The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-20 00:00:00

of the 22d of November, and another on the evening '
of the 3d of December. Several skirmishes and ren-
contres, of course, diversified the intermediate time,
and brought portions of the antagonistic lines here
and there into direct opposition ; but on the two dates
before specified there appears to have been rather
severe fighting, in which almost the whole of the
opposing ranks, more or less, participated.
Having received peremptory instructions from the
Commander• in-Chief not to attempt any movement
whatever against the enemy until his arrival, the
Generals of division maintained a strictly defensive

attitude up to the 20th of November, when Lord
GOUGH reached Newa Walla, having proceeded thi-

ther with the utmost rapidity from Lahore and Ravee.
In compliance with a resolution come to on the fol-
lowing afternoon, at a conference between Brigadier
CAMPBELL and bis Excellency, operations were
commenced with the dawn of the 22d of No-
vember. Hereupon seems to have com-
menced a series of blunders, arising from insuffi-
ciency or, may be, inaccuracy of information, and
which has been fraught with disastrous conse-
quences to many of our gallant comua,riots. First,
it was imagined that the enemy were so situated on
the left bank of the Chenab that the British army

would have an opportunity to drive them across the
river, and, in so doing, to throw their ranks into
confusion : it was discovered, however, on the English
forces clearing Ramnuggur, that the Seikhs were en
camped on the right bank, in a position
of admirable security. Then an endeavour was
made, rather too precipitately, to discover
the real strength of the Seikh batteries by
opening on them some of the guns of our artillery—
when the 3d brigade found itself embedded in such
heavy sand that it was compelled to abandon one of
the guns on receiving orders to limber up and retire.
Then, again, our brave cavalry was expovd to a fire
so galling and withering that it was compelled to seek
shelter behind a tope of trees until the fury of their
antagonists had in some degree subsided. Shortly
afterwards, on perceiving some of the rebel soldiers
lower down the river on the left bank of the Chenab,

the 3d and 14th Light Dragoons were ordered to
effect their dislodgement. Here it was that the
principal calamity of the day carried death to
several of our bravest countrymen. By a cunning
movement on the part of the Seikh cavalry, the dra-
goons were induced to charge down upon them until
they were suddenly brought up by a deep watercourse
at the entrance of a nullah or ravine, from a
blighting discharge which tore up the ranks of the 3d and
14th from a body of matchlockmen lying in ambus-
cade. The contrivance was deplorably successful.
Nearly one hundred of the dragoons were brought
down either killed or wounded. Brigadier-General
CURETON—one of the finest soldiers, and one of the
most distinguished officers in the British army—was
shot through the heart. Col. HAVELOCK—the very im-
personation of gallantry—received a severe wound in
his right hand, had his left leg and his left arm nearly
severed from his body, and was left dead upon the
field. Eleven of his courageous men fell by his
side, sword in hand, and are said to have been subse-
quently decapitated by the insurgents. Captain
APALutoN is said to have since died from his wounds,
according to the newspapers of Calcutta; and a
similar report as to the fate of Ensign HARDINGB, of
the 35th Native Infantry, is contained in a letter
received from Umritsir. Captain HOLMES, of the
12th Irregular Cavalry, is described as having
been shot through the breast while en-
deavouring to carry off the body of
the noble-hearted CURETON. Captain RTLET
received a spent ball in his leg. Lieutenant-Colonel
ALEXANDER had his right arm so grievously mangled
as to render amputation necessary. Captain GALL
lost a hand. Flesh wounds were given to Captain
CAUTLY and Captain SCUDAMORE ; while Captain
FITZGERALD was suffering from no less than five dif-
ferent wounds from swordcuts mostly about his neck
and head. In addition to these there are reported to
he no less than one hundred of the rank and file
among the killed and wounded in this single adven-
ture against the matchlockmen in the ravine. After
thirty-five minutes fighting, the troops were moved
to their new encamping ground in advance of Ram-
nuggur, where they continued during the 231 un-
molested.
The encounter which subsequently took place on
the 3d of December, between the armies of Lord
GOUGH and the Raja SHEER SINGH, appears to have
terminated rather more advantageously for the Eu-
ropeans. Our loss upon the latter occasion seems to
have scarcely exceeded forty men, and yet the result
of the engagement was such that before daybreak, on
the 4th, the whole Seikh multitude was in full re-
treat, after having either concealed or carried away
their artillery, and exploded their magazines. Sub-
sequently the catalry, under THACKWELL, and
the Lancers (9th), and Dragoons (14th), under
GILBERT, were dispatched in pursuit. Unless these
two officers are enabled to come up with the enemy,
and bring them at once to a decisive encounter, there
is considerable danger that SHEER SINGH will find it
by no means difficult to join his forces to those of his
father, CHUTTUR SINGH, in which event the difficul-
ties of their subjugation would, of course, be, propor-
tionately enhanced. Whatever may be the result of
the last movements of the belligerents, the manoeuvre of
the Seikh commander is sufficiently apparent, namely
an effort to lure the British army further and further
into the Punjaub, and then to harass and decimate
the ranks of the Europeans by the warfare of Asiatic
Guerillas. To prevent this disastrous prolongation of
the war will require all the military skill and deter-
mination of the Commander-in-Chief ; but for the
conquest of these difficulties he possesses, we are
satisfied, ample capacity.

A respected provincial contemporary, the Sumdcr-
land Times, in a recent number, contains an account
of the presentation of a magnificent piece of plate to
the Rev. W. WEBB (late rector and curate of
the parish of Sunderland), as a tribute of respect
and admiration for his exemplary character, and of
the high sense entertained by his former parishioners
of the great value of his ministrations, extending over
a period of twenty years, as curate and rector. Such
a testimonial is alike honourable to the donors and to
the recepient. It affords the strongest evidence that
the good seed had not fallen in stony places or among
thorns, that the zeal and energy of the clerical
labourer had not been wasted or misapplied. It is at
all times gratifying to record the existence of such
feelings of kindness and cordiality between a pastor
and his flock —to know that his has indeed
been a labour of love, and that it has
been duly appreciated by those amongst whom
his lot was cast, and on whose behalf his energies
were exerted for many successive years. It is still
more satisfactory, when the offering of affection and
esteem is tendered on the well-merited promotion of
its object—when one of exalted station has properly
exercised his high privilege, and worthily bestowed
the patronage with which he had been entrusted, not
for his own personal gratification, or because the ap-
plicant was possessed of powerful friends or wealthy
connexions, but for the benefit of the church of which
he himself was an appointed dignitary.
There is nothing of more vital importance to the
Church of England than the impartial and conscien-
tious exercis4of the patronage entrusted to its prelates.
It may, perbaps, be considered unreasonable to
expect much from private patrons. The livings in
their gifts are too frequently granted from purely
personal motives. It may be to provide for younger
children, and those members of their families who,
owing to the operation obflitcheulanwe oifnpro i
nmeogshenaiteuroer,
are quartered on the pu p p
another—it may be as a mark of private friendship or
e,teem, or even occasionally for a pecuniary consi-
deration. That such things are not only possible,
but that they are of daily occurrence, is deeply to be
lamented, and highly prejudicial to the best interests
of the Church. In such cases its worst enemies are
to be found among its own children, who abuse their
powers, and direct more formidable blows against
the venerable fabric than could possibly be inflicted
by its most determined opponents. It is, however,
worse, a thousand times worse, when its very
Bishops and dignitaries, forgetful of their sacred
obligations, disregard the strongest professional
claims, and confer appointments that cannot be justi-
fied on any ground of principle or policy.
Such was happily not the case on the occasion to
which we are alluding. Mr. WEBB received the well-
merited reward of his indefatigable exertions for more
than twenty years. A richer preferments fell vacant,