The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

OVERLAND MAIL

INDIA.

We hats rec3ived from Marseilles dispatches in an-
ticipation of di mails which left Bombay on the Ist ult.
They bri• g bite •esting intelligence. The affairs of La-
ho:e we • pis , on slowly; the Governor-General, hav-
ing regul, ted $ ,e government of that country, and placed
Colonel Lawrence as resident, and Sir John Littler at
the head of the British troops, left that capital on the
11th of January, and proceeded to the protected Seikh
states, and was expected to reach Putteeallah on the
Ist of February. Mr. J. Lawrence has been named
commissioner and superintendent of the Trans-Suth-j
provinces, and Major F. Mackeson of the Cis-Sutlej dis-
tricts. It was not known if the Governor-General would
proceed to Delhi or would return to Simla. The latter
was supposed the more probable.
The Lahore army has been ordered to be reduced, and
Cortlandt's battalions were ordered to be disbanded.
Some of the old Seikh soldiers were unwilling to retire,
but the Durbar, of which Tej Singh is one of the most
influential members, being supported by the British
troops, had enforced their dismissal. The Lahore Go-
vernment was resolved to limit its expenditure, yet its
difficulties were considerable, in consequence of the pro-
perties of the Government being held by persons un-
willing to give up their " jagheers," or life-rents; but
Government was about to resume some of those
" jagheers." The state of the frontiers of Affghanistan
' was precarious, but the British agents were on the alert;
and even the Nizam of Moultan had repressed some in-
roads of the Beelooches.

The turbulent Akbar Khan had proceeded to attack
the chiefs of Candahar, who are his own relatives, and,
according to the statement published in a Bombay paper,
of the 27th of January, on good authority, he has suc-
ceeded, after some severe fighting, in capturing the
chiefs, and in making himself master of Candahar. It
is said that the Persian Monarch was to be applied to
on behalf of the dispossessed chiefs, but nothing positive
is known on the subject. The proceedings of this un-
principled Vizier, whose name must be ever infamous
from his being the promoter of the murder of Sir
W. H. M'Naughten, are likely to cause some commotion
in Central Asia.

From Sinde nothing remarkable was known. Some
regiments of the Bombay troops had left it on their
return to their own Presidency, as also a portion of her
Majesty's 86th Regiment, and the whole of her Majesty's
17th Regiment. Sir C. Napier was to leave Kurrachee
in the beginning of February, and to proceed to Hy-
derabad. The reports relative to his immediate re-
moval had died away ; particularly as it was stated that
Sir W. Gomm, the present Governor of the Mauritius,
was to be the new Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay
Presidency.
The Booghties were still as lawless as ever on the
frontiers. The Colonel and officers of the Bombay re-
giment of cavalry, who had gone to reconnoitre the po-
sition of the Booghties are now said to have been misled
by a mirage. It was rumoured at Bombay that a strict
examination was to take place into their conduct on that
occasion.

In the interior of India tranquillity prevailed. In
the once distracted provinces of Bundelkund order and
regularity were beginning to be permanently established.
In the Niaam's dominions there was considerable dissa-
tisfaction. The new Minister has a difficult task to
please the conffictiag factions.
The Raja of Nepaul has visited the sacred city of Be-
nares, and has been received with due honours by the
British officers.

In Guzerat the Guicower appears to neglect his duties
as a sovereign in order to make money as a banker. I
Travelling through his centry is unsafe ; the mails are
often robbed. This sysfem cannot long be tolerated ;
and the Bombay Government, as the paramount sove-
reign, must soon look to the propriety of having a proper
police established in Guserat.
It is said, that, in consequence of the conquest of
Lahore, the Government of India feels itself strong
enough tareliminish th 6 native armies, viz., of Bengal by
25,000 men, and of Madras and Bombay by 5,000. This
reduction is to be effected by stopping all recruiting until
the native regiments are reduced from 1,000 to SOO men
each.

The Government of India has ordered the completion
of the Ganges Canal, on which only 20.0001. a year used
to be bestowed. Henceforth, for four years, 250,0001.
will be expended, .by which means it is expected that
within a few years 8,000,000 of acres will be rendered
productive. There is another canal parallel to the Indus,
which can be opened from the Sutlej, and which will
fertilize other neglected districts. This canal was
stopped by the Government of the Ameers, and can be
opened with great advantage and at a very small ex-
pense.

The new Governor of Bombay, Mr. G. R. Clerk, had
arrived there on the 23d of January, and assumed the
reins of government. Llis first acts appear to give
universal satisfaction. Ms chief attention must be di-
rected to the finances of that Presidency, which are very
much contracted by the strange system of taxation prac-
tised by the ion. Company, which compels the growers
and exporters of the two staple products, viz. cotton and
opium, to pay enormous rates; as if there had been no
reduction in the value in the China markets.

The disturbances amongst the Goomsoors in the
lihoond are stated to be nearly put down. They were
caused by some wild fanatics, who imagined themselves
called upon to assert their rights to uphold human sa-
crifices as a mode of gaining the favour of the Deity.
There are no later advices from China than those we
published on the 24th ult.

(From the Overland Bombay Times, Feb. 1.)
Sy:cu./vim—The season of peace is our vacation time,
and we have again a page nearly barren in events of interest
to our readers. The reductions of the Sinde army are in
progress. Her Majesty's 17th and the greater part of the
86th have arrived in Bombay. Fourteen thousand men will
still be left behind to guard Young Egypt, which, while
these are requisite, will continue to draw above a million
and a quarter from India to meet her deficiencies. The
Punjaub is quiet and newsless. Six regiments have already
left Lahore; in a week hence the reliefs will have been com-
pleted. The Governor-General gave a dinner to the officers
on the 7th of January, and in proposing the health of Sir
J. Littler, complimented the newly-appointed commander of
the forces beyond the Sutlej in terms which show how
wretchedly his past services have been rewarded. His Lord-
ship quitted the Seikh capital for India on the 11th. It is
understood to have been determined that the native army
shall immediately be reduced by 25,000 men-15,000 from
Bengal, and 10,000 from the minor presidencies. This will
effect a saving of between a quarter and half a million ster-
ling. The officers, European and native, are to remain as
present. This saving, added to the returns of the Jullunduroe
at
Doab, and the contribution of 220,0001. from the Lahore
durbar, will improve our income by above a million sterling.r
The Ganges Canal, on which 20,0001. annually has hitherto
been grudgingly bestowed, is now to be proceeded with
at the rate of 250,0001. a year ; it will be completed
by 1851. It will irrigate 8,000,000 of acres now compara-
I tively barren, and save 2,000,000 of people from the periodi-
cal visitations of famine. Another canal, leading from the
Sutlej, 90 miles into the Bhuttee country, is being surveyed.
The two, when completed, will improve our revenues by not
less, probably, than 10,000/. to 15,0001. a year—one-tenth of
what is taken from us to maintain our dishonour in Sinde.
Sir Frederick Currie, who, together with Colonel Lawrence,
has so wisely and honestly counselled and assisted the Go-
vernor-General in these glorious arrangements, has been
made a baronet. No man better deserves it. We trust his
coadjutor, the Resident at Lahore, will speedily have a similar
honour conferred on him. Mr. Clerk, the new governor at Bom-
bay, arrived from Calcutta on the 23d of January, and imme-
diately assumed the reins of authority. The expectations of
an auspicious rule under him are sanguine and high. His
predecessor, Mr. Reid, now senior member of the Council,
has gained golden opinions of all sorts of people. Sir T.
111‘Mahon continues Commander•in-Chief by request of the
Horse Guards. His Excellency has of late suffered severely
from sickness ; and, however much his friends may regret to
part with him, they are getting anxious about his safe return
home. The Marquis of rweeddale has returned to Madras.
Mr. Orlebar, professor of astronomy, returns by this day's
steamer to Europe. Mr. Pole, professor of engineering—
both in the Elphinstone College—has resigned. Indisposition
is in each case the reason of retirement. Mr. Meldrum and
Mr. M'Dougall have lately arrived as teachers : no definite
place has yet been assigned to them. The charge of the
observatory has been devolved on the draftsman of the Indian
navy. A heavy shower of rain fell on the 26th ult., and the
weather, which before this was unusually hot for the season,
has all at once become intensely cold, the thermometer sink-
ing so low as 53 degrees overnight—a very uncomfortable
state of matters to all parties.