The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-08 00:00:00

THE STATE OF INDIA.

Cara), DECCAN, Nov. 25, 1848.—There was
nothing enacting in regard to news in India to induce
me to write to you by the last mail. Nothing had
been done at .111oul'ati. The army to be assembled
was still in fragments here and there, none of them
progressing very rapidly to the scene of operations.
There seemed to be much vacillation in what was
being done, no connected movements being appa-
rently concerted. Troops were ordered here to day
and there to-morrow.. Brigades were not formed,
nor did commissariat supplies - appear to be ready;
nor those equally imortant ones, materiel for siege or
geld operations. General Whish, although Shere
Singh had left Moulton, was, or appeared to be,
in no condition or humour to renew the seige, nor
was there any probability or possibility of reinforce-
ment from Bombay or from Ferozepore. Shere Singh
was passing northwards to join his father, already suc-
cessful in the region he occupied beyond the Jelum,'and
threatening the garrison of Attock, while he was
pursuing his intrigues with the garrison of Peshawur,
as yet steady under Major Lawrence. There was no
decisive move by any party, the most actively em-
ployed, perhaps, being Brigadier Wheeler, who, with
a small, but compact brigade, was busy reducing the
small forts of petty chiefs to .the northward and on
the left bank of the Beas—a service in which he has
met with the success• which his active character
deserves.

By the last news, however, the scene has changed,
and there is no longer inactivity on any side. Our
own procrastination, I surmise, more than any other
reason, has at last:caused the defection of the garrison
of Peshawur, which, on the 23d and 24th of October,
mutinied, and declared their &tendon of joining
Chuttur Singh or Shere Singh. Major Law-
rence's admirable management of this body for
the last four months has, therefore, proved abor-
tive. Seduced by the offers of Chuttur Singh, and
seeing in the advance unmolested of Shere Singh to
Join him hope of the national cause, the whole
broke, and Major Lawrence and his assistant,
Lieutenant Bowie, were obliged to fly. They have
taken refuge in Kohat, where Mrs. Lawrence and her
children had proceeded previously. It does not seem
certain whether the garrison of Attook had actually
joined the insurgent party ; the report, as I write, is
that it had on the 28th. Nor is it surprising should
it have done so, with the temptation before it of the
successful enterprises of Chuttur Singh and Shere
Singh, and the likelihood of their junction in the
neighbourhood of Attock. Captain Abbott in the
Hazareh country, aided by the chiefs who had joined
him, still held his ground, nor had his forces, though
unable to cope with Chuttur Singh in the field, shown
any symptoms of wavering in attachment. They
are to a man Mahometans, and, as Major Edwardes s
men still are, may be firm and faithful. If no other
result followed from this, their position and num-
bers would at least prevent Chuttur Singh getting
into the strong country ofithe llazareh, while under
attack from our troops were assembled, these men
would be ready to operate upon their flank, and thus
materially assist our operations. There is still some
danger that they may abandon Captain Abbott and
remain neutral, if they do not join the insurgent
cause ; but I have hope from their first active move-
ment, that they may not be dismayed by the defection
at Peshawur, nor seduced by the offers which will,
doubtless, be made to them by Chuttur Singh and
Shere Singh. On our side, also, a column of Ghoolab
Singh's troops, under Colonel Steinbach, is in the
field, and will long ere this have joined the advanced
brigades under General Cureton, which had pushed
on towards the position of Shere Singh, and will
prevent, if possible, his junction with his father, and
the troops under Aotar Singh in Bunnoo, &c., also
in revolt.

I see by the papers that the news from the north-
west is considered unsatisfactory, on account of these
additional risings, and that we_ are not yet considered
strong enough to meet them. To a certain extent,
no doubt, it is most unsatisfactory that there should
be additional risings; 'most unsatisfactory that there
!should be a war at all ; but I cannot see what else
could be expected than what has happened after the
delay which has taken place in the assemblage and
Marching of troops. Instead of putting down the
Moulton matter at once, at any risk of temporary in-
convenience to those engaged, our own brigades
were delayed, and an insufficient force sent at last,
Ed wardes placed in a false position, and Shere Singh
allowed to remain, when he ought to have been sent
across the Sutlej, or to a point where he could
have been watched by the Bombay forces
at Sukkur. Chuttur Singh has been allowed
to gain head. No troops were pushed on
to occupy Attock or the central Doab, no activity
displayed commensurate with the importance of the
time ; and the consequence is what we see, which
does not in the least surprise me, nor, I am confident,
will it surprise any man who considers that the
Seikhs as a body bad evidently long, prepared a strug-
gle for domination, and that it is the interest of all,
or appears so, to join in what may now be termed a
national movement against u', as they formerly made
against the Afahometans.
But withal it is not so very formidable as to cause
any serious apprehension. The estimate of the whole
rising may be thus taken for the north-west :
Chuttur Singh .. 8,000 good troops.
Shere Singh , . 5,000 good troops.
Peshawur men .. .. 6,000 good troops.
Aotar Singh , 2,000 good troops.

20,000
These have from 60 to 70 field-guns in good order,
and the Pest awur troops are known to be in a very
efficient state of equipment and discipline, superior,
perhaps, to the rest. I hare seen no estimate of the
troops in the Bunnoo district which have revolted,
but it is understood that they are at least 3,000 to
4,000 strong, and may possibly unite with the main
body or bodies. It is evident that it is the purpose of
the leaders to unite, and there is nothing to prevent a
junction at least of the Peshawur force and Chuttur
Singh, or of 14,000 to 15,000 men, or if joined by
Shere Singh, of 20,000. To meet this, the cavalry
and infantry brigades, under General ureton, have
been pushed on, and, as he was not far from Shere
Singh in the last week of October, and had called
up Eckford's brigade, which was on the Ravee,
it seems likely he might be able to attack Shere
Singh, and prevent his junction with Chuttur Singh.
It does, however, seem unpardonable that a strong
brigade of 3,000 to 5,000 men was not pushed on to
occupy some point on the Jel um, or at least to prevent,
if possible, the junction of Shere Singh with his
father. This, as I have observed, may be effected, but
it is by no means certain, and if the enemy's divisions
join, we shall not have force enough in the field to
cope with them for a month or six weeks to come.
General Cureton's force, if joined by Eckford's bri-
gade, which had been left at the Ravee, near the
bridge of boats, must be far superior to Shere Singh's
in numbers. It consists of the cavalry division, her
Majesty's 3djand 14th Dragoons,sth and Bth Cavalry,
12th Irregular Horse, three troops of Horse Ar-
tillery, Godby's brigade, 500 cavalry, and 2,000 in-
fantry, in all some 7,000 men. Eckford's brigade, which
had been called up, consists of the 31st and 56th Native
Infantry, two companies of artillery, and one light
field battery, in all some 2,000 more ; making a total
of 9,000 men at least, by whom a very good account
ought to be given of Shere Singh, if he can be inter-
cepted, or he wait an attack. Colonel Steinbach's
force, whatever it may be, is not included, but it is
understood to be stanch. Independent of the forego-
ing, brigades have been ordered on from Koondah-
ghat, Gunda-sing-wella, and Ferozepore. An ar-
rangement is being made at Lahore which, by
concentrating the troops, would allow of three regi-
ments more moving if re quired. The rest of the troops
required for the grand army will, on hearing of the
defection of the Peshawur garrison, be pushed on
at double speed, and as the Bombay force is already
well on its way, we shall soon see at least 30,000
men in the Punjaub, with a large proportion of ar-
tillery, more than sufficient, one would think, for
entire conquest. I see, therefore, no cause whatever
for any anxiety or apprehension, dilatory as have
been the Preparations, and vacillating the conduct in
regard to the movements of brigades. This will be
no time fur further hesitation, and as the Commander-
in-Chief arrived at Perozepore on the sth, his pre-
sence may serve to accelerate matters to the general
assembly of the army, if that, indeed, be practicable
or desirable in the present scarcity of grain and
forage in the north-west, and peculiarly upon the
Sutlej and near Ferozepore. There will be much na-
tural anxiety as to the result of Cud horsereton's
adarvtainlleeerymoisvea-
ment. His force in cavalry and
superb one, and as he has enough of infantry and field
artillery, too, ought not to hesitate, nor will he, to
attack whoever and whatever may be in his reach. It
is certain that the delay which has occurred has
de-
veloped the whole of the Seikh strength in the north
and west of the Punjaub; and so far it may have
been of value. It is better to have open enemies than
treacherous friends, and as v, e should inevitably have
to go through the same course of events as the pre-
sent at a future time if the Seikh army remained in
its integrity, so, perheps, as things have been allowed,
whether by design, or through neglect, to cora° to
the present pass, it is the best policy to allow all to
assemble, all to rise that can rise, and by a decisive
blow to break at once and for ever the power which,
even in its relics, is as formidable as we see it now.
It is very evident, whatever may be the fate of the
Punjaub, that_we can no longer trust any part of the
Seikh army, and that it will form a subject for serious
consideration in the new settlement which is made, if
the Punjaub be not absorbed, how it can be replaced.
I have never written otherwise than in condemnation
of the subsidiary force system, yet in this case it
would almost appear the only resource. The country
must have an army, the frontier must be guarded,
and, unless we take the whole for good, we must, as
at Gwalior, remodel the army on our own plan, or, as
most likely will be the case, entertain new men. It
is, however, premature to speculate, as much must

necessarily be done ere matters can be brought to a
point which will admit of discussion.
At Moultan matters are very slow indeed—
strangely so. The ostensible reason of the raising of
the siege was the defection of Raja Shere Singh, and
the assistance he was supposed to be able to give to
the Dewan. On his departure it was speculated that
the trenches would be re•opened, and that Moultan
would fall. Nothing, however, has been done. Men
are to join from furlough, which will increase the
force by near a thousand ; and the Bombay column,
under General Auchmuty, will raise the British force
at Moultan to near 10,000 men—ample, one would
think, to cope with Moolraj, if, indeed, he do not re-
sign his fort and command in earnest before it can all
assemble. He is even said to have written to the
Governor-General on the subject, offering, on promise
of life and pardon, to evacuate the fort. I do think
had Napier heen in command that he would have seen
the inside of Moultan ere this. _

No detail of the forces and brigades now advanc-
ing into the Punjaub has appeared, but we are
already sufficiently strong to meet any advance by
the insurgent leaders, should they even succeed in
uniting, and endeavour to make a dash on the
capital. We have already four brigades of cavalry
and five of infantry, which are available, with a fair
proportion of European troops, viz., three regiments of
dragoons and four of infantry. Others are pushing
forward, but the movements were commenced too late
to allow of the assembly of the force in all October,
and so as to allow .of the fine month of November
being used for,isetive service. In reference to present
events, however, I have_great hope in the activity and
intelligence of General Cureton, who will hardly let
slip any opportunity of attacking Shere Singh, and,
if possible, crippling or routing him. One brilliant
affair and victory would go far to redeem the past,
and the hopelessness of their cause might even yet be
made apparent to the Seikhs, thus saving effusion of
blood. I fear, however, that they are already too con-
fident, that our delay has increased this confidence.
Most of these Seikh troops have never met us in the
field, they have the honour of the Khalsa to regain,
they are fighting for existence and superiority
both, and will, I suspect, fight desperately when
ever they meet us, whether in the field or in fortified
places. The :operations of the ensuing month must
needs be very interesting, and even now important
events may have taken place of which we are neces-
sarily ignorant, though you may hear something more
of General Cureton's proceedings by the mail which
now goes out. He was only 30 miles from Visierabad,
one of Chuttur Singh's positions, by the last accounts,
and, as he was not halting, an affair seemed imminent.
In the Deccan the question of the Ministry of Suraj-
ool-Moolk has been set at rest by his formal dismissal
by the Nizam at a recent Durbar held, at which Ge-
neral Fraser was present, and read the instructions he
had received from his own Government on the sub-
ject. These were very distinct as to the independence
of the Nizare, not only in regard to :all his subjects
and dependents, but in regard to the continuance of
the ex-Minister in office, and the appointment of a
new one. Suraj-001-Moolk was present, and was
charged by the Nizam with many faults of omission
and commission, to which he could make no reply.
The Resident is stated to have assured the Nizam
that he was entirely free to act as he pleased; that
the instructions, which he read and explained, were
distinct; and thus the long and vexatious struggle
which I have often alluded to has for the present
ceased. The day following the Durbar the officers
of state were forbidden to attend Suraj-001-Moolk,
the Nizam having assured the Resident that he would
be responsible for forming a Ministry in the course
of as short a time as possible. It is reported that ,
the Nizam declared before he understood his complete
freedom, that did the Governor-General desire the
continuance in office of Suraj-001-Moolk, he had
better send for him (the Nizam) to Calcutta, as his
residence at his capital would be impossible
—terms sufficiently strong, indeed, to mark his
utter want of confidence in Suraj-001-Moolk,
and more, his sense of the degradation he would
be subjected to in any continuance of him at the
head of his affairs. No successor has been named as
yet. It is understood, however, that Shumsh-00l-
Oomra, an aged but very respectable and intelligent
nobleman, will perhaps be appointed, who will be as-
sisted by his two sons, young men who have been well
educated, and are held in estimation, and by either
Bala Ponshad, the son of the late Chundoo Lall, or
by some other }Endo° official, as Peshcar, or Finance
Minister. A few days more will probably decide
this question, but it is needless to say that whoever
takes office has no ordinary work to do, no ordinary
embarrassment to encounter. Suraj • eol-Moolk's in-
cumbency has been of no benefit whatever ; indeed,
the contrary. A new debt has been contracted to
the amount of a crore, for which, and for even the
interest of it, there appears to be no provision. Money
lenders are :exhausted, and many can hardly meet
their engagements. The revenues of the country
have been extensively forestalled in defiance of all
engagements, arrears to all departments are heavy,
and there is a general mistrust prevalent in the
country which precludes any present alleviation of
difficulty.
Though I have advocated freed.-An of action to the
Nix= in reference to his own Government, yet, as I
have expressed before, it has been on no solid ground
of hope that he, or any officials appointed by him, can
afford relief, or retrieve affairs which have so declined.
To introduce reform would require intelligence,
activity, and honesty of purpose, which no native
Hyderabad official could be found possessed of, and
the Nizam himself is in many respects utterly incom-
petent; but anything was preferable to the divided
authority which existed before Suraj-001-Moolk's
dismissal, alike injurious•to the country and to our
reputation as encouraging it. What I wrote you a
year ago has been fully proved—that it is as impossi-
ble as it is injurious and undignified to support a
Minister against the wishes of the acknowledged inde-
pendent Sovereign of a country ;:and it is tome, in many
respects, strange that any attempt should have been
made to this effect whether by public or private in-
terest. Had Suraj-001-Moolk been as capable and
energetic as he has proved the contrary, it would not
have affected the position I assumed, and which, in
all essential particulars has been fully proved.
Whatever the Nizam's course may now be, provided
an utterly incompetent man be not appointed, much
real good can be effected by the Resident in support-
ing and encouraging every attempt that may be
made at reform and good management, and it will re-
dound to his honour if, by conciliation and those
interchanges of civilities which have a large effect in
securing not only the respect, but the affection of
natives of rank, he can lead the Nizam personally
into that course of reform and retrenchment which
his Highness himself is now aware is absolutely ne-
cessary for the redemption of his affairs. I shall
watch the progress of events with some anxiety, not
hoping for much amelioration for the present, but
trusting that some may ensue, as well for the sake
of the State on which so many thousands are de-
pendant, as for the sake of the people, who are, and
have been, so discouraged by misgovernment.
I observe by the Calcutta papers that an attempt
had been detected to tamper with the native troops at
Barrackpoor and Dumdum, near Calcutta, which was
revealed by a Subadar major of the Artillery. Per-
tab Chund, the once famous pretender to the Gaddee
of Burdwan, was the instrument employed, but by
whom had not at first transpired. He was secured
after some slight resistance by European constables,
and is in custody. Some other arrests had been made
of persons of wealth connected with the upper pro-
vinces, but some days would be required to come at
the truth, which will doubtless be revealed either by
the parties who have been tampered with or the agents
employed. In times like these, when any war, or
any resistance to our rule, holds forth hope, however
vague and indefinite, of success, such intrigues will
be set on foot, and though all will prove abortive,
yet it behoves all our authorities to exert additional
vigilance, and to watch the proceedings of any in
regard to whom there may be suspicion. There has
never occurred any so-called crisis in India without
them, and unhappily there are ever enough of dis-
affected spirits abroad who attempt to make the most
of any opening for these proceedings.
A long inquiry regarding the proceedings of Cap-
tain Macpherson in Goomsoor and the Khond country,
brought on by the charges of General Dyer against
hp, and conducted with great patience and ability
by Mr. Grant, of the Bengal Civil Service, has re-
sulted in the entire acquittal of Captain Macpherson,
and the record of an opinion that Captain Macpher-
son's proceedings were characterized by judgment,
forbearance, and humanity. This in itself is suffi-
cient reflection upon General Dyer, who will have
some difficulty in extricating himself' from the position
in which he has involved himself. The inquiry fills
1,200 folio pages, andiat
hiseasvayidstuomhacvoencsoidsterGinogveorun;
ment 70,000 rupees—
present financial condition, but probably unavoidable
under the circumstances of the investigation.
As I write, I have received news from Hyderabad
of the formal announcement to the Resident on the
and the appointment by the Nizam of
20th lost. of the dismissal of Suraj 001-Moelk from
theMinistry,Syf Jung, a nobleman of rank, and, I understand, a
connexion of Shumsh-00l- Oomra's. Of the character
and qualifications of this nobleman I am as yet igno-
rant, never having heard of him before in connexion
with public affairs. His installation was to take place
on the 23d, but the Resident was not invited—whe-
ther purposely and because the appointment would
not be publicly approved, or because his presence was
not considered necessary, is not mentioned. It must
necessarily take some time to develop what may be
intended by the Nizam, and the party headed by Syf
Jung, with which his Highness is identified.
The following movements may be of interest as
marking progress to the westward of brigades of the
grand army :—GeneralThackwell's brigade, 2d bri-
gade of cavalry, 6th brigade of infantry, two troops
of horse artillery, and light field battery, to march
from Ferozepore en the Bth, with 15 lace of treasure

for army head-quarters; General Gilbert, with five
brigades of infantry, troop of horse artillery, part of
the train, &c., on the Pth instant; reserve train, with
artillery, sappyrs and pioneers, artillery and engineer
parks; &c., on the 15th, with 7th brigade of infantry,
and 4th brigade of cavalry.
The Commander-in.-Chief had arrived at Feroze-
pore, and would dispatch troops as fast as possible,
preceding them if possible or if necessary. It is evi-
dently his Excellency's policy to allow the Seikhs to
get head, and with the large army he has assembled
to make a clear sweep of them, which, after all, per-
haps, is the best thing that can be done.—Times.

THE POST-OFFICE ROBBERY ON

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS.

EXETER, SATURDAY.—The two men in custody on
a charge of having robbed the down mail between
Bristol and Bridgwater on the night of Monday last
were brought up for re-examination this day, before
the Mayor and a full bench of magistrates, at the
Guildhall of this city.
The proceedings excited great interest, and the
body of the hall was crowded in every part by per-
sons anxious to hear the evidence. Among those
present we observed Mr. Charles Russell, chairman
of the Great Western Railway; Mr. Woolcombe,
chairman of the South Devon ; Mr. J. W. Buller,
chairman of the Bristol and Exeter line ; Mr.
Saunders, the secretary, and Mr. Seymour Clark,
superintendent of the Great Western Railway ; and
many other gentlemen of influence resident in the
district, including the High Sheriff of the county of
Devon, John Silliford, Esq.
Mr. Christopher Arden (Mayor) was presiding
magistrate. The following members of the bench
were also present :—Dr. Miller, Dr. Pennell, Mr. G.
C. Holroyd, Mr. E. Woolmer, Mr. H. Hooper, Mr.
W. Kennaway, Mr. J. Carew, Mr. D. B. Davy, Mr.
Kingdon, and Mr. J. Harris.
Mr. Peacock, Solicitor to the Post-office, attended
to prosecute. Mr. Ramsay, Inspector-General, and
Mr. Cresswell, Surveyor of that establishment, were
also present.
Mr. Scoble Willesford, of Exeter, attended to watch
the case on behalf of the accused parties.
Shortly after eleven o'clock the prisoners were
placed in the dock. Poole is a good-looking man,
with a remarkably shrewd and quick expression of
countenance ; he is somewhat below the middle size,
and appears about thirty years of age. As already
stated, he was formerly a guard on the Great Western
Railway,' from which service, after being guilty
of many peccadilloes, he was at length discharged,
about nine months since, for conveying in his mail-
guard's box a female ho had not paid her fare.
Since that period be has been residing in Exeter in a
large and fashionably situated house, most expensively
furnished, a handsome harp being somewhat osten-
tatiously displayed at one of the windows. It is said
by the gossips of the city that Poole's wife, a very
showily-dressing woman, with some pretensions
to beauty, was formerly the chere amie of a
gentleman of fortune, who gave Poole a handsome
sum to marry her, and that the money was subse-
quently invested in the expensive furniture found in
his residence, with a view of taking lodgers. The
other prisoner, who still refuses to give his name, is
somewhat taller than Poole, and has a heavier expres-
sion of countenance. When apprehended, he wore a
valuable diamond ring, worth 301., and a handsome
gold watch and chain ; but, notwithstanding these
aristocratic appendages, his appearance generally is
of the most ordinary description. The efforts of the
London detective police to discover his identity have
hitherto been fruitless, although three of the most
intelligent officers have been down here for that
purpose.

During the examination both prisoners paid the
greatest attention to the evidence, and Poole was in
constant communication with his solicitor. On being
asked their names, the one replied, "I decline giving
my name." The other answered boldly, " Henry
Poole."

Mr. Peacock, having briefly stated the facts of the
case, quoted the Act of Parliament, 1 Vic., c. 36,
sec. 28, by which it is enacted that stealing letters,
&c., from the Post-office is a felony, punishable with
transportation for life, the 37th section providing
that, for the more effectual prosecution of such
offences, they may be dealt with in any county or
place where the offenders might be apprehended, as
if the offence had been committed at such place.
The first witness called was Mr. Edward Henry
Augustus Fisher, who said—l reside at St. James's
Cottage, Beauvoir-square, Kingsland, near London.
I am a clerk in the inland department of the General'
Post-office, at St. Martin's-le-Grand. On the even-
ing of the Ist inst. I made up the dispatches for the
Taviatock and Truro mail bag. In that bag were
several registered letters.
Mr. Willesford—lf he is to speak to letters, they
had better first be produced.
Joseph Gibbons, superintendent of the Plymouth
constabulary, having been called on, produced a
packet of letters, which he had received on the night
of the Ist inst., from Mr. Clarke, the station superin-
dent at Exeter.

Mr. Fisher—Among the letters in the Tavistock
bag was a registered one which I found in the parcel
produced by Gibbons. It is addressed 11. P. Dwarris,
he Rectory, near Callington, Corn wall. I have a
distinct recollection of the letter ; it came from the
Receiver-General's office. It was enclosed in the usual
green letter-cover, addressed to the postmaster, at Cal-
lington, and the name of Dwarris written at the cor-
ner. Letters for Callington are put into the Tavistock
bag. Among the letters put into the Truro bag there
was also a registered letter, produced by Gibbons. It
is addressed to the Rev. J. Hardy; and it was put in
the usual green cover, and addressed to the postmaster
at Truro. Both the letters bear the stamp of the in-
land office of that night. A letter bill accompanies
the letters in the bag. The two bills produced are
those which relate to the letters in question. The
registered letters were both entered by myself upon
those bills, and I compared those entries with the let-
ters when I put them in the bag. The general letters
were tied up in bundles, and the registered letters are
tied at the top of the bundles. After the letters were
put into the mail bags they were tied and sealed with
wax in my presence. The Tavistock bag 1 gave to
Mr. Collinson, another clerk in the same office ; and
the Truro bag I put into the Truro and Penzance
sack. The sack was then tied with string and given
to the mail guard. I produce two sorts of string, one
rather stronger than the other, which is used to tie the
sacks, and the weaker is used to tie the bags.
James Collinson was next called—He said I reside
in Wellington-place, Newington-butts, Surrey. I
am a clerk in the inland Post-office. On the evening
of the Ist inst. I made up the bags dispatch to Ply-
mouth. Amongst the letters placed in the bag were
two registered letters, produced by Gibbons. One
was addressed to Mr. J. A. Page, 17, George-street,
Plymouth, and the other:to Mr. Robert Morris, Bank
of England Branch, Plymouth.
Cross-examined—l have a distinct recollection of
having entered those letters on the slips now produced,
which is my own writing.

Re-examined—These letters were inclosed in the
usual green letter-covers, addressed to the Postmaster
at Plymouth. Both bear the inland office date stamp
of that evening. A bill accompanies each letter,
on which the letter is entered. The billy now pro•
duced are those sent by me with those letters in the
bag. The several letters were tied in bundles, and
the registered letters were tied on the outside. I re-
ceived the Tavistock bag that night from Mr. Fisher,
and after inclosing the Plymouth letters in the Ply-
mouth bag, I put into it the Tavistock bag, and the
Plymouth bag was then tied up. I sealed it, and the
bag was taken to the door and given to the mail
guard, who was in waiting to receive it. There are
several other letters not registered, produced by
Gibbons, addressed to Plymouth, which all bear the
inland office date starer of the Ist of January; and
they would in regular course have been conveyed in
the mail bag of that night to Plymouth. C. Holder,
Esq., Manadon, near Plymouth; Miss D. Cannon,
Horribridge' near Plymouth; Mr. H. W. Snell, 5,
Octagon, Plymouth ; Captain Milman, of the Sir
George Seymour, care of J. B. Wilcox, Esq., Ply-
mouth ; Mr. John Tregoe, Devon and Cornwall
Bank, Plymouth ; Mr. Wallace, 25, Park-street,
Plymouth, are the addresses upon those letters. I
made up and dispatched, also, on that evening, the
Devonport mail bags. Amongst the letters pro-
duced by Gibbons are two bearing the inland
office date mark of that evening; one to Mr. Gran-
ville, jeweller, 48, Fore-street, Devonport; the other
to Mr. W. C. Cox, 89, Fore-street, Devonport, and
they were forwarded in due course in_the mail bag to
Plymouth.
Leman Barrett, of No. 1, Mary-place, Stoke
Damerel, said—l am a mail guard employed by the
Post-office. I was the guard of the night down mail
train from London to Devonport of the Ist of
January. On that evening I received at the General
Post- office the mail bags and sacks to be conveyed by
the Great Western Railway. Amongst these were
the Truro and Penzance sack, the London and Ply-
mouth bag, and the London and Devonport bag. I
accompanied these bags in the Post-office accelerator
to the railway station at Paddington. The bags were
then taken out and placed in the Post-office tender,
and I rode in the tender with those bags to the rail-
way station at Bristol. On the way, between Chip-
penham and Bath, I arranged the bags. The Ply-
mouth and Devonport bags I laid on the right hand
side of the carriage ; the Truro and Penzance sack
was laid on the left of the door. We reached Bristol
at ten minutes past one, and I there took out three
bags for Bristol, and put in the Taunton and
Exeter bags. I then got out of the tender and
locked the door, leaving the bags in the situation in
which I had placed them ; they were then in the same
state as they were when I received them in London.
I then went into the travelling post-office. The
train remained at Bristol from four to six minutes