The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-21 00:00:00

IVt ARCH '2l,

surrender of the Dewan, began its upward march. The
former reinforcements amounted to some 7,000, the latter
to about 12;000 or 19,000 in all, an army nearly equal to
that at present on the Jhelum after her Majesty's 24th
and the 30th Native Infantry rendered unserviceable
through loss of officers on the 13th, had been sent back
to Lahore. Ilahee Buksh, the commander of the Seikh
artillery, who had come over to us about the 18th,
proved himself meanwhile a valuable man in camp,
from his knowledge of the country, and the purpose
and enterprise with which he seemed disposed to exert
himself. Hitherto Shere Singh appears to have
received no material accession of strength. Chuttur
Singh and Akram Khan, son of the Ameer of Caubul,
had both made visits to camp, but neither appears w
have brought troops along with him. On the 27th Lieut.
Bowie, the companion in arms of Major Lawrence
at Peshawur, arrived in camp on parole. He was under-
stood to be the bearer of overtures or explanations of
some sort from Shere Singh; the nature of these had
not transpired. He returned to the camp of the enemy
on the expiry of his parole; all had, according to him,
been kindly treated, and Major Lawrence had been per-
mitted to rejoin his family at Sukkoo, from whom he had
been so long separated. The Commander-in-Chief now
began to clear the countries betwixt his cutup and the
Chenaub of jungle and impediment—a tolerably essential
operation, which had, it seems, been overlooked for a
couple of months—and to erect strong outworks in the
direction of the Seikh camp. . With so tremendous a
park of artillery and supply of mortars as that
at his disposal, it might have been imagined that,
rather than stand still, he would have endeavoured
to approach their position by regular parallels and
covered ways, as in case of seige. Our ord-
nance could have told on them fearfully at a
range to which their shot could not have reached.
On the 30th a party of the enemy was seen prowling
about in quest of our camels as they fed; they were at-
tacked by Lieutenant Chamberlain with a party of
Christie's Irregular Horse (the 9th); 16 of them were
cut down and slain, the rest were put to the rout. Lieut.
Chamberlain himself was slightly wounded, this being
the 16th time we believe that this brave officer has been
hurt in action since 1840. At this time a working
party of 500 Europeans were employed in throwing up
a redoubt on the right face of the camp; they were re-
lieved by a corresponding number at midnight. The
work was carried on from sunset to dawn. Other works
were ordered to be constructed by hired labourers. The
Sepoys guarded the workmen—having themselves, we
presume, declined, as at Moultan, to handle entrenching
tools. The work was conducted under the supervision
of Captain Cunningham and Lieutenant Young of the
Engineers; and the enemy seemed to feel uneasy as they
saw us at last adopting a system against them which
they had pursued so long and with so much success
against us. On the Ist of February a strong de-
tachment, consisting of a- regiment of dragoons, and
another of light cavalry, with four guns. was detached
to bring up supplies from Ramuggur. Reports at this
time prevailed that the Seikhs were about to send down
detachments to attack the force advancing from Moul-
tan—or to operate against Colonel Steinbach and his
Jame° troops; and it is probable that Lord Gough
may propose fortifying his camp with the view of
moving out, if requisite, with the larger portion of his
troops, leaving a small detachment secure within their
defences. Whish's force will probably reach him two
days hence; till then, he is not likely voluntarily to un-
dertake any operation against the enemy. It is said
that after the next great engagement the troops will go
into quarters for the season. They are, in fact, nearly
three weeks' march from Peshawur, and the campaign
cannot be considered :completed till this city, together
with Attock and the Hazareh and Bunnoo countries, be
subdued; operations which would carry us far into the
month of May—a season at which men can scarcely live
under canvas.

The following defence of the 14th Dragoons bad
appeared in the Mofussilite:—
" Having read in the Mofussilite of the 23d of Ja-
nuary an article in which her Majesty's 140 Dragoons
are selected for editorial comment, I trust you will
allow me, through the medium of the same columns, to
ask a few plain and simple questions, and make a few
remarks which will tend to set the public right, and
correct the statements made in that number. Your
readiness in correcting the errors that arise necessarily
when men write on sudden impulse, and during the
confusion that must exist after an engagement such as
was that of the 13th of January, induces me to do so; for
to these circumstances alone, and not to malignity, am I
inclined to attribute the remarks made on the 14th Dra-
goons by your correspondent. Why has this gallant
corps been singled out from all the regiments composing
Pope's Brigade, when the 9th Lancers and the Ist and
6th Light Cavalry were united with the 14th Dragoons
on the 13th of January, in a line of two deep—when the
right and centre regiments were the first to obey the
order to retire by 'threes about,' were the first to break—
when the 14th, which was the last to retire, was the
first to rally—and when the other regiments, on the right
and centre, went three times the distance to the rear
the 14th Dragoons did? The officers of the 6th Light
Cavalry and about 30 of their men formed up with the
14th, and have vouched, and will again vouch, for this
fact. No regiment went about until ordered, and the
14th received the command from Brigadier Pope, whose
ingenuity could devise or conceive no other movement
to the rear but by the word Threes about." The 14th
Dragoons were never ordered to charge at all on the
13th, and could not, as they only formed part of a line of
cavalry. Brigadier Popo halted the line of cavalry
when he caught the first glimpse of the enemy, and
never gave a single word of command, although re-
Freasgtoeodntso dwoi:ioo
wasbl rthenedetrprowee7emasajbydiniff the 14th
with all the senior officers of native cavalry—exceptsp the
command to go threes about,' which occasioned the
confusion in the absence of either skirmishers to protect
the rear, or a reserve to rally upon in retiring. Why
%ere the guns placed in the rear of the cavalry by Bri-
gadier Pope, when in firing they would kill his own
were worse than useless there ; and this
troops—theyagainst
re remonstrance and entreaty ? Why should a
brave body of men; who have always distinguished them-
selves since the formation of their regiment by Dormer,
more than a century and a half ago, and more signally
under Lord Wellington than any other cavalry regiment,
be selected for vituperation when, while united with three
other regiments, they only obeyed the order of the Bri-
gadier commanding ? It looks like trying to sacrifice a
regiment to save a Brigadier, when the fact is that the
14th Dragoons were rallied by their own officers, one
of whom was killed and the other wounded, trying to
save Captain finish, not 800 yards from where they
went about, as soon as they discovered that a panic
had been created by their being, when in front of their
own guns, commanded to retire by a word which would
necessarily tend to insure disorder in a jungle, and in-
crease the difficulty of such a position. The confusion
was created by a sick old man who chanced to get hurt,
and who was, I believe, in the novel position of com-
manding a cavalry brigade in action, and never having
been under fire before in his life. Nothing better can
be expected while such a piece of decrepitude is placed
in command of a cavalry brigade; or rather while such a
system exists as will permit a man weighed down with
years, illness, and infirmity, who cannot mount or
dismount a horse unless assisted by three or four men
and a chair, to command her Majesty's Dragoons and
Lancers, for the first time in his life before the enemy
in the field. A rheumatic, aged, decrepit Light Dragoon
is a contradiction of terms, and would be as loudly ridi-
culed in Europe as if the troops of flying artillery were
led at a review by the Chelsea pensioners."
A letter from Lahore, dated the 18th, says:—" I am
sorry to inform you that Brigadier Pope was mortally
wounded in the action of the 13th, and is since dead.
Captain Unett, of the 3d Dragoons, is the only officer
touched of that corps; he was sliced down the back
about a yard. The corps had 24 killed; no return yet
of the wounded."

Ensign Francis Stanford, from the 53d Foot, vice
Grant, prozioii,d. 14.11 January, 1549.
Ensign Ricliar,' ll.,nry Travers, from the 10th Foot,
vice Alacphenon, promot-e,i. 14th January, 1849.
29th Foot—Captain William Gustavus Blown, from
the 24th Foot, to be Major, vice Smith, promoted in
24th Foot. 14th January, 1849..
By order of the Right Hon. the Commander-in-Chief,
EDWARD LUGARD, Major,
Acting Adjutant-General of her Majesty's forces in India.

CHINA.
The following letter is from a correspondent at
Hong- Kong, dated the 30th of January :
" The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Pekin arrived late on the night of the 22d, with the
24th of November mail. She brings a good freight of
opium.
" All remains quiet in Canton, and the Chinese new
year has passed over easily. We do not hear of dis-
turbances of any kind. The authorities have used every
precaution to preserve quiet, and soldiers have been con-
stantly walking their rounds in the back streets. Their
unusual appearance may, in some measure, no doubt, be
connected with the April question and opening of the
city gates. Little or no alarm is at present expressed
on the point, though it is generally know❑ that the Im-
perial Commissioner is to have an interview with her
Majesty's Plenipotentiary next month, when it is
thought the naval Commander-in Chief, Sir Francis
Collier, will take to the Bogue the Hastings, 74, the
steamers, and other vessels of war, which may have the
effect of preserving quiet.
" The colonial journals are full of the memorial to his
Excellency the Governor, and of the petition to the
House of Commons. No doubt attention will be paid to
it by her Majesty's Government; the number of her
Majesty's subjects is yet small in China, but the magni-
tude of British interests involved is considerable.

•' There has been a fair business doing the greater
part of the month, with improvement in some articles o
import, and the trade seems in a more healthy state than
it has been the last two years at this season; and we
have rarely found so few complaints of the great scarcity
of money at the Chinese new year.
" Of the two staple articles of export, that of tea is
about half a millio❑ pounds short of last year's at this
time; and of silk the falling off amounts to about 3,600
bales compared with last season. Considerable ship-
ments have been made at Shanghae the last six weeks.
" Early this month we had imports of gold from
California, which turned out well, and several vessels
have proceeded with ventures to that coast during the
month.

" Her Majesty's ship Hastings, 74, Sir F. Collier, re-
mains in harbour here, with her Majesty's steamers
Fury, Medea, and Inflexible; the latter proceeds to-day
on a cruise to the coast of Cochin-China. The Arab is
at Whampoa, and Phlegethon steamer off the Factories
at Canton. Her Majesty's ship Scout has been got
afloat, and is daily expected here from the Min to pro-
ceed to Bombay for repairs. The Columbine resumes
her station at Amoy. Her Majesty's brig Mariner re-
mains at Shanghae. The Hon. Company's steamer
Pluto has proceeded to Calcutta.
. .

" The United States ship-of-war Plymouth is still at
Whampoa, and the United States corvette Preble, it is
reported, proceeds to Shanghae and Japan. The Fri nch
corvette Bayonnuise was at Shanghae by the last ac-
counts, of the 22d inst.
" Our latest dates are from London the 24th Novem-
ber, Calcutta the 14th December, Madras the lath De-
cember, Bombay the 9th December, Singapore the 1 lth
inst., Manilla the 15th inst., and Sydney the 2d De-
cember."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE CALCUTTA MARKETS.

(From the Overland Bengal Hurkaru Price current of

Wednesday, Feb. 7.)
GENERAL REMARKS.

The letters per express, with London dates to the 23d
December, came in on the 3d inst. The Bentinck with
the mail was reported the same day.
There has been a steady demand for exports since last
mail left. Stocks and supplies grow scant, and prices
have mostly advanced, or will do so now.
Indigo has sold with great animation, and prices have
4one up 10 to 15 rs. per md. Sugar too has gradually
become more wanted, but Benares having almost run
out of stock, sales are chiefly of date, and not large.
Raw silk is in the same good inquiry, but supplies have
collie in very slowly. Corahs are in excellent request,
but the paucity of arrivals has prevented much business
being done. Saltpetre has remained in steady demand,
and higher rates are paid since the mail came in. Itice
is still being shipped, though not quite so largely.
The third opium sale of tho season, on Monday, the
22d ult., resulted in an average of Rs. 838 3 10 for
Patna. Accounts from China have since been coming
in so favourable that prices rose almost immediately
after the sale. They have ranged about Us. 870, but
during the last few days have got up to Us. 890 for
Patna.

The import market can scarcely be called lower, I,
though in some instances prices are not quite so high as ,
they were. The accounts trom the markets in the north-
west hare not been so generally favourable, but trade
here can only be very partially affected while stocks re-
main as light as they are now.
Manchester cottons continue to sell freely and well.
They have been placed on the market on arrival, and
though some goods have drooped a little the general
range of the market is extremely satisfactory.
Glasgow fabrics have been more generally wanted;
stocks begin to experience some reduction, and as im-
porters do not now hold " advance" goods they are not
allowed to accumulate. The destruction of property at
Moulmein has caused an eager demand for all goods
suited to that quarter.
Mule twist has declined a little, the reduction being
most in No. 50's. This is a dull season for consumption,
and demand is not brisk, though stocks are unusually
low. Bed yarn is stationary in value, and without any
animation in demand.

Metals of European import are generally light in stock,
and prices are maintained. Copper is steady. Spelter
is wanted at a trifle advance. Iron is freely saleable,
and some kinds being scarce command high prices.
The reduction of the Bank interest noticed in our last
speedily improved the value of Company's paper, which
has since been steady at—
New Fives per cent. Rs 0 6 to Rs 0 8 disct.
Siccit Fives
fl 3 0 ~ 3 8 I,
Company's Fours „ „16 0 „16 4 „
Sicca Fours
Tho rate of exchange on England has remained at
Is. 101 d., but there have been few operations of magni-
tude, and little demand for bills.

Freights have drooped a little, but latterly have almost
regained their former position, being now 41. for salt-
petre, and 4L to 41. ss. for sugar, to London.
Indigo.—The demand, both at the public auctions and
privately, has been brisk, Prices have again advanced,
and are now fully 10 to 15 rs per md. higher than at the
date of our last.

Sugar—There was rather more inquiry for sugar
shortly after the date of our last. A few parcels of Be-
flares, nearly all the stock in the bazaar, were taken at
full rates, but the chief sales have been of Gurpatta
date. This kind has been arriving in moderate quan-
tities, and has found a ready sale at 6 2 to 6 8 Co.'s rs.
for usual quality Since the mail arrived an advance of
4 'tunas per m 3. has been paid upon these quotations.
The arrivals of other sugars of native manufacture
have been very limited.
Exports from Ist to 6th February:—
Great Britain ... ... 18,462 mds.
Ditto lihaur ..• 112
Raw Silk—The sales of silk during the past fortnight
have been limited by the small supply at market. Stock
scarcely exists, and the bulk of the November Bund, ex-
cept Bauleah, appears to have been shipped. Some good
Native Cossimbazar has sold at 8 12 Co.'s rs., and usual
common Bauleah 6 4 to 6 8 Co.'s rs. per f. seer. These
prices are rather in advance of our last quotations, and
the market looks up.
Exports as above—
To Great Britain ... ... 1,164 mds.

Silk Piece Goods—Our last reported that the bazaar
was cleared of torahs, and nothing has been allowed to
accumulate since. Bather higher prices have been paid
for any small lots that have come in since, but transac-
tions have been of unimportant extent. Since the mail
came in dealers are asking more, and for ordinary bazaar
goods they want 90 rs. per corge.
Exports as above—
lireat Britain, torahs 7,353 pcs.
choppahs, &c. 473
Saltpetre —The demand for Saltpetre has remained
very steady, and a considerable business has been done
at full prices. All qualities have been wanted. and since
the mail arrived, the market has been taking an upward
tendency.

Exports as above—
Great Britain ... ... 3,339 mds.
France ... ••• ••• 2,494
North America 667
China ... ••• ••• 1,389
Rice—The exports of Rice during last month to Eng-
land were 85,000 bags of 2 mds. each. There is less
doing now, Ibut shipments still appear to proceed on a
fair scale. Prices are quite stationary.
Exports as above—
Great Britain
•• . 22,180 mds.
France 1,500
Mauritius
"' "• ••• 7,900 • but
Shell Lac—Good shell has been in fair inquiry,
for ordinary quality and colour demand is slack.
Lac Dye—The better kinds of native dye from 20 to
25 rs. per md. are saleable.
Jute—Shipments have been large,
prices remaining
without alteration.
Linseed—A moderate business has been doing for
America, but freights to England did not go low enough
to encourage any amount of operations.
Cotton—No sales of any consequence have been made.

Exports as above—
Penang and Singapore ... Ind. mds. nono.
China... ••• none.
Opium—The third opium sale was held on Monday,
0" when the following was the result:—
Jan.
0 —Chests. Highest. Lowest. Average. Proceeds.
Patna... 2205 860 830 838.3-10 18,48,325
13enares 820 840 825 828-2- 2 6,79,075
Accounts from China to the 30th December, coming
in shortly after the sale, reported higher prices there,
and the price of Patna went up to Rs. 875. The Lau-
rick, on the 2d instant, brought down advices from Can-
ton to an early date in January, when prices rather
looked down, but since the steamer's letters were de.
livered the market has risen higher than before, yester-
day's rates being
Patna Co.'s Rs. 190 to 895 per chest.
Benares „ 670 to 875 „
Exports as above—
China ••• ••• 345 chests.
Singapore and Penang ..• 35
FREIGHTS.—The rates of freight were barely main-
tained, and occasionally a decline of ss. per ton upon
our last quotations was taken. Latterly ships have been
filling up more freely, and the temporary downfsl has