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

RUMOURED INTRIGUES.

A report has reached Usthat Joshua, one of
Moshesh's principal councillors, has accompanied the
notorious Van der Rolf across the Vaal River on a visit
to Pretorius; also that messengers have been recently
dispatched by Moshesh to Sandilli and the prophet Um-
langeni. The truth of these reports is very doubtful.
Van der Rolf is said to have made his escape from the
gaol at Moii River Dorp, from whence he fled to the
Basuto country for protection, and if so it is not very
probable that he would dare to pay a visit to Pretorius.

We subjoin the following from complete files of the
month's intelligence :
GRAHAM'S TOWN, Nov. I.—Affairs remain here
much as they were at the date of our last communication.

FORT BEAUFORT.—A private letter from Fort 13,,,au
fort mentions that Colonel Nisbett, of the 60th Rifles,
returned there from Waterkloof with the whole of his
division on Saturday, the 25th ult., but received orders
from General Somerset to march back again immediately,
which he did on Monday morning, the 27th. On the
same day an express arrived from Sir Harry Smith,
ordering the 60th and all the rest of Colonel Nisbett's
patrol back immediately to King William's Town. They
came into Fort Beaufort on Tuesday, the 28th, and
passed out on Wednesday morning, the 29th inst.
(From the Graham's Town Journal.)
By the military mail which arrived at Ki❑g William's
Town yesterday morning, we have received letters up
to the 29th. From these we learn that the intelligence
from the Trans-Kei is unfavourable, Kreli having called
a meeting of his chiefs, with a view of adopting a uni-
versal expulsion of the English from his country. It has
been conjectured, however, that this decision was come
to beforo the Amapondas were aware of the reputed
successes of the Waterkloof, which may probably sway
them into quietude. It might, in all likelihood, how-
ever, prove to the colony's ultimate advantage to have
these vacillating tribes so to commit themselves as to
render their chastisement and subjugation a work of jus-
tice. It is lamentable to think that a dependency of the
British Crown should be so much at the mercy, the
whim, and caprice of untutored and untutorable savages,
as the Cape colony now is. Its progress can never be
looked upon with certainty until its peaceful occupa-
tion is placed above the roach of chance, and beyond
the influence of this or that tribe, or any combination of
tribes.

The Commander-in-Chief has, by proclamation dated
27th ult., strictly prohibited the importation of spirits
at East London, and has also laid restrictions upon the
trading with friendly Kafirs at King William's Town.
It appears, however, that such traffic being still per-
mitted at other places on the military lines, the non-
supply object of the restriction is defeated, and the seat
of the communication only shifted. His Excellency
would do well (and his authority under martial law is
supreme) to put a stop to all traffic in articles that tend
to the enemy's equipment; and also to place the said-to-
be friendly tribes under somewhat stricter surveillance.
It is useless to expect that a barbarian or semi-barba-
rian can with impunity be allowed the same indulgences
and liberties as Europeans, and an over-implicit confi-
dence is to be guarded against.
Our letters state that the Lancers are making rapid
progress in the training of their horses.
The report of a cutter having been captured smuggling II
arms and ammunition is contradicted.

I:2:T:
h.:,
0811
moun-
tains h
operations
OPERATIONS OF THEyIo
hu:vßfeofOrobOretchePeneS -icunnoczeesr:
GENERAL SOMERSET'S
Bivouac, Blinkwateßr,EOPntOo.
Sir,—Since my communication to you
inst.,malid elrh-ianv.echthieerhsoinnofourrnitaotaiocnq,uatihnatt
Water valley,
sandyfor
expellingoc cupi ethdeinenceamrryyifnrgomouhtisthpeozesceionsssa!lay
of the Kromme Range.
On the 18th inst. I detached a large
Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce, to the 13
pnaorfaLtoireyutetonamuty.r:ainder of the
to bring up ammunition and supplies.
In the meantime I employed the
of the enemy's
c attack
force in making a strong reconnoisance
intendedolonel Fordyce's
various
pon hi
mp,o t i
tohnes
forces with the necessary supplies. The
how-
ever, delayed by the heavy rains
which se wore, iepturer
18th and 19th mat-, Precluding the set. in on the
execution of any
operations with advantage.
In the meantime I proceeded to Post 11, ' etief to make
certain arrangements for the wounded men whom I had
sent to that post.
On the 21st inst. the ©nervy, having previously shown
heights a very strong concentrated force,
threatening the
vas,
I moved, with L. gage of the oonvoy from Blinkwater,
dawn of that ieutenant-Colonel Michel's brigade, at
Kromme ,__ day, and occupied the eastern spurs of the
_AbuTge, to give protection to the convoy pro-
ceedinghill,
and upt he
the steep and difficult pass of the Blinkwater
b
convoy was thus safely conducted to the
ivouac at 3 pal.
On the 22d instant, having made my dispositions for
attacking the enemy on the following morning, I marched
Lieutenant-Colonel Michel's brigade from the heights to
Blinkwater, preparatory to moving up Fuller's Hoek on
the following morning.
On the 23d instant, having arranged with Lieutenant-
Colonel Nesbett that he should move his force at day-
, break up the Blinkwater to the point where the Hog's
Back range abutted on the waggon-road, and then bring-
ing his right shoulders forward work up that ridge, I
ordered the remainder of the troops, consisting of the
Royal Artillery, under Lieutenants Campbell and Field,
Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce's brigade, and the Cape
Mounted Rifles, direct on the enemy's position at the
at the head of the Waterkloof. The fog lifted as the
sun rose.
On approaching the forest I detached two guns Royal
Artillery and Cape Mounted Rifles to the left of my
position, on the western ridge of the Hog's-back-hill,
to cover the movement of Lieutenant-Colonel Nesbitt's
force. I opened fire on the enemy's position at that
point, where I observed the Rifles hotly engaged with
the enemy, moving up in skirmishing order in fine style
along the face of the ridge, receiving the enemy's fire and
driving him up the hill.
I then ordered the 12th and 74th Regiments upon the
enemy's position along the edge of the forest, occupying
the flanks with the Fingoes. The enemy here being
strongly posted below rocks in the forest, opened a gall-
ing and well-sustained fire on the advancing line.
Seeing the Rifles had gained the heights, I opened
fire with artillery from both flanks of my position, the
enemy still holding the rocks, and firing severely from
the coyer, tin 74th NufferiDg some less.