The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-03 00:00:00

OVER LAND MAIL

We have received journals from Bombay to the 20th
of May, and Calcutta to the Bth.
There is very little stirring. The affair of Mooltan
still occupied the public attention, but nothing of im-
portance had since occurred.

Mr. Wilkinson, the apothecary, who was reported
to have been killed, has, we are happy to say, escaped.

We understand that the result of the deliberations was
that no troops should be dispatched; and the wisdom for
the determination cannot be for a moment doubted.

From Mooltan itself we have very little. The only
item on which any dependence can be placed is to the
effect that the Dewan was so closely watched by his own
troops that any attempt on his part to fly to Lahore, and
endeavour to exculpate himself, would be useless.
Our Malta correspondent informs us that various
councils have been held at Malta respecting measures for
the defence of that important naval station.
The whole of the troops in the Jullunder Doab are
said to have been warned to hold themselves in readiness
to move at a moment's notice ; but we think it very
unlikely that any actual march will take place until after
the monsoon.

In Bombay considerable indecision has prevailed. On
the arrival of the last steamer from Sinde, with a re-
quisition for reinforcements, an express was, it is be-
lieved, sent to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief,
then at the hills. The consequence was that the officers
of her Majesty's Bth Regiment, on leave at Mahabu-
leshwur, were ordered to join their corps without delay,
and a division order was issued at Peonah, directing a
wing of her Majesty's Bth Regiment to be in readiness to
proceed to Bombay, and thence to Sinde ; a wing of her
Majesty's 22d Regiment to proceed to Bombay for gar-
rison duty, and a detachment of the Ist Grenadier regi-
ment of Native Infantry to proceed to 'Anna,
and relieve the wing of the 29th Na-
tive Infantry there stationed. A troop of
Horse Artillery was likewise ordered to prepare to
move. It was also reported that the 24th, 26th, and
29th Native Infantry, at Bombay, would in all
likelihood be sent without delay to Kurrachee. The
order, however, for the officers of her Majesty's
Bth to join their corps was shortly afterwards can-
celled, and no actual movement of troops took
place from Poonah. On the morning of the 17th, Sir
Willoughby Cotton arrived in Bombay—we believe most
unexpectedly. He came down to attend the meeting of
Council and assist in the decision of the point whether
troops, were, or were not, to be sent to Sinde.
(From the Summery of the Bombay Times.)

Mooltan matters seem to continue in nearly the same
condition as at the date of our last. The accounts then
given of the unhappy occurrences which led to the mur-
der of Vans Agnew and Lieutenant Anderson appear to
have been in most particulars substantially correct. The
apothecary, the artilleryman, and some of the servants
attendant on the mission, have some time since returned
to Lahore. They were everywhere kindly treated by
the people as they passed, and saw no discontent or
tendency anywhere evinced to join the insurrection.
The outbreak appears to have been accidental ; the
Nizam ;had placed nearly 100,0001. of his savings
within our reach, and remitted the balance of his
tribute to Lahore, just as our mission departed.
Finding himself fairly committed with us through his
people, he seems to have determined on making the
most of his position ; and now that willing hands and
ready swords have presented themselves on all sides
of him, seems ready to try the chance of war.
Mooltan has been fur years a place of refuge for
Seikh and Sindian malcontents, and how we should
have tempted them with a convoy so weak as that sent,
seems inexplicable. It is said that the malcontents,
idlers, and disreputables from all sides, are anxious to
take service under the Nizatn. The preparations for
immediate advance when the news of the insurrection
was first received, have been discontinued; alarm has in
a great measure subsided, and there will in all likelihood
be no military movement at Mooltan till October, and
by this time it is not unlikely that the Dewan, seeing
the desperate state of his position, may endeavour to
make terms. With three moveable brigades close at
hand—with a Seikh army of 25,000 men, who have
behaved to admiration in all positions under us—with
17,000 men in Sinde, and a mortar battery and heavy
guns at suklcur, a splendid battering train at Feroze-
pore, a willing ally in the Khan of Bahawulpore—with
50,000 men and a hundred guns on our frontier, and
Mooltan bordered or penetrated by three rivers navi-
gable by river steamers, the whole affair betwixt us will
be settled in a wonderfully short space of time when the
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artillery have been dispatched from Loodianah to Feroze-
pore, to protect Bahawulpore, if necessary. Shere
Singh, and 3,000 Seikhs, have been dispatched direct to
Mooltan to protect the villagers from the ravages of the
ruffians collected in the fort, and perform any other
piece of service they may be fit for. Throughout all
parts of India profound peace prevails. Frequent col-
lisions have of late occurred between the troops and the
rebellious subjects of the King of Oude, and it is thought
we cannot much longer forbear meddling in the affairs
of the Lucknow ruler. Storms of rain and hail have
occurred at different points all over India, and consider-
able damage has been occasioned to the small craft in the
Hoogly by the sudden rise in the river, technically called a
bore. The abolition of the Bombay Chamber of Com-
merce has been talked of, but we trust the commercial
community will think better on the subject. The Right
Honourable the Governor held a levee and a durbar in
the Town Hall on Saturday last, at which nearly all the
leading members of the civil, military, naval, ecclesias-
tical, mercantile, and native communities were pre-
sented to his Lordship. The steamer Feroze was named
by the Viscountess Falkland on Thursday last, on the
' o,nasion of the launch of that magnificenn vessel. The
Governor and family go up, it is said, to the Deccan
early in June. Sir W. Cotton returned unexpectedly
from the hills on Wednesday morning, to attend the
council held that day, to decide on the necessity or other-
wise of immediately dispatching troops to Kurrachee.
He returns to Mahabuleshwar in a few days. The
weather at Bombay is singularly cool for the season.