The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-01 00:00:00

SHANGHAE.

Our latest dates are of the 14th January. The vessels ex-
pected from England with large supplies of goods bad not ar-
rived, and the market was rather bare is consequence. In
first hands there were not more than 100,000 pieces •f
shirtings, most of them very inferior goods. The imports of
cottons, for the year 1845, was in round numbers 1,500,000
pieces, of which it is estimated that from 1,000,000 to
1,100,000 went into actual consumption, leaving from
800,000 to 400,000 in second hands at Shanghae and
Seuchau, and 100,000 in the hands of importers. This is a
large increase upon the previous year.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Chamber of Commerce Overland Price Current.)

BOMBAY, MARIE 2, lB46.—Little alteration has taken place since
our last in the state of the market for British imports. The con-
tinuance of military operations in the north, and the uncertainty
when they may terminate, of course keep many buyers out of the
market, and tend still to confine the business transacted within
narrow limits. The money market appears to be tightening again,
and all descriptions of Government and joint stock securities continue
depressed. _

Metals—The operations in Metals have been extremely limited,
and the market has been generally without animation. In Copper
an improvement in Sheathing appears to have arisen from a demand
for the heavier varieties, for the coppering of some large vessels, aad
the price is now 55 to 5634 rs. per cwt. In Iron, the business has
been almost exclusively confined to British Bar, the inquiry for
which has been renewed during the past week. We have been ap-
prised of a sale of 150 tons at rupees 92% per candy, but a better
price is new obtainable for good assortments. In Swedish Bar, no-
thing has been recently done. For Steel, Lead, and Quicksilver, we
retain our former quotations. We are informed of sales of 1,159 cwt.
of Spelter (large plates) at rupees 13-3-6 per cwt., 1,100 cwt. at
13-4-0, and 370 cwt.medium size at rupees 13-6-0. Tin plates have
receded to rupees 15 per box—rupees 2 below our last quotation.
Cotton Manufactures—The demand has been on this, as on previous
occasions, restricted almost entirely to the finer descriptions of grey
end bleached goods, and the sales of middling and low qualities which
have been effected, have been, generally speaking, at much lower
prices proportionally than the above. The better sorts of grey long-
cloths and fnadapollams continue in fair request, and maintain pre-
vious prices, but low kinds are in a great measure neglected ; to the
bleached varieties of these goods the same remark will apply. Jac-
conets have become exceedingly difficult of sale, and the fine,t de-
scription of bleached are now alone saleable, and these to a very
moderate extent. Grey domestics of stout quality are still taken up
for the Arabian market, but at much lower prices than were cur-
rent a month ago, and which in general will scarcely cover cost.
Cambrics and rauslins are in little request, and no improvement has
taken place in the prices offered for them. The business done in
Turkey red goods, prints, and fancy fabrics has been limited, and of
an unimportant character.
Yarns—The demand continues slack, and but few transactions
have taken place. We have no sales to report, but we believe those
which have been effected have been confined to the finer qualities.
Turkey red is saleable at our quotations, though only in small lots,
but orange eontinues without demand, and has still further declined
in value.

Woollens—No improvement is perceptible in the market for these
goods. The war with the Punjaub still prevents purchases for ex-
portation to the northward, and little demand at present exists from
any other quarter. Prices remain as before. _ _ _

Spirits—Both brandy and gin are unchanged, whether in demand
or value, and are at present a mere drug in the market.
_ . ...

Cochineal—An arrival has taken place, and the parcel was readily
dispoeed of at Rs ..4-2-0 to 4-4-0 per lb., leaving the mai ktt again bare
of the article.

Saffron—We are apprised of a sale of 671bs. best quality, recently
imported, at rs. 19 per lb., and we quote this price as the extreme of
the current rates. _ . .

Eastern Produce.—Cotton—The business of the past fortnight has
been limited, and the purchases principally for the China market.
Prices, in the absence of demand, hate given way about rs. 2 to 3
per candy. We still include the cotton of the eld crop in our list,
but the portion now remaining in the market is of the worst possible
quality. Below are the current quotations :—Broach and Surat,
old, rs. 62 to 64 ; ditto, new, re. 88 ; Dollerah, old, rs. 71; Oornra-
wuttee, old, rs. 74 ; ditto, new, re. 85 ; Barsee, old, re. 74 to 75 ;
ditto, new, rs. 84 ; Compta, old, rs. 67.
Opium—Prices have again risen, and may be quoted at rs. 1,375
to 1,415 per chest.
Pepper—Bhutcoll is unchanged in value, but Malabar has declined
from re. 51 to 63 to 49 per candy.
Wool—There is little change in the prices of wool, and stocks are
at present small. _ _ .

ke have no change to notice in other articles of eastern produce.
Freights—The rate of freight to Great Britain gave way shortly
after the departure of the last mail, and large engagements were made
as low as 31. per ton, but it has since rallied, and we may now quote
it at 31. 2s. 6d. t. 3 3/. ss. to Liverpool, and 31. ss. Cd. to 31. 103. to
ondon. There has been no ship loading for the Clyde. The rate of
freight to China for cotton continues at 16% rs. per candy.
Money Market—The paper of the different Government securities
has declined in nominal value, and the difficulty of disposing of it,
save at a heavy sacrifice, continues to be very great. Subjoined are
the current rates : Five per Cent. Loan of 14325-26, at 107 to 110 rs.;
Four per Cent. Loan of 1832-33, at 99 to 100 rs. ; Four per Cent. Loan
of 1835-36, at 94 rs. ; Five per Cent. Loan of 1841-42, at 100 to 101
rs. ; Four per Cent. Loan of 1842-43, at 94 to 95 rs.
Exchange—There has been a slight advance In the rate of ex-
change on England, and we may now quote it at Is. 11%d. to Is.
11% d. per rupee for six months bills, and Is. 11% d. for drafts at
thirty days. A batch of Government bilis on Calcutta, at thirty
days' sight, to the amount of five lakhs of rupees, was recently di,.
posed of at the General Treasury to the highest bidder, and averaged
rs. 98-14-6. Exchange en Madras, at thirty days, is at rs. 98%. On
China we hear of nothing doing.
Banks —There has been a further decline in the value of Bank
Shares, which are now obtainable as follows : - Bank of Bombay at
rs. 42 per cent, premium ; Oriental Bank at ra. 190 to 210 premium
per share.
Price of Bullion—Sovereigns, each, ra. 11% to IN ; Bank of
England notes, per 11., ditto.

THE LATE MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ROBERT HENRY
DICK, K.C.B. AND K.C.H.
It will be seen by the official dispatches from the banks of
the Sutlej that this highly distinguished officer fell in the
last glorious and decisive battle. Sir Robert Dick entered
the army on the 22d November, 1800, as an ensign, and
was promoted to be captain, June 27, 1802 ; a major,
April 24,1608 ; a lieutenant-colonel October 8, 1812 ; a cold •
nil May 27, 1825; and major-general January 10, 1837. Sir
Robert Disk served with high distinction in Egypt, in the
Peninsula, and at Waterloo. In 1806 he accompanied the
2d battalion of the 78th to Sicily, and was wounded at the
battle of Maida. He also assisted at the capture of the
fortress of Catrone in Calabria. In 1807 he accompanied
the expedition to Egypt; was present at the battle of
Alexandria, and was severely wounded at Rosetta. In June,
1809, he accompanied the 2d battalion of the 42d to the
Peninsula, and commanded a light battalion at the battle of
Busaco ; during the retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras ;
was at the action of Foz d'Arouce, where he was wounded ;
and at the battle of Fuentes d'Onor. He also commanded
the same battalion at Ciudad Rodrigo; and the Ist battalion
of the 42d at the storming of Fort St. Michael, and during
the siege of Burgos, as well as in the retreat to Portugal.
He served in the campaign of 1815, commanded the 42d
Regiment at the battle of Quartre Bras, after Sir Robert
Macnamara was killed, and was slightly wounded in the hip
and most severely in the left shoulder. Sir Robert Dick
had conferred upon him the distinctions of Knight Com-
mander of the Bath, Knight Commander of Hanover, a
Waterloo medal, and two clasps for Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor,
and Salamanca.

THE HERO OF THE SUTLEJ.
(From the Glasgow Courier.)
It may not be known to some of our readers that
Sir Harry Smith was for some years a resident in Glasgow.
He came here with his regiment, the Rifle Brigade, during
the Radical disturbances in 1819-20; and when the state of
the country required the establishment of a general staff in
the West of Scotland, his military abilities, which had been
most honourably displayed in the campaigns in the Penin-
sula, North America, and the Netherlands, procured him
the appointment of major of brigade. During his residence
here, his disposition and conduct, both as an officer and a
gentleman, were such as to make him a welcome guest in
the first circles of this county and city; and many of our
respectable citizens, in whose society he freely mixed, retain
a pleasing recollection of his eminent social qualities, and of
his zeal in the discharge of his military duties, and have
sincerely rejoiced at his subsequent brilliant career.

CAPTIVITY AMONG THE SEIKHS

The following is an extract from a letter from an
officer in the Indian army :
English Camp on the river Sutlej, near
Ferozepore, January 1, 1846.
My dear M.—l have now to relate the most romantic
and dangerous incident of my life, and will do so in as few
lines as possible. On the sth of last month I left Umballab,
having come from the north, and through Delhi, to join
my new appointment as second in command of the 3d
Irregular Cavalry (or Captain Tait's regiment). I
passed through Mythul, marching with my servants
and camp equipage, and a corporal and four: sepoys.
We bad reached within one march, or sixteen miles
of the station of Ferozepore. Many parties of plun-
dering horsemen were scouring this part of the coun-
try, taking all they could muster ; and a great Seikh
army of 60,000 men, and 150 cannon, had just in-
vaded our territories, and on the 'l7th of December
encamped between me and Ferozepore, where my new
regiment lay. I heard reports of this great invading
army, but could not believe they had actually crossed
the Sutlej to attack us. Early on the morning of the
18th December, my little tent and baggage was being
packed on the camels, when we suddenly found ourselves
surrounded by armed men, and numbers more crowd-
ing from the village. An altercation took place be-
tween us, they rushed upon me, hurled me down, and
struck me on the heart and face • my people were
seized or dispersed, and I, covered with blood, was
carried off into a small fort, where I momentarily ex-
pected to be put to death. Three or four hours after
this a party of cavalry arrived from the Seikh camp. I
was taken out of the fort, placed behind one of their
troopers on a horse, and gallopped off under a strong
escort to the enemy's army, ten miles distant. I now
considered my fate as certain, and that I should
be made the sport of an infuriated and ferocious
multitude, and be cruelly put to death. On
this horse I was carried up and down the great
Seikh camp, and shown to crowds and crowds of their
army, as the first prisoner they had taken; many of
them abused and struck me as I sat behind the trooper,
but he defended my life. At last I was brought to the
tent of Rajah Lall Singh, who commanded the Seikh
army; I knew who he was from his splendid dress,
and-spoke to him, but he gave me no answer. Chiefs
going in and out of his durbar shook their swords at
me, and I saw that my life hung by a very slender
thread. The Rajah ordered me to be put in chains,
and made over to the keeping of General Bek•tne
Allie Khan, commandant of artillery; I was then taken
to him, and after some questioning placed in irons
under one of the guns, with a guard of artillerymen over
we. Crowds of angry Seikhs came to see me from all
quarters of their camp, and almost hourly threatened to
kill me ; I expostulated with them on the bad character
they would get by killing a defenceless prisoner, and
some of them pitied and defended me. Night at
last came, and the crowds retired to sleep. No
sleep came to me ; bitter cold and the anxiety of
my situation prevented that. I prayed to die with
calmness, and, if it might be, without torture, and
God was indeed most gracious to me. Bread and water
now became my food, and the conversation of the artil-
lerymen my only means of passing the weary day ; but
we soon became great friends, and during three days and
sleepless nights I had, notwithstanding my almost hope-
less situation, many a cheerful hour, and saw many a
strange sight, Surrounded by crowds and crowds all
day, now abused and threatened, now pitied and
cheered, each night brought with it a quiet and
cessation from persecution which almost amounted
to happiness. Thousands of questions were asked
me, and put in all sorts of ways, t') catch
me telling a lie ; but I always spoke the
truth, or remained silent, and many a time drew from
my enemies the exclamation that I was a true English-
man; they also greatly admired my tall figure, and I
never felt so much flattered in all my life as by this rude
people. Each hour also brought some new and exciting
report : the English army was close at hand, and an
engagement with the leading divisions expected every
moment. Even the bitter cold of a December night on
this northern frontier, where we had ice every morning, ,

brought a distinct pleasure to the poor prisoner, for the
artillerymen pitied me, made a wood fire, gave me to-
bacco to smoke, and we chatted the long winter nights
away. . _

December 18.—This evening half the Seikh army
went out of camp to encounter our advanced divisions;
the cannon roared, musketry began to peal; nearer and
nearer came the fight; the artillerymen in camp lighted
their matches, stood to their guns, and placed me on a
board behind a cannon. Each minute I expected my
head to be rolling on the ground, and in breathless
anxiety hoped to hear the hurrah of our dragoons, and
the clang of their charge into the Seikh camp; the 3d
Dragoons did actually charge not very far from me, but
darkness came on, the guns ceased roaring, the hum of
the enemy's troops retiring to their quarters gradually
subsided, and I was left to hope for another day.
December 19.—The enemy's tone this morning told
me that the battle of last evening had been against them,
but darkness put an end to the action•ere a decisive vic-
tory could be gained. I experienced less abuse to-day,
and many tempting offers Df employment in their army
were made me, all of which I steadily rejected, nor could
they help respecting me for doing so. This night the
Seikh army again turned out to fall upon our troops,
with the sword alone, hoping to kill many by a sudden
attack in the darkness. Their counsels, however wavered,
and they returned to camp without accomplishing any-
thing. Crowds gazed at me all day, as before.
December 20.—This morning I was taken early to
the General of Artillery, who received me kindly ; he
ordered my chains to be knocked off, and said, ' I will
get you released.' He gave me water to wash and some
clean clothes, and then mounted his horse and rode to the
Rajah's tent. I was again taken back to the guns, but not
chained. ft got abroad in the Seikh camp that I was going
to be set free ; a crowd collected, and some one on horse-
back endeavoured to excite the people to kill me ; my
friends the artillerymen stood to their guns, declaring
they would fightfor me if any attempt on my life was made;
then the multitude dispersed, and after some time a
messenger came from the General, telling me to be off
as soon as possible, the General's brother going with me
beyond their outposts. Gladly, and with, I trust, a
grateful heart, I left the great Seikh camp; many strag-
gling parties of the enemy galloped up and questioned
me, but the General's brother satisfied them all that I
had been released by the council of their army, and
we passed safely over to the British army about three
o'clock of this day. I went at once to the Governor-
General's tent, and reported myself. My conductor
received a handsome reward on the spot, and I re-
ceived from my friends and from the whole army
a reception I shall never forget. All rejoiced, and
congratulated me, and my own old regiment re-
ceived me with great joy. The Governor-General will
not allow me to join my corps and fight against the
Seikhs, yet I gave them no pledge, and distinct]) told
them I would not, even to save my life. I dined with
the Governor-General the night of my release, every
body wondering how I had escaped death. The fact,
perhaps, was, the Seikhs did not wish utterly to outrage
us, and by cramming me with false reports of their
great strength, they hoped I should advise the Gover-
nor-General to negotiate. All their reports I appeared
to believe, and always talked of making peace rather
than war. Since what I have related, above two
actions have been fought, and after the most severe
fighting our troops have yet had in India we gained a
great victory, taking upwards of 100 great guns, and
the whole Seikh camp. Great was the plunder; horses,
camels, bullocks, tents, armour, rich dresses, guns, swords,
pistols, gold, silver, scarfs, silk, shot, shells, powder,
caunister, grape—everything was there, and to be had
for the picking up ; but amidst all these riches
fearful powder-mines, previously prepared by the
enemy, were hourly exploding and blowing to atoms
many and many a poor fellow. For five days these
awful mines continued to explode, and the cavalry divi-
• sion of the army to which I now belong was encamped
hard by, to the endangerment of life and limb. The
Seikhs retreated across the Sutlej into their own country,
and what may now be done I cannot say. I have only
to be thankful for my own wonderful escape, and trust
in Providence, who has guarded me thus far, to guard
me still.