The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-09 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Cape of Good Hope papers of the sth of August
have just reached us, from which we learn that Pre-
torius, at the head of 400 men, reached Bloem Fon-
tein on the 17th of July, whence he forwarded a
messenger to Major Warden, the British resident,
offering terms of capitulation. Major Warden, find.
ing himself altogether in a defenceless position, and
believing that if he refused to accept the proposition
made Pretorius could compel him to yield by bring-
ing a force of 1,000 men against him, he assented
to the conditions, which were, that he should retire
beyond the Orange River, unmolested, with all
public and private property belonging to British
subjects—thus permitting the Queen's authority, for
a short time at least, to be expelled from the northern
side of ,that river. We suspect that when Sir H.
Smith reaches Natal he will teach Pretorius a lesson
that he will not soon forget. We annex par
titulars
:
(From the South African Commercial Advertiser of
August 5.)
The intelligence received by last post from Coles-
berg, on this side of ithe Orange River, and from
Philippolis and Bloom Fontein, beyond it, brings
the history of the insurrection under Pretorius down
to the 26th of last month.-1

On the 17th of July Pretorius advanced to Bloem
Fontein, at the head of 400 mounted men, and halted
about two miles from the village, from whence he
dispatched a messenger to Major Warden, the British
resident, offering terms of capitulation to prevent
unnecessary bloodshed by a hopeless resistance to so
superior a force. Major Warden's whole force con-
Histed of 57 men, including 16 recruits, with 42
lothers, civilians, leaders, and drivers of waggons, and
eight deserters recently pardoned. He was also
encumbered with about 200 women, children, and
helpless natives, who had fled to the village for pro-
tection. Major Warden was further informed, on
authority which he relied on, that should he reject
the terms offered to him, Pretorious could bring
against him in a short time a force of probably not
less than 1,000 men,
It does not appear that anything like a fort or place
of strength had previously been constructed at Bloem
Fontein, and although Major Warden had been for
some days labouring to throw up some kind of pro-
tective works, they were not in a condition to stand
a siege. In short, Bloem Fontein was a mere resi-
dency, and not an advanced military post, by which
an enemy could be held in check until relieved, nor
was the ;force stationed there sufficiently strong to
fall back with safety on the colony, when suddenly
enveloped by a vigilant assailant.
Under all these circumstances which, of course,
offered will be subjected to strict investigation hereafter,
Major Warden accepted the terms by Preto-
rius, which were that he should retire beyond the
Orange River unmolested, with all public and private
property belonging to British subjects, Pretorius
himself furnishing a certain number of waggons for
this purpose. The natives are allowed to retire to
their respective homes or tribes, and the native chiefs
were to be informed of this arrangement. All this
had been carried into effect, and British authority, for
the moment, has been expelled from the northern side
of the Orange River.
Mr. Biddulph, resident magistrate at Wenburgh,
his clerk, Mr. Rex, and Mr. O'Reilly, another magis-
trate in the Caledon district, are, it is supposed, by
this time all in safety in or near Colesberg.
Mr. Rex, according to an agreement, went to Pre-
torius's Camp at Wenburgh, to see and report upon
the insurgent forces, and returned as a prisoner to
Bloem Fontein, where he was set at liberty.
The general correctness of this statement, collected
from various sources, but confirmed by them all, may
he relied on.

COWES, OCT. S.—The...Royal Family attended
Divine
service at Whippingi.!ain Church this morning.
Vise Court leaves Osborne soon after two o'clock to
morrow afternoon; all the steamers are engaged to tow
the royal carriages to Southampton.
LOYAL UNITED FRIENDS.—On Wednesday evening
last the fifth anniversary of the Opening of the No. 11
L,)dae of this highly-respectable social order, was cele-
brated at the Lodge-house (Treasurer Sturdy's), the
Cebrho adfroyirnoglftuoatnhn'
the
hayfield, Mile-end road, opposite Messreust.sh
nrowery, on which occasiei.,onivahienhu,tuewrho
marak. credit on the worthy host.
members partook of a suPP ..
as chairman, and PP Clayton
tity or quality, reflected
I'SP Morgan presided
effielated as deputy, and were supported by President
Everett and other usual attendants at this lodge. Atter
having done justice to the good things nrovided for the
company, and the cloth being !eMoved; the Chairman
(who performed the duties devolving upon him in a very
i courteous and satisfactory manner) gave " The Queen,"
and other loyal toasts, which were received with great
enthusiasm, fully demonstrating the loyal feeling of the
order, “ The Order of Loyal United Friends, with
success to its Charitable and Provident Fund," also
elicited much applause. The healths of the Chairman,
p-
Deputy, and Treasurer Sturdy were severally given, and
suitably acknowledged by the respective
parties in a
eropriate speeches. The company was much delighted
with some very superior singing, and separated at a late
hour, much gratified with the evening's proceedings.
ANCIENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.—
It is the in-
tention of the brothers to muster very numerously on
Tuesday evening next at the No. 2 Lodge (Treasurer
Deifies), the Ship, Wheeler-street, Spitalfields, it being
the last night of the sitting of Past Chairman Waterlow,
who is deservedly held in much respect by the brothers.
THE OCEAN MONARCH.—There will be four gold
medals and sixteen silver medals distributed amongst the
gentlemen and sailors who acted so humanely during
the burning of the Ocean Monarch. The medal is a
very large one, and the design has been in the posses-
sion of the Liverpool Shipwrecked Sailors' Society for
•ome years. ' Had a design been selected for the parti-
cular occasion, as stated by the Liverpool journals, the
medals could not have been distributed under at least
twelve months. The gold , medals are of the value of
sixteen guineas each. They are now being prepared at
the Royal Mint. It is expected that the presentation
will tome off is about three weeks, •