The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 29, 1853.

events, indeed some of our North-Western con-
temporaries looked upon it as the sign of a general
rise among the Hill tribes, and supposed a con-
spiracy to have been spreading among the Punja-
bees in connection with the people of Affghanistan.
Whatever may be the true state of affairs, there
does not appear at present sufficient cause for
such gloomy prognostication, but nevertheless
we incline to the opinion that there is quite
sufficient in the present aspect of affairs to call
forth our utmost vigilance so as to be prepared
for the crisis, towards which we have reason to
fear matters in the north-west are ripening
from day to day. The movements of our
troops near the frontier, and the concentration
a force near Peshawur, sufficiently indicate that
Government are fully prepared to meet every con-
tingency ; in fact, should we in. the course of the
ensuing cold F eason be forced into another cam-
paign, we shall not be taken by surprise, nor can
there be much doubt that the very first battle we
should have to light would prove decisive.
The following letter from our correspondent gives
a true version of the events which have taken place,
and which have been the cause of the alarm :

"The storm has blown over for the present, but the
danger is not, I fear, yet passed. An extensive con-
spiracy has been detected here, and all the inhabitants
of the frontier villages are in league with the hill tribes
against us. An attack was expected last night, and the
ladies were placed in the theatre for security, but all re-
mained quiet. The guns were in readiness, and this,
together with the arrest of one of the chiefs, by name
Jaffur Khan, who was secured and placed in irons at
one p.m., yesterday, probably deterred the insur-
gents, but it is still feared they will strike a blow at
Pindee.

"Murree is in great peril. It was to have been as-
sailed last night by a body of a thousand men, hut I
think they must have been disappointed at finding it un-
defended, as Captain Miller, with 40 sowars, was off like
a shot yesterday morning, and three companies of the
Khelat-i-Ghilzie, under Campbell, of the 47th, were sent
to succour the place with all despatch.
" This storm has long been brewing. About six
months back several people were convicted of insurrec-
tion, and sentenced to imprisonment for life, and about
a month ago a fukeer, who gives himself out to be
Peshora Singh (who was murdered some eleven years
since) risen from the dead, and come to restore the
Sikh faith, came to Rawul Pindee, and commenced to
hold meetings, feeding the multitudes that assembled,
and distributing large gifts among them. He obtained
such an influence over the people, that lie was joined by
all the influential men of Rawul Pindee, and they
entered into an agreement that when a certain Sahuhat
Peshawur (poor Mackeson, I presume) should have been
murdered, and the troops pushed forward to Peshawur,
as they presumed they then would be, they would
rise and attack the Treasury and the artillery guns,
which latter they heard were only guarded by nine
sentries while another party was to have surprised
Murree. Everything was managed so well, and con-
ducted with so much secrecy—even to the concealing
of large bodies of men in the neighbouring ravines—that
nothing could, I think, have saved us had there not
been a split among the conspirators. Rawul Pindee
was nearly denuded of troops, the chief part of the
force having marched for Peshawur ; and as by follow-
ing the ravines our enemies could have crept close up to
the station, I do not see how our weak garrison could
have escaped had not the rogues fallen out.
" I have just heard that all is right at Murree, so the
rascals have been disappointed of their prey there also.
Christie's Irregulars are expected in to-day from Jhelum.
They have been instructed to spread themselves over the
country as they advance, and destroy all parties of armed
men they may meet with, particularly to search the
ravines, and cut up such as they may find lurking in
them."

The writer of the letter from which the above is
extracted is far too old a soldier to be easily
alarmed ; and he concludes thus—" You shall hear
again if there is anything stirring, and I am not
murdered."

(From the Overland Madras Athenceum, Oct. 22.)
Our presidency is just now in deep mourning,
and never were " veils of woe" literal or figurative,
worn with more sincerity. Scarcely had the tidings
of the lamented death of Mr. Thomason, the lieu-
tenant-governor of the North-West Provinces
reached Madras, than the mail of the Bth Septem-
ber arrived in the roads with the news of Mr.
Thomason's appointment to the governorship of
Madras, vice Sir H. Pottinger,. retired. Never
could painter have had so various an array of
blank faces to choose from as were that day visible
in Madras. There were blank faces at the club, blank
faces on the beach, blank faces in the shops, blank faces
at the band ; every visage, white, black, and grey did
" cream and mantle" with the unwholesome expres-
sion of bitter disappointment. If there was a man
who had it in his power to retrieve the broken for-
tunes of this presidency Mr. Thomason was felt to
be that man; but it required firm faith in the com-
pensatory arrangements of Providence to believe
that so valuable a political prize was really in store
for us. To know, then, that he was ours at the
same moment that we knew he was no more more,
inflicted a shock that has left us scarcely capable
of another wish on the subject. Some grievous
unrepented sin, or some heavy fatality casts its
dark shadow over this presidency, that we
should be thus doomed to the continued chas-
tisements of Heaven, as severely punitive in
what it gives as in what it takes away. As an
ample notice of Mr. Thomason was given in our
last number, we need add nothing more here. We
must now wait at least three months before we can
learn how our heavy loss is to be supplied ; report
goes that Sir Henry Pottinger leaves at an early
date, and that the fortunes of Madras will be placed
pro tempore under the superintendence of the Hon.
Mr. D. Eliott.
The following intelligence of the loss of the
Catherine Mitchell has been received at Madras :
" WRECK OF THE CATHERINE MITCHELL.—The ship
on the Armeghon Reef proves to be the Catherine Mit-
chell, of 850 tons. She left Munscorcottah on the 13th
instant with a cargo of sugar and rice, and with a fair
wind ran aground at 2.30 p.m. on the 17th March ;
cargo has been thrown overboard, before the captain
and crew left this fine sew ship on the 19th, when she
had five feet water in her hold. No hopes are enter-
tained of getting her off or saving any of her cargo.
" Master Attendant's Office, Madras, Oct. 22, 1853."

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
HER MAJESTY'S TROOPS.

APPOINTMENTS.—Major-General W. Stavely, C. 8., to
serve upon the staff of the army at Madras, with the local
rank of Lieutenant-General in succession to Lieutenant-
General Sir Richard Armstrong, K.C.8., who has nsigned
the command of the troops in that presidency. Assistant-
Surgeon W. S. J. H. Munro, M.D., 83d Regiment, to the
medical charge of the depot of her Majesty's troops at
Kurrachee.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.-15th Hussars. Lieutenant G.
B. Price, from the 26th October, 1853, until his services
shall be required. 98th Foot—Lieutenant W. Crocker, to
Cashmere and Bombay, for six months from October 15,
1853 ; and to England, for two years from date of em-
barkation.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CALCUTTA MARKETS, OCT. 18.

Here business has been at a stand-still, or very near it,
ever since the evening of the 6th instant, owing to the
Doorgah Poejah holidays ; and it was only resumed gene-
rally this morning. Our last overland issue bears date the
4th of the present month, and it will be seen, therefore,
that.we can have little or nothing to report upon, either in
exports or imports.
It may not, however, be amiss to state briefly that the
produce market here closed with considerable animation.
There was a good demand for raw silk and silk piece
goods, for rice and saltpetre, and for nearly all descrip-
tions of seeds, while minor articles, suited to the wants
of the coast, of the straits, and of the colonies, were all in
good request at full prices. The American houses, too,
are doing a good deal. There is every reason to suppose
that the market will open with similar spirit to that which
prevailed at its close.

Regarding imports, we can scarcely add a word to what
our last issue contained. The reported sales of the last two
days just before the holidays were exceedingly small, so
much so, that any detailed list of them is quite unneces-
sary. Holders of goods were very firm, and hopeful of a
better market after the holidays ; dealers at the same
time, not seeming to doubt that such would be the case ;
but as many of the principal men had large quantities of
goods for transmission to the upper provinces, it was found
that they were busy in clearing and forwarding those, and
turned their attention only in a slight degree to fresh trans-
actions while they did not seem to care if indeed prices
rise.sthemoubledr,,as very At the time of our going to press we cannot
say what the state of the market may be, but there will
be some pleasure if we are enabled to report an improve-
ment by the next mail that leaves. The imports of Sep-
Ty moderate, if not light.

We have lit2tre°Ch BAY MARKETS.
OCT. 13 to OCT. 27, 1853.
Market since theßdOaZMen
t sl arsete report,
received
t.
tinues easy, sad the accounts change to notice in the state of our Money
last mail have for the
shipments of bullion that presentav
market during the last two have
been
Stock Shares and Government
are taking place; the near
days interfering with business.
under :—Government 5 per cent. from China by the
Money still con-
given a check to the large
going forward to that
r_ three
.months. In Joint
approach
few transactions
Prhesoef
tthe Dewallee hold-
Lonark qut?tations are as
1031 per 100; ditto 4 per cent. 1832-3, 108/o 1841.4' Es'
ditto 4 per cant. ditto, 1835-36,1021 to 1 per 100 stems ;
cent. ditto, 184243, 102/ to i per 106 per 100 ; ditto 4
per c • •
; Bank of Bom-
bay Shares, 3!9i to 40 per cent. pm. • Oriental Bank
,
tion 93 t o 94 per cent. pm. • :,„,
pora , Cowmen' l B Cor-
ot Bank, 31 to
32 per cent. poi. ; and Agra Bank, 48 to 52 per cent. pm
Since the date of our last report the business done has'
been extreme3y limited. After the Dewallee holidays,
which occur immediately, it is confidently expected that
there will, however, be a greater activity developed than
has of late existed.
Cotton has at length given way in price, owing to the
discouraging accounts received of its value, both in the
China and English markets, and purchases have been made
of Broach cotton, at Rs. 100 to 101 ; and of Dholerah, at
Rs. 931 to 954 per candy with prospect of a still greater
decline, although contracts have been made for the de-
livery of new :Dholerah cotton, in April next, at Rs. 944
to 954 per candy. In other produce we hear of little or
nothing doing..
Freights have been pretty steadily maintained to Liver-
pool, at 2/. 3155. to 2/. 17s. 6d., till within the last few
days, when the arrival of several large vessels from Aus-
tralia gave a check, so that we cannot quote higher than
21. 12s. for N'essels commenced loading, and W. 15s. per
ton for vessels. nearly ready for sea to Liverpool And Lou-

don. To China there is nothing doing ; the rate is nomi-
nally rs. 12 per candy.
Exchange on England has ruled pretty steadily at
2s. lid. per rupee, at six mouths' sight for the best bills ;
lately an attempt has been made to reduce the rates for
Baring Brothers' credits to 2s. lid., at which some sales
were efected, but the banks refused to purchase any paper
under 2s. 1 5-16 d., which may be considered as the rate
for the best local paper on England at six months' sight.
On China, exchange is nominal, at rupees 242 to 243 per
100 dollars, at sixty days' sight. On Calcutta, at sixty
days' sight, rupees 99 10-16 per 100 rupees.

numerous protests and threats having been made
by the Consuls and merchants, Abbas Pasha found
himself under the necessity of yielding ; and now
all the grain and pulse in Alexandria belonging to
the merchants may be exported, but no grain is to
be brought to Alexandria from the interior.
The Egyptian steamers expected from Constan-
tinople have not yet arrived to take the remainder
of the troops, about 7,500 men, which Abbas Pasha
had in readiness to join the Sultan's army against
Russia. The number of troops sent by the Pasha
will be about 25,000 in all, and it appears that his
Highness is not inclined to send any more men,
nor even to provide the Sultan with wheat, as he
now considers that he has done quite enough in
support of the cause.

Owing to the contradictory orders respecting
the exportation of produce, prices of grain had
fallen and risen as much as from Bs. to 10s. per qr.
and they were on the rise in consequenoe of the
exportation being limited. Vessels are still in
demand, though freights had fallen to 13s. from
16s. 6d. per quarter. Exchange on London, 100
piasters per pound sterling.

THE LATE HENRY BEDFORD, THE COMEDIAN.

A benefit was given at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, on
Wednesday last, for the widow and family of the late
Henry Bedford, whose premature death has created a
sincere regret amongst those who knew him privately,
and awakened a public sympathy for those who have
been so untimely bereaved of his support. The house
was filled to overflowing, and the results, we apprehend,
will be equally satisfactory to those who have an imme-
diate interest in them.

Harry Bedford, for by that name he was more famili-
ally known, and will be the more kindly and tenaciously
remembered, was the eldest sod' of Mr. Henry Bedford,
and nephew to Paul Bedford, the father for several years
being a favourite singer on the Dublin stage. The early
boyhood of Harry was spent in Dublin, and such
were the indications of his theatrical genius that he
played, at seven years of age, in the farce of Old
and Young Stager, and played too, according to the
testimony of those who knew him well, with great promise
of future success. " The boy," in this instance, was
truly " father to the man," for as years expanded his
mental and physical powers, young Harry continued to
amuse, to instruct, and to delight those who had the
good fortune to be present at his dramatic delineations ;
and whether it were on the boards of a London, a Liver-
pool, or a Dublin stage, his fine impersonations of cha-
racter were instantly recognised and cordially greeted
by an ever-delighted audience. One look of Harry was
equal to a whole scene ; it mapped out the true spirit
of the piece, and was more graphic than any dialogue,
however tersely constructed. After going the rounds of
England, Harry settled down for a time in Dublin, where
he accepted in 1847 an engagement at the Queen's
Theatre, and became a great favourite with the public,
who extended their sympathy to him, even in the
hour of his infirmity, when that insidious disease,
consumption, would occasionally paralyse him in the
midst of his performance. After three years' sojourn in
the sister kingdom, Harry accepted an engagement with
Mr. Webster, for the same period of time, at the Hay-
market, where he remained his full term. His health,
however, gradually declining, he entertained an ardent
fancy for Dublin, under the alluring impression that he
might there recover himself ; but the disease which had
marked him for its victim had struck too deep into his
frame to be displaced, and it soon became painfully
evident to all who knew him, and even to the public,
that he was sinking to rally no more. After struggling
for a fortnight or so with the disease to which he fell a
victim, Harry Bedford quitted the stage, and in little
more than a week after that event he also quitted "life's
fitful scene" altogether, leaving behind him, however, a
name that will be ever honoured by those who can appre-
ciate a generous and upright heart, a kindly disposition,
and a never-swerving rectitude of action.