The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-20 00:00:00

OVER LAND MAIL

INDIA AND CHINA.

We are indebted for the following to the Times and
Herald
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relates to the proceedings of the Lahore Government,
which, on the occasion of a slight disturbance, gave
strong proofs of its resolution to put down all attempts
at revolt. A British sentinel, in endeavouring to pre-
vent a drove of cattle from entering a street crowded
with baggage, wounded a cow in the nose. The cow
being a sacred animal in the eyes of the Seikhs, a dis-
turbance was caused ; the shops and houses of the
neighbouring streets were closed, and the superstitious
zealots, getting on the tops of the h.aisf s, threw stones
ai.d other missiles on the British officers and the roidiers
who sought to appease the tumult. The Lahore autho-
rities soon brought about tranquillity, apologised to the
British residents and to the officers, seized some of
the ringleaders, and hanged one or two Brahmins
on the following day. This bold act is looked upon as
affording some promise of a strong Government. The
Ranee, or Queen-Mother, has latterly been dangerously
ill, in consequence of haring had a miscarriage. Ghoolab
Singh is employed in settling his newly-acquired domi-
nions, in arranging the frontiers, and in collecting as
much money as he can. There was a rumour afloat
that Lall Singh, the Ranee's paramour and Nytizeer, in
tends to give up Peshawar Affghans, under the
command of the notorious Akbar Khan ; but nothing is
positively known on the subject.
A sensation has been produced by the daring con-
duct of the Governor of a small fortress near the
river Beas, called Kote Kungria, who has refused
to give it up either to the Lahore agents or to the
British. Relying on the strength of his position be
has defied both, and insulted their messengers by
blackening the face of the British agent, and turn •
ing them both out with ignominy. A force under
Brigadier Wheeler was sent from Loodianah to compel
this doughty champion to surrender his fortress.
Comments were going the rounds of the newspapers
on the proceedings of some officers at the late battles. A
Colonel in her Majesty's service, commanding a brigade,
had ordered her Majesty's 62d Regiment to retire, when
the General directing the division had ordered an
advance. An inquiry was established, the Brigadier
was blamed, and the General of division complimented--
but still dissatisfaction exists. A Court-martial was
holding at Lahore on Captain Cecil, of the llth Regi-
ment of Native Infantry, for having been absent, from
his post at Ferozeshah. Yet accusations are made
against a Brigadier, of having been so drunk at another
battle as to be incapable of leading his men into action.
Those accusations are described as being substantiated
by eleven officers of the corps. It cannot but be useful
to have these matters elucidated and set at rest before
the next campaign opens at the close of the year.
Every exertion appears to be made by the British
authorities at Lahore to keep good order in that capital
between the inhabitants and their troops. A large
number of guns bad been discovered within the walls, of
which due care is now taken. The British have also
established an hospital for the treatment of the Seikh
soldiers wounded in the late battles, who were left by
their own Government to suffer in wretchedness and
misery.

Sinde is described as quite tranquil. Sir Charles
Napier was at Kurrachee in good health. An • ex-
pectation prevailed there of the impossibility to avoid
another collision w ith the Seikhs at the close of 1846 ;
the Sinde force was kept on the alert. The Affghans
under Akbar Khan were busy at Jellalabad in an
intrigue, which has for its object the acquisition of
Peshawur. The hot season prevented all open acts ;
and the rain will keep the plotters quiet for some
months more.

The wretched state of the Nirtm's dominions may
be learned from one fact—that there are several private
mints at work employed in debasing the coinage.

The Governor-General and the Commander-in-Chief
remained at Simla, which was thronged with officers re-
covering from their wounds. :
The cholera was ravaging various districts ; and the
want of good water was greatly felt. Amongst the
deaths in the Bombay presidency we have to mention
that of Mr. John Gordon, collector at Surat, who died
there after a short illness on the 2d May. He is much

regretted.
The cumulation of offices on one individual was never
so signally exemplified at Bombay as in the following
instance, by the Chief Justice, Sir Henry Roper.
His relative, a young gentleman from Canada, was
two or three years ago appointed to be Judge's
Clerk, Commissioner for taking Affidavits, and
Sealer. In addition to these offices, which are
sufficient to occupy one man's time, the Chief Jus-
tice has appointed him to the following important
offices in the Supreme Court —viz., Registrar in
Equity ; Admiralty Registrar ; Prothonotary; Clerk
of the Papers ; Reading Clerk ; Clerk of the De-
positions on th• Plea side ; Keeper of the Records
and Muniments ; Registrar in the Vice-Admiralty
Court ; and Receiver of the Droits of the Admiralty.
This dozen of employments heaped on one individual,
to the prejudice of many excellent practitioners in the
Supreme Court, has given rise to many comments. It
was even said that the attorneys and solicitors of the
Court were preparing to petition against the proceeding,
as the " fortunate youth" was not acquainted with the
first principles of law, and not belonging to the profes-
bion, and yet having every day to draw up most im-
portant documents. The attention of the Board of Con-
trol ought to be called to this subject of grievous
complaint.

(From the Overland Bombay Times, May 12.)
SUMMARY.

The day for the dispatch of the present mail has been
hastened since our last. We have another overland
packet to-morrow week—leaving India ten days earlier
than usual, to provide against the delay betwixt this
and Aden, occasioned by the approach of the south
west monsoon. The dispatches which quit our shores
within a week of each other will arrive at home at least
a fortnight apart. The same general state of tranquillity
prevails throughout India as has prevailed since we
crossed the Sutlej. There has been a slight disturbance
at Lahore, in consequence of a sentinel set to prevent
admission to a street crowded with baggage having
slightly wounded a cow, the leader of a drove,
while endeavouring to make their way in by
force. A disturbance ensued, in which one man is
said to have lost his life ; a number were consider-
ably injured ; but in this there was really nothing
unusual or more alarming than in scores of other
petty tumults constantly occurring in large cities in
all parts of India, and in many on the continent of
Europe. Two small forts near our frontier still hold
out. One is of unusual strength, and the language em-
ployed towards us by its commander is that of con-
temptuous insolence. A force of above 6,000 men has
been sent out against it, and its reduction will probably
be the work of a few days. The Ranee has been alarm-
ingly ill at Lahore, in consequence of having resorted
to violent means, it is said, to produce an abortion.
The whole country of the Five Rivers is wonderfully
tranquil. What progress in the formation of a" strong
Government" has been made by the Seikhs does not yet
appear. Sinde is tranquil, and the troops are healthy.
The fact that no fewer than seventeen thousand men are
still requisite for its maintenance, three years after the
" last shot" was affirmed to have been fired, seems sin.
gular. The heats of May are this season much more
endurable than in the average of ordinary years, though
the scarcity of water and food are sources of much
suffering.