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

JUNE 20, 1846.

flicts which, occurring betwixt the military and the populace,
are common and mischievous enough anywhere, but pre •
eminently to be guarded against at Lahore, situated as we
are, with the Government. Notwithstanding this, a slight
commotion had most unfortunately occurred on the 21st
-ult.; arising from trivial and unlooked-for circumstances,
and 'drawing after it happily no consequences of any con-
siderable moment, though likely enough to be magnified
by the enemies of the recent policy. A guard had been
set, to prevent admission to one of the main streets, to facili-
tate the entrance of some ordnance stores. A drove of cattle
endeavoured to force their way, when a couple of cows were
wounded by the artillerymen on duty. An uproar immedi-
ately ensued; stones and briekbats flew in all directions; one
man is said to have been killed, several were severely in-
jured; and the shops throughout the city were shut up as if
a general rising had been-expected. Matters soon resumed
tranquillity ; the leaders in the affray were taken up ; and the
ringleader is eaid:to have been executed. Instead of consider-
ing this an indication of .the inveteracy of hostility enter-
tained towards us, we view it in exactly the opposite light;
it seems no trivial proof of the orderly dispositions of the
citizens that a thing so easily magnified into sacrilege as
the injuring of a creature so sacred as the cow, should have
caused nothing more than a row of very inconsiderable
magnitude and limited endurance.—Above a hundred pieces
of artillery are said to have been discovered concealed in
various quarters of the town. Two forts near our new frontier
on the Jullundur Doab side had refused to surrender; and
one of these, Kote Kangra, is understood to be extremely
strong. The garrison, however, is said not to be numerous,
nor the armament heavy; provisions had been laid in'for
a siege of long duration. It is not easy to understand
the feeling by which the governor of the garrison is ac-
cuated to resistance, unless it be that chivalry of which
the middle ages supply European examples—that a strong-
hold such as this should be maintained till captured—that
nothing but sheer force can authorise its surrender. Our
political agent had sent a messenger in the name of the
British Government, while Runjeet Singh sent another on
the part of the Seikhs, requiring the place to be given up
without delay. The reception and reply vouchsafed to the
messengers respectively were as pithy and unmistakeable
as might be. The first had his face blackened, and both
were unceremoniously turned out ; the governor of the
fortress declined giving a written reply, but stated that he
considered Runjeor Singh a dog, held the Maharaja in,
contempt, and would not open the gates until Runjeet Singh
himself (who died in 1839) came to demand admit-
tance; that he defied the British, and would give them a
reply when they showed themselves in the pass. No sym-
pathy with this warlike spirit is manifested amongst the
people around. Brigadier Wheeler was about to proceed
from Loodianah with two regiments of infantry and a suf-
ficient force of artillery, to make themselves masters of
the place. The 44th N. I. had been compelled to stop on
their way to this service. When about three miles from
Kangra they found the direct road to the fortress impracti-
cable, and they had to halt to change the line of their ad-
vance to another at 20 miles round. The force ultimately
ordered out consisted of eleven mortars and a nine-pounder
battery, the 4th Irregular Cavalry, the 2d, 18th, 41st, 44th,
and-59th Regiments of Native Infantry—a strong and well-
appointed detachment as may be desired of about 6,000 men.
It is wise to err in excess, if error there be at all; we should
never run even the risk of encountering a cheek. Arms and
ammunition had been discovered and taken possession of.
The seizure happened thus—lnformation had been received
that arms were concealed near Dukee-ke-serai, and the Ist
Cavalry and Bth Irregulars were dispatched to investigate
the matter. Near the fort marks of bullocks carts were per-
ceived, and within one was observed laden with chopped
straw, and ready to start. A sword being thrust into the
load, something much more hard than should have been there
was discovered. The cart being unloaded was found to con-
tain a beautiful nine-pounder brass gun. Four others, with
camel pieces, jazails, swords, and matchlocks, and a very
large quantity of shot, shell, and ammunition of all sorts
were discovered. Of course such incidents as AU' are
nothing more than may, under the circumstances, for a long
time to come be looked for. The climate in our new
dominions is said to surpass in agreeableness and salubrity
anything Indian can boast of. A court-martial had been
sitting at Lahore, on Captain Cecil of the 11th Native
Infantry, who bad quitted his , regiment without leave
at Feroaeshah. The comments on the conduct of the Com-
mander-in-Chief both, before, during, and subsequent to, the
late battles, are loud, general, and in the last degree uncom-
plimentary. In India writers discuss these points, not, as is
affirmed at home, on their own individual responsibility so
much as on the authority of the most distinguished officers
of the army, with whom they are in close and constant in-
tercourse. The emphatic silence maintained in Parliament
on the merits of Sir H. Gough, when those of all the other
commanders were commended, comes in confirmation of the
correctness of the conclusions here arrived at—that never
were tactical deficiencies and want of skill more conspicuous
than in the three great actions where he commanded. He
acted the part of a brave common soldier—victory being
won by the sheer bull- dog courage of the men. The little-
minded timidity and disingenuousness which have since ap-
peared meet with still less excuse than the unskilfulness of
the arrangements. A captain of Native Infantry is absent
from his corps when he ought to have been present, and he
is to be tried, and very properly, by court-martial. A
colonel in the Queen's service, commanding a brigade, directs
her- Majesty's 62d to retire, when his immediate superior,
.t....--s-aneral Or Walston, cOmmauda them to advance ;
and disobedience so flagrant, and in so unusual a form, is
overlooked. General Littler, in the belief that no inferior
officer could dare to command retreat, states in his dis-
patch that the men retired through panic. Colonel Reed
had not for days made his superior aware of the order that
had been given, and the superior is thus for a- time placed
in the painful position of having the accuracy of his state-
ments called in question. An inquiry takes place—Colonel
Reed is blamed, General Littler complimented; but the let-
ters in which the praise and censtfre of authority'are con-
veyed, are permitted to be circulated but forbidden to be
published. The injury inflicted on General Littler in the
Gazette is redressed by a private letter; one of the heaviest
offences an officer can commit is visited by private censure I
Such is the case of her Majesty's 62d—that of the comman-
der of the brigade, or rather of the officer who ought to have
commanded it, is worse even than this. Brigadier
was, according to the depositions of eleven officers of his
own, and several of other regiments, so drunk as to be inca-
pacitated for leading the men into action ; yet he, like Bri-
gadier Reed, escapes without a court-martial. It is said that
he had been prised in orders before his misconduct became
known—just as others who were not engaged at all were on
other occasions complimented for good conduct in the field.
These give some idea of the store likely soon to be set upon
a compliment in general orders, and the impartiality to be
expected in cases of misconduct. It is said that Sir Hugh
Gough is introducing what is called the Tipperary school of
tactics, where nothing is required but the order to " Thry
them with the could stale ;" and the Donnybrook system of
discipline, where every man may drink or fight as he thinks
fit if he only does it effectually, and belongs to the Queen's,
not the Company's, army. The amount of treachery and
complication of treason which drew down on the Seikhs their
fate, now beginning to be disclosed, is frightful. The Gover-
nor-General is one of the few whose conduct takes no damage
from inquiry; the honesty and highmindedness of his pur-
poses become more and more manifest the further investiga-
tion proceeds.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CALCUTTA.
(From the Bengal Hurharu.)
The Money-market, although still lightish, is less pressed
than it was a fortnight back; and as it is understood large
remittances have been received from China and Bambay to
meet the prompt of the third opium sale in a few days, we
are led to expect a more easy state of things. EMS. Iris
has arrived with considerable remittances on Government ac-
count; and extensive clearances of imports are in progress
under orders from the up-country dealers, tending to relieve
the market.
Government Securities continue very firm at our quota-
tions, especially the 4 per cent. Company's loans, which are
much sought after.
Exchange is dull, and first-rate paper procured with dif fi.
culty at 2s. to 2s. 04d., at ten months' date.
Bank Stock is rising, but few sellers in the market.
CIOVERNMENT SECURITIXS.
Transfer stock paper 5 per cent. prem. 14
Bombay 5 per cent
Old Sicca 5 ditto according to numbers „
New Company's 5 per cent. 4
Third 4 ditto
New Cy. 4 ditto „ 4
BANK SHARES.

oto 15 0
8 to 3 0
0 to 3 0
4 to 4 12
oto 6 8
0 to 4 4

Bengal Bank
Union Bank
Agra Bank ..... „ (500) „ 280 to 289
Oriental Bank 6, (1,000) 500 pd. 180 to 200
North Western Bank „ (500) nold w 1190 00 tt oo 210300

INTEREST AND DISCOUNT BANK OF BENGAL.
on Government Acceptances (within 3
Discount,{ months) 7 pr
on Private Bills and Notes ll „
on deposit of Company's paper
{
Interest on deposit of Metals and Indigo
on deposit of other Goods
PRICE OF BULLION, &C.
Sycee silver...Co.'s rs. 104 12 0 to 105 0 0 p 100 ea. wt.
China, gold bar 5...... 15 8 oto 16 8 0
per sa. wt.
Gold dust l5 8 0 to 16 8 0
Spanish dollars
per 100
Mexican ditto 221 0 0 to 221 4 0
Sovereigns
Madras Gold Mohurs 16 14 oto 16 8 0 each
New Gold Mohurs
BOMBAY MARKETS.

SATURDAY, MAY 9.—The import trade continues in a moat
languid state ; in fact, it may be considered, as far as re-
gards realising, over for this season.
In Cotton Manufactures very little has been done during
the week, there being little inquiry for any description of
goods. A few sales only are reported in bleached shirtings,
grey madapollams, and jacconets, at about:last week's prices.
Of yarn in the grey 12,0001b5. 20 mules are said to have been
sold at 6 annas per lb. In metals rather more has been done,
but the transactions, with the exception of British bar iron,
for which the inquiry has again revived, have been in some
measure forced. They are reported to be as follows :-
200 cwt. Tile copper at rs. 47 per cwt.
200 do. Sheathing ditto at "53 do.
600 do. Brazier's ditto ......
200 do. Spelter
a
600 do. ditto
—all of which prices are under those of the firs
bar iron, at
current. A
sale has also taken place of 300 candies British
rs. 31% per candy, which
current at the same period.
me dull, inanimate
Price is an improvement upon that
The cotton market continues in the Pa but prices
state as we have had to report for some time Past ,
are without change.
Rates of freights are again improving, there being less
disposable tonnage in the
martoket. and the latter is not now
to be had under 70s. per
whilst 17 rs. London, and 70s. to 755. to
Liverpool ; per"
candy has been paid to China.
The rate of exchange on London rules more in favoar of
drawers ;
01„(d. to 2s. 0 and yesterday first-class paper could not be had
under 2s.
d• per rupee, six months' sight,
with an inclination downs
FREIGUTS.
ards.

To London. ...................
To Liverpool N7Os. to 755.
To Clyde . . o quotations.
M