The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-16 00:00:00

INDIA.

We take the following from the Overland sum-
mary of the Pomba!' Times of Feb. 14:—
No very important events have occurred during
the past fortnight, and the alarm which was felt all
over India at the date of our last summary has now
considerably subsided. The news from Berntah is
still melancholy, and warrants the belief very ge-
nerally expressed, that matters are far from satis-
factory in that country. Captain B trry, the coat-
inandant of the Arracan Battalion, left Kiauggiam
in command of a detachment of his regiment, to act
in concert with a large force under the command of
Major Cott m, of the 67th R3gitnent, N. 1., which
hail been despatched from Prome against a part of
Dacoits. When on the lice of march the guides of
his detachment led him into an ambush, and whist
about to cross a river he was attacked by a body of
Burmese under the command of Moung-goung-gee,
and shot dead. He was mortally wounded by two
musket bullets, one of which passed clean through
his head, and having fallen from his horse lie sur-
vived but a few seconds. Iu the reucontre Lieut.
Thompson, of the 63th, Native Infantry, was also
wounded in the arm so severely, we are sorry to say,
that it became necessary to amptutate the limb. It
was stated that the men whom Lieutenant Proctor
had shot were the guides of this detachment, but
recent accounts contradict the assertion, and as
yet all that is known is that the lieutenant is in
arrest for executing, on his own responsibility, two
Burmese. No authentic intelligence has been re-
ceived relative to the murder of Capt. Latter, but
the circumstances attending his death, as given iu
our last summary, on the authority of our Calcutta,
contemporaries, have been contradicted by a bro-
ther officer ; and as we have been requested to
notice it, we do so, presuming, however, that
we cannot place implicit reliance on it, as the ac-
counts already given of the circumstances which
led to the murder were equally well authenticated.
However, from whatever motive, and by whatever
hand the dastardly blow was stricken, until more
light is thrown on the subject than we yet possess,
we trust that the tongue of slander will refrain from
inflicting a yet more cruel wound than the assas-
sin's, by heaping dishonour on the memory of the
dead. The Honourable Company's steam-frigate
Auckland arrived from the Persian Gulf on the
11th instant, and. we are happy to say that every-
thing was perfect y quiet at the date of her de-
parture. Both at Bushire and Teheran the utmost
tranquillity prevailed, and the report that the Per-
sians had attacked Bagdad was entirely without
foundation. But although such is happily the
state of affairs at present, the " rumours of war,"
which in reference to Persia have of late
been bruited abroad, appear to have had some foun-
dation, and Government itself was prepared to send
troops into that country. Her Majesty's 86th Re-
giment, when en route to Kurrachee, was ordered
to halt at Panwell, and has been detained there for
some weeks. The intelligence, however, brought
by the Auckland being of such a satisfactory nature,
there remains no longer any necessity to detain the
corps, and the regiment proceeds to its destination
forthwith. In Affghanistan matters are exactly in
the same state as they were at the date of our last
summary, no further intelligence having since
reached us from that quarter. The latest intelli-
gence from Kohat announces that the pass is once
more closed, and at the date of the communica-
tion had been sealed for a fortnight. Tile mea-
sures taken to bring the Afreedees to their senses
had nut transpired, but it is evident that negoti-
ation is thrown away on them. We have recived
letters from the Nizam's country, which inform
us that Captain Orr with his field force has been
quite successful in the object fur which it was
sent into Telinghalia. The Rohillas, who had
plundered Chilurghi, made their escape as
soon as they heard the troops had arrived in
their neighbourhood ; but a brush had taken
place at a ghurry called Erpully, between some of
them and a party of the 31 cavalry under a jema.-
dar, in which the jemadar and some seven or eight
sowars had been severely wounded. Of the Rohil-
las, one was killed on the spot, and many others
must have been badly wounded. The force atter
this proceeded to Navapett, where a large body of
desperadoes had collected, and from which they
were in the habit of issuing and plundering the
whole country round. The cavalry were taken, on
by Captain Orr, and invested the place. On the
arrival of the infantry and guns the latter were at
'once ordered to unlimber and get ready for action,
whilst a message was sent iu to the Rohillas
that they must lay down their arms, or they
would be attacked. These decided measures had
the desired effect, and after some parley they
agreed to the terms offered, and consented to lay
down their arms and surrender themselves at dis-
cretion. Altogether, between Rohillas, Sikhs, and
others, nearly 400 men were thus secured and dis-
armed. Captain Orr has gained great credit for
the spirit, energy, and decision which he evinced.
There is a report that the force is to be greatly in-
creased, as the country is found to be in a much
more disturbed state than was at first supposed ;
and that a large addition is to be made of cavalry,
infantry, and guns from Bolarum. It is also said
that this augmentation to the force will render it
necessary that Brigadier Mackenzie, commanding
the southern division, should proceed to join the
head-quarters of his division in camp, as almost
all the troops composing it are out on service. It
is believed the demonstration will last longer_ than
was at first thought would be the case ; indeed, it
is by no means unlikely that the troops may be
kept out during all the hot weather.
The meeting of the proprietors of the bank of Ma-
dras, convened to take into considesation the diffi-
culty that is experienced in filling up the existing
vacancies in the board of management of the bans,
tookplace on the 2d inst. The general opinion seem-
ed to be that shareholders wore unwilling to offer
themselves as candidates, in consequence of the cen-
sure which had been passed on the directors by Go-
vernment in 1851 ; and a vote was passed recording
the confidence the present meeting had in the cen-
sured directors, and inviting shareholders to present
themselves as candidates f vacancies in the board
of management. The anticipated famine in the nor-
thern districts of the Madras Presidency caused the
Government to ad iress certain queries to the differ-
ent revenue collectors, and we are glad to say that
the results prove that there will be only a scarcity of
food, and no famine. From Bsngtl we learn that
the College of Fort William is abolished. The col-
lege is replaced by a board of examiners in Calcutta,
consisting of a president and as many members as
Government may from time to time appoint, with
a secretary, who may also be a member. The Five
per Cent. Loan is extinguished, and the remaining
portion of the debt of 1841 is to be paid on the
29th of April next. At the beginning of 1852,
Government were paying interest annually to the
amount of Rs. 21,39,26,961, so that by the pay-
ment of the debt in April next Government saves
annually nearly 200,(5.f0/. In a supplement to the
last Calcutta Government Gazette, several de-
spatches of the Honourable the Court of Directors
are published relative to subjects of the highest
importance to India. The uniform half-anna rate
of postage for each letter not exceeding half a
tola in weight, and the introduction of stamps,
are authorised. The one-anna, newspaper stamp has
been refused for the present, or until the court see
the effect produced on the Post-office revenue by
the half-anna letter rate. The next series of de-
spatches relates to the electric telegraph ; 3,150
miles of wire have already been sent out, and the
court are willing to ship more if it be required. A
line from Promo to Sandoway is sanctioned, and in
fact the court have given the Governor-General
carte blanche in the matter. On railways also the
court dilate. The line from Calcutta to the north-
west is officially sanctioned, the immediate com-
mencement in various parts simultaneously of this
important line being recommended. The Diamond
harbour liue is thrown open to private enterprise,
and the court are ready to sanction a line con-
necting Bombay with the other provinces of
India, and joining the line to be constructed up the
valley of the Ganges as soon as actual survey
determines on the best route. A line is also to
connect Madras, vitt Cuddappa and Bellary, with
Bombay and Poona. A public dinner, on his resto-
ration to the office of resident at Baroda, was given
to Colonel Outram in Calcutta, on the 31st
ult. The Bombay Government, with the view of
commemorating the services of the late Lieute-
nant Chapman, of the Engineers, have directed
that the road up the Thul Glia ut, constructed tin-
der his superintendence, shall in future be called
the Chapman-road Thu. Ghaut. The Honour
able Company have sustained another loss by the
wreck of the Indus river steamer Meteor. When
near Jerruck she struck on a rock, and although
her commander run her ashore, yet she filled so
rapidly that no hopes are entertained of saving
any ,part of her, except her engines. Of local
matters we have but little to chronicle. Lord
Elphinstone has visited the caves of Ele-
phanta, and proceeds to-morrow ou a miniature
tour of inspection to the Glu..uts, the extension of
the north-eastern branch of the Great India Penin-
sular Railway to the Thul Ghat having been stopped
by Lord Dalhousie 's minute, until the result of the
Taptee surveys be known. The railway company
and the local governments are anxious to push on
the south-eastern or Poona branch iu the interim.
On this line the question lies between two glaauts
only--the Biwa Ghaut (that-roll:owed by the pre-

Sent Poona road), and the Itus.soor Ghaut, situated
about 12 miles north of it; and Lord Elphiustoue is
anxious to inspedt both conjointly with the engineer
to the company, in order to fvym an opinion him-
self respecting their comparative advantages. His
lordship's absence from the Presidency will not ex-
ceed a week. Although the announcement that
the Peninsular and Oriental Company had obtained
the contract for the conveyance of our Overland
Mail to Suez from March next gave at first con-
siderable satisfaction, much disgust is now felt at
the announcement that the company intend to in-
crease their charges for passengers, and proposals
for a new steam navigation company are now in
course of circulatiodi. It is proposed to build a sin-
gle vessel in the first instance as an experiment—a
screw steamer of 3,000 tons, to run between Hong
Kong and Suez, touching at Singapore, G ale, and
Bombay:m(l Aden, taking cargo at Hong Kong for
Suez at half the rate now charged by the Peninsular
and Oriental Company, and delivering it at Alex-
;twirl Lto the numarous s w 3trmon3rs now trading
from London and Liverpool to that port. Passage
money also is to be reduced to • about one half the
sum now charged by the Peninsular and Oriental
Company ; and although the detour between
China and Bombay would cause a delay often (lays,
it is anticipated that, considering the saving in
freight, this would be of little moment, and would
in many cases be acceptable to the passengers. Mr.
Danby Seymour arrived at the presidency on the
10th inst., and returns to England by this oppor-
tunity, as he considers that in the present dis-
turbed state of Europe it is the duty of every
member of Parliament to be at his post in the
House of Commons. Money still continues easy,
and no change worthy of notice has occurred in the
market.

MILITARY.

CASUALTIES BY DEATH IN INDIA SINCE THE DEPARTURE

OF THE MAIL ON THE 28TH JANUARY.

Her Majesty's Troops.—Lieutenant Colonel Farrant,
her Majesty's 81st regiment, at Allahabad, on the 21st
January. Lieutenant-Colonel Tritton, 10th Hussars, at
Bombay, on the Bth of February. Lieutenant-Colonel
Shortt, 87th Regiment, at Altahabal, on the 25th
January. Cornet Ross, 14th Light Dragoons, at
Meerut, on the 23:1 January.
Bombay.—Captain A. Morris, 4th Regiment Native
Infantry, at Bombay, on the 28th January.
B-mgal.—Captain Barry (71st Native Infantry), com-
mandant of the Arracon Battalion, at Heuzada.

COMMERCIAL.
REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE BOMBAY
MARKETS.

FROM THE 28TH JAN. TO THE 14TH FEB., 1854.

Since the date of our last report a notification has
been issued by Government sealing the fate of the last
of the five per cent. loans. On the 29th of April,
the last day of the East India Company's financial
year, the remaining notes of the five
_per cent, loan
of 1841 42 are to be discharged at the General Trea-
sury at Calcutta, holders having the option up to that
date of exchanging the amount into the new four per
cent. loan of 1854-55. These financial operations of
Government during the past year have been bold, and
h Lye met with deserved success. The whole of the five
per cent. debt, amounting to upwards of twenty millions
sterl►ng, has been dealt with ; the greater portion has
been converted into four per cent. stock, and a saving
of Interest effected to the extent of twenty lakhs of rupees
per annum. Money still continues easy in European
quarters, but has been tighter in the bazaar. Govern-
inet.t securities and all joint-stock shares are suffering
from the prevailing depression, and the quotations wh►ch
we subjoin are lower than our last, viz, :

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
Four per Cent. Loan 18:31-33 ... 1064 per 100 Siccas.
Four per Cent. Loan 1812-41 ... 101 par 100 Siccas,
Four per Cent. Loan 1.135-36 ... 101. per 100 Siccas.
Five per Cent. Loan 1811-42 ... 1001 per 100 Siccas.
BANK AND OTHER SHARES.

Bank of Bombay Rs. 1,000 each, 32 per cent. pm. Sales.
Oriental Bank Cor- 1 250 do. 82 per cent. pm.
poration
Commercial Bank .... „ 500 „ 293 percent. pm Sales.
Agra Bank ........ ..... „ 500 „ 43 per cent, pin.
Mercantile Bank li per cent. pm.

During the past fortnight little change worthy of com-
ment has occurred m the state of the import market.
Grey shirtings up to 71bs., and madapollaws and grey
jacconets are the only staples in request. Twist shows
a downward tendency. Metals continue to maintain
their former high value.
Cochineal —No sales have taken place since the date
of our last report, and the market seems duller.
Cotton—Since the departure of the last mail some
transactions took place at Rs. 77 to Rs. 79 for old Broach
and Dhollera, but favourable accounts having arrived
from England by last mail, the dealers raised their rates
Rs. 3 per candy. The old stock now on hand is very
inferior. Some transactions have taken place in new
Broach "to arrive." The quality of the new crop is
expected this year to be superior to any hitherto pro-
duced.

Exchange on England is steady at 2s 00 for credit,
and 2.4 lid for bills with d.cuments attached. On China
at 60 days sight, Rs. 231. On CAlcutta, Rs. 1004.
Freights since our last have advanced front 46. to
41. 17s 6d. to 51. to London and Liverpool, at which
rate we hear of transactions having t.tken pace. This
rise is party owing to the small amount of shipping
coining forward, and the demand for tonnage to China
Rs. 24 per candy.

CALCUTTA MARKETS.
(Prom the Bengal Harkaru.)

CALCUTTA, FEB. 4.—The Bengal screw steamer, with
the London mails of the 24th December, reached her
moorings about four o'clock on the 30th ultimo, after
making a very quick run.
Since last steamer left rather more has been doing in
exports. The valuable commodity indigo has been freely
sent forward. More has been done in sugar than for
some tune past. Raw silk has found favour aniongit se-
veral shippers, and the exports of January are 1,411 mds.
'ilk piece goods, too, have been freely shipped, 53,004
pieces of torahs having been exported to Great Britain
during the month.

The second opium sale of this year is to take place on
the Bth inst. Prices may be expected to go about as
they were last time. There is now no excitement in the
bazaar, such as was seen four or five years ago.
The import market in some respects has been good,
chiefly for grey shirtings, white shirtings, other plain
staples, and Scotch fabrics. A. full amount of business
has been in progress, particularly for this season of the
year, when sales of imports are usually moderate.
Mule twist has attracted more attention during the
last week, and about 1,200 bales have been reported
sold since last steamer left. Prices are not quite so
firm, but there is very little difference. 40's have sold
at 3-4 to 4.1 per Morah. Something has been done
in all kinds of coloured yarns at previous rates. Turkey
ref of first q.iality is very well supported in value.
The metal market is very quiet. A few sales of cop-
per and iron co prise nearly all the business of the
fortnight. Prices are high.
Exchange still continues at our quotations, to a shade
higher: Ist class credits, 2i. Old. to 2s. ld. per rupee ;
ditto documents, 2s. lid. to 2s. 1 d. per rupee.

Freights are again a good deal higher of late. Quoted
rates are as follows :—To London—Sugar, 51. ; salt-
petre, 41. 154. ; rice, 51. 7s. 6,1. to 5/.104. ; jute, 51. 58.;
hides 61. ; oil-seeds, 51. 124. 61. to 51 158. ; shellac,
51. ; lac dye, 51 154. To Mauritius--Co.'s Rs. 3to
its. 3 4 per bag, payable at 50 cents,