The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-11 00:00:00

OVERLAND MAIL

INDIA.

SURRENDER OF KOTE KANGRA.
(From the Herta)
We have just received by Extraordinary Express, in
anticipation of the Overland Mail, our files of papers
from Bombay of July 1 ; Calcutta, June 19 ; Madras,
June 22.

note Kangra has surrendered. Our troops having
with inconsiderable exertion overcome the difficulties of
the march, set down before the place on the 28th of
Slay. The commander and his chiefs having come
forth to endeavour to make conditions, were informed
that the only terms which could be allowed them were
those of unconditional submission ; that, if within the
hour the garrison resolved to submit, they would be per-
mitted to retire, carrying with them a single bundle
each. All arms, ammunition, stores, and property of
every kind, with these exceptions, were made over to
us. The evacuation took place in the course of the
day, and by the afternoon the British flag waved
from the battlements of a fortress hitherto deemed
impregnable.
The mention of this single incident comprises all that
is important in our present intelligence.
Both at Bombay and Calcutta we have no change to
record in commercial or monetary matters, the former
continuing very dull, and the latter very tight.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
BOMBAY, JUNE 30, 1846.

A continuance of rainy weather continues to suspend
all public and private operations, though the months of
June and July make a news-letter nearly a blank sheet.
Everything remains so precisely as it was when I wrote
you on the 19th, that I am worse off a world than the
weary knife-grinder. I have neither a story to relate
nor a grievance to dilate upon. There has not, since
the 20th of May, when the barracks of her Majesty's 50th
were blown down, been so much as an accident either by
flood or field, to magnify into importance, or weave
into an interesting paragraph. The Governor-General
and Commander in-Chief continue at Simla. The
Punjaub is perfectly tranquil, no troublous symptom of
outbreak threatening its tranquillity. Our state physi-
cians are at their wits' end. There are at present no
political maladies to cure. Like the army surgeon re-
ferred to by Harry Lorrequer, for sick certificate we
must gather alarm from symptoms of the soundest
health. The sound sleep, vigorous appetite—the buoyant
spirit and strong and regular pulse, are signs of a
constitution so plethoric and robust, that our great
source of alarm is revulsion, a sudden break down,
a rupture of the blood-vessels so awfully charged
with the elements of vitality. To speak the truth,
not for the last ten years has India enjoyed such
prospects of profound and protracted peace. What
progress is making in the establishment of a strong
Government in the Punjaub we do not learn. What
may be meant by the phrase is not easily explained.
The Mooltan chief appears anxious to come to an
understanding with the Government, and the other tur-
bulent or recusant feudatories have begun to lower, or
to change their tone. These are, perhaps, the best and
surest consequences we can look for of the belief that the
Wuzeer can compel obedience—a sense of danger, not
of duty, being the only guarantee for respect and obe-
dience. I had before occasion to mention with how much
astonishment our request to have hospitals constructed
for the sick and wounded soldiers of their own army oc-
casioned ; yet our request has been attended to, and the
hospital proceeded with. Complaints as to the filthiness
and sickness at Lahore has made Government set about
inquiring whether there were no means of paving the
streets of the city, a question which will doubtless soon
receive an answer in the affirmative. The autho-
rities seem so anxious to attend to all our wishes,
that from the occupation of the British troops some of
the most important of the municipal improvements of
Lahore are likely to be dated. Hitherto not the slight-
est manifestation of jealousy or dislike towards us has
occurred; our continuance at the capital, where we are-
looked on more as guests than as conquerors, appears
to be regarded as a blessing and an honour. Such are
the peaceable fruits of justice, clemency, and moderation.
Great disappointment has been experienced at the treat-
ment Sir John Littler has met with. He three times
marched out and offered "settle to the Seikhs before
Ferozepore. He executed to admiration one of the
most momentous and difficult movements of the cam-
paign, which enabled the Ferozepore division to
unite itself with the army under the Commander-in-
Chief. And to show the appreciation entertained of his
merits, he was selected from out of the army for tht
'most delicate and difficult command at Lahore. Briga-
dier Wheeler has returned, with all his troops, from the
expedition against Rote Kangra. The difficulties sur-
mounted on the march seem almost incredible—the ef-
forts made to surmount them herculean. The troops
are in excellent health, and seem to have suffered litth
from the fatigues of the campaign. There is little new
from Caubul, and that little is of dubious authority. The
old Dost seems to be getting on much better than could
have been expected ; and his somewhat untractable
subjects are quite as quiet as they used to be under any
of their native rulers. Sir C. Napier is at Kurrachee :
he has been slightly indisposed of late. He stoutly re-
pudiates the imputation, that the Governor-General
showed him the cold shoulder. Sinde fever, I regret to
say, has got into her Majesty's 17th, at Sukkur. I had
a letter this morning from one of the officers. He says
our nun are beginning to die fast. The disease is fever,
and so virulent that the patient is often carried off in a
few hours. I hope it is not another case of 78th High-
landers.

At Bombay trade is dull, and few operations of any
importance attempted.

The Governor, Sir George Arthur, is extremely sick—
very dangerously so; but he will not be persuaded to
quit his post..

ALEXANDRIA, JULY 30, 1846.
The Bombay mail reached Suez at six A.M. of the
27th, per steamer Atalanta, from Aden. It appears the
Akbar left Bombay on the 19th June with the mails,
but having experienced terrific weather, and suffered
considerable damage in the hull, she was obliged to put
back, and reached port cn the 29th. The mails and
passengers were then transhipped per Semiramis, which
vessel sailed on the Ist of the present month, and ar-
rived at Aden on the 18th. The Atalanta brought them
forward to Suez from thence.

We have intelligence by this conveyance of the safe
arrival, at Aden, of the Oriental mail ship Ben tinek,
on the 16th instant, and her departure on the morning
of the 18th for Galle and Calcutta.

Cholera had entirely disappeared at Aden, and the
place had become quite healthy.

(From the Bombay Times of July 1.)

Papers to the 9th ult. from Colombo, to th© 13th
from Kurrachee, to the 19th from Meerut and Calcutta,
to the 20th from Agra and Delhi, and to the 22d from
Madras, have been received since our last. No Calcutta
dawk reached us yesterday.

RETURN OF THE STEAMER ARBAR WITH THE MAIL
OF THE 19TH OF JUNE.—We regret to have to inform
our readers of the return, yesterday evening, of the
steamer Akbar, which vessel left Bombay on the 19th
ult. with the Indian Mail of that date. The Akbar was
about 760 miles from Bombay when she encountered a
very severe gale, against which she contended for nearly
four days, but in vain. Her cutwater was washed
away, and also her paddle boxes, Considerable injury
has been occasioned to the hull of the Akbar, but her
engines have not been in any, way damaged. Since
writing the foregoing we have been favoured by a pas-
senger with- the following_ account of the mishap, for
which we tender our best acknowledgments :
" BOMBAY, JUNE 30, 1846.—My dear Sir,--The Akbar
theba
nr
having returned before her time, you may
wish
e
weath
were erprovedmoderate for the
firt
ebaut soe.
on T
thehe23d we visited by
ha gale.
that Our
er first
eocao three
head
course
days,
was
n its
was
as
f
teeth. Three
ishestrained so m
times it was trieduc to ease the vessel with
in
esa
tils
brought back to the wind. On the 27th the supports
oofttehn e cutwater were beaten to pieces, and it was perceived
to have opened frcm the ship, and to be apparently about to
take leave of us. To this there would have been no objec-
tion, had it not been apprehended that to fix this heavy and
useless mass of wood some large bolts had been driven
through the lower part of it and rivetted in the inside of the
vessel, and in parting, a hole might have been torn in her
b,ws. A quarter-gallery and paddle-box was also fast
breaking up, and the captain did not feel himself justified in
risking the ship and the lives of those on board by keeping
her head to the storm, so he returned to port to have the
heavy mass of gingerbread-work dangling at the bows re-
moved.

" P.S. The distance gained in the direct line to Socotra
on the morning of the 27th was 760 miles. Had the weather
been usually moderate, we should have been nearly through
the monsoon."

The steamer Semiramis has, we believe, been ordered
to start immediately for Aden with the Akbar's mail,
in order to meet the P. and 0. Company's steamer at
that port.

(From the Bombay 7'imes of June 13.)
Seto Kaugra surrendered unconditionally on the 28th ult.,
almost without resistance, the gallant Killadar bragging
lustily as long as he thought he could carry the day by
bragging, without any great idea of placing his person in
jeopardy. The sight of pia guns appears to have brought
him to reason and the conclusion came to was anything

but worthy of the big words with which he began. Ha and
the garrison found they had grievously outwitted themselves
They might many weeks since have marched out with more
than their bundles : they have neither maintained themselves
with gallantry nor surrendered themselves with grace. We
subjoin the account of the surrender of the fortress from the
Delhi Gazette Extra of the 4th inst.:—
" We take the opportunity of the issue of our present
Extra to announce the surrender of Kangra, which was
evacuated on the 28th May.
"The guns (heavy) commented the ascent of the Mulkera
Hill, in progress to their respective batteries in the town,
on the morning of the 28th. This fact became known for
certain to the garrison about ten o'clock. They ceased
their fire, and sent a messenger to Deenah Nath, to inti-
mate their inclination to surrender if their lives were gua-
ranteed them. The agent to the G.G. declined any other
terms but an unconditional submission. An hour was
lowed them to come out, and lay down their arms. Within
this time, about three o'clock, the Killadar (Soondur Singh),
accompanied by his Sirdars, came nut ; they laid down their
arms at the gate, and were made over to Captain Goddard,
commanding the town, who had Previously received all ne-
cessary instructions; by him they were immediately con-
ducted to the presence of Major Lawrence, who had ar-
rived to receive them. Even then the garrison were waver-
ing, and brought a gun to bear on the party, suspecting
treachery. Soondur Singh, however, proceeded to tender
his submission on the part of the garrison ; the same having
been accepted, he and his followers were immediately per-
mitted to return to the fort, and acquaint the inmates
that each person would be allowed to bring out one bundle,
but nothing more. In an hour's time men, women, chit'
dren, and bundles in great numbers made their Wear"
ante, the men laying down their arms as they came out,
and giving up their names—Major Lawrence, Mr. John
I Lawrence (who is, we are happy to say, much better), and
others, being quietly seated to look on. They then all passer,
through the town, with thei-: bundles (containing clothes and
cooking utensils), on their heads, protected by extended files
of sepoys, to an appointed place of rendezvous under Fort
Mulkera. Captain Goddard, with three companies, then
marched in, and the British colours were hoisted upon the
highest point. All this was so sudden and unexpected among
the native part of the community, that their astonishment is
said to have been indescribable. Soondur Singh is repre-
sented as rather a fine but debauched-looking man. The
British force, we hear, was to break up about the 31st May--
officers and Europeans much disappointed at this result.
"The fort was inspected by the political authorities blunt'
diately after its surrender, and found to have ten gates; the
masonry massive, but dilapidated. It is believed that some
guns and a party of Sappers and Miners would be left With
the 44th N.I. The 2d Grenadiers to escort the guns back to
the plains."
The following is from our correspondent, dated Camp Kota
Kangra, 31st May, 1846 :
" The Fort of Kotla has not yet given in, and it is expected
we shall have the same farce played as at this place; obliged
to take up the guns, when they will surrender.
"'The amount of treasure found buried in the fort was
79,600r5. Regiments have been ordered to enlist ten men a
company from this place, but the men who presented there"
selves were so old and undersized that hardly a man WO
taken.

" The following is the order issued by the Brigadier, ell
the surrender of the fort, 29th May, 1846 :
" On announcing to the troops the surrender of the strong'
hold Kote Kangra, the Brigadier commanding takes the OP:,
portunity of expressing his admiration of the conduct of all
concern ed, in having brought the ordnance, with its Ma'
terials, over 42 miles of tne most ditlicult country that he
has ever traversed, in the brief space of seven days, a feat
unequalled by anv on record. He requests that Lieutenant'
Colonel NV ()oil will accept, and express to all under his corn.
mend, his grateful acknowledgments of their indefatigahie
and successful exertions.

" "ro Captain Napier, performing the duty of chief en;
gineer, Lieutenant Crommelin, and the officers and men °`
the corps of Sappers, as also to Captain James Abbott,
Artillery, and Lieutenant Lumsden, 59th N. I. attached to
the Political Agency, he offers his sincere thanks for having
rendered mountains and torrents for such a distance g-
able by heavy guns.
" 'Lieut.-Colonel Spans, and the officers and the men °I
the 11th Regiment N. I. have entitled themselves to thel37,'
gadier's warmest encomiums for the cheerful and Wolf
manner in which the most onerous and incessant labours
were perfiirmed. To his staff, Captain Palmer, and Lieut.
J. S. Paton, he is much indebted, and feels that had the
garrison afforded an opportunity, his thanks would have
had to be afforded for their gallant bearing with Ow
en emy.' "—Cal. Englishman, June 13.
(Front the Delhi Gazette, June 20.)
We have seen a letter which gives such a clear descrirt
Lion of the enormous difficulties overcome by Brigadish
Wheeler in the progress of the siege train to Kangra, tba
we deem it due to that distinguished officer to give en $ f
street, which will show how great are the obligations °,
Government on this, as on the other occasions, to Colo el
Wheeler, for we apprehend it is now beyond a doubt that It
the guns had not been brought up, the Killadar would never
have listened to the voice of the charmer Deena Nath ; evir„
the question of time was one of the greatest importance, '"-
or
had the progress of the guns been delayed but eight
ten days, the setting in of the rains would have render
.'he co-called roads impassable indeed, and
o,
quite impossible to calculate what the result %I;
successful defiance of our forces on the part of rdis-
Sing might have been ; unfavourable certainly. -- point
lance between the right bank of the River Bess, at th
2emiless
where the train crossed, and the fort of Kangra,
nearly the whole way either along the beds of tihse4...6._v_e two
r
over hills, some of them of considerable elevation.,
,i-Triver
last and most difficult marches were up the beir°olll:' two and
Guj, a fearfully rapid torrent, varying in depth
less than 25
a half to near four feet, which was crossed no
re,io US cur-
times the tint day, and 21 the second•
pro-
gory inspection by an officer of high as it would,
uounced all but impassable for wheeled carriages,
to all appearance, take at least a month, with thousands of
labourers, to prepare a road, and a consequent recommends-
don to leave the heavy guns behind was sent in. Colonel
raniF int L been id
Wheeler, however, was determined to overcome every diffi-
culty, and having been supplied by Major Lawrence and
Capt. Abbott with some 1,500 workmen, exclusive, we pre-
sume, of the Sappers and Miners, and being seconded in the
most admirable manner by all the officers, especially those of
the Artillery, he did so, to the astonishment of those who had
seen the nature of the ground over, or more properly, througu
which the guns had to pass. No doubt the experience
acquired by him in Affghanistan was of great service•
to
Colonel Wheeler, and although he has not bed the oppor-
tunity of distinguishing himself in the more dashing hood
tions of a siege, an assault and its inevitable result, had the
Killadar remained staunch to his first declarations it Tn"b
conceded to him that the honour of the bloodless surrender'
with its beneficial consequences in our favour, is entirely ,q;
and that he is fully entitled to a prominent recognition or
services by the Government whom he has so well serf;
There is one advantage which has attended the move ,he
have placed Kangra, an advanced post in the heart of `"
Mils, in a position to resist any insurrectionary or invasional„
movement which might by possibility be attempted, an
against which a single regiment, with a few old Seikh
might not have been adequate, had the fort been quietly 84;;
rendered on the approach of the 44th Native Infantry. '
cannot conclude our parting articlit anent the siege of gangs
without bearing testimony to the manner in which that tort,
conducted itself during the somewhat critical position
hick it was placed until the arrival of the second Grenadiers;
It is pleasing to have to speak well of our Jacks, and lc
shall never lose an opportunity of doing so.