The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-07 00:00:00

INDIA.

(From the Overland Bombay Courier, Nov. I, 1841.)
We have received no intelligence from China during
the last month of later date than that contained in the
Overland Courier of the Ist of October. The sailing
of the squadron from Hong Kong to the northward has
removed the scene of hostilities to a greater distance
from Bombay. Our communications with the force will
therefore be both less frequent and less rapid than for-
merly. There is but little probability of any news of im-
portance connected with the expedition reaching Bombay
until nearly the end of November.
The topic of greatest interest at the present moment is
the prospect of a war with Burmah. The dates of our
latest intelligence from that country are Moulmein
the 22d, and Rangoon, the 25th of September. The
King (Tharawaddie), was, on the latter day, within
seventy miles from Rangoon, where it was expected
he would arrive in less than a fortnight. Great
preparations were being made for his recep-
tion. Ills Majesty has with him almost the whole of his
army, amounting, it is said, to nearly 50,000 fighting
men, besides a large number of followers, as also women
and children. The number of boats in which they de-
scended the river from Ava is estimated at from 15,000
to 18,000. The Princes of Prome and Pekhan com-
mand the advance and rear guards, the former being one
day's journey in front, and the latter the same distance
behind the Royal camp. The deposed Monarch of Ave,
together with every member of the Royal family, whe-
ther male or female, young or old, is present with the
Court. This has been done as a precaution against rebel-
lion. One old chief of high rank has been left in charge of
Ava, but his wife and son remain with the King as hostages
for their relative's fidelity. The natives of Rangoon were
very quiet, but the European merchants were greatly
alarmed, and were seeking an opportunity of proceeding
to Moulmein. The intentions of Tharawaddie are
doubtful, but it is generally considered that he meditates
hostile operations against the British with the view of
recovering the Tenasserim provinces, which are at pre-
sent in a defenceless state.
The Governor-General evidently thinks the danger
imminent. Immediately the above intelligence reached
Calcutta orders were issued for the despatc of troops to
Moulmein. Transports have been taken up and a
t,;,,,(1 for the occasion. Her Ma-
jesty's 50th Regiment, together with a corps of Na-
tive Infantry and a detachment of European Artil-
lery, amounting altogether to about 1,000 men, have
accordingly proceeded to the scene of action. A
portion of them were conveyed by her majesty's
ship Calliope, which was refitted: for the purpose with
all possible celerity. Various small detachments have
also been sent to reinforce the outposts on the Arracan
frontier. The Forbes steamer has been sent from Cal-
cutta to Singapore to intercept two iron steamers, the
Ariadne and Medusa, which were on their passage from
Bombay to join the squadron in China, and direct them
to proceed without delay to Rangoon. The Honourable
Company's Bengal steamer, Enterprise, which arrived at
Bombay during the last month with a freight of treasure,
has been commissioned at this port by an officer of the
Indian navy, and has proceeded to the
.Irrawaddy. Two
Government schooners have also been fitted at Calcutta
as gunboats, and are destined for service in the same
river. Orders have likewise been given for all officers
belonging to the regiments of the Madras Presidency
stationed at Moulmein, who hold staff appointments, to
join their respective corps without delay.
In Seinde and Affghanistan all has been comparatively
quiet. The Zemindawer force has been broken up. A
portion of it, consisting of two squadrons of Schah
Soojah's cavalry, together with a detachment of horse
artillery, had succeeded in dragging two 18-pounders and
four six-pounders through the pass of Toombruck, after
crossing the river Helmund, and had joined a large force
under Major-General Nott, which had been despatched
from Candahar for the purpose of enforcing the submis-
sion of the chiefs of the territories adjacent to the vallies
of Durawut and Turreen. The late defeat of the rebels
at Secunderabad, notified in our last number, coupled with
the apparent facility with which the guns were conveyed
across, the mountains, appears to have produced a great
moral effect amongst the bill chieftains, may of whom
were hourly tendering their submission. llcr Ma-
.inatv's 40th Regiment, together with the 21it Native
Infantry, have been ordered to proceed to Candahar,
where they are likely to remain for one if not two years.
Altogether, there appears reason to suppose that Af-
ghanistan will soon he tranquillized, and that the refrac-
tory chieftains, being convinced of the futility of oppo-
sition, will cheerfully submit to the influence of their
legitimate Monarch.
The latest dates from Sydney are to the 16th August,
and from Hobart Town to the 16th July.
From Calcutta we have received intelligence per or-
dinary davvls to the 20th, and per express to the 21st
ult. The only important items of
con-
nected with that Presidency local intelligence
are relative to the despatch 1
of re-inforcements to Moulmein, which we have before I
noticed.
The latest date from Ceylon is the 22d ult.

BOMBAY.
India has been remarkably dull•during the last month,
and there are few events to apprise, you of. The most
prominent of all perhaps is a slight insurrection to the
south-weJt of IfyderabtA
,(WAs Highness the ;Nli,zam's

dominions), caused by discontented persons, and fomented
secretly by some of the Mahratta Jagheerdars. For
some time past the whole of the southern frontier of the
Nizam's dominions, and the Company's bordering on it,
has been in a disturbed and unsettled state •, and the
affair at Budamee, in the Company's country, failed to
check the disposition to rebellion which was openly mani-
fested by some of the frontier Jagheerdars. Informa-
tion was given in the early part of this month to
General Frazer, the Resident at Hyderabad, that a
body of 4,000 Arabs, and other soldiery, had col-
lected to the south of Hyderabad for the purpose of
plunder, and a brigade of regular infantry, with
guns and a regiment of cavalry, was despatched in
search of the insurgents. Either the alarm was
false, however, or they had dispersed before the
brigade could reach them, for no enemy could be
found. A brigade of cavalry, which was sent in
another more westerly direction, found a body of insur-
gents strongly posted in a small fort ; they consisted of
Arabs and men of the country, and had been assembled
by a discontented Jagheerdar. The fort was summoned
but without effect ; and the officer commanding the ca-
valry being unable to make any impression upon it with
cavalry alone, sent to the station of Sholapoor for in-
fantry and guns. These arrived in a few days, and the
fort was shelled—badly, however, the fuses of the shells
having been injured ; it is believed a sortie was made by
the garrison upon the guns, but repulsed by the artil-
lerymen (Europeans) and native infantry, and a charge
was made on the retreating enemy by the cavalry. After
this the garrison was admitted to terms, and as a foolish
custom has hitherto been observed in many instances of
allowing Arabs to retain their arms on surrender, with-
out making any distinction as to whether they were re-
bels or honourable enemies, so on this occasion they
were permitted to march out with their arms, pending a
reference to the Nizam's Government. This convention was
disapproved of, and the men were disarmed ; not, how-
ever, before an atrocious attempt had been made to assassi-
nate Colonel Blair, who commanded the force, which
happily failed of success, owing to his personal presence
of mind and courage.
The Arabs were sent to Hyderabad, under an escort
of cavalry, and will be tried for their lives as rebels,
plunderers, and murderers. This is a bold measure, and
will test the stability of the Nizam's Government, and the
fidelity or otherwise of the mercenary Arab soldiery of the
capital. In the event of any capital punishment being
decreed and carried into execution, a rise of these men
is, perhaps, to be apprehended, or the rescue of their
countrymen attempted. Should either of these take
place, there is no doubt that the subsidiary force will
be employed to suppress this insurrection. I trust, how-
ever, that there will be no rise. Nothing can come of it
to the Arabs but expulsion from India, and I can hardly
think that they would risk that for a few rebellious coun-
trymen. Nevertheless, I should be glad to see them dis-
missed fairly, and I think that the Supreme Govern-
ment should insist upon the measure, for the Arabs,
notoriously ill-affected towards the English, are
a powerful body, have a strong position, and
are only of use to their own Government, the
Nizam's, as a means of oppression, not unsparingly
used, in the collection of the Government revenues. The
expense is a serious consideration, and as the Supreme
Government has interfered on several occasions to check
or diminish the expenditure of the State, so this is a fair
opportunity for an exercise of the same consideration,
and a saving of an outlay of upwards of 21 lacs a year at
least, for a very questionable and useless purpose to a
Government which, though not much in debt, is always
in difficulties. While I am on the subject of this State
I will mention to you that the Company's Government
has demanded, and the resident at the Nizam's Court di-
rected the Nizam's Government to pay, the expenses of
the troops which marched upon and captured Budamee,
on the ground that the insurgents were Arabs from the
Nizam's country. The demand amounts to a lac of ru-
pees, or but little more or less. There is no doubt that
the money will be paid, because the Nizam and his
Minister would pay any demand rather than risk a
rupture with the Company's Government with such
a force as there is stationed at the gates of the capi-
tal, ready to be employed against it on any fair pre-
text ; but the grounds on which the demand is made
seem to me, and to every one who knows the circum-
stances, extremely unfair and inadmissible, except by a
weaker to a stronger power. The Arabs w*, it is
true, inhabitants of the Nizam's territories ; they were
unemployed soldiers, ready to take service with any one;
they were not subjects of the Nizam. They were en-
listed by a Brahmin, who had, or pretended to have,
Powers to collect troops from some disaffected Jagheerdar
subjects of the Company, and having assembled on the
frontier they attacked and took Budamee, a hill fort,
which they plundered. The Nizam's civil authorities
on the frontier gave early intimation of this insur-
rection to the Company's authorities. The Minister,
Chundoo Lall, was the first to report it to the Resi-
dent, General Fraser, and means both in money and
the troops of the Government, Arabs and Puthans,
were placed at the Resident's disposal ; and the latter
co-operated with the regular troops, and prevented the
insurgents from entering the frontier, guarding at the
same time several strong places, into which had the
insurgents thrown themselves they could only have been
dislodged at great expense and trouble. This is the true
state of the case, and I confess I see no reason whatever
for the demand. I write this to you, because it is fit
that the Home Government should know that the acts of
its Government here cannot escape public observation
and comment, a consideration which has produced, and
public voice of England is beginning to be sensibly heard
and felt on many very important questions.
The King of Burmah, Tharawaddie, has arrived at
Rangoon with his wives and family, and an army of
70,000 men, with many war-boats. The army is
said to be the best ever equipped in Burmah, and
the object of his expedition only remains to be dis-
closed. At Moulmein it is the decided opinion that
his intentions are hostile, and will ere long he dis-
played. Yet one can hardly imagine, knowing the
difficulty we had in reaching his capital in the first war,
that he should voluntarily place himself, as it were, in
our power at. Rangoon, where he could not fail of being
cut off at the outset of a war from his places of security
up the country, and whence retreat would be impossible.
Again, if his purpose is hostile, he has abandoned an
advantage he might have gained by pouring some of his
troops into his old territory of Arracan, which at pre-
sent is but ill defended. His movement may be one of
eccentricity, and a desire to form a new capital near
the sea, and this is the only probable conjecture one
can arrive at.

On the other hand it is well known that the Em-
peror of China has written to him to "combat the white
dragon"—that he believes U 5 to be powerless from our
wars in China and in Affghanistan, and just now un-
able to employ any force of consequence against him
either by sea or land ; that we have suffered reverses
in China, and that all our energies are directed to
that quarter. His people are eager for war, and
confident in the strength of the army. Stockades
have been erected, and the defences of Rangoon im-
proved; and on these grounds, and the tone of the people
on the spot, it is thought beyond a doubt at Moulmein
that a war is inevitable. The Supreme Government have
taken further precautions. The troops at Barrackpore
have been warned for service. A regiment of her Ma-
jesty's service has gone to Moulmein, and a ship of war
also. These are necessary, as well as spirited precau-
tions, to show Tharawaddie that his movements are
narrowly watched, and events provided against, and•to
revive in his mind a proper dread of that power by which
he was so humbled in 1824-25, and it is to be hoped
cordially a salutary one. A war with Burmah would
likely enough, in the present position of the monarch and
his army, be short and decisive; but it would be very ex-
pensive ; it would tax the resources of the Government
of India in men and money to the utmost ; and would,
which is the most to be deplored, put a stop to all local
improvements, by absorbing the revenues on which they
depend. But if it comes it will be met in no niggardly
spirit ; and there would be another large slice of the
Burmese kingdom attached to British India.

To come again home, if you are not tired of my lan-
guage, I would wish to interest you in the education of
the people of India ; and there is much discussion of a
healthy and vigorous tone at present going on in the Cal-
cutta papers, for thence alone do any remarks on the
subject appear, Bombay and Madras being alike dark
on the question,. _ 'rite discussion commenced in the pub-
lication of a minute on education made by Lord Auck-
land, wherein he recommends that certain sums of money
which had been appropriated to the support of English
classes in several of the Oriental seminaries and col-
leges by Lord William Bentinck, should be restored to
their original purposes, he (Lord Auckland) wishes
that funds previously appropriated to the cultivation
of Oriental learning had been spared, and other
means placed at the disposal of the promoters of
English education ; and further is of opinion that, had
other means been placed at the disposal of the pro-
moters of English education, they might have pursued
their object aided by the good wishes of all. This
is very true, but where are the funds to come from ?
The home Government allows only about 24,0001. per
annum out of the 13,000 sterlino, of Bengal to be appro-
priated for education. The following are the items :
BDParliamentarylnterest
Escheat
ggvleGeer a.
College mn t se
Government Notes Rupees.
8,888
s
3,030
2,666
d
2,065
250
1,701
Agra College
Endowment of Villaces ...... 1,175 lnterest of GovernMent Notes 622 S 1,797

per memsem, equal to about 24,0001. pee 20,387
a
Of this no portion could well be abstracntrleudmirom the
Colleges and Institutions it maintained, but Lord William
Iw2:n 1-
13entinek had established English classes in
leges, and their growing popularity threatened t the
sse col-
leges,
of Oriental learning, few students f(h)
studies in Arabic and Sanscrit, which led to no person
benefit to them. The Orientalists among the old
Civi-
lians, still a strong body, urged on by the Moulvees and
Pundits, have made a strong stand in defence of their
favourite literature, and consider the English educators
in their Colleges to be interlopers with no good intent,
and they grudged the money which went to the support
of the English. Lord Auckland seems to have given
into them at once : the necessities of the English
classes were great, and required further assistance.
i
Ire has not only refused all further assistance n colleges,
but has taken away that which bad been given by his
predecessor.

CHINA.
(From the Bombay Times of Nov. 1.)
We stated in our last that we expected no additional
news from China for the present despatch of later dates
than those formerly given on the Ist of October, and we
find ourselves in the catalogue of beatitude with those
who expect nothing—we haire not been disappointed.

We observe that a statement made by us in our issue of
the 19th July—" That Sir W. Parker manifestly consi-
dered the expedition not likely to close for a year or two
to come"—has occasioned some discussion amongst the
papers last received from England. Of course what we
then said was mere inference ; we know nothing of how
long hostile operations in the China seas may require to
endure. Those who imagine that Sir Henry Pottinger
would in a few weeks reduce matters to order must keep
in view that- Sir Henry himself must have entertained
very different expectations when he summoned first forces
from England, and then war steamers from India. Both
of them have, it is true, been long since despatched ;
but from the time of their leaving they could by no pos-
sibility reach their destination so as to make their ser-
vices available on the China coast before the months of
March or April. This date extends far beyond those
which the more, sanguine have assigned to the whole ope-
rations of the expedition, a date at which we expect ac-
tive operations on a large scale will only just have begun.
Our news by the Atalanta extends to the 24th of August.
It is now the season in which rapid voyages are effected
by sailing vessels, so that before our next monthly issue
we may expect intelligence to the month of October at
least, though we confess we do not look for much news
of interest for some months to come.
The following extracts from a Hong Kong letter, will
be found peculiarly interesting. The information con-
tained is at once graphic and new:—
" What I can tell you of Hong Kong amounts to very
little—l merely give you my first impressions, formed
from what I have seen in one evening and one morning's
visit to a much-abused island. That the harbour formed
by Hong Kong with some of the adjoining islands (and
part of which I believe is the main land) is most splen-
did, besides being a good and safe anchorage, and in
every way adapted for the purposes of trade, none can
otherwise than admit ; on the other hand, it must be
allowed that, from some cause or other, it has proved
fatal to many of our men, and that to such an extent
as, from the first view of the circumstances, to appear
not altogether undeserving of the character it bears—of
being a most unhealthy station. In coming to this con-
clusion, however, Ido net think that all those peculiar
circumstances, totally unconnected with locality, but
which inevitably attend the occupation of a new station,
and more especially in the present instance, are suffici-
ently taken into consideration. I allude to that neces-
sary exposure to the sun during the day, crowded tints,
and to the heavy dews at night, very frequently with
nothing but the cold earth, or at best wet grass, for a
bed, instead of the comforts to which both European
and native soldiers are accustomed. Besides this state of

fatigue and e xposure, nothing has been said of the qua-
lities of that most infernal nectar of the imperial gods,
" sam-shu," which is of course taken, being always easily
obtained from the want of police, or ineffectual state of
the guard over such commodities; nor has that state of
re-action into which men necessarily fall after such ex-
citement and exertion as must have been suffered at the
taking of Canton been taken into consideration. Some
such suggestions cannot otherwise than present them-
selves when you see a spot denounced as the valley of
death,' but which, judging merely from appearances for
health, would certainly be considered a good locality, more
especially when supported in your opinion by the fact
that, since we have known, the inhabitants have enjoyed
good health, and generally attained a more than
moderate old age. Barracks are now nearly completed
for the men who are to keep guard on shore ; they are
built of wood and mats—of course only temporary, but
at present quite sufficient for the purpose. They are
situated on the side of a high hill, which rises abruptly
from the sea just above the part of the island we have
selected for our position, and where the Chinamen have
already built what may be considered, in point of size, a
very respectable village. Mats are, however, the only
walls and roofs at present used, except in two instances
—one a house for magistracy, another most useless
building, I fear, the congee house. Both these are in a

great state of forwardness. Another, by-the-bye, in the
harbour, which I have most unpardonably forgotten to
mention, belonging to the house of Messrs. Jardine,
Matheson, and Company. This substantial building
really appears to have risen by magic. We have not oc-
cupied the place four months before a most excellent
godown of 100 feet long, proportionably deep, and two
stories high, is nearly roofed in and completed—and that
of the finest granite. In front is a jetty running out 100
yards into the sea, and about 10 yards wide, making a
most excellent landing place for boats with merchan.
dise. So much for the place ; now a word or two on
the people. Upon my honour since I have been here (in
China I mean) I have done nothing but open my eyes
and stare—l am astonished at the people. As I have
said before, we have not occupied Kong Kong four
months ; at the time of taking the island I believe the
whole population did not yet amount to 4,000 ; now the
floating population in the harbour is estimated at be-
tween 5,000 and 6,000, the bazaar about 3,000 or 4,000.
At one time there were 1,500 Coolies employed here by
Government, all obtained at a few days' warning—to
give you an idea of the resources on that head. Most
true the Chinamen will do anything for money ; then
their capabilities—most excellent masons, stone-cutters,
brick-makers, carpenters—in fact I defy you to say what
they cannot do ; they certainly are the most intelligent
hard-working race I have ever seen—l am quite in love
with them ! Now I cannot say more about Hong Kong,
as we are just about to start. The people at Amoy are
very cockey, sending down all sorts of impertinent mes-
sages by word of ships, Ex. ; indeed they have a strong
force there, and I dare say there will be
.many broken

.A.I V A% Ail A & • •

(From the Bombay Times, Nov. 1.)
We mentioned in our last that the movement of the
King of Burmah towards Rangoon, attended by an armed
force of between 100,000 and 200,000 men, had alarmed
the Bengal Government for the safety of Moulmein, and
that her Majesty's ship Childers and the steamer Ganges
had been sent down to watch his motions. These, it
would seem, appeared so unsatisfactory and unpacific,
that the Ganges steamer was, on the 30th of September,
despatched from Moulmein to Calcutta, which she
reached on the sth of October. Immediately on her
arrival arrangements were made to strengthen our force
in Burmah. The Indus steamer, her Majesty's ship
Calliope, the transports Roberts and Thetis, on board
of which her Majesty's 50th Regiment has been de-
spatched, were immediately taken up by Govern-
ment. The 47th Native Infantry follow with Artil-
lery, Sappers and Miners, as speedily as possible. The
Forbes steamer meanwhile was sent off to Singapore to
see if it was possible to overtake the iron steamers
Medusa and Ariadne, whieh left Bombay on the 29th of
September to join the China fleet. These vessels had
little hope of being able to-get beyond Singapore for the
season, so that their recal to serve for a month or two
in the Irrawaddy will probably in no shape disconcert the
arrangements of Sir W. Parker in contemplation of their
arrival. The Ganges and Forbes will, we presume, re-
turn to Moulmein without delay. The steamer Enter-
prise, then at Bombay, having been sent round with
treasure, was immediately put into commission. She
sailed from this for Burmah direct on the 28th ultimo.
A steam frigate is expected also to be ordered round
from Bombay. We shall thus have in the Irrawaddy,
besides her Majesty's ships Calliope and Childers, and
the Orissa and Eagle fitted as gunboats, eight powerful
steamers; the most formidable steam flotilla which ever
was convened in the Eastern seas.

The purposes of the Government have not as yet
transpired, and it is likely, indeed, that these will be
guided entirely by circumstances. Nothing could be
more expedient or desirable than the promptitude and
vigour which have just been displayed. From the mag-
nitude of the river portion of the armament, we should
suppose that something very decided, should occasion
permit, was proposed to be done. A better time for
reading King Tharawaddie a lesson, not to be forgotten,
could not have occurred. We shall be able to show
him that, notwithstanding the extent of our engage-
ments in Affghanistan and China, the castigation of such
small deer as he is merely a morning's exercise to the
Government of India, with steamers to help them. Our
forces in the Burmese provinces before the present
movement began, amounted to about 2,500 men, with 20
pieces of artillery ; and the present reinforcement when
completed will nearly double this. For the present ex-
pedition to Burmah—for this second Burmese war as it
may turn out—we are indebted to Captain C. Elliot and
his employers. The belief everywhere prevalent in the
Eastern seas that we had been foiled in China, led, and
very naturally led, the Golden-footed Monarch to seize
the opportunity he considered most suitable for attack.
(From the Indian Papers.)
ButtmAu.--The proceedings of Tharawaddie appear
to have called forth the deepest attention of the
Supreme Government. Our readers will have gleaned
from our summary of Bengal intelligence that nume-
rous reinforcements have been ordered to Moul-
mein. By the arrival of the steamer Ganges at Cal-
cutta our intelligence from the former place has been
brought down to the 29th, and from Rangoon to the
25th of Sept. Tharawaddie was then at Sarawah, about
20 miles above Rangoon, where it was expected his Ma-
jesty would arrive in about ten days. The whole of the
Royal Family, men, women, and children, have accom-
panied the King, who has with him nearly all his army
The number of boats in which they have been conveyed.
down the river is estimated at from 15,000 to 18,000.
Tharawaddie appears to have taken every precaution
against any attempt at insurrection during his absence
from the capital. There is only one man of high rank
left at Ava, and to insure his fidelity his principal wife
and son have been taken as hostages, and travel with the
Court. The general impression on the part of the mili-
tary authorities at Moulmein is, that a skirmish with the
Burmese will shortly take place. That Tharawaddie
meditated hostile movements against the British at the
time he left Ava is evident ; but it is doubtful
whether he will dare to carry them out. Some accounts
state that after his Majesty has approached tolerably
near Rangoon, he was informed of the Chinese having
been defeated and compelled to ransom the city of 'Can-
ton. This intelligence is said to have considerably weak-
ened the warlike propensities of the Golden-footed
Monarch. The power of the Chinese has ever been con-
sidered by the Burmese as greater than that of all the
other nations of the world. The news of the defeat of
the Tartar troops cannot have failed to produce a great
mural effect in Burtnah. It is therefore highly pro-
bable that Tharawaddie will refrain from offensive mea-
sures.

Private letters have been received from Calcutta,
stating that the Bengal Government had despatched the
steamer Forbes to Singapore, with orders for the Ata-
lanta, Medusa, and Ariadne to proceed immediately to
Rangoon. Thu arrival of the Atalanta at Bombay was,
of course, not known at Calcutta when the Forbes took
her departure. This portion of the Supreme Govern-
ment s arrangements will therefore be frustrated. The twoiron steamers will, however, find the order for pro-
ceeding to Rangoon awaiting
Bombay Times. their arrival at Singapore.—

AFFGHANISTAN.
Affairs appear to be tolerably quiet in Affghanistan,
and, with the exception of a talked-of expedition against
the Kohistanees, are likely to continue so. What effect