, by the Govern-
ments of India, general and local. The Governor-
General is on the Neilgherries, and will be soon
joined there by the G,,vernor and Commander-in-
Chief of Madras. Lord Dalhousie's health is such
as to compel him to liYe perfectly secluded. He
lately removed from Ootacamund to Kotagherry,
a.t which pace he will permanently establish his re
sidence in the event of the air there agreeing better
with him than that of the higher station, which it
is likely to do it lie requires a mild climate. Lord
Elphinstone, in company with his friend, the Hon.
W. Elliott, Esq., member of council. Madras, is on
a short visit to Mahabulesh war. The Hon. A. Malot,
Esq., arrived from Calcutta at Bombay on the 6th
inst., a!,d was sworn in the same day as fourth mem-
ber of council. By this steamer Cu!. Rawlinson, po-
litical agent at Bagdad, goes home on 15 mouths'
sick leave. A special meeting of the Bombay branch
, of the Royal Asiatic Society was held immediately
after his arrival at the presidency, to receive him and
to give him an opportunity of presenting the so-
ciety with a brief view of his latest researches in
Mesopotamia. It was the most numerously at-
tended of any whiCh has been held since the forma-
tion of the society, half a century ago, and of a
most important character. They had special re-
ference to the conformity of the historical tablets
and cylinders of Chaldea, Assyria, and Babylonia
with the Hebrew Scriptures from the age of
Abraham to the destruction of Babylon. Colonel
Rawlinson was listened to with breathless attention.
On the motion of Dr. Wilson, honorary president of
the society, its best thanks were conveyed to him by
the patron of the society, Lord Elphinstoue, for his
most interesting communications, and the secretary
was directed to prepare a minute expressive of the
regard which the society cherishes for
its distin-
guished member, whom it congratulated on the un-
paralleled success of his learned investigations.—
Trade is still depressed, and in a very unsatisfactory
state. Freights are steady, and tonnage plentiful.
Exchange is favourable for remitters, but money is
tight and scarce in all quarters.

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
CASUALTIES BY DEATH IN INDIA SINCE THE DEPARTURE
OF THE MAIL ON MARCH 5.
BOMBAY.—Lieut. Gillespie, Adjutant Sappers and
Miner., at Poonab, on the 11th April.
MADRAS.—Capt. C. B. Stevens' 23d Regiment Light
Infantry, at Nagpore, on the 20th April.
QUEEN'S TROOPS.
PROMOTIONS.-32d Foot.—Lieut. Henry D. O'Calla-
ghan to lie captain, by purcha-te, vice Jeffery, who re-
tires, 2cl March, 1855. Ensign John Elmontese to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice O'Callaghan, 22d March,
1555.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE. —9th Lancers.—Lieut. J. G.
Willis, to Calcutta, for two months from date of depar-
ture from Umballa, and to England, for 18 months from
date .f embarkation, on medical certificate, confirmed by
a board of medical officers, of which the inspector-general
of hospitals was president. 32d Foot.—Captain and
Brevet Major E. T. Seward, to Calcutta, for four months
from date of departure from Umballa, and to the Cape of
Good Hope or the Australian c.donies, for two years from
embarkation, on medical certificate, confirmed by a board
of medical officers, of which the inspector general of bos.
pitals was president. 43d Foor.—Lieut. H. R. tbinson,
to England for two years from date of embarkati
48th Foot—Ensigns W. Crozier and W. C. Justice, to
Cashmere (with sanction of Government), from April 15
to 0ct.14, 1855.

REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE BOMBAY
MARKETS, FROM APRIL 2D TO 15TH.
We have had another fortnight of extreme inactivity I
in our import market, and the causes under which it has
so long suffered have in no way been removed. Dealers
have almost entirely absented themselves from the fort,
if we may judge from the few that evtr shew themselves,
and the amount, of business which has changed hands is
particularly small for the time of year, at prices, we re-
gret to say, for most cotton fabrics, again in favour of
the buyers.
COTTON YARN.—The market continues without im-
provement, but prices have been well maintained for
been submitted to on all qualities, without leading to
any extent of sales, only 2,500 pieces having changed
bands ; 52 reed weighing 61b. is at Rs. 2 9 ; 71b., 56
reed, Rs. 31 ; 60 reed, Blb., Rs. 3 13 per piece ; 45-
inch also has been difficult to place, and only one small
sale of 3,000 pieces, weighing 71b., is reported at Rs. 3t
per piece.
BLEACHED AND FANCY GOODS.—The inquiry bag
been a little more general in these, the low prices being
the inducement to buyers, nevertheless a limited busi-
nem has been done. Satin spots have sold at a reduc-
tion of 2 annas per piece, and jacconnet, except middling
quality, which is occasionally inquired for, is very dull.
Twills are much depressed, as are also shirtings ; dyed
madapollams, low boob iuuslins, low lappets, and lappet
scarves are all dull. Bleached and grey dhoties, mulls,
and fine lappets are all in fair inquiry.
GREY SHIRTING.-10-inch have been very heavy to
move, and a further concession of 2 annas per piece has
both mule and water, 40's and 50's ot the former and 20's
of the latter being slightly better in price, but sales
are exceedingly small. The inquiry for dyed orange
and Turkey red is still very languid, and only One
small sale in the former is reported.
EXPORTS.
COTTON WOOL.--Prior to the arrival ot the English
mail the market was very dull and prices on the decline;
but the accounts being looked upon as more favourable,
a reaction has taken place, and considerable activity has
been manifested by shippers' purchases reaching close
upon 10,000 bales, a portion of which are bought to ar-
rive, and prices have consequently recovered themselves.
The news by steamer from China, which arrived almost
simultaneously with the home one, is of a more eheerine,
complexion than for long past ; and though nothing was
.
doing Who stvle et Calm Woks wore bvilig *ad

by shipments to Amoy ; but shippers are acting cau-
tiously, and little is going forward to that quarter. The
new (Top comes down very slow as yet, which assists to
uphold prices.
SHEEP'S WooL.—The market continues very firm,
and some descriptions are higher in value.
HEMP.—The depression noticed in our last is still ap-
parent; and, with no inquiry, prices have further re-
ceded.

OIL-SEEDS. —The news by the mail bas had little effect
upon the market, prices being well maintained for all
descriptions except linseed, wbieh is very dull, and pro-
curable at Rs, per cwt. Teel is held firmly at Re. 23
per candy, there being an active demand by both Euro-
pean and French houses.
PEPPER.—Tne market is very dull, and both Bhutcol
and Tellicherry have decine I in value.
OPIUM—The steamer, on the 4th instant, took 1,870
chests ; and notwithstanding the unfavourable news by
the inward one, hollers of dru,l are asking advanced
prices—viz , Mundlei er, Rs. 870 ; Indore, Rs. 855 per
chest ; but the inquiry is very languid and stocks large
TONNAGE. —Rates of freight are as at our last, the
arrivals from the colonies of some large vessels having
checked any improvement, and to Great Britain, 31. 10s. to
31. 12s. 6d, per ton of 50 cubic feet is the current rate.
Seeds 3/. 155., and oil Si. per tun of 210 imperial gal-
lons.
EXCEIANGIL—Since our last we have little or no alter-
ation to report. The China mail bringing but a small
supply of China drawn credits has kept rates at about
our last closing quota.ions, and the business done may
be quoted 2s. 1 Ad. to 2s. 1 9-16 d. China and first-class
credit, and 2s. lid. to 2.. 11,1. for documents. On Cal-
cutta we quote par at sight, Rs. 98 at 60 days' sight, on
Madras Rs. 98 at 30 days' sight, and on China Rs. 218
at 60 days' sight.

BOMBAY MONEY MARKET-APRIL 14.
EXCHANGE.

On London—At 6 months' sight, per re. 2s. lid. for docu-
ment bills.
At 6 months' sight, per rs. 2s. lid. for credit
bills.
On Calcutta—At 60 days' sight, 981 rs.
At 30 days' sight, 99 rs.
At sight, 100 rs.
On Madras—At 30 days' sight, 98i rs. nominal; at sight,
994 rs. nominal.
On China—At 60 days' sight, 216 rs.

BANS AND OTHER SHARES.
Bank of Bombay Rs. 1000 ... 54 per cent. prem.
Oriental Bank Corporation 250 ... 60 nominal.
Commercial Bank
Mercantile Bank 250 ... 200 paid, 9 die.
London and Eastern Banking
Corporation lOOO ... 500 paid,nominal.
N. W. Bank of India, Re. 400 each—nominal.
Agra Bank 5OO each, 38 per cent. prem.
Bank of Madras l,OOO „ 1,000 9 per cent.
Ap0110 P. Com.
Colaba P. Corn
Hydraulic P. Corn paid up rs. 2,500 6,200
Cotton Spin. Com...
Colaba L. Com.
Born. S. N. Corn.
Or. Ind. P. R. Com 54.8-'9 paid in Bombay, or sg.
pm. in England par.
Do. New Shares paid up, 10-14-7 at 1/. per share—par.
Old and New Shares together at par.

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
Four per Cent. Transfer Loan... Rs. 101,1 per 100 sicca.
Four per Cent. Loan of 1832-33, 92 per 100 sicca.
Ditto ditto 1835-36, 88 to 88A per 100 Co.'s.
Ditto ditto 1842-13, 88 to 881 per luo Co.'s.
New Five per Cent. loan-2 per cent. dis.