The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-03 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Winchester, March 2.
The Judges going this circuit, Mr. Baron Rolfe and Mr. Justice
Erie, arrived her.) on Saturday last. They ere met by the High
Sheriff, John Beardmore, Esq., and his trainw, at about two o'clock,
and immediately proCeeded to open the commission with the usual
formalities.
Yesterday (Sunday) both the Learned Judges attended Divine ser-
vice at the Cathedral.
The business of the assizes commenced this day. The cause list
contains an entry of fourteen causes, of which two are marked for
special juries. Mr. Baron Rolfe, who presides in the Civil Court,
has disposed of eight of the common juries this morning, of which
several were undefended. The special juries are fixed fur Wed-
nesday.
The calendar is very heavy, containing the names of ninety-five
prisoners. The crimes with which they are charged are also in many
instances of a very serious character, there being two charged with
murder, one with manslaughter, one with attempt to murder by
poison, four with unnatural offences, three with rape, twelve with
burglaries, and a like number for highway robberies. It is a circum-
stance deserving of the greatest attention that in this long cata-
logue of crime, out of the whole ninety-five prisoners only one is pos-
-I,olal of superior education, fifty-two can read and write lamer-
tly, while thirty-two can neitherjead nor write at all, so that it
would seem that more than the usual amount of ignorance to be
found in rural districts exists amongst the poorer inhabitants of this
county. •
There is a report prevalent in the town that Lieutenant Hawkey,
'aim, cur readers may remember, was one of the principals in the un-
happy duel which took place some months since, near Southampton,
the result of which was the death of Captain Seto!), will surrender
to take his trial at the present assizes ; but we believe the fact to be
that Lieutenant Pym, who was Mr. Hawkey's second at the duel,
will surrender and be tried, bnt that Mr. Hawkey will nut do so at
present.. We understand that Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Sergeant King-
lake are retained for the defence We need scarcely say that the
above report has caused considerable excitement, as the parties are
.so well known in the neighbourhood. Nothing of importance has
taken place in the Crown Court to-day.

OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Reading, March 2.
• - CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PLATT.)
Charles Ford, aged 27, was indicted for having, on the night of
the 20th of December last, unlawfully entered some hind, the pro-
perty of tke Earl of Falmouth, armed, and in pursuit of game, and
for assaulting William Wood, one of Lord Falmouth', gamekeepers.
Wood and two other gamekeepers went out on the night in ques-
tion to a place called Bannister's coppice, and at about 25 minutes
to one in the morning they heard the report of a gun in the direc-
tion of Chaplid's coppice, between which and the spot they then
were watching in runs the River. Kennet. They immediately went
towards the coppice whence the sound proceeded, and before reaching
it heard two more reports, and actually saw the stock of the gun in
the last instance. On going farther they perceived three men under
a tree. Wood, who was the foremost of the three, tried to take
them, and, although two got off, he laid hold of the smock-frock of
the third, which tore in his hand, and this man also made his escape.
A close Pursuit. was the consequence, and . on Wood coming up
with the poacher he found him fighting with Saunder,i, one of the
other gamekeepers. A scuttle ensued, and Wood was thrown down,
and his assailant also fell ; a man whom the poacher called "Bob "
joined in the fray, and Wood was severely beaten with a. short gun.
Wood identified the prisoner as the party wh, was fighting with
Saunders, and by whom he himself had been struck. Another cir-
cumstance corroborathay, this evidence was, that in the scuffle the
man had lost his hat ; a hat was afterwards found near the spot in
which the prisoner's name was written, and which wits clearly
proved to have belonged to him.
whom f
I. Williams wasri nor. -Semerset. prosecuted ; and Mr. J. ros, with
defended the p
The
Short Learnedeliberation Ju,no thEe prisoner Guilt havin summedy
up, the jury found, after a
d
Mr. Baron PLATT passed sentence of transportation for ten venni
No other case of interest came ou in this Court to-da
S y.piCer, accused of having murdered his wife, will be tried' awt athrd
f the Court on Wednesday next.
°Pllllitng
the Nisi Prins Court. the Lord Chief Baron was occupied the
grater part of the day 111 trying an action of trespass, in which the
alleged to have erected a pig-stye on land not his own.
clue
possessed
nothing of interest.

CENTRAL -CRIMINAL COURT.
SENTENCES AND SESSIONAL RESULTS.
Appended Is an officially correct account of the principal sentences
passed in the three Courts, together with other minor results and
adjudications :
Leath—Thomas William Wicks, 20 (for murder).
Banishment—The under-mentioned convicts were sentenced to be
transported beyond the sea fur the periods set against their respective
names :
For Life—T Tovin, 44 (for rape), Feacy (manslaughter).
Twenty Years—J. Stone, sen., 50 (for arson).
Fifteen Years-,031. Reason, 24, A. Jones, 20, E. B. Carey (for
forary)•
Ted Years—J. Williams, J. Murphy, J. Brasington, G. Breston,
G. Ryan, 22, W. Lawson, IL Weston, T. Miles, J. Doyle, alias
19, J. Kelly, alias I'. Towel!, 19, G. Brown, alias W. Cullum,
Louts Phillip.
Seven Years—G. Smith, 19, W. Dixon, 10, G. Hopkins, S. Soper,
T. Goodey, W. Howard, 19, W. Dobson, 17, Adam Hay, T. Cox,
-J. Morley, Mary Ann Smith, 43, Sarah M. Chamberlain,
Imprisonment wtih Hard Labour-The following were erdered
be Confined to hard labour in the House of Correction for the coati-
tles wherein the offences were committed for the periods named :

For Two Years:T. Brown, P. Thompson.
For Eighteen Months—Mary Wilson, J. Stafford, H. Brown,
Eleanor Clayton, Rivers Tuck, H. Winton, G. Cooper, W. Satoh.
For one Year—W. Brett, J. Walker, Fanny Goldsmith, Ann
Weston• H. T. Kellerby, Ann Jones, S. W. Alabaster, R. Hickratt,
j. Leggatt, J. Weston, 11. Davis, W. Parke, R. Williams, J. Mur-
phy, J. Wllmott, C. Pearson, H. Stevens, U. Hester, W, M, Higgins,
T. Jones, T. Davis, T. Glynn, R. Lamb.
For Nine Months—G. Melts, C. Chubb, T. Wilner, T. Bench,
sJiZ Months-J. West, alias Rogers, W. Lapham, F. T. Pepe%
Harriet Rachael Steggie, Phoebe Dredge, Ann miner, Mary Fletcher,
Mary Ann Morgan, W. Fostlowaite, It, osb•ras, alias Emery, X. T.

Knight, G. Smith, 30, W. PaSSMOre, J. Westbrook, W. Austin, R.
Thorpe, F. Whale, H. J. Peterson, T. Lowe, J. Ward, G. Smith, 19,
W. Francis, T. Shields, J. T. Syers, H. Hunter, Mary Martin, J.
Risen, E. Chits.
Four Months—J. Green, Catherine Hulbert; J. Smith, I. Barnes,
Three Months—Emily Elwood, Elizabeth Gard, Elisabeth Webb,
W. Smith, G. Mitchell, J. Ferguson, J. Gibson, J. Smith, W. Jones,
G. Cripps. T. Cripps.
Discharged by Proclamation—T. Clark, T. Russell, G. Langston,
C. Llewellyn.
Acquitted and Discharged—T. Brown, W.
MGro aves F
, T. Smith, R.
Davis, W. Seeley, T. Silk, Mary A. Morgan, ry Smith,
H
Bolt, William Newell, T. Olpin, A. Sellis, T. Stone, jun., H. Bolden,ln
W. Bentley, W. Dovor, T. True, H. Stagg, J. Adams.
Adams, jun., A. Adams, J. Rogers, W. Groves, T. Jenkins, H. Hale,
J. Hill, W. Ford, Mary A. Goldsmith, Mary A. Rogers, Mary A.
Keeley, Ann Stone alias Ann Hyde, Mary A. Morgan, W. Richard-
son, W. Franklin.
Minor Sentences and other Adjudications—Imprisoned for two
months, 5 ; for six weeks, 2 ; for one month, 6 ; for fourteen days
and under, 8 ; for one hour, 1. Privately whipped, 4 ; surrendered
for trial, 8 ; acquitted, 33 ; remanded and traversed, 4 ; judgments
respited, 4 ; discharged on recognizanes, 2 ; admitted as evidence, I ;
confessed guilt, 21.
The session having terminate], the Court adjourned to Monday, the
30th instant.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT at GREEN-
WICIL—THREE LIVES LOST.
On Saturday an accident of a very distressing charac-
ter, by which three persons were prematurely hurried
into eternity, occurred in the extensive chemical works
belonging to Mr. Hills, situate near the Pilot, East
Greenwich. From the few particulars that could be ob-
tained during the confusion that prevailed, we ascertained
that three men, named Francis Reeves, Thomas Birken,
and Richard Middleton, were employed in the factory
cleaning out a large vessel in which some chemical pre-
paration had been. The two former had hardly got to
the bottom of the vessel when the fumes of the spirit
contained therein overcame them, and they both fell
senseless on their faces.
The other unfortunate fellow not perceiving what had
happened, or else desirous of assisting his fellow-work-
men, also descended the same vessel, and almost in•
stantaneously shared the same fate. An alarm was im-
mediately raised, and several persons quickly repaired
to the factory to render assistance. Upon gaining the
ill-fated utensil, a lamentable sight presented itself.
The three poor men were observed lying in a heap at
the bottom. What to do for the best the parties present
scarcely knew, but the foreman of the factory, more
bold than the others, instantly leaped into the place,
with the hope of rescuing the men. In this praisewor-
thy endeavour he was foiled, for no sooner had he got
into the vessel than the fumes also overcame him, and
had it not been for the extraordinary exertions of others
he must likewise have perished ; as it wlks he was got out
alive, but in a very exhausted state.
As soon as possible the three others were got out, and
a surgeon was promptly in attendance, but not in time
to be of any assistance, life in each being extinct. The
bodies were subsequently removed to a neighbouring
public-house to await the coroner's inquest. It is re-
ported that the men had received strict injunetions that
they were not to enter the utensil until they bad tried
the same with a lighted candle, to ascertain whether or
not it was perfectly safe. This order, it seems, was not
attended to, and the fatal consequences that followed was
the result. It is stated that two of the deceased have
left large families unprovided for.
An inquest was held yesterday, at the Pilot Tavern,
East Marshes, Greenwich, on the bodies of the three
unfortunate men, when the jury agreed to the following
verdict :—" That the deceesed, Richard Middleton,
Francis Reeve, and Thomas Middleton, had met their
deaths by suffocation from the effects of sulphureted
hydrogen gas, which had escaped from one still to
another still, and that this was owing to the deceased
Middleton himself, by his neglecting to supply water to
the other still."

THE ARMY.
INCREASE OF THE ARMY.
CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM.

HORSE G [YARDS, FEB. 20.

The following augmentation to certain corps of ca-
valry and infantry having been sanctioned by her Ma-
jesty's Government, officers in command of the regi-
ments and depots concerned are requested to use their
utmost exertions in raising men to complete their corps
respectively to the proposed strength. The men so
raised are to be borne as supernumeraries until the Ist
April next, from which date the increased establish-
ments will be authorised by the War Office.
1. Four men per troop to be added to the following
17 regiments of cavalry, viz. : -Ist, 2d, 3d, 4th, sth, aed
6th Dragoor. Guards ; Ist, 2d, and 6th Dragoons ; and
the 4th, 7th, Bth, 10th, 11th, 13th, and 17th Light
Dragoons.
2. An augmentation of 400 rank and file to eight
regiments of infantry at home, to be hereafter specially
named.
3. An increase of 200 rank and file to the following
27 regiments of infantry, the service companies of which
are now serving abroad-viz., Ist battalion Royals, 7th,
14th, 15th, 16th, 19th, 33d, 34th, 35th, 38th, 46th, 48th,
52d, 54th, 60th (2d battalion), 66th, 72d, 73d, 77th, 79th,
82d, 88th, 89th, 93d, and 95th Regiment, and Ist
battalion Rifle Brigade.
In order to provide for the immediate recruiting of
those regiments and depots of infantry, an additional
sergeant and corporal may forthwith be appointed to
each company at home, without the necessity of any
previous reference to the officer commanding the regi-
ment abroad ; but the appointment of the remaining
six non-commissioned officers of each class to be allowed
on the new establishment must be reserved for the ser-
vice companies, where they will be appointed on the re-
ceipt of the order, and from whence they will be sent
home by the earliest opportunity, together with any
others who may be at the same time supernumerary to
the regular establishment of these companies.
There will thus be 26 non-commissioned officers of
each class with the depot, and only 24 with the service
companies, exclusive of staff serjeants, but has not only
the recruiting of the whole corps, but the staff of the
depot is to be provided for, the distribution now pre-
scribed has been deemed expedient.
In the regiments .
,thus augmented to 1000 rank and
file, the drummers will be equally divided between the
service companies and depot.
With regard to the regiments about to be augmented
to 1,200 rank and file, they will for the presed'remain,
as heretofore, consolidated in 10 companies, but it is in-
tended that they shall hereafter be divided into two
battalions, of six companies each, in the same manner as
those already organised on that footing.
After this separation, and during the period both bat-
talions may remain at home, the non-commissioned offi-
cers will be equally divided between them, but when
ordered to proceed abroad, the Ist battalion will embark
24 and the reserve 28 non-commissioned officers, leaving
eight of each class at the regimental depot ; there to be
maintained by the battalions to which they respectively
belong, exclusive of those who from time to time may be
sent home for immediate discharge.
In order to provide for musicians, &c., the Ist batta •
lions of those corps, as well as the service companies of
regiments, will henceforth be permitted to embark 560
rank and file, but they will carry with them only 540
stand of arms and sets of accoutrements ; and reserve
battalions not being allowed bands will, as heretofore,
consist of 540 rank and file.
In regiments on an establishment of 1,200 rank and
file there will be 10 drummers with the Ist battalion, 12
with the reserve, and at the depot.
The services of an ensign at the depot of these regi-
ments will no longer be required; each of the battalions
will provide a lieutenant for that duty, and the captain
will be furnished by the battalions alternately.
These instructions will be understood to apply as well
to regiments already formed as to those now proposed
to be augmented, and they will be expected to conform
to them accordingly. . _ _

By command of Field-Marshal the Duke of We'
lington, Commander in-Chief.
JOHN MACDONALD, A.G.

ARMY ESTIMATES.

The army estimates for the year ending 31st of March,
1847, provides for 108,608 officers, non-commissioned
officers, and rank and tile, and 6,250 horses for the
United Kingdom and colonies. The number of her
Majesty's troops to be employed in the East Indies
is 30,497 officers, non-commissioned officers, and rank
and file, and 3,506 horses. Of these troops 6,011 are
officers, 9,994 non-commissioned officers, and 123,100
rank and file. The cost for the land forces employed in
the United Kingdom and colonies will be 3,776,0001. ;
and for those stationed in the East Indies 976,5171.
The votes fur stair officers will be 169.4351. ;
Public departments, 94,4391. ; Royal Military College,
17,043/. ; Royal Military Asylum and Hibernian
School, 14.323/., volunteer corps 8,2751., and unprovided
services (of former years) 36,3011, making a total to be
provided for (deducting the cost of troops employed in
the Ea,t Indies, appropriations in aid to the amount of
20,5050 of 4,169,701/ The charge for the non- effective
service, consisting of 75,316/. (after deducting appropria-
tions in aid) is 1,913,204. Total charge for the eff ctive
and non-effe.ctive servie, s, 6,082,901/. The non-effective
service comprises rewards for military service, army pay
of general officers, full pay of retired officers, half-pay
and military allowances, foreign half-pay, widows' pen-
sions, compassionate allowances, &c. ; in-pensioners and
out-pensioners of Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals,
and superannuated allowances.
ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.

The Ordnance Estimates for the year 1846-7, are—For
the effective services, 2,594.3521.; and for the non-effec-
tive services, 123,5821, teing an addition to the esti-
mates for the year 1845-6, of 401,4471. The charges
for the respective ordnance corps are as follows:—Royal
Engineers, 97,0001.; Royal Sappers and Miners, 45,3901.;
field-train Royal Artillery, 36,2691.; Royal Horse Artillery,36,o43/. ;
riding-house troop, 1,5781; master gunners, 4,0741.;
3tc4ct.)otra,pialsB 1
i. ;
department, 1,8121.; medical department,
11,0091.; miscellaneous hospital expenses, Divine
service, movement of troops, and recruiting,
supplies,lB ordnance99l Pay, allowances, and contingencies of the
. 575,6701. Commissariat and barrack
ments :n the United° 'ldcitalgndee,, office, 95,6031. ; establish-
wages of artificers and labourers, an,d827,1372is 3oortiOnoa2n/c.
e;
stores for land and EPIt SerViCere4rlso
build-
ings, and repairs, 660,4061. ; scientific ; •.% urlts,
The non-effective service for the ensuing year esti-
mateda6rle327ll2B,sB2l. Total effective and non-effective
at
2,717,9341. Under the head works, buildings,
&e., and abroad,ng;
B,secr.vices, ,
we have for fortifications at
263,96 q. ; ,1951. ;
barracks, 340,052 1
for vrdnamod civil buildings, 251

FIRE AT THE RESIDENCE OF THE COUNTESS OF
WEsTstotterAtio,—On Sunday night an alarming lire occurred at the
residence of the Dowagel, COntess of Westmoreland, No. 8, Dorset-
Pi4ce. A few minutes after her Ladyship 1240 retired to rest on the
above mentioned night she discovered that the
candle having aced-
room were on Apo, owing, it is supposed, to the
&litany fallen against ppm. Miss Dovien, who slept In the same
Mom, ineffectually trie',l to extinguish the flames, and received some
injuries in the attempt; and the fire assuming an alarming appear-
ance, the two ladies gave an alarm, and fortunately succeeded in
making their escape. The engines were shortly in attendance, and
the flames ware subdeed, with no damage beyond the partial destruc-
tion cf the furniture in the apartment,
TgE EARL of MAR.—We are authorised to state that
there is not ens word of truth in the report that Lord Mar has been
seized with apoplexy and not likely to recover. His Lordship never
had any such attack, and le 43 Roffoct 3iotail.--Alintol4l4

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
.HOUSE OF LORDS, March 2.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock. •
IRISH RAILWAYS.
Lord MONTEAGLE rose to present a petition from
certain individuals in Ireland, praying that some trifling
irregularities which had occurred in the serving of
notices on parties connect d with a line of railway
between Wexford and Carlow, might not impede ,
the passing of those works through the Standing. Orders'
Committee. The expediency of passing measures to
facilitate the providing employment for the Irish people
was denied by no one; and their Lordships, as well as the
other House of Parliament, seemed to feel that these rail-
roads were the most natural and most useful source of
employment. They complained that a stop might be
put to these works unless the House interfered. He
gave notice that to-morrow he should call the attention
of their Lordships to the petition.
PROTECTION.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented thirty-six peti-
tions from various parishes in Montgomeryshire, praying
that protection to agriculture may be continued. He
also presented a similar petition from Fermoy, in the
county of Cork.
PROTECTION OF LIFE (IRELAND) BILL.
Lord BROUGHAM said that highly approving of
the general scope of this measure, introduced by
the Noble Lord (Earl St. Germans), and as there
were seme important amendments to be proposed by
his Noble and Learned Friend Lord Denman, who was
absent, he (Lord Brougham) should; as the organ of
his Noble and Learned Friend, suggest that the Bill be
considered in Committee to-morrow, or they might
commit it pro forma now, and re-commit it for the
consideration of the amendments to-morrow.
The LORD CHANCELLOR suggested that it would
be better to have the Bill printed and laid on the table
te-morrow, and that they should go into Committe on
Friday night, which was agreed to.
IRISH COERCION BILL.
Lord GREY rose and said, that unless some change
took place in the Coercion Bill, respecting persons who
were found out before sunrise and after sunset, he would
feel it his duty to move an amendment.
Lord CAMPBELL said that a power should be
given, when it could be made to, appear that a fair
trial could not be had, to change the venue to some
country or other place where a fair trial could be
secured.

A NOBLE Loan suggested the propriety of post-
poning the second reading until Monday, when
Lord BROUGHAM said his Noble Friend was not
aware that the Earl of St. Germans was leaving town
on Friday. •
After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM and Lord
CAMPBELL,
Earl GREY said that he had not had the opportunity
of seeing the amendments introduced by the Lord
Chief Justice, and he could, therefore, only say that
unless these amendments embraced one which he intended
to propose—namely, to mitigate the punishment of
those who might be out after sunset—he, considering
that transportation was much too great a punishment for
the offence alleged; should such an amendment not have
been introduced, he would feel it his duty to divide the
House upon the subject.
The LORD CHANCELLOR believed that the amend-
ment of his Noble and Learned Friend embraced in sub-
stanee that contemplated by the Noble Lord.
THE VICTORIES IN THE EAST—THANKS TO
THE ARMY.
The Earl of RIPON then rose to move the thanks of
the House to the officers and men employed in the
army of India. Their Lordships were never niggardly in
offering their thanks to those whose services were
given to their common Sovereign and their common
country, who had exercised all the powers of
their minds and the strength of their bodies with the
view of promoting the honour, and the interest, and the
safety of the country ; and their Lordships might be
well assured that they never tendered their thanks to
those gallant men without inspiring them with
feelings of gratitude which must toll, and did
tell, in their future exertions,' and contri-
buted to produce those resolute actions for which
they were that day called oa to return their thanks. It
bad always been the desire, in order that the expression
of their Lordships sense of gratitude might be tendered
in the most gratifying and graceful manner ; it had
always, he repeated, been their Lordship's desire that no-
thing in the words in which the thanks were expressed, or
in the manner of recommending them, should prevent
their Lordships from coming to a unanimous vote upon
the subject. That was the course which he intended to
follow on the present occasion ; and in the mode in
which these resolutions of thanks bad been worded, he
thought that he would give occasion to no expression of
dissent from any of their Lordships. It would be his en-
deavour, of course, in the observations he should have to
make to them, to avoid saying anything that would be
inconsistent with this principle. Their Lordships
would bear with him in proposing this vote, if he
stated as briefly as possible,' the circumstances con-
nected with these affairs, for which they were
about to give the thanks of their Lordships' House.
The papers which had been laid upon the table, were not
placed there for the purpose of calling on their ordships
to express an opinion with regard to the political ques-
tion involved. Those papers were laid upon the table for
the purpose of exhibiting to their Lordships one singular
feature in the state of affairs in the city of Lahore. In-
trigues of every kind, violence of every kind, murder after
murder from time to time practised against those who
had obtained power in that state. All those circum-
stances occurred time after time for a long
period, extending disorder and confusion to a
degree that had no parallel even in India itself.
It was obvious that this state of things could not fail to
excite the constant anxiety of the Government, still the
policy which was pursued by the Governor, on
which- he (the Earl of Ripon) did not call
upon their Lordships to express any opinion—was that
it was not desirable for this country to embark in
hostilities for the purpose of attempting to put an end to
the horrors which were taking place. It appeared however
in the course of these transactions, that an idea was en-
tertained among the ruling powers of the Punjaub,
who were exposed to constant apprehension fur their
own lives —a. notion became prevalent among
them that their best chance of securing their own lives
against this powerful and mischievous, and, as it
must in truth be called, mutinous army, was by inducing
that army to pass the frontier and commit itself
to hostilities with us, not for the purpose of
conquests in our territory, but for the purpose of com-
pelling us to commence operations against them, which
should end in the destruction of the army itself. He
believed that this was an unparalleled circumstance in
the history even of uncivilised countries. But it was
not that circumstance alone which justified the 'Go-
vernor-General in assembling an army for the purpose
of passing the frontier and carrying on the war.
It did, however, render it necessary, in convection with
the other events which had occurred in Lahore, for the
Governor-General to consider how he should meet the
contingencies which might or might not arise, and
with that view he directed a considerable force to
assemble near the frontier. There appeared to have
-been great vacillation in the councils of the enemy.
At one time they were for war, and at another they
were terrified at the prospect of it. It appeared that
the person who had exercised the ruling power
—the brother of the Ranee, the mother of the
Sovereign on the throne—it appeared that he, a drunken
profligate, was influenced by a sort of ambition, and was
also terrified by the prospect of be;ng put to
death by the rivals of his power ; and, in order
to secure himself, it appeared that he caused the
assassination of a certain Singh, who was reputed, al-
though he was not supposed to be, the son of the late
Runjeet Singh; and that murder was exceedingly dis-
tasteful to the troops, and induced them to threaten his
life. He subsequently met with his fate, which of late
years had been common to those who had ob-
tained power in that country; he was himself assassinated.
At length there did appear some distinct grounds for
supposing that some mad project was in contempla-
tion. About the end of November intelligence was
conveyed to the Governor-General informing him
that the Seikhs were collecting in the neighbour-
hood of . the Sutlej. The information received
was to the effect that the plan of campaign
which they (the Seikhs) had undertaken, was to move
out of their territory into ours, and attacked it, with
several divisions at different points. This plan of ope-
ration, if it had taken place, would have had the effect
of detaching, on several points, the Seikh army, con-
trary to all military principles, and subjected them-
selves to being operated on in different quarters, so as
to be defeated in detail, while %heir chances of success
were very small. In consequence of this the British
army, or that portion of it, at the head of which was the
Governor-General, concentrated its force at those points
which were threatened. Eventually the Seikh leaders
altered their policy, and several portions of their army,
which had been detached at a considerable distance
from each other, collected near Peshawur, to the num-
ber of about 8,000 men, and 24 pieces of light artillery,
while they had in reserve, partly mounted, from 30 to
to 42 pieces. The Noble Lord here gave a number of
details respecting the collection and concentration of
the Seikh forces on the Sutlej, and the steps which
were taken on the part of the Governor-General
and the British army to meet the threatened
invasion. As soon as it was evident that s
descent was to be made on the British side of Sutlej, it
was deemed expedient to collect the largest possible
force in the shortest time to meet the enemy. That was
done by forced marches, and subjecting the troops to
great fatigue, which they willingly bore, with that cha-
racteristic fortitude which the British army has always
evinced. They arrived at Peshawur in perfect order,
and were immediately prepared, if called upon, for
action. He took up. a position in that neighbourhood
so as to give him the greatest command ; in fact, he took
it on the right flank, and the pass of that district was
consequently rendered exceedingly formidable, and,
under many circumstances, most dangerous. It was ab-
solutely necessary for him to interpose between the etl-
- actionnrt ttdoa ordered
ts
vane; of our army from Moodkee to Ferozepore.
The opposite force was approaching within a com-
paratively small distance, and he was deter-
mined to make an attack. The remainder of the
army amounted nearly to 40,000 men, and he believed
that forty pieces of pennon, were moved forward to
make an attack upon our advance forges. ft was an-
nounced that he had taken possession at Moodkee, and
to advance;
icawaod-enaavtsiitclotee.bes;
it was necessary to take immediate steps to repel that
ious that that policy was a
vvve, very
wise one, because it would bring the other force? into
ret,,,,irmociectrtt 1510,1.gte4,:t
enemy wa4 entirely repulsed with a very considerable
loss of their men and nineteen pieces of cannon. The
effect was that the enemy retired into a position which
was adverse to our interests. Cemmunicatien Kith
Ferozepore was established .by taktng a position qq
right. There were no plans of the battle, or he should