The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-07 00:00:00

THE SUN➢

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The quietness of the holi-
days is succeeded, iu this the first market-day of the
new year, by s.iine inert ase of business ; and the
steadiness which then generally prevailed in prices is
certainly not diminished in any department, whilst in
many articles, we have rather more of firmness, and in
some a slight upward tendency. For India, qualities of
40's, 50's, and 60's twist, which have latterly betrayed a
little additional weakness, there arose an unexpected
demand in the course of this morning; a fair amount
of business was done; and the spinners are now
scarcely disposed to sell at the previous quotations.
The better sorts of 40's have also been in request;
and bundles of this count, in both kinds, have
gained id. per lb., some spinniugs id. In con-
sequence of a somewhat augmented inquiry, the
bias in 20's and 30's reeled water twist is in favour of
preducers, who are mostly under contract; and this
is likewise the case with some numbers of warps
for the home and foreign markets. Pin-cops
and other yarns remain steady. For the better
classes of printing cloths and 40-inch shirtings
a slight advance might be obtained, if the makers
were not too much under engagements to be able to
take orders. Domestics, I's, and long cloths are steady;
light printers, madapollams, and shirtings, are still
inanimate, but without change in value. The accounts
of business at the Leipsic fair are not very favourable.
'rho dealers ia and the consumers of yarns, however, are
evidently supplied in the barest possible manner.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—We have had very little doing
either in the piece or wool market to-day. Indeed, the
markets between Christmas-day and the new market are
always thinly attended, and a very limited amount of
business is generally transacted.

DIACCLE,FIELD. TUESDAY.—Our annual holidays hay-
ing intervened during the last week, we have little pro-
gress to report amongst the manufacturers. Much
complaint is still expressed at the low prices offered for
goods, which are in some instances below what they
actually cost; but as stocks are only light we think an
improvement must take place ere long. The year
just passed has been one of almost uninterrupted disap-
pointment in this respect, from a variety of causes ; but
there are now evident indications that the worst has
been passed, for with raw bilk at a moderate rate—
say 10 to 123- per cent. below the prices of last
January—an easy state of the money market, and
the general healthy state of the country, added to the
very improved appearances of things in France, we
think there are the elements for a good trade amongst
our manufacturers for the year we have just entered
upon. Thrown silks continue in request, the conti-
nental markets absorbing surplus stock. Letters from
Lyons of Ist current report a very large business
doing, upwards of 3,000 bales (being the largest ever
recorded) having passed the condition during the
moth of December. Prices are reported to have ad-
vanced fully 15 per cent., diminished stocks favouring
the expectation of a further rise. Such being the case,
and our home consumption progessing favourably, it is
not improbable that an advance in prices for throwns
will be obtained here shortly. Raw Silks—There is an
active business still doing, the demand being chiefly di-
rected to the medium qualities of Chinas and the best
filature Bengals: the latter have been much sought after,
and le. per lb. is now established on them. The great
rise in the prices of Italians, which in some instances
amount to 31. per lb. will no doubt tempt our manufac-
turers to avail themselves of the use of this silk.

HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY. With the first market
in the new year we have to report an improvement.
There has been a better demand for goods of a higher
class for the home trade. Black doeskins and mixtures
have been inquired for. The shippers have done a little
during the week, but are expecting to be busy shortly
with American orders. In the wool market there has
been more demand, especially for wools of a combing
quality. Generally, every hope is held out for a good
trade this season; and there being an improvement in
the first market in the new year augurs well.
HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—AIthough the attendance in
our piece-ball to-day has not been large, and the amount
of business tdone not extensive, yet there has been a
better inquiry for damasks and amens; and the general
tone of feeling is more cheerful. The demand for yarn
is improving, and the recent advance is firmly main-
tained. Wool is quiet, at the late quotations.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.

Mr. Davies, the Master-Attendant of the Royal Cla-
rence Victualling Establishment, Gosport, to-day superin-
tended the completion of the fitting of Grant's improved
cooking galley on board the Simoom iron troop steam-
ship, which is now coaling for a good trial. This galley
cooks and distils (one gallon of fresh aerated water
from salt water per minute) for 1,000 men. Such an
acquisition for ships of war, whether steam or sailing
vessels, cannot be too highly estimated.
The Diligence naval transport sailed to-day with
dockyard stores for Devonport.
DEVONPORT, JAN. 5.--Nlegvara screw steam-troop-
ship, Master-Commander Barlow, put into the Sound at
eleven A. 31. this day, having on board troops for the
Cape of Good Hope. She has some defects to be made
good, and will be supplied with 100 tons of coals to fill
up her complement. She is expected to come into har-
bour to morrow to have her detects made good.

ANNUAL COAST-GUARD PROMOTIONS.

Commander W. B. Oliver to the rank of Captain.
Lttlitenants W. J. Scudamore, Chestney, Simmons
and Thomas Brewer to the rank of commander.

APPOINTMENTS.

WOOLWICH, JAN. 6.—Mate—lrvine A. Cary (1851)
to the Rapid, 8, brig, at I)evonport, under orders for the
East Indies station.

Assistant-Engineer F. J. De Vaux, to the Fury steam-
vessel, at Woolwich.

The Fury steam•vessol, Commander Edward Ta-
tham, will be detained at Woolwich until Thursday to
have alterations made connected with her telescopic
s team-funnel.

THE MASTER ENGINEERS AND THE
AMALGAMATED SOCIETY.
But small progress has as 3et been made towards the
amicable and satisfactory settlement of the question at
issue, which is so essential to the interests of both masters
and men, and which would bo so agreeable to the public.
It has been intimated that the executive of the Amalga-
mated Society had determined to appoint a deputation of
the body to wait upon the Masters' Association, should
they express any desire to receive them. On the same
day, the men, not content with the barren declaratio❑
that they would send a deputation, if it should be wished,
communicated the intention at which they arrived to Mr.
Sidney Smith in the following terms:—
" Little Alie-street, Jan. 5, 1852.
"Sir,—The public newspapers having stated that the
executive committee of the Employers' Association were
desirous of seeing a deputation of the workmen, the
executive council of the Amalgamated Society beg to say
that if the committee of employers are desirous of seeing
us, we hold ourselves in readiness to wait on them in re-
latio❑ to the question now in dispute.
(Signed) " Wm. ALLAN, Secretary.
" To Sidney Smith, Esq."
To that communication the following reply was re-
ceived the same evening:—

" 60, Backlorsbury. Jan. 5.
" Sir,—l have received from you a letter of this date,
which will be laid before the executive committee of this
association at their ordinary meeting tomorrow, at two
o'clock. " I am, Sir,
(Signed) " S. Surrrt.
" To Mr. W. W. Allan."
cwatriltde:
At two o'clock yesterday a meeting of the executive
omr dmhie
dwiohsfceunessmiveid.
employers referred
s Allan's
m to by Mr. Smith
wasa
e e tmeeting letter
wwa3a s a brought
private fo
one.r-
It sat from two o'clock until six, but no conclusion
was arrived at with respect to the offer of the Amal-
gamated Up to eleven o'clock last night the
Amalgamated Society
ociety had received no further reply to
their offer than the formal acknowledgment of their
letter above quoted. Among the employers present at
the meeting were—Mr. May (Ransom and May, Ips-
wich), Mr. J. Scott Russell (Robinson and Russell), Mr.
Maudslay (Maudslay and Field), Mr. Blytb, and Mr.
Sharp, of Manchester.
Last night the executive council of the Amalgamated
Society hed a meeting, in Little Alie-street. This also
was a private meeting. Some dissappointment was ex-
pressed
r, Association,ss,edsat not receiving
ife
inegarEnieg them communicationem of h
fromte
resulttheE ofm-
their meeting at two'clock.
The latest intelligence last night was, that a number
of trades, representing 2,000 men, had offered to support
the society, to the extent of ss. per man.
A

lIANDONMENT OF THE EAST KENT AND MAID-
STONE SCHEME OF RAILWAY.—The promoters of the project
t° Supply a more direct railway comemsmunication
co with East
Kent d Maidstone have felt themselvescompelled to
abandonan the attempt to procure the Bill during the ensuing
session. It is stated that only 5,000 shares of 251. were
required to be taken in the district, to induce capitalists to
have not bee the remaining 25,000 shares; yet even that number
en taken. We are informed, however, that the
another to carry their plans in the session of 1853.
BOAT RACE FOR. THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE
THAmEs.—A match was made on Monday night between
Robert Coombes, the well-known champion and Thomas Cole, of Chelsea, who aspires to that title.
of the Thames,
The race is to be for 2001. a side, and is to take place on the
26thrtlakeof May next, over the usual course, from Putney to
Mo.

uneforoner's
Monday morn-
gAatcoortunate man Illan-
seirntion of his
water,
hiscerp is com-
mittal, SUIEIDE IN NENvGATE.
ainndqutheusts
was held yesterday on the body of the
Wigan who committed suicide in New
in g, by plunging his head in a bucket olfld
drowning himself. It appeared that the
friends, none of whom had called to see hint
mittal, had produced a depressing effect upon
effect of which was aggravated by the fact that he iliani:(ll, the
in the habit of drinking, and was suddenly deprived olf),ehein,
usual stimulant. The verdict was " Temporary insanity. 4—

MERCIES OF THE CZAR.—Karasinski, who
been condemned to 20 years' hard labour in Siberia for a po-
inter-
cessionliticaloof offence, n
thece ,
Princeb as had o
fhli
vs sentencearsas,
but
commuted on
he
is to remain all his
life in that country.
The mercantile advices from Vienna of the 2d inst.
the
describe a continued improvement in the stock and money
market. The premium on gold is now 26 i per cent., and
on silver, 191/2. A statement just issued of the total paper
circulation at the end of November was, however, considered
unfavourable. The bank-notes still amounted to a sum ex-
ceeding 22,000,000/. sterling, those of the Government to
18,000,000/., and the Mint assignats to about 2,000,0007.,
making an aggregate of more than 42,000,0001.
WnoLEsALE SMASIIERS.—Cornelius Leary and
Patrick Leary were detected on Saturday last in attempting
to pass base coin to Mr. Parkins, of the George Inn, Eton.
On their persons were found 100 half-crowns, 20 shillings, a
half-sovereign, and two sixpences, all counterfeit. They had
also about 15/. in good money, which no doubt had been ob-
tained for their base coin. The prisoners were fully coth-
Elated to Aylesbury for trial.

LONDON,

DESTRUCTION OF THE ST EAM-
SHIP AMAZON BY FIRE.

LOSS OF ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY
FOUR LIVES.

PLYMOUTH, JAN. 6 —lt becomes our painful duty
to report the particulars of a most appalling accident.
The new Royal Mail steatn-ship Amazon, Captain
Symons, which left Southampton on Friday for the
West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico, has been totally
consumed by fire, and of 153 persons who were on
board her when she left it is feared only 21 have been
saved.
The Amazon left Southampton at half-past three
o'clock on Friday afternoon, and in the Channel ex•
perienced strong head winds and rain. At a quarter
before one on Sunday morning, when the ship was
about 110 miles south-west of Scilly, a fire
broke out suddenly, forward on the starboard side,
between the steam chest and the under part
of the galley, and shortly after the flames
rushed up the gangway which is in front of the
forencoit funnel. The alarm bell was rung, and
Captain Symons rushed on deck in his shirt and
trousers. Wet swabs and other loose things were
placed on the gratings of the spar deck hatch, and a
hose was brought to play on the main deck, but
quickly abandoned in consequence of the excessive
heat. The deck pump was also kept at work until
the men were forced to retire. The wind was blow-
ing half a gale from south-west, and the vessel was
going 8i knots, which was her average rate from the
time of departure. Captain Symons ordered some
hay, between the engine-room crank gratings, to be
thrown overboard ; two trusses were hove over the
ship's side, but the fire soon ignited the main body,
the hencoops on each side, and the paddleboxes, the
men were obliged to abandon the deck, and those who
could leave were all finally driven from the ship.
Many were burnt in their berths, others suffocated,
and a great number were drowned in the lowering of
the boats.
This account was brought into port this morning by

the brig Marsden, Captain Evans, of London, rrorn
Cardiff, with iron, for South Carolina, which picked
up from the lifeboat the followirg persons —viz., Mr.
R. Neilson, for Demerara ; Mr. T. Sisely, for
Chagres; John Hawke, second class passenger, Vera
Cruz; Mr. -Vincent, jun., midshipman; James
'Williamson, chief steward; Mr. John Dunford,

quartermaster ; W. Foster, AB. ; Thomas Carney,
AB. ; James Maylin, AB. ; James Mowatt, AB. ;
William Steers, AB.; J. H. Passmore, AB.; H.
Williams, AB. , William Stevenson, AB.; John
Nerink, AB.; William Nutman, water tender;
James White, fireman ; John Shearing, fireman ;
Charles Thorn, fireman ; W. Dummer, George King,
Coulterman.
Mr. Neilson and Mr. Vincent, proceed by train
to-day to London, and the crew will be forwarded
to the Sailors' Home, Well-street, by the Ship-
wrecked Mariners' Society.
Since the foregoing account reached us the secre-
tary of the company has informed us that the crew
and engine people on board the Amazon were about
112 in number, and that there were 60 passengers on
board. He has also supplied us with the following
list of the ship's officers, who are missing :—Captain
Symons; Mr. Roberts, chief officer; Mr. Treweeke,
second officer; Mr. Lewis' third officer; Mr. Good-
ridge, fourth officer ; Mr. Stuart, midshipman ; Mr.
Stainforth, midshipman ; Mr. Angus, chief engineer;
Mr. Angus, jun., second engineer.
Mr. Vincent (son of Captain Vincent, of the Se-
vern), the midshipman in the Amazon, who was
saved, has been so good as to furnish us with the fol-

lowing narrative :J-.
" We left Southampton with the West Indian and
Mexican mails on board on Friday, the 2d instant. On
the 3d, at noon, we were in latitude 49.12 north, longi-
tude 4.57 west, steering west by south half-south, with
an increasing fresh breeze. At 030 P.M. we stopped
with half bearings. At 11.20 we proceeded, wind still
increasing. At about twenty minutes to one on Sun-
day morning fire was observed bursting through the
hatchway foreside of the fore funnel. Every possible
exertion was made to put out the fire, but all was in-
effectual. The mail boat was lowered with twenty or
twenty•five persons in it, but was immediately swamped
and went astern, the people clinging to one another.
They were all lost. The pinnace was next lowered, but
she hung by the fore tackle, and being swamped the
people were all washed out of her. In lowering the
second cutter the sea raised her and unhooked the fore
tackle, so that she fell down perpendicularly, and all but
two of the persons in her were washed out.
"Captain Symons was all this time 'using his utmost
exertions to save his passengers and crew. Sixteen men,
including two passengers, succeeded in lowering the life
boat, and about the same time, I (Mr. Vincent), with
two men, the steward and a passenger. got into and
lowered the dingy. In about half an hour the life-boat
took the dingy's people into her, and bore down for the
ship with the dingy in tow, but the sea increasing, and
being nearly swamped, they were obliged to cast the
dingy off and bring the boat head to sea. The masts
went—first the foremast, and then the mizenmast.
" About this time a barque passed astern of the life-
boat; we hailed her with our united twenty-one voices,
and thought she answered us, but she wore and stood
under the stern of the burning vessel, and immediately

hauled her wind and stood away again.
" The gig with five hands was at this time some little
way from us, but the sea was running so high we could
reader her no assistance, and shortly afterwards lost
sight of her.
" About 4 A.M. (Sunday) it was raining heavily, and
the wind shifted to the northward; sea confused, but
dereasiag; put the boat before the sea. At five o'clock
the ship's magazine exploded, and about half au hour
afterwards the funnels went over the sides and she sunk.
At noon we were picked up by the Marsden, of London,
Captain Evans, by whom we were treated in the kindest
manner possible.

We were picked up in let. 48.5 N., long. 5.30 W.;
wind N. to N.E. The captain stood in to the coast of
France, but the wind shifting to the southward he bore
up for Plymouth, where we arrived at 10.50 a.br. on the
sth, and were most hospitably and kindly received by
the landlord of the Globe Hotel."

Mr. Neilson, one of the only two passengers saved,
has sent the following communication :

"I have to report the total loss of the West Indian
Mail steam-packet Amazon on Saturday night, the 3d
inst, off the Bay of Biscay.
" At 12.40 the fire broke out. In less than 10 minutes
it was bursting up the fore and main hatchways. Out of
156 people on board only 21 are, I believe, saved, for I
was on the last boat that left the ship, and one of the two
last men who got in after lowering her, by springing
from the ship's side and sliding down the tackle fall. The
fire caught the other man a❑d burnt the hair off his face
before be sprang off.

" We were picked up the next day by the brig Marsden,
Captain Evans, who treated us with the greatest kind-
ness and attention, and lauded us about one this morning.
We wore received at the Globe by Mr. Radmore with the
greatest kindness."

The Royal Mail steam-ship Amazon, Captain Symons'
took her departure on the 2d January with the usual
mails for the British and Foreign West Indies (excepting
Havannah and Honduras), the Gulf of Mexico, Spanish
Main, &c., in charge of Lieutenant Brady, R.N., Admi-
ralty agent. She took out fifty passengers, a large and
valuable cargo, specie value 20,3001. sterling, and 500
bottles of quicksilver, value 5,1501. sterling, for mining
operations in Mexico.
The sailing of the Amazon on her first voyage to the
West Indies, as the pioneer of the new series of steam-
ships intended for this important mail service, excited
considerable interest. Several directors of the company
went down to witness the event, and there were present
—Captain Mangles, Mr. Masterman, M.P., Captain
Nelson (one of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity
Board), directors of the company; Captain Chappell,
R.N., the secretary and joint manager; Captain Barton,
R.N., the superintendent at Southampton; Mr. George
Mills, the company's engineer-in-chief ; Lieutenant
A. Austen, R.N., and other gentlemen interested in
steam navigation. Precisely at three o'clock (the mails
puta
and
d o
mn
abjoeas rt
ide)a
ltyh e
muenvfeodr t ud no awtne vestheselriver
vgeort,
having been
under weigh,
amid hearty cheers from the party who had proceeded
from the shore in a small steam tender to witness her
departure—little an ticipating how soon their rejoicings
deeply
yd
on board laden, yet
in
would be changedinto lamentations. The draught of
water of the Amazon was 21 ft. 7 in. both forward and
aft. g
eSdh e
trim
andw
tihtheraenforeev,ehalitlheoeul.ghsdheee
1,133 tons of coal, besides a full cargo and a full com-
plement of water, stores, and provisions of, every kind. It
was hoped she would make a run out to St. Thomas's of
under 14 days. The distance from Southampton to St.
Thomas's is 3,622 miles.
The Amazon was to commence the new direct line of
steam-ships intended to run fortnighly between Sonth.
ampton and Chagres, touching at St. Thomas's, while
several lines of branch packets for the accommoda-
tion of the West India islands, the Gulf of Mexico, &c.,
were to run from the island of St. Thomas to the vari-
ous ports and islands embraced in the new scheme of
the West India Mail Packet Company, and sanctioned
by the Lords of the Admiralty. By means of the main
trunk line, the course of which is a perfectly straight
route from Southampton to Chagres, a great steam ferry
is in point of fact established between Europe and the
Isthmus of Panama. It is to be hoped that this sad oc-
currence will not retard this accomplishment of this de-
sirable enterprise.

FORTUNATE CLERICAL FAMILY.
(FROM A CORREFPONDENT.?,
Verily the Dales are a " happy family, so far as the
good things of the Church are concerned. The other
day we announced the death of the Rey. James Soll
Hutchins, M.A., Rector of St. Alphage, London-wall,
and Afternoon Lecturer of the united parishes of St.
Anne and St. Agnes, with St. John Z2ebary, Alder!.
gate, aged 71. It appears that deceased was also Li-
brarian of Sion College. It was rumoured yesterday
that the eldest son of the Rev. Canon Dale (who
already has the Rectory of St. Vcdast, Foster-lane),
was to succeed the deceased in the Rectory of St.
Alphage, and also in the Librarianship of Sion College.
—Advertiser.

THE MURDER OP AIR. 13ATESON.—The Newry
Telegraph states that a man arrested by the Collon police,
charged with the murder of the late Mr. Bateson, has turned
approver, admitting not only his complicity in the case of that
barbarous atrocity, but also his being a party to the murder
of Owen M‘lategart. This person `vas conveyed to Dublin
Castle by the police on Sunday-.

WEDNESDAY

TEE KAFIR WAR.

PLYA MOUTH, TUESDAY.
The Harbinger, Captain Lai te, with the mails from
the Cape, Sierra Leone, and St. Vincent, arrived
this morning, having left the Cape on the 2d De•.
caliber, Sierra Leone on the 17th, and St. Vincent
on the 23d.

She has a general cargo, and the following pas-
sengers :—Commissiary-Genered Miller, Lieutenant-
Cole, Mr. Prince and son, .Mr. Roberts, Mr. Pen-
wick, and Mr. Rothery. The Lady of Lieutenant-
Colonel Cole died on her passage, and was buried at
St. Vincent.

The news by this arrival is of the same disastrous
nature—the faithlesslness of the local corps adding
much to the difficulties of the war. On the 6th No-
vember 62 went over in a body to the enemy, and
from among these men, it is suspected, a shot was
fired which has deprived the country of a brave and
zealous officer, Colonel Fordyce, of the 74.11. He
expired within a few moments after receiving the
shot—his last words were, " Oh, my poor regiment."
In this fight Lieut. Carey, of the 74'h, Lieut.
Gordon, 74th, Lieut. Ricketts, 94th, and Lieut. De-
venish, of the Beaufort Levy, also fell, or were eo
severely wounded as to speedily result in death.
The Governor, Sir Harry Smith, was at King
William's Town, suffering from ill health, the effect,
it is said, of the harassing nature of his duties.
Port Elizabeth had suffered from a fearful storm.
A great deal of damage had been sustained.
The Harbinger has made altogether for her first
trip a most satisfactory passage. In the run home
she did the distance from the Cape to St. Vincent's in
nineteen days and six hours, occupying less time than
any previous vessel. Prom St. Vincent's she encoun-
tered strong N.E. winds and heavy seas until within a
day's sail of Plymouth, when with a S.W. wind she
averaged for 24 successive hours a speed of 11 knots
an hour, and in the course of that time attained a
maximum speed of 13 knots.
At St. Vincent's the Harbinger saw the Royal
Mail Company's steamer Severn. She arrived on the
morning of the 23d December, and sailed the same
evening for the Brazils, all well.
The fever at St. Vincent's was not so fatal as it
had bean, but the island was still very sickly. The
Harbinger had very great difficulty in procuring
fuel; no labourers could be found to do the work.
Several merchant vessels :were in the bay with sick
crews ; many had gone to sea with only the master
and mate and a couple of boys on board.
Commodore Wyvill, in her Majesty's ship Castor,
remained in i Simon's Bay, all well ; her Majesty's
ship Grecian, 12, Commander the lion. D. Keane,
arrived Nov. 24, from Rio and England; her Majes-
ty's steam-sloop Styx, Commander Hall, bad sailed
for Buffalo Mouth, with levies and horses. A store-
gland, was at Simon's
Bshaiyp.vdltlherprAolvaijseiostnys'sfrsocmrewEtnroop-ship Vulcan, Mas-
ter-Commander Penn, had not arrived at the Cape
with the 43d Regiment. She was left by the
Harbinger at Sierra Leone, on the way out, on the
6th—she was then coaling, and was to sail on the 7th
of November.

(From the Cape Town Maio
MONTHLY SUMMARY.
and Hottentots, who, under
Our summary of last month terminated with an ac-
count of the apparent success of Major-GeneralWaterkloof.
The Somer-
set's theloaprgereatihoendsyageafinKstefiren
enemy
lltentots a
the chief Maeomo, occupied that stronghold, had, it was
supposed, been defeated at all points, and driven east-
ward into the Amatolas. A " general order" of the
Commander-in-Chief announced this successful result in
glowing and very laudatory terms. Some of the enemy,
however, were supposed to be still lurking in the fast-
nesses from which the main body was believed to have
been driven. For the purpose of expelling these scat-
hteirsedv
dibiasinedhs,aGgaeie uponneralStohmeerpseesti,toiennwhich thew they were 6th ult., moved
supposed to occupy. A more determined resistance was
experienced than had been anticipated. The enemy
proved to be in considerable force, and fought with
desperate courage. The troops advanced in three co-
lumns, under General Somerset and Lieutenant-Colonels
Fordyce, of the 7th, and Michel, of the 6th Regiment.
Colonel Fordyce's brigade was first engaged. A body
of the enemy was foun posted in a very strong posi-
tion, behind the rocks at the head of the Waterkloof
ravine. From this position a deadly fire was opened
upon the troops as they advanced, and with disastrous
effect. Colonel Fordyce and several men of the 74th
Regiment were strack down by the first volley. This
brave and intelligent officer was idolised by the troops
under his command, and bad gained the esteem and con-
fidence of the colonists in a remarkable degree during
his few months of service on the frontier. Ile died on
the field a few minutes after receiving the wound, his
last words being, " Take care of my regiment." The
enemy was afterwards partially driven from his position;
but, unfortunately, not without several more casualties
among the troops. Lieutenant Carey, of the 74th, two
sergeants, and two rank and file, were killed, and Lieut.
Gordon (since dead), and eight men (all of the 74th
Regiment) wounded.
On the following day the operations were resumed,
and the enemy was driven from various positions in the
ravines and dense forests, with considerable loss. On
our side, ono officer, Captain Devenish, of the Beaufort
West Levy, was mortally wounded; three men of the
91st, and tour of the levies, were also wounded. On the
Bth, the weather proving extremely inclement, Major
General Somerset withdrew his troops to the camp in
the Blink water, where he has since remained. It is
understood that no further movements against the enemy
in that quarter are contemplated at present. Lieutenant-
Colonel Michel's brigade has
since returned to head-
quarters. The detachment of the 731,
which, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, had been for several weeks
very actively and efficiently employed in protecting the
Albany frontier from the incursions of the enemy, has
also been withdrawn to head-quarters, its place being
supplied by the 12th Regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel
Percival.
This concentration of troops at King William's Town
has been made for the purpose of dispatching a large
force across the /Lei, into the territory of Kreli, the pa-
ramount chief of Kafirland, who is supposed to have in
his keeping a groat number of the cattle that have been
driven from the colony. The conduct of Kreli has been
vacillating and suspicious from the commencement of the
war; and recently a herd of cattle, belonging to English
traders in his country, is said to have been seised by
some of his people. The force which .is to enter the
country of this chief will consist of 3,000 men, under
Major-General Somerset and Colonel Mackinnon. The
operations, it is said, will
--•.• Occupy a month. The pro-
byThe persons
frontier
tier resident
burghers,i in that
who part
had
aodf the
heecno ony.
summoned by
priety of undertaking such a movement, while the fron-
tier districts are in their present condition, is questioned
their commandants to meet at Post Retief, on the 30th
ult., for a general movement against the enemy, were
assembling in considerable numbers a week before the
appointed day.
Marauding parties continue to infest the frontier dis-
tricts, and to commit depredations on tbe few remaining
flocks • and herds of the farmers. Several skirmishes
have taken place between these plunderers and small
sie—the enemy, however, euffering the most severely,
, with some loss of life on both
parties
The
Orange
anthgee
Rciovelornisstos
(Nov. 17), Sovereignty, at the last accounts
was still in a very unsettled state. Open
hostilities, however, had: not been re-commenced. Mo-
, continued to express a desire for
The majority of the emigrant B beyond the
Vaal
Boers
Vaal River were also believed to be well disposed,
though a few of them were reported to be inclined for
hostilities. It is hoped that the assistant commissioners,
psheeasche., the Basuto chief
Major Hogg e and_ Mr. Owen, who started from King
William's Town for the sovereignty about three weeks
ago, will be able to effect a satisfactory settlement of
the affairs of that province.
anntedritorrehdaeveefhasdatthael.effeTethaotf
greatly
colony has of late suffered considerably from commer-
cial depression; but the internal tranquillity of the set-
tlement has not been disturbed.
The Legislative Council has been in session during
the month. A Bill, praposed by the Secretary to Go-
vernment, for the removal of '` squatters," or unautho-
rised occupiers, from Government land, has been under
discussion, and has excited much comment. Many per-
sons, including the Attorney-General, and some expe-
rienced missionaries, are of opinion that the measure is
ill-advised, and likely to have a daugerous effect at the
present time, inasmuch as most of the persons to whom
it would apply are of the co oured class, many of whom
might be exasperated and driven to rebellion. The Bill
is still under consideration. A stringent ordinance for
regulating the sale of gunpowder and firearms has been
passed. A Bill to sanction the borrowing g of 40,0001.,
on the securit so the colonial revenue, for the improve-
ment of the pns of theacolonnue,
colony, has
also been dis-
cussed, and its second reading postponed till after the
passing of the estimates for 1852. The estimates for
1850 and 1851 (which, owing to the political embarrass-
ments, had not before been sanctioned) / have been passed
by one Act, without discussion—most of the sums thus
appropriated having been already expended. On the
motion of the Secretary of Government, a resolution
authorising the harbour board to borrow the sum of
50,000/. for the construction of a sea
wall and other im •
provements in Table Bay has also been passed.
The draft ordinances, embodying the
new colonial
constitution, arrived by the Propontis on the 31st of
October. They were subsequently forwarded to King
William's Town for the Governor's perusal and when
returned by him were published, on the 27th of Novem-
ber, in the Government Gagette. On the 28th ult, they
were read a first time in council, and their second read-
ing was postponed for two 'months. The constitution
embodied in these ordinances had given great satisfac-
tion to the colonists, and this uncalled-for and unex-
pected postponement has caused extreme indignation.
The Cape Town municipality.
before this postponement
was known, unanimously resolved:—" That an address
or petition be presented to her Majesty the Queen, ex-
pressing the grateful acknowledgmente of the munici-
pality of Cape Town, for the boon which her Majesty
has been pleased to concede to this colony in the liberal
form of government embodied in the draft ordinances,
which they thankfully accept, and pray that it may be
carried into effect without any material alteration in its
leading principles, or any further delay; and which, the
commissioners trust, under the blessing of Divine Pro-
vidence, may be the means of restoring tranquillity
within the territories of this unfortunate colony, besides
being of lasting benefit to the inhabitants at large."
A public meeting is to be held this day (Dec. 2), at
which it is expected that resolutions of a similar tenor
will be passed. Among those who are expected to ad-