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

COAST GUARD.

APPOINTMENT. —ln spectmg-Com RI ander P. Fisher, to New-
castle, Castelvrellan district, vice Oliver, removed.
llEMOVAL4.—Commander W. B. Oliver, to South Yar-
mouth, vice Goldie, whose period of service expires on the sth
of April ; Mr. J. 'Willcox, chief officer of Barry's Cove Station,
to Lydd, vice Macdonnell.

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 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 Umballeh,
having come from the north, and through Delhi, to join
my hew 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 17th of Deceml er
encamped between me and Ferozepore, where my now
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 head and face • my people were
seized or dispersed, and I, covered with blood, was
carried off into a small fort, where I momentarily ex•
peeled 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 Rajab 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 Bekane
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
me. Crowds of angry Seikhs came to see me frein 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, to 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
reports the English army was close at hand, and an
vweinth
ththee
hlietatdevinegolddivoifsaiopn seeeexinpheecrtendigehvteory
yn
einthnQigsmangeonermt;heenErtn 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, end 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 toured, musketry began to peal; nearer and
nearer came thq fight; the artillerymen in camp lighted
their matches, stood to their guns, and placed me on a
ahneaxdiettyo
hboeperdoltloinhge
board behind a cannon. kadh minute I expected my
aornthtehehugrrroauhns and in breathless
our dragoons, and
the clang of their charge into the Seiko camp; the 3d
Dragoons did actually charge not very far from me, but,.
darkness came on, the guns ceased roaring, the hum
the enemy's troops retirinc, 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 of 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. It 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 fight for 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 distinctly 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,
cannister, 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.

HER MAJESTY, SIR R. PEEL, AND THE WOOLSORTERS
BATHS.—About ten days ago, the Secretary of the Wool-
sorters' Association, Bradford, addressed a letter to Sir R.
Peel, informing him of the baths, &c., which they were in
process of constructing. He has received the following gra-
cious reply :—"Whitehall, March 19, 1846.—Gentlemen,—
Sir Robert Peel has received the communication which you
addressed to him on behalf of the working classes of the town
of Bradford, requesting him to solicit the patronage of her
Majesty in favour of a proposal for giving to those classes the
benefit of baths and a pleasure garden. Sir Robert Peel has
the satisfaction of assuring you, that her Majesty has been
graciously pleased to approve of this plan, and has directed
Sir Robert Peel to contribute,, on the part of her Majesty,
the sum of 100/. in aid of the local subscriptions for the ob-
ject. I will give directions for placing the said sum to the
credit of the fund, if you will apprise me in what manner
the payment should be made. I am, Gentlemen, your obe-
dient servant, G. ARBUTHNOT. The members of the Society
of Woolsorters, Bradford." This is handsomely done on the
part both of Sir R. Peel and his Royal Mistress. We under-
stand the money will be transmitted through Mr. Laycock,
of the Bradford Bank. We may state that the baths, &c.,
are nearly completed. Presents of ornamental shrubs, flowers,
&c., will be thankfully received by the woolsortera.—Leeds
Mercury,