The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-23 00:00:00

LOSS OP THE BOMBAY CASTLE BY FIRE.

THE NORTII-WEST PROVINCES.
We learn from Lucknow that one of the teginients in the
service of his Majesty the King of Oude has been refrac-
tory. Our letters state that 41 on the night of the 17th, the
2.3 d and 46th Regiments of Native Infantry were ordered to
hold themselves in readiness to proceed on service, and that
on the morning of the 18th the betore-tnentioned regiments,
together with some artillery, marched out of the station,
under Brigadier Webber, in order to bring the refractory
corps to their senses. It appears, however, that long before
they reached the spot where their services were likely to be
required, the refractory corps had taken to their heels, leay.
ing their arms and six large guns behind them," It is said
(hut our correspondent does not vouch for the accuracy of
the rumour) that the non-payment of arrears of pay was the
cause of the outbreak. The force under Brigadier Webber
returned to cantonments at seven o'clock t,n the morning of
the lBth, the date of our letter. /f/ofassilite, May 22.
Otders have been issued to some of the regiments on the
frontier to detach recruiting parties to the victuity'of Kangra,
to pick up Hill Rajpoots, who are aid to be found there in
considerable numbers, and most ready to take service. They
are supposed to be, as in Kumaon, descendants of the Rai-
poots driven from the plains in former days. These parties are
directed to complete the ten men per company allowed to
corps on the frontier. Many regiments had previously sent
detachments to beat up for-recruits in those parts of the
country whence such we usually derived. The Jullunder
parties are to receive their instructions from the political of-
ticers in the new territory.--Delhi Gazette; May 23.
In consequence of the paucity of Government notifications
to this date, we have omitted our usual supplement. This
morning, however, brought a considerable amount of in-
teresting matter in the shape of general orders by tho Go-
vernor- General and Commander in• Chief. We give the mot
important, not having time to publish the whole. The Go-
vernor-General has appointed Capt. 11. Hollings to be a
Judge Advocate-General, vice Dyson ; Lieut. Taylor, 11th
Cavalry, to officiate as Second Assistant to Superintendent
of .Ajmeer, vice Stephens, on leave; Capt. Chester, 23d Na-
tive Infantry, to be a Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General,
vice Burnett ; Capt. Gifford, 2d Grenadiers, to he a Major of
Brigade; Coonel Benson, to be S,ip-ndiary Member of the
Military Board, vice Irvine, but to eniain with tin. Go-
verr.or.-General ; Capt. Sturt, to be Deputy Secretary to Go-
vernment, Military Department, Capt. Wyllie, First As-
sistant, and Capt. Banks, to be Second Assistant (vacates his
oSce in the Audit Department). The Commander-in-Chief
removes Capt. Martin, D.J.A.G., to the Presidency, posts
Capt. Hollings to Cawnpore, removes Capt. Pond, ;ember
of the Board, from Ferozspore to Mtiow, posts Capt. Chester,
D.A.A.G., to the Saugur division, and Capt. Gifford, Member
of the Board, to Ferozepore.—/bid.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM THE FRONTIER.
The force before Kangra is becoming daily more respect-
able. It will catr.ist, when complete, of nearly three regi-
ments of Native Infantry, a regiment of Irregular Cavalry,
Captain Fitzgerald's Light Field Battery from Pnulloor,
Captain Christie's ditto from Jullundur, and Captain Swig.
ley's troop of Horse Artillery, with two 8-inch howitzers,
ten mortars, and three 18-pounders, should they be able to
reach, of which some doubts are entertained, with three
companies of Artillery to work the siege guns. Brigadier
Smith, C. 8., of the Engineers, arrived at Kangra from
L re
he latter was to retrace his step
on the 13th inst., as also Captain Napier, from
uanhlboaaah.
Ts on the 15th
to the • tyinks of the Beas, with the view of
accompanying Brigadier Wheeler's force joining and
to bangs, We
understand that Captain Napier consid
guns will have to travel not quite so b d ers the road the
thought. On the 13th and 14th the 3 as it was previously
officers repeatedly reconnoitred th engineers and political
fresh rumours of surrender on the c place, and there were
continued sounds of pre a • last-named day, but the
still plainly heard from theP ration within the walls were
were in error in Stalin idvanced posts. It appears we
the Jullundur route to /i. that Major Lawrence had taken
lowed the short road via Kangra from Utnritser, as he fol-
extract entire fromDeenanuggar. We give the fol-
lowingthe site at Dh the letter of a friend regarding
urmsala which we
n A delightful
spot fora
have already mentioned t—
ot military station and sena:mit= has
been discovered)ithil on the hills which bound the Kangra and
100 Valleys to the north. It is a table tan "
d upwards of
a mile in length and half as touch in breadth, at an eleva-
tion of rather more than 4,000 feet above the level of the sea
On this there is space for two regiments, much more than the
majority of the heroes who compose theta would like for
parade. Water flows in abundance on both sides of the table .
land, which itself stands high and dry. The elevation is not
greater than that of Subathoo, but the climate is consider-
ably cooler, as the spot is open to all the winds of heaven,
and looks the snowy Chumba range, 14,000 feet high, full in
the face. Further up the hill, from 5,000 to 8,000 feet high
you ;use upon another Simian ;sites so level that they seem

- 4 .4011, ..1144414mormappossomm
7 3. Hera. Majesty has been pleasedNto appoint Lieutenant.
Colonel Gough, C. 8., 3d Light Dragoons, Quartermaster..
General of her 3lsjesty's Forces serving in the East Indies,
vice Colonel Sir Robert Henry Sale, G.C.8., killed in action.
This appointment to bear date the 20th March.
4.. Her Majesty has been pleased to approve of the ap-
pointment of Captain Munro, 39th Foot, as Major of Brigade
i to her Maje4v's Forces, Fort William, vice Brevet Major
Douglas, 9th loot, promoted to a regimental majority.
5. Lieutenant-Colonel H. Havelock, C. 8., will act as Ad-
jutant-General of her Majesty's Forces in India until further
orders.
6. Captain
Ex Haines, 4th Foot, is appointed Military Secre-
tary to his ellency the Commander-in-Chief, v e Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Gough, C.B.
7. The Commander-in-Chief in India is pleased to make
the following promotions, until her Majesty's pleasure shall
be known :-
25th Foot—Ensign Sir Robert Barclay, Bart., to be Lieu-
tenant, without purchase, vice Smith, deceased, lith April,
1846.

Ensign Charles Frederick Browne to be Lieutenant, with-
out purchase, vice Gough, deceased, 23d April, 1846.
8. His Excellency has been pleased to ante-date the com-
mission of Major General Aitchison, by brevet, in the East
Indies only, to the 10th of January, 1837.
9. Those distinguished regiments, the 16th Lancers and
31st Foot, are about to return to their native country after a
service in India, the former of 24 and the latter of 21 years,
and although the Commander. in-Chief has recently and so
frequently had occasion to laud the gallant conduct of these
corps before an intrepid enemy, he cannot permit them to
embark without again expressing his admiration of their
continued and conspicuous bravery in all the battles they
have been ethgsged in during this long and eventful period of
their Indian service, whether in Affghanistan, or the more
sanguinary conflicts of 1845-46.
These brave regiments may be assured they will be re-
ceived in their native land by every demonstration of that
patriotic feeling which gallant exploits ensure from their
countrymen._

The-16th Lancers have added to their standards:—
" lilitirtport, AfFgbanistan, Ghuznie, Maharajpore, Aliwal,
and Sobraon ;" and the 31st Regiment will have recorded
on their already highly decorated colours :
" Caubul, Moodkee, Forozestiah, Aliwal, and Sobraon.”
Again must Lord Gough express the gratification it affords
him thus to be able to record his opinion of their merits;
and both these corps are assured their correct conduct in
quarters, and almost total absence of crime for many years
have mainly conduced to the gallant achievements.in the
field their good fortune has afforded them the opportunity to
contribute to.

That every happiness and welfare may hereafter attend
these regiments ta the Commander-in-Chief's ardent desire,
'-tor he must ever feel the warmest interest in the career of
such highly-distioguished regiments.
The Commander-in-Chief congratulates the two officers,
Lieutenant-Colonel M•vowell, and, Lieutenant-Colonel
Spence, who accompanied their regiments to India nearly a
quarter of a century ago, upon now having the honour and
gratification of corn funding them, after such distinguished
service:, on their return to their native land. Lieutenant-
Colonel M'Dowell has never left India since his first arrival.
to hear that James Burt, Esq., surgeon of
her Majesty's 1616 r —ftneerp, died yesterday ut cholera. at
the Royal Wracks in Fort William.—Calcutta Englishman,
May 28.

(From the Calcutta Star, of May 30.)
The Semaphore Report of Thursday evening, announced
the less by lire of the ship Bombay Castle, off Saugur an-
choring buoy, of which melancholy occurrence we are now
enabled ta give the following account, with which we have
been obligingly favoured by a gentleman who was on
board:—
" Having just arrived from Saugur by the Lion steamer,
I address you with a view to give a true statement of facts
relative to the loss of the ship Bombay Castle, which was
destroyed by fire off Saugur Point this morning, being made
public, and something like justice done to the exertions of
Captain Fraser and his officers, at the same time that the
loss of the vessel is made known. The first alarm of fire
was given at about a quarter to twelve on the night of the
27th (Wednesday), and upon coming upon deck he found
the ship was, on fire on the gun deck close to the main
hatch, but this, owing to the excellent arrangements of
Captain FraSer and his officers, well seconded by the exer-
tions of the crew (Chinamen and Lascars), was speedily got
under.
" Shartly after this it was discovered that the vessel was
also on fire forward, close to the chess trees; and the deck
was immediately scuttled to allow of water being poured
upon the burnihg part.
"All exertions were used to subdue the fire, but the las-
cars becaMe so alarmed at the progress of the flames that
the co.itrol' exercised by the officers was much weakened,
though they continued to exert themselves in every manner
that could be looked for front British sailors. Seeing how
desperate all eudeavouis to save the ship must prove, as the
flames were rushing through the main hatchway—the cap-
tain ordered one of the quarter-Boats to be launched, and the
women and children put on board. Thanks to the excel-
lent arrangements which had previously furnished the boats
with oars, rudders, Bte., this was done with comparatively
little difficulty, and the boat safely delivered her freight on
board the Ellen, of London, which was, with several other
vessels, anchored near the spot where the Bombay Castle
was lying.
" Altnost immediately after the boat had left the vessel
the lascars were in the fore part of the ship (commu-
nication with the stern being by this time cut off by the
flames), launched the joliy-boat t:ver the bows, out she was
almost immediately swamped by the rush made to get on
board her. Others attempted to get away on spars and such
rafts as individuals on the spur of the moment could frame—
and it is to be feared that utany, if not most, of these pe-
rished, but the number had not, when I left the spot, been
ascertained. Signals of distress had been made as soon as the
fire forward was discovered, at.d those of the vessels near at
hand who had bo:its ready for the emergency, sent them to
aid in bringing off the people.
" The Cove sent two boats and the Duke one for the pur-
pose, and were the means of saving many lives by their exer
tuns. Captain Ft aser and some of his officers remained on
board till the deck was burning benea h their feet, and quitted
the vessel only when every one that could be removed had
been duly cared for. It is impossible to say too much of their
self-devotion and gallantry throughout.
" Mr.' Childs, the with his leadsman, Mr. Smyth.
showed themselves as cool, zealous, and energetic as men
could possibly be. Mr. Childs, who left the vessel is the
first boat immediately on reaching the Ellen, called for a
volunteer crew of British sailors, which was instantly fur-
nished from the gallant fellows on board—and returned with
them to aid in bringing away the people from the burning
wreck.
" Every hospitality and attention were shown to the suf-
ferers by the vessels which receiv,:d them ; but when were
these wanting from Brithl sailors to those in distress?
" The Bombay Castle, at 3,4 a.m., was one mass of flame,
and at a quarter-past three the masts fell in succesion over
the side, and she drifted from her anchors down upon the
Gaspar land. Shortly before taking the ground she blew
up—the exp:osion destroying about one-third of the vessel—
what remained of her continued to burn till dayligat, when
I carne away.
" Nothing has been saved beyond the clothes which each
hurriedly put on when the alarm of fire was given—the
ship's papers and a few instruments which Captain Fraser
brought away alone excepted.
" Had we been enabled to proceed to sea, which :he state
of the weather prevented, nothing humanly speaking, could
have saved us; but it pleased God to allow us to be over-
taken by the misfortune where aid was at hand, and we have
ever% reason to be grateful to Him who has preserved so
many lives under such awful circumstances."