The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-29 00:00:00

EAST INDIES.

(From the Bombay Courier, August 2.5.)
The symptoms of war to the northward are increasing,
and among them we find an order by the Commander-in-
Chief, announcing that " the leave of absence granted to
officers to proceed to the Presidency, or to the stations on
the frontier, preparatory to applying for furloughs to Eu-
rope, on account of their private affairs, is cancelled, and
such of them as have already quitted the head-quarters of
their respective regiments are required to rejoin without
unnecessary delay." The Agra Ukbbar now states that the
rumours have been succeeded by information of a de-
finitive nature, and that the British or Seikh powers are in
conjunction to reinstate Schah Soojah. We have already
detailed the amount of the British force for this purpose,
which we recapitulate, and which is to consist of three corps
of European troops (one of them to be the European re-
giment) seven corps of native infantry ; one regiment of
European cavalry, and two of native ; four troops of horse
artillery, and two companies of foot artillery. The Agra
Ulchbar again announces that the Commander-in-Chief in
person will conduct this force, which is also to be aided by
a strong corps of Sappers and Miners, and the native regi-
ments are to be drawn from Meerut, Kurnaul, and Loo-
&anal]. In connection with this it is stated that at Agra
there was considerable activity in the military departments
of the station, and that the officer in charge of the ord-
nance had received orders to despatch 3,000 stand of arms
without delay to Loodeanah.

A change has come over the Burman Councils, and they
are now as peaceable, conciliatory, and obsequious as they
were a few weeks since blustering and bragadocio. Colonel
Benson, on his arrival at Rangoon, was received with
greater demonstrations of respect than have yet been ac-
corded by these barbarians to any British officer. As the
resident proceeded from the beach to the residence of the
Woonduck, accompanied by Captain Macleod and 50
picked men of the 40th Regiment, Native Infantry, they
passed through the Burmese troops forming a line on each
side, and their coming was announced by discharges of artil-
lery. Colonel Benson had intended proceeding higher up
the river in the steamer; but, finding the conduct of the
Burmese so amicable, he took advantage of the native
boats which were offered him, and which were of the best
description, and fitted up very richly far his reception.
Although we have managed to effect this change of tone
among the Burmese, we think it would be very imprudent
at this season to relax any of those measures, or decrease
those military means which have been attended with so
salutary an effect. Considering the expenses which have
been incurred in the matter, and the treatment which we
have for some time past received from the Despot, we ought,
at all events, to insist upon some indemnity ; and, by way
of a beginning, we consider that, Rangoon should raise the
British flag, although we suppose that our generosity will
be content with gewgaws in lieu.
(From the Delhi Gazette., August 15.)
We understand that the following troops have been
warned for field-service in the Candahar and Caboul :
Two troops of Horse Artillery, Major Pewe's Camel Bat-
tery, two companies of Foot Artillery, two companies of
Sappers, her Majesty's 16th Lancers, the 2d, 3d, and 4th
Regiments of Native Cavalry, her Majesty's 3d and 13th
Regiments of Infantry, the Hon. Company's European Re-
giment, the 2d, sth, 16th, 27th, 28th, 31st, 35th, 37th,
Queen's
Nativeln
.Ca(daid`6'aittliirly):;to this, a considerable body
42d, 43d, 48th, and 53d Regiments of Native Infantry.
The force is to assemble at Kurnaul on the 31st of October
next, and thence proceed, via Bhutner, Bhawulpore, and
Caboul will, it
Mithennore, to Candahar.
eedAi.ge/rwthUekehxbpaerdoitfieAnugte. 16.)
The army in
known, consist of 12 corps of Native In-
isgenerally
now 2d, sth, 16th, 27th, 28th, 31st, 35th,
fantry—viz., the
the 3d and 13th Regiments of the Royal
andtwo tthreoop2sd,of3dnottinsed
Ar-
tillery (Fr.omtoothd
d the European Regiment ; four regiments of
3Zutrho,p4e2adn,
t4r3o,d,p,
s4_Bth, and 53d Regiments ; three corps of
Army an
employed, to
; two companies of Foot, and two companies of ,
the number of
cavalry
e—ntthe
f
5,000 it is said, so that the expedition will be on a far more
• scale than was at one time supposed. It has also
extensive
d-quarters, notwithstandinc, the
transpired at nea strictest.
e f Sap-
pers B andolba Aylinterrese.ps
will e
injunctions to secrecy, that a strong reinforcement of Euro-
pean troops has been found indispensable, and that
a requisition
has accordingly been made to the home
authorities to obtain it. As the requisition was urgently
made, it is said the troops are even new on their passage
out, and that they will proceed direct to, and ascend the
Indus, and land either at Loodeanah from the Sutlege,
other river.
or at Attoch on the
of view a most excellent arrangement, and a prodigious
saving in time, money, and human life, which would all be
expended on the old route, will be insured in consequence
of it. It is, however, maintained by some, that Great
Britain is at the present moment unable to spare a single
soldier ; but this difficulty will probably be got over by
some militia regiment being raised—a measure at which
Lord John Russell more than hinted as likely to be adopted
in the debates on the yeomanry force. But, whatever re-
solution the home authorities come to, it requires but very
little sagacity to see that the existence of our Indian
empire must be, ere long,
seriously endangered, if a consi-
derable augmentation of European troops does not take
place. The whole northern line of the empire, the extreme
left to Arracan, is more or less threatened, or rather liable
to invasion. The Russians, Goorkhas, and Burmese, are
all opposed to us, and a successful hostile demonstration of
the first would be assuredly followed by the other two. If
a current report can be credited, 6,000 Russians, armed at
all points, have arrived at Astrahud, a town on the eastern
coast of the Caspian, and with friendly relations subsisting
between Persia and Russia, their further march to Caboul will
be of little difficulty. If such report be true, our Government
have only to hasten their own proceedings, and meet the
Russians
on the western frontier of Caboul. The distance
is in their favour, though the dilatoriness usually charac-
teristic of Indian warfare will counteract this advantage.
The Goorkhas again, it is thoroughly known, only wait a
favourable opportunity to attack us. They have con-
fidential agents at every disaffected Court in India, insti-
gating them to join in one simultaneous rise against us.
Such treachery as this, if passed unnoticed, will lead to an
impression of our weakness and timidity, while to punish it
will be an easy task, and, as an example, would save as much
similar work. If instead of employing 40,000 and upwards
of troops, and sparing Catmandhoo, when we had sur-
mounted every difficulty opposed to us, and had arrived
within three marches of it, we were to employ one quarter of
the force to proceed direct to their capital and take it, we
should effectually teach the Goorkhas forbearance. The
same remarks are applicable to the hostile Burmese, whom
we treated with the same ill-timed clemency that we did the
Goorkhas—we halted within forty miles of Ava. Their
submission would, however, in all probability follow. A
summary example of the Goorkhas is another inducement
for proceeding at once vigorously against the latter. Af-
fairs are now rapidly approaching a crisis, and it is clear to
the " meanest capacity" that vigour and judgment in a high
degree are both requisite to readjust them to our interest
and safety.
(From the Agra Ukhbar, August 18.)
We have just received the following from Kurnaul,
though, from some delay in the Dawk, the general order
announcing the arrangements mentioned has not yet reached
Agra. Herat, it now appears, will be the extreme point of
the approaching expedition, which, by every account, will
be on a vprc large scale. Should Herat even have fallen
b,-fore the I):Tsians lieforo we can r0:7,1, it, Sgt we p C-
arm3- well qtil wove loth a iew to ti e-
capture.
First brigade, commanded by Colonel Arnold—Two

troops of Horse Artillery, 16th Lancers, and 2d Cavalry.
Second brigade, commanded by Colonel Whish—Two
troops of Horse Artillery, and 3d and 4th Cavalry.
First brigade Infantry, commanded by Colonel Sale,
C.B.—Queen's 15th Light Infantry, 21st Native Infan-
trt, and 28th Native Infantry.
Second brigade, commanded by Colonel Dennis-3d
Buffs, 35th Regiment Native Infantry, and 45th Native
Infantry.
Third brigade, eommanded by Colonel Smith—Euro-
pean Regiment, 17th Native Infantry, and 20th Native
Infantry.
Fourth brigade, commanded by Colonel Nott-38th
Native Infantry, 48th Native Infantry, and 53d Native
Infantry.
This force to be followed up by a second, to be collected
as soon as possible. The whole to be 25,000 men, includ-
ing Schab Soojah's forces. We go from this to Bokhar,
across to Shikarpore, and through the Bahur Pass to Can-
dahar, and thee on to Herat.

Intelligence has just been received at Agra Loodeanah,
to the effect that the Schah of Persia bad been completely
discomfited at Herat, his army utterly broken up, and
himself obliged to fly. He had made an assault on the
town, and was repulsed with great slaughter and the loss
of all his guns. The Russian Ambassador and European
Aid-de-Camp were killed, the former having received
three balls in his body. If this important intelligence be
authentic, it must seriously affect our policy in relation to
Schah Soojah and the settlement of Caboul. The Persians
will now, as a matter of course, abandon all attempts at
making themselves maters of Herat : indeed, it is not impro-
bable that the King himself may be taken, as he is hotly
pursued. Should this occur, a revolution in Persia will
be the probable consequence, from which will further en-
sue a desire on the part of the present Sovereign to court
the alliance of the British. So far this will be favourable,
but on the other hand the success of the Kam Ram, the
Schah of Herat, will embarrass us. The views, up to the
present time at least, of our Government were, we suppose,
to displace Dost Mahomed, to retake Herat, if it had fallen
before the Persians, and garrison it, on behalf of Scbah
Soojah, or if the Persians had been besieging it on our ar-
rival, to have driven them back, and compel Schah Kam
Ram to acknowledge Schah Soojah, his uncle, as King of
Caboul. The successful turn Schah Kam Ram's affairs
have taken, and the firmer position he now occupies, will,
however, render it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain his
consent to the reinstatement of Schah Soojah, and the sur-
render of Herat to that chieftain. Kam Ram claims an
equal right with the other to the throne of Caboul, and, if
personal merit had aught to do with the election of Kings,
he would be selected before his competitor. Any com-
promise between the two, by a division of territory, would
be impolitic in the highest degree, and not to be thought of.
The King of Caboul must possess Herat, for to place the
latter under an independent ruler would be to lay the seeds
of constant hostility between him and Scbah Soojah,
and our object of converting Caboul into an effective bar-
rier against Russia would be thus utterly defeated. The
true policy of Government under these circumstances is,
to let their election light on Kam Ram instead of Schah
Soojah. He is much the more popular of the two among
the Affghans ; his personal merit is much superior, and
he was never expelled his dominion for cruelty. This and
the eclat that must arise from his triumph over the Per-
sians would render the expulsion of, the family that now
rules in Caboul more easy by him than by another. A
loan from us, some officers and military stores, would enable
him to effect the expulsion of the sons of Fatty Khan from
both Caboul and Caralahar, and thus become master of all
Affghanistan, without our striking a blow. He would tog, as
an instrument, be far more useful in our hands than the un-
fortunate and timid Schah Soojah ever could become. His
right, a thing always scrupulously regarded by our Govern-
ment when it suits them, is equal to Schah Soujah's. Zu-
man Schah, Mahomed Schah, Soojah, and Yecoob, were
brothers, and were born and reigned in Caboul in the order
in which they are given. Scbah Zuman was dethroned
and blinded by a second brother, who in his turn was de.
throned by the third brother with the assistance of Futty
Khan. The third in due order was dethroned by Ma-
homed, who again obtained possession of the throne, and
seizing Fatty Khan, blinded and put him to death. Ma-
homed's son, Kam Ram, was at that time Governor of
Herat under his father. The sons of the murdered Futty
khan rebelled, and drove Mahomed from the throne ; be
fled to Herat to his son, where he was, as a matter of
course, poisoned or put to death by other means. The
victorious sons of Fatty Khan proclaimed Yecoob as the
person to act the pageant of royalty in this shifting of
Kings, but shortly after drove him out ; he flew to La-
hore, where he now is a pensioner upon Runjeet Singh.
It thus appears that Kam Rum has an equal, and accord-
ing to our law of succession a stronger right to the throne
of Caboul, as son of the elder brother, than Schah Soojah,
and his elevation to it would certainly be more likely to
lead to a termination of the barbarous anarchy and inhuman
feuds of this family. If we place Schah Soojah on the
throne, Yecoob will always be a puppet in the hands of
Runjeet to play against us whenever he may think it expe-
dient, while Kam Rain's right is distinct, and of a nature
less likely to be disputed. If he succeeds to Caboul it is
very probable he will be an enemy to the Sikhs, which our
Government, in the present state of their relations with
that Power, would no doubt regard as a serious objection.
That our relations with it are on a footing they should
not be is very clear, but if we choose to continue them on
it the forbearance of Kam Ram could only be gained.
Were a Hastings or a Wellesley at the head of the Go-
vernment, instead of the line of policy we are pursuing,
we should, we have little doubt, see the empire of
Caboul restored to its former proportions and its eastern
boundary line be continuous with the western one of our
empire.
(From the Bombay Courier, Sept. 4.)
With reference to the information in our last Number, as
to the intention of despatching a force to take possession of
Aden, we find a statement in our contemporary, that Cap-
tain Haines will proceed for the purpose with a detachment
of 50 men only; This seems so small an amount of physical
means that we have some difficulty in believing that the affair
will be practicable with so few arms to provide against ac-
cidents. The Arabs are very numerous, and we know that
at times they can exhibit themselves awkward customers ;
and, although one party at Aden may be disposed to ratify
the treaty which has been entered into, the other may ma-
nifest a considerable degree of animosity on our preparing to
take this step. We learn that Aden, when once secured, will
be a very defencible place, and that a small body of men
might manage to secure its possession when gained ; but 50
appear to us barely sufficient to keep the old women there
in order, and not enough to maintain the single pass which
leads from the interior into the town. As we regard this
place as of extreme importance to us, and think its ac-
quisition will soon confer benefits exceeding any cast of
obtaining possession, we hope that Government will well con-
sider the probable obstacles before embarking such a modi-
cum of force. We have not the slightest doubt that Aden,
from its position near the mouth of the Red Sea, its easy
communication with the province of Yemen, and also with
the opposite coast of the cnzbouchcre of the Red Sea, and
the facility, by such its locality, of drawing towards it the
commercial products of Abyssinia, will very soon assume a
commercial importance which will eclipse that of Mocha,
and amply repay the excessive difficulties we have en-
countered in procuring its cession.

MADRAS, Ana. 25.—A shipment of shells is going on
for Calcutta, to replace, it is supposed, in the arsenal at
Fort William, those which have been abstracted for trans-
mission to the Upper Provinces.
We regret to learn that cholera has been raging violently
at Bellary. The Quartermaster of her Majesty's 41st Re-
giment and his lady, with Lieutenant Morris, of the same
corps, have fallen victims to it, and several officers are
reported to have been subsequently attacked. The de-
tachment of the 7th Native Infantry at Grody had also
suffered much. The absence of rain at both places is pre-
sumed to be the cause of the fatal disease breaking out.
On dit that orders have arrived at the Presidency for
despatching Madras troops to occupy the Dooab.
(From the Delhi Gazette Extraordinary, Aug. 23.)
We hasten to lay before our readers the following
highly interesting and important intelligence just received
from the North Westward. It is contained in a letter
addressed to an officer of rank in our service from a na-
tive gentleman of good respectability at Peshawar, who
is in the confidence of Sutum Mahomed, the Sirdar of that
place, and the news came to the Sirdar from Candahar,
from one of his brothers, there being three of them there
—two friendly, and the third an enemy.
The intelligence we deem in every way worthy of cre-
dit. and as the letter containing it is dated the 12th of
Joomadoolawul, the news is this day but 19 days old.
We have no time for remark, further than to say that
should Prince Ram Ram, t•upported as he is by the whole of
Turkistan, obtain possession of Candahar and Caboul ere
the British forces reach Affghanistan, there will, to use a
vulgar phrase, be a fine kettle of fish to fry !

"To the presence of the best of the English Generals

from his humble servant.

" The news from Herat is to this effect, that the
Prince Kam Ram with his troops made a sally from the fort
of Herat, and sword in hand attacked the army of Ma-
homed Schah, the Kajar, and killed 12,000 of the forces
of the said Kajar.

" Shums Ood Deen Khan, the brother-in-law of the
Prince Kam Ram, who on the approach of the Kajar from
the first had deserted Kam Ram and joined the former,
was also slain in the action, and 20 horsemen of the escort
of Mahomed Omer Khan, the son of Sirdar Khan, of Cai-
dahar, were also killed, and Mahomed Schab, the Kajar, is
nnuac:el:, r.,duc•ed to nothin:= ;
d r) te,ls, and hag,'ilg.'
' h-rkis-
and having
treated 23 cuss fronterat, whde troops Iron' Tua
tan having come to the assistance of the Prince Kam min

have cut off the &liar's retreat in ever] Lion, and night .:
and day carry on the thee, (sudden atkol..
_TheKsjar
is consequently driven to the greatest stiitizisigxlifficii!-
ties, as he cannot come in this direction, nor can'l4.7etreat
in the others neither dare he remain in his new insition
while the army of Kam Ram is daily increasing. Dis-
patches to this effect are continuolly arriving.
" The Ukhbar, from Candahar, says that the Sirdars
Ko-
bun Dil Khan, Ruhm Dil Khan, and Sihr Dil Khan, with
Hajee Khan Hatur and others of the Khaooaum, assembled
in Council, and came to the resolution that the Prince
Kam Ram, as soon as he shall have leisure from the affair
of the Kajar, will be very powerful, and will invade Can-
dahar, and intelligence had been received from Hindostan
that the Sahiban, with twenty regiments, artillery, &c.,
will escort Schah Soojah to this place (Candahar) for the
purpose of restoring that monarch : and that after the rains
he would arrive. They, therefore, despatched a trusty
messenger to the Ameer Dost Mahomed Kban to Cabcul,
and are themselves collecting grain, ammunition, and pre-
parinc, the means of defence. This is the latest news from
Candahar. _

" The news from Caboul is, that Dost Mahomed Khan
has planted fifty guns ou the Fort of Bela Hisar, is casting
others, and is actively engaged in warlike preparations,
while he daily takes musters of his troops, and purchases
all horses that arrive from Toorkistan and the neighbour-
ing parts. He now is oppressing beyond measure the
ryots, merchants, shopkeepers, and every class of people,
by his demands of money, while he is collecting granaries
and preparing store-houses in Jallallabad, Khuebur, and
Alee Musjid. He also, night and day, holds consultations
with his brothers and the nobility, who apparently give him
confidence and support.
" Aga Hoosain, a sbecah (who is in the confidence of the
Ameer) and the Ameer Akhoongada, or domestic chap-
lain of the Ameer, a Soonee, in open Durbar, in the pre-
sence of Dost Mahomed, came to altercation, Aga
Hoosain speaking highly in favour of the Kajar, while the
Ameer Akhoongada gave unlimited praise to Kam Rant.
" Mahomed Akbar, the son of Dost Mahomed Khan, hag
marched to Caboul, having first left his army in the Surfued
Koh, at Koondkee,to watch Abdool Mandoorhkar, Abdool
Zhuzduahhau, and another Sirdar, the chiefs of the
Barckzhee clan.
Dost Mahomed Khan has also sent letters and khilats to
the Arabs of Peshawar, by name Jorma Khan, Summit Khan,
Izzut Khan , Nussur Oallah Khan, Saadat Khan. He has
also caused to be erected two new bastions or forts, one in
Sunder Khan, the other in Jubughee."
Just after the foregoing was sent to press, we learnt from
good authority, that another letter from Peshawar, from
Schap Soojah's own brother, confirming the intelligence,
has been received.

It would appear from this letter, that Prince Ka*
Ram intends coming at once to Candahar, and reducing
that place ere our troops can possibly arrive there, and
afterwards proceeding against Caboul, which, supported as
he now appears to be, will undoubtedly fall into his posses-
sion, without, perhaps, a blow being struck.
(From the Bombay Courier of Sept. 8.)
Although we entertained no doubt from the first of the
authenticity of the intelligence which had reached us by
the Delhi Gazette Extraordinary, we are gratified that we
are enabled to confirm, from subsequent information, the
total rout of the Persians before Herat. It appears that
the Persians endeavoured to carry the fortress by storm,
but were driven back, and that 2,000 were left dead in the
field. The rout of the Persians is described as so complete,
that the Schah is believed to have been left entirely without
an army, and apprehensions are expressed for the safety
of the Russian Embassy. The letter from which
our intelligence is derived is dated the 25th of June
from Herat, but it merely refers to the disasters
of the Persians, the particulars of which are stated to
have been despatched in a letter of previous date. This
first letter has not come to hand. In our previous articles
on the subject of the approaching campaign, we have not
inquired why such a large amount of force proceeds from
the Bengal side to Shirkarpore, when we could convey
5,000 or 6,000 men to that place from this Presidency five
or six weeks before they can arrive there from the upper
provinces. Let any one look at the map and see. the dis-
tance to be traversed by the Bengal regiments before ar-
riving at that place, and then let him satisfy himself with
what facility we could, ley the aid of sailing and steam ves-
sels, convey to the locus in quo a considerable force. The
expense of moving the Bengal troops across rivers and sandy
deserts must be very large, without taking into considera-
tion the wear and tear of them ; while from Bombay we
could, in comparatively few days, establish a force on the
Indus which would arrive fresh and ready for action, at a
cost which is scarcely worth mentioning. At all events, if
the Bengallies must be largely patronized, they ought to
give us at Bombay our fair share, considering that we
could be almost on the heights of Caboul before the Ben-
gal regiments had much more than arrived at Shirkarpore.
(From the Bombay Gazette, Sept. 12.)
Captain Wade, political agent, returned to Louisiana on
the 23d of August, from Lahore, where he had settle&
everything to his satisfaction with Runjeet Singh respecting
the operations of the approaching campaign ; only 5,000
of our troops will be pushed on into Candahar and Caboul,
with the forces of Schah Soojab, to assist in reseating the
ex-King upon the guddee. With regard to the advance of
the Russians upon Khiva, we may say that this circumstance
was firmly believed at Delhi, though not officially known,
and that it was generally believed that this advance ac-
counted for the non-advance of the Usbecks to the relief of
Herat. Schah Soojah's force is to consist of five battalions
of regular infantry, each 800 strong, and two regiments of
irregular horse, with guns attached ; each corps is to have a
captain and one subaltern. Upwards of 600 men have
already been enlisted at Loodeanah, besides others who
have been enlisted at the different stations in Upper India.
One of the corps of irregular horse is to be raised by Lieu-
tenant Nicholson at Delhi, where Captain Macan is now
enlisting men for the infantry. Captain Anderson, it is
said, is to have the command of one of the corps of irre-
gular horse. Captain Wade, political agent, passed through
Loodeanah on the 15th of August, for Lahore, for the
purpose of presenting the treaty which had been signed by
the Governor-General to Runjeet Singh : the gallant Cap-
tain was expected back at Loodeanah by the 20th or 21st
of August.