The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-29 00:00:00

No, 5.] Block Drift, April 15, 1846.
Sir,—Finding myself much encumbered with 1,800 head of
cattle, captured from the enemy on the 16th inst., I decided
to return to this place this morning, and observing a very
large force of the enemy assembled on the heights above me,
I made the follo‘ing disposition and order of movement, a
copy of which I have the honour to inclose
These arrangements were admirably carried into effect by
the troops in the face of an overwhelming force of the
enemy of upwards of 8,000 men, who from the time that
we left the ground, made their disposition for attacking the
troops.
Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson was good enough to make
the necessary disposition for the rear guard, and covering
the movements of the troops, while I proceeded with the
body of the troops to make the arrangements along the gene-
ral line of march. Captain Sutton, with the Hottentot
Burghers, commanding the advance guard with the cattle.
On arriving at the Chumie, I posted a strong party of the
Moented Rifles across the drift, the enemy pressing us on
every point. I then passed over again under Lieutenant Hill,
and fortunately got the gun into a position that commanded
the ford. This gun made excellent practice into the dense
bush along the river, the enemy pressing on and opening a
severe fire on our advance. I directed Lieutenant Armstrong
to scour the bush along the river with a party of the Cape
Mounted Rifles, which checked their advance. The flanking
parties of the 91st Regiment kept up a strong fire upon the
ecemy, as they pressed upon the waggons, which the Kaffirs
returned incessantly, taking shelter in the bush.
In the mean time, the enemy pressed our rear with an im-
mense force, bringing up their forces on both flanks. Lieut.-
Colonel Richardson dispersed the 91st, under Major Camp-
bell, to meet these dispositions of the enemy, supporting the
rear in the most able and gallant manner with the 7th Dra-
goon Guards, whose steadiness under fire Lieut.-Colonel
Richardson speaks of in the highest terms. I was able to
observe these dispositions from every point, and nothing
afforded me greater satisfaction than the way in which I saw
them carried out. Major Campbell held the drift with the
91st, while the waggons passed. Captain Brown's guns
taking up an admirable position, and doing great execu-
tion with the guns, although constantly subjected to a se-
vere fire. _ _ .

These dispositions enabled me to bring off the waggons,
and secure the ammunition, having to pass a difficult drift,
under a heavy fire from a very superior force, encumbered
with 1,800 head of cattle, for a distance of ten miles, and I
am happy to say I have established the camp at this port,
having given the enemy a severe beating, with a very severe

loss to themselves. -
The loss on our side has been one officer, Lieut. Cochrane,
91st Regiment, severely wounded, and two men, 91st Regt.,
killed, and three men 7th Dragoon Guards, severely wounded.
I regret also to report that four men out of the six of the,
Cape Mounted. Rifles who brought the dispatches to me this
morning were shot by the enemy this morning.
I trust his Excellency will feel satisfied with the move-
ments of the troops this morning, which were most gratify-
ing to witness. lam greatly indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel
Richardson for his able assistance and support in every way,
and to Major Armstrong, in command of the Cape Mounted
Rifles, Major Campbell, commanding 91st Regiment, Captain
Brown, commanding Royal Artillery, and all the officers and
troops on this occasion.
Captain Sutton directed the Kat River Burghers who
brought off the cattle in the face of a large force. I transmit
this dispatch to his Excellency by Captain Sutton, who
having been present can give his Excellency every informa-
tion upon all the movements of the troops.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) H. SOMERSET, Colonel.
Lieut.-Col. Cloete, K H., Qr.-Mr.-General.

MONEY and CONIMERCIAL NEWS
CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.
The Cotton market at Liverpool, on Saturday, was dull
and the sales were only about 3,000 bales, of which 200 were
for export. There was no change of importance to notice,
but the market was favourable for purchasers. Shares were
much the same.
There are a great number of arrivals in the City this
morning from most parts of the world. But before referring
to the advices, it may be as well to mention that the mer-
cantile interests are looking with deep anxiety for the Minis-
terial explanations before quitting office, if such should
prove to be the case, and to ascertain who are to take the
reins of Government for the future. Up to the present hour
there is not any thing stated that can be relied upon with
respect to the probable members of the new Cabinet. Upon all
hands it appears to be considered that Lord John Russell
will be the new Premier. However, merchants care little
who takes the lead, provided the regular course of commer-
cial operations is not interfered with.
The private advices received , from the Cape of
Good Hope do not supply, by any means so
full an account of the warlike movements against
the rebellions natives as that contained in the
published accounts, and it is not necessary, therefore, to refer
further to the subject here, as the details will be found in
another column of The Sun. As to business details, in
the letters that have come to hand to-day there are but
very few comments, all parties being in a state of excitement
on the subject of the pending hostilities.
Accounts from Van Diemen's Land and South Australia to
late dates have been received this morning. Both colonies
appear to be in a state of improvement.
From Quebec, there is a statement of the arrivals of emi-
grants in the week ending the 6th instant. There bad landed
from England 684, from Ireland 1,425, from Scotland 7, total
2,036 ; all in the steerage. Previously reported 9,409 ; total
this season, 11,445.
By far the most important point in the advices to-day is
that from the United States, representing that the Oregon
dispute was on the point of adjustment, if not actually
settled at Washington, when the Hibernia steamer left
Boston.
But for the state of the Ministry at present, no ques-
tion can exist but that the Public Securities would have
improved fully to the extent of 1,4 per cent. Consols for
Aceount opened pretty firmly this morning at 9514, but not
much business has yet been transacted ; the more current
value at the present moment is 95%. The Three per Cent.
Reduced Annuities have also rallied to 95%. The New
Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. command 9634 %. Ex-
chequer-bills are rather fiat,.:iat 14s. premium, and India
Bonds at 235. premium.
The business in the Foreign Funds was limited to-day.
Mexican Five per Cents. were sold at 2714; the Deferred at
16%; the Portuguese Converted Three per Cents. at 481/2 ;
the Four per Cents. at 4814 ; Spanish at 241/4 ; the Three
per Cents. at 37 ; and the Four per Cent. Dutch at 961/2.
In the Railway Share Market business has been pretty
steady. Prices are not well sustained.
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)
Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities .. 9554%
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Anns. 96% 34
Long Annuities, Expire Jan. 5, 1860
Ditto, 30 years, Oct. 10, 1859
India Bonds, 1,0001. • •
Ditto, under 1,0001.
Consols for Opening ..
Exchequer Bills.
- 1,0001. ..
• Ditto. Small
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent • • 2734
Ditto, Deferred • • • • • • • • 16%
Portuguese Three per Cents. • • 474
Ditto, 4 per Cent .. .. .. ..
Ditto, for the Account .. •• 4854
Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent. • . 2434
Ditto, Three per Cent .. • • - • 37
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cent. 964
BUSINESS DONE IN RAILWAY SHARES AT ONE O'CLOCK
RAILWAYS. - PAID. PEa SHARE.
Bristol and Exeter • • • • •• .. 75 ••• • .... to
Ditto, New .. .. • • .. 5 .... to
Caledonian lb .. 9%;f.. to
Derby and Crewe • • .• • . .• 2% .... • • to
Direct Manchester (Rastrick's) 5% .... 3% 4 • to 3%
Direct Northern . • • • • . 254 .. 13e .... to
Eastern Counties .. • . .. 14/. 16s. 0d..... 24% .... to
Ditto, New • • .. • • • 10/. 16s. Od.— • • 734 pto
Ditto, York Extension • • • . 105..... . to
East Lincolnshire .. . • 14 .... .34% .. to
Ely and Huntingdon . 74 ..•.. 54 .. ••to
Exeter, Yeovil and Dorchester.. .. 2%.... 14 ... to 1
Great Western .. .• .. 85 .... .... to
Ditto, Quarter Shares .• .. 5 .... 15% to
Leicester and Bedford .. • • .. 228. .... dis. to
London and Birmingham • • • • ..100 .... 225 •• • . to 224
Ditto. Quarter Shares
Ditto, Fifths • • • • • • .. 2 254 .... to
Loudon and lirighton • • • • • • .. 50 •• .. 654 to
Ditto ditto Fifths • • • • .. 30 .. • • 41% .. • • to
London and Croydon 131. 15s. 9d. • • • • 224 .. • • to
London and South-Western 411. 6a. 10d. •• • • •• .. to
Ditto, New • • • • .. • . • . 1754 28 .• .. to
London and York • • • • • 24 1%5434 to
London, Salisbury, and Yeovil • • .. 254 1% .... to
Lynn and Ely • - •• .. • • 15 •• • . 13 .. .. to 12%
Manchester and Leeds • • • •• 82 •• • .119 .. to
Ditto, Quarters .. • • • • • • • • 2 .. • • 94 .... to
Ditto, Extension .. • • .. .• 425..... p.. to
Manchester and Birmingham .. .. 40 .... 8354 .... to 8254
Ditto, Quarter Shares (A) .. • . 4 .... 13% to
Ditto, Quar..er Shares (B) • • • • 4 .... 13% 34 •.to
Ditto, Quarter Shares (C) • • .. 1 .... 94% to
Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock -. 425..... %p• • to 34 p
Midland • • •-• • ..100 ....150 .... to
Ditto, Birmingham and Derby -..100 ....121 • •••• to
Newcastle and Darlington Junction... 25 .... ... to
Ditto, New • • .. • • • • .. 1 .• .. %.. to
Newcastle and Berwick • • • • •• 15 .. • • 2454 .... to
Newark, Sheffield, and. Boston 2%.... %••• • to
Norfolk • • .. •• •.- .. • • • • 20 . • • 254 • • to
Ditto, Half Shares -- .. 5 .... 754 ... to
Ditto, Tenths ..- • • . '2 •• 2%4 •.to
Ditto, Extension —.. • • .• • • 2 .. • • 1% to
North Staffordshire • • • • • • 425. .... 3% 4p to 3% p
Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton 124 .... .... to
Portsmouth Direct • • • • • • • • 3% •• 44 .... to
Scottish Central .. .• •• .. 10 ...• 154 .. • • to
South Midland • .. .. • • .. 425. dis.. to
South Eastern and Dover 334 404 .... to
Ditto, New, No. 4 .. • • .. 254 ... • 24% .. to
South Wales .. .. 5 .... 1 •• .. to
Welsh Midland .. • . .. • • •• • 24 •• • • 1 to
West Riding Union . .. • • • • 425.. ••. 1% pto
York and North Midland • • .. • 50 .• .. .• .. to
Ditto, Scarborough Branch • • .. 25 .... 48 .... to
Ditto East and West Riding Extension 1 .... 11%34.. to
FOREIGN RAILWAYS.
Boulogne and Amiens ••' • • .. 12 .... 12% .... to
Bord., Toulouse, & Cette (Mackenzie) 2 .... to
Dutch Rhenish • • . • • • .. .• 6 754.... to
Namur and Liege • • • • • • •. 6 •• .. 34 to
Northern of France Constituted .. 5 .... 144 •. to 13%
Orleans and Bordeaux .. 6 .• .. 934.... to
Paris and Lyons Constituted • .. 5 •• .. 64 i,4 .. to
Sambre and Meuse •• . • • • • • • 8 •• •• 434 .... to
West Flanders .. • . • • • • 6 •• • • 34 •• • • to
JOINT-STOCK_ BANKS.
London and Westminster • • • • 20 •• • . 27 to—
MINES
Real del Monte, Unregistered .. • • —3%.... to

- 10 1-16

.. .. 23 p
.. .. 954%
134 d.

1 lid.

.. •• 14 -- - pm.
...• 14 10 ..-- - pm.

of hereli AkT
Majesty's 3l'JevoNrEon2aBti.o—jwhasis
ushered morning, i
nthberanintnheiirrysvenriagys.
from Rochester Cathedral, and other churchesn -n
other vessels on
bourhood. The Poictiers, guard-ship,
has been manifested
nations, and every demonstration of j
To-morrow will be ob-
the Medway, were gaily decorated.owyieth the
in this locality on the occasion.
and flags of all
yard and other public
NEWCASTLE UNDER-LYMX, JUNE
of the Duke of
servede sto.bli s he me oAI
Ti dlaoyt I
oi : theF cl
Suther-
land, a .
REPRESeEanNtEhT
Lord Francis Egerton, ed himself, in the following terms, as a
27.—Mr. George Granville Francis rnaenpchisewEgerton, the eldest son of
of this borough : “
candidate for the representation —Raving
newspapers a letter addressed to you by one of
seen in the
present Members, declaring his intention of retiring
land, has announced
your
from the representation of your borough in the event of a
dissolution of Parliament, I take the liberty of announcing
my intention of becoming a candidate for the honour of your
suffrages at the earliest opportunity ; and I shall venture to
hope that the explanation of my political views and opinions
will be such as to secure for me your confidence and support."
Although the political views of the Hon. Candidate cannot
be gathered from the above address, it is understood that he
will come forward upon independent principles, irrespective
of party, adopting the conduct of his noble father as the
guide of his political life.. The high claims of the noble
family with which Mr. Egerton is connected—Trentham, the
seat of the Duke of Sutherland, being within four miles of
Newcastle—are of themselves sufficient to insure the HonP
Gentleman's success.

THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 27. —The Ori-
ental Company's steam-ship Queen, Captain Russell, left the
docks at 3 P.M., this day, with the Peninsular and Medi-
terranean mails ; also a small cargo of merchandise and 18
pauengers.