The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-28 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have received files of papers front the Cape to the
23d of December. The 'report brought by the last
overland mail that the Kafir war was over, on the
authority of dates from the Cape to the 18th, is not
confirmed. We extract tho following from the Zuid
African of the 22d of December :
FRONTIER AFFAIRS.
" The news by yesterday's post, as far as the war
question is concerned, is of little importance. Hopes
were again entertained that Pato would surrender
himself, and the probable time for so doing is conjec-
tured to be when Sir Harry Smith, whom he well
knows, shall approach his whereabouts.'
" His Excellency reached Graham's Town on the
17th inst., and had met with a similar cordial recep-
tion from the inhabitants there, as had marked his
arrival at Port Elizabeth. Addresses, salutes, bon-
fires, and illuminations were the order of the day, and
nothing appears to have been wanting to testify the
participation of the men of the east in the just display
of respect entertained towards the Hero of Aliwal by
the colony at large.
" We regret that want of space should prevent us
from giving all the details of the most splendid recep-
tion—it will suffice to say that it was in every respect
complete, and indeed honourable to the inhabitants.
" One of the first acts of his Excellency, after his
arrival, was the publication of a proclamation fixing
the Keiskamma River as the future boundary of the
colony, and the release of Sandilla, who was sent to
the Gaika Chiefs with the following message :
Tell them,' said his Excellency, that .within a
few days Smith will be at King William's Town,
where they are to appear with all their guns ; that
he expects to be obeyed, and that they will neglect to
comply at their peril." _ _ _

From Port Natal we have advice to the 3d of
December. We extract the following from a local

paper :

" The following brief extract from a letter dated
Pietermaritaburg, 8d December, will give a just idea
of the critical situation into which the inhabitants
are plunged. We have obtained it from one of the
best sources : _

" Extract from a private letter, dated Pieter-
maritzburg, December 3, 1847.
" The Bushmen have stolen 63 horses. The
Flip River farmers have refused to take the oath of
allegiance, and left their farms with very promising
crops, to i-proceed beyond the Drakenberg. The
civilians of this place have met to devise plans of
safety, in case Pandah's hosts should make their ap-
pearance, under pretence of getting deserters and
cattle stolen from his Majesty.
" 1 Capt. Campbell, of the Cape Corps, has le!'t
with 30 men, accompanied by Dr. Best, to recon -
noitre and report, and, if necessary, to assist the
farmers who have assembled in lagers.' "

AFFAIRS OF THE DUTCH EAST

INDIES.

AMSTERDAM. FEB. 23.—Ttw overland mail from
Java, up to the 29th of De,..-cmi..or last, has arrived.
The news is unimportant. The Governor-
has ordered, by various resolutions :-
1. That the new codes fJr the East Indies shall
assume the force of law front the Ist of May, 1848.
As you will remember, I gave you last year some ex-
tracts from these very curious codes.
2. That paddy and rice, during the year 1848, may
be imported into all the Dutch East Indies free of all
duties, no matter from what place, or under what flag.
3. That from January 1, 1848, the duty on the sale
of salt in the residence of Batavia and Buitenzorg
shall no longer be adjudicated, but that the said sale
shall be effected in those localities (as everywhere
else) in parcels.
4. That the port of Tjilatjaj (residence of Bangoe-
aur) shall be opened to the small trade of Java.
In honour of the ex-General Cochius, the inhabi-
tants of Batavia gave a grand ball on the 27th of
December in the rooms of the Society La Harmonie;
and the Governor-General gave him a grand enter-
tainment on the 20th of December. _ _ _

The earthquakes, the sad details of which were
conveyed by the last mail, have not been repeated,
with the exception of a few slight shocks, accom-
panied by heavy rains.
From Canton we have advices to the 25th of De-
cember, to the effect that on the Ist of that month a
dreadful fire broke out in the city, which lasted for
two days, and utterly destroyed 200 houses. The
factories ran the most imminent risk, but, thank God,
they were spared.
The English inhabitants had for some time been in
the greatest consternation, on account of the assassi-
nation of six English gentlemen by the satellites of a
secret league of the Chinese. The Government of
Sir J. Davis immediately summoned two war steamers
from Hong Kong, and demanded signal satisfaction.
It is said that Governor Davis has requested instruc-
tions from his Government.

The Direction of the Dutch Commercial Society
has announced its intention to sell, at Amsterdsm, on
the 30th of March next, 36,471 crangangs (?) of
Java sugar, 20,234 at Rotterdam, 3,483 at Middle-
burg, and 3,126 at Dordrecht.—Times.

LONDON PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.—The annual
general meeting of the president, vice-presidents,
trustees, and managers of the above institution was held
on Friday, Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., and vice-president,
in the chair, when the superintending committee made
their 31st annual report for the year ending the 20th of
November last, from which it appeared that the general
pressure during the year 1847 had been felt by the depo-
sitors in that savings bank, as well as by other classes of
persons, and the number of accounts had decreased 397,
and the aggregate balance 117,1651. 1 ls. 4d., the actual
payments, in number 23,357, having amounted to
344,9021. 16s. 10d., exclusive of the expenses; while
the receipts, 45,617 in number, had amounted to
204,3501. 145., exclusive of the interest received
from Government. The total number of transactions
was much the same as in the previous year, while the
sums withdrawn above 1001. were nearly doubled. These
withdrawals had reduced the aggregate average of the
depositors between 21. and 31. each account. The only
previous year which exceeded this in the relative pro-
portion of decrease was the memorable year of 1826.
The Committee stated that.although they could not but
regret the withdrawal of such large sums, yet it must be
gratifying to reflect upon the benefits conferred upon the
depositors by having their little savings in an institution
where they could be obtained with certainty at a short
notice. Since the bank re-opened in December, espe-
cially during the latter part of the period, the receipts
and payments have nearly balanced each other; the
aggregate balance, due at this time to 41,132 depositors,
amounts to 753,044/. 17s. 4d., exclusive of the accruing
interest. After the usual complimentary votes to the
President, Sir Thomas Baring, and the chairman of the
day, the meeting separated.
RAILWAY LANDSLIP.—EarIy yesterday morning,
owing, it is presumed, to the recent rains having loosened
the soil, a land-slip of part of the embankment near the
east end of the Falkirk tunnel, on the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Railway, took place, by which both lines of
rails were covered with earth. When the goods and
cattle train, which left Edinburgh, at two in the morn-
ing, reached that portion of the line—it being dark at
the time--the engine came in contact with the obstacle,
and was thrown off the rails, along with four trucks
containing cattle, and three of the animals were killed.
Fortunately neither the engine driver nor stoker were
hurt. As it was found impossible to clear the line in
time for the passenger trains of the same morning. the
passengers at seven, eight, and ten o'clock from each
end exchanged trains, those from Edinburgh leaving
their own trains, and walking over the earth to get into
the train from Glasgow, and the same as respects those
from an opposite direction, so that but little delay or in-
terruption to the traffic occurred. By the time of the
arrival of the eleven o'clock train from both ends one
line of rails was clear, which allowed the trains to pro-
ceed as usual.—Caledonian Mercury.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has received 2/.
from an anonymous correspondent, " being stamp duty
evaded contrary to the wish of the writer." The amount
will be paid into the receipt of the Exchequer.