The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-19 00:00:00

, ,7 DECEAIBER 19, 1846.
9_

OVERLAND MATE

INDIA, CHINA, AND

EGYPT.

We have received from Marseilles our advices and
papers from India, in anticipation of the Overland
Mail of the 16th of November. The dates thus re-
ceived are, from Calcutta the 7th, Madras the Bth, and
Bombay the 16th of November.
As we had anticipated from the intelligence by the
previous mail, we are not yet in possession of any
advices of a decided character from the disturbed
Indian frontier. The news merely details the move-
ments of different bodies to form the army of the
Punjaub. From what we learn, there appears, perhaps,
room to regret a want of promptitude and decision
in the movements of our forces, arising probably
from unforeseen circumstances ; but, on the other
hand, the fact of the continuance of the status quo
affords, as regards the position of the rebels,
matter for much congratulation, since the dila-
toriness and mis-arrangement evident on their part
—a feature evinced as remarkably as the hardihood
of their designs, renders the probability of the ulti-
mately easy suppression of the outbreak now more
than ever matter of certainty. Moolraj, it would
appear, was in a less favourable position, as regards
men and supplies, than he had been for some time
past ; Chuttur Singh had not effected a junction with
either of his sons, although the troops of Shere and
Chuttur were probably not far apart between the
Ravee and Chenab, and might co-operate. Pater, the
other son of Chuttur, was said to be at Jalapoor, on
the Jhelum, with 1,500 men. Lord Gough is said
to have determined not to undertake any minor ope-
rations, or make any movement against detached
parties, but was willing rather to permit immunity
to the rebels until the plans of Government could be
carried out and a considerable force take the field.
Lord Gough is said to be displeased with
General Whish for not having attacked Shere
Singh when he broke ground from Moultan.
At any rate, we observe that his Lordship has ante-
dated a brevet commission for General Auchmuty,
commanding the field force in Sinde, and in conse-
quence of which that officer will supersede General
Whish when the Bombay force crosses the frontier.
" General Auchmuty (says a correspondent) has
shown great energy on parade since his arrival in
Bombay, but previously he was for about a quarter
of a century out of service at home." There seems
every probability that the army of operations will
suffer great inconvenience in the commissariat de-
partment during the coming campaign or settlement
of the country ; the arrangements for carriage, also,
are said to be on all hands defective; and we are told
that even the Commander-in-Chief was delayed for
some days for want of tent-pitchers.
The pontoon across the Ravee, although within
sight of Lahore, had been attacked and fired on
several occasions by detached parties of the Seikhs.
Since then it had been strongly occupied, so as to
leave no ground of alarm respecting this entre-port
to the field of operations. General Cureton had since
crossed some eight miles in advance of the right bank
of the Ravee, nith a strong brigade of cavalry and
artillery, consisting of her Majesty's 3d Dragoons,
the sth and Bth Light Cavalry, two troops of Euro-
pean Horse Artillery, and one Native Artillery troop,
with the 2d European Regiment, the 70th Native Infan-
try, and a regiment of Irregular Cavalry, so that this
brigade may be regarded as the advanced line of our
army. The Delhi Gazette affirms, in its latest advices, that
a general advance of the regiments which were across
the Ravee had been ordered, but we are not inclined
at present to accept this statement, from what we
gather of Lord Gough's plan of operations already al-.
luded to. It does not seem probable that any move-
ment of so decided a character to the front of the
enemy would at that moment be made. A large
portion, however, of Chuttur Singh's force still occu-
pied Wuzeerabad, a point which that chief and his
sons seems to have fixed upon as their centre, and
probably our advance would be pushed forward in
proportion as fresh troops crossed the Satlej from Fe-
rozepore, which they were doing daily. At the same
time it is probable measures would be taken to pre-
vent, if possible, the junction of Share Singh with
Chuttur Singh.
Two forts of considerable strength in the Punjaub,
Dloraree and Rungel Nungel, had been razed by our
troops—a mode of operation which, from all that has
passed, our authorities will, no doubt, shortly carry
out in a wholesale manner.

We must next notice in detail the position of
affairs at Moultan, till lately, but no longer, the
centre of insurrection. We may observe here that
the recent division of the enemy's forces appears to
have been dictated at least as much by the rivalry and
distrust of each other, natural in the Seikh character,
as by any policy of separate and wide-spread
attack. Chuttur and the Dewan are now said to
be bidding against each other for the levy of
insurgents, and the Dewan, it is said, has had
the worst of the speculation. We are told
that it is mostly by the defection of troops from
Moultan that Chuttur Singh has increased his forces.
One of our correspondents observes on this head—
" This. is the most favourable issue that could have
happened for ourselves, for of the present moving
characters in the Punjaub none certainly can be com-
pared to the first insurgent for daring and patience,
or as a head to calculate and to design, and his
name alone is the tower of strength of the rebels."
Despite the late disadvantages in his position, the
Dewan, by these advices, shows a front bolder than
ever. The few stores that have reached General
Whish's camp have been in great danger from his
cavalry, who, we are told, are continually hover-
ing on the flanks of our position, ready for any
species of annoyance. The Dewan, too, has lately
been successful in the manufacture of rockets, at
least as regards their number and range, although
the explosion cannot be rightly timed, so as to alight
in the camp. He also opened masked and sunk bat-
teries to play upon the camp, and in several instances
is said to have nearly accomplished his design. All
the courage and resolution that confidence and hardi-
hood can inspire he appeared to have afforded to his
troops. General Whish, however, and his gallant
assistants, Edwardes and Cortlandt, still make the
game a losing one for the Dewan. They more than
hold their own. Heavy cannonades, and the fire of
shrapnel and congreves, especially from Edwardes
and Cortlandt's camp, are frequently kept up on the
enemy's position for many hours, and excepting the
rockets, which it is said are not much better than the
Devran's, our projectiles are described to have mostly
told with good effect. We regret to learn that Ed-
wardes is likely to be detached from the force before
Moultan to his old position of observation in Bannoo.
We regret this because it seems hardly fair that this;
gallant soldier should be absent when the reduction
of the fortress takes place.
We could gladly have spared also the vague piece
of intelligence that Maharaja Ghoolab Singh bad
marched a body of his troops against Chuttur Singh.
But many think him so very great a villain that he
may be trusted against his friends.
There remains now only to notice the progress of
the Sinde field force. Her Majesty's 60th Rifles
had already reached Roree, the point fixed for as-
sembly, as also a wing of the Company's Fusiliers.
It was expected that the Sinde force would be
united at Roree about the first week of December,
and would reach Moultan some three weeks later. The
Bombay Government, we learn, still maintained the
determination on its part we had previously an-
nounced not to move that body to the scene of opera-
tions otherwise than in force. On this subject we
farther learn that General Whish, whose conduct
lately has been marked by so much caution, had,
since the middle of September, continued urgent
calls for reinforcements to the extent of two European
regiments and one of the Ferozepore cavalry, and
especially from Sinde, which he maintained to be
open for the march of detachments; sad farther, that
it was because these troops were not accorded either
from Ferozepore or Sinde that he did not under cir-
cumstances consider it safe to hazard more active
operations. This statement at least places the recent
conduct of General Whish in a point of view which
cannot but be appreciated.

GENERAL SUMMARY.
(From the Overland Calcutta Star of Nov. 7.)
The Punjaub, as usual, continues the principal object
of attention, though no events of remarkable interest
have occurred since our last. Slowly, but surely, a
mighty cordon of British troops environs the frontier,
and the spasmodic efforts of the icsurgent sirdars show
their sense of the inevitable fate the insurrection must
meet. A spirit here and a spirit there is all that reality
exhibits in derision of the phantasm which wrought
so much terror in imaginative minds. No semblance
of co-operation exists: The powerful sirdars keep aloof
from each other, and the potty ones raise each his
-standard in his fortlet, more like chase scenes of feudal
history when every leafier of armed men did that which
vv:,s right in his own eyo becanso of the weakness of
the central authority. Nowhere do we see that organized
resistance which is made the theme of inuendo to justify
the plea of profound conspiracy, and thence the measure
of final annexation,

,UPRl(M'iovsb.

Shore Singh and Moolraj halo, parted. Why, we
are' dis-
trust entertained of the former by the latter prevented
either ff
Singh not finding himself get on quite ao fast as he had
honed in the plenitude of his conceit, his expectations of
not
fr perfectly
orous action. At the same time Chuttur
ys because the ilformed.;" report
a defection of the Peshawar force disappointed, and his
movements vigilantly watched by Captain Abbott and
his Mahomodan levies, saw his only resource lay in a
concentration of his troop?. His summons to Shere
Singh to join him was after some delay respnded to.
Shere Singh issued a proclamation at Moulton, inviting
all true Seikhs to leave that city and join his standard to
tight in a more worthy spot, indicating the neigh-
bourhood. of Lahore. This appeal was, accordiog to
rumour, tolerably successful. Moolrals larder appeared
to be consumptive, the prices of provision were rising
daily, and there was no chance of that pleasant amuse-
ment of sack and. pillage, in which the true Seikh
takes reasonable delight. Horse and foot in consequence
went with Shere Singh and after him; and others were
only kept behind with the now diminished force of
Moolraj from the knowledge that their families were in
his power and could net be extricated.
Moolraj, since, this exode of Shere Singh, has kept
close to his entrenchments' and our reconnoitring par-
ties skir over the scenes of the recent conflict without
meeting an antagonist. The brigade under General
Whish, in the highest spirits, are looking ,out for their
reinforcements via Sinde (which will have joined them
ere this) to recommence hostile operations against the
city.

Shire Singh on quitting Moultan " slipped by"
General Whish, and took the north-eastern road, so as
to secure a junction with his father in the Doab between
the Jhelum and-Chenab. He had endeavoured to cross
the river on the direct route, but having only four small
boats, his"passage was successfully disputed by.the Kar-
der: of Jhung. He then moved on to Tolunda, where
it id believed he crossed. Since then his movements are
not accurately traceable, but he is believed to be some-
where in the Doab we have mentioned, his forces strag-
gling greatly. The latter is the only conclusion
we can come to, if there be, truth in a tithe of the
rumours as to his and his father's present position; the
alternative being the serious one of übiquity. Attempts
have been made to burn the bridge of boats across the
Ravee near Lahore; these have of course been attri-
buted to Shere Singh's division, though we apprehend
the incendiaries are no other than the traitor soldiery of
the durbar, under whose guardianship the bridge was
placed. The moment British sepoys shared the duties
of watch and ward the daring foe has become invisible.
The fact is that the evident alarm manifested by the La-
hore authorities for their personal safety stimulates the
Seikhs to overt acts, evincing their belief in the total
absence of anything like spirit at the capital.
Indeed, the only rumours from whose bushel
of chaff one cannot extract even the grain of wheat, are
those spread by Lahore correspondents of the papers.. It
is said that the Seikhs are desirous of rescuing a second
son of Chuttur Singh, Gboolab Singh, who having ven-
tured to Lahore on the delicate and bold mission of car-
rying off the young king, was caged forthivith by the
Resident. For this purpose numberless small parties,
are reported about Lahore, and hence the &aim excited
by their descents. A girder of the name of Urjun Singh
had taken possession of a fort, the title of whioh we pro-
fess not to be master of, seeing that some fifty versions
of it have been propounded by our contemporaries.
This fort, he proceeded to strengthen, and being sum-
moned by Lieutenant Hodgson to account for his
proceedings, he valorously disowned the right of that
officer to question them. The assistance of Brigadier
Wheeler and the Jullundur field force was thereupon
requested and afforded. A single day's shelling was
enough for the Sirdar, and next morning when the
cannonade was about to re-open, it was discovered that
the place had been evacuated at night. It was conse-
quently entered by Lieutenaut Hodgson, who took pos-
session in the name of the Maharaja ; and then com-
menced the work of demolition—since thoroughly
effected.. A larger fort called Moraree, distant about
thirty miles nearly west, was next the object of Brigadier
Wheeler's operations. It is far stronger, and when
the castellan showed symptoms of wavering in his alle-
giance, a body of Durbar troops were dispatched to over-
awe him. As a matter of course, this body deserted and
fraternized with the garrison. The Brigadier wisely
obtained some siege artillery to mske sure work in this
quarter, and having also received a reinforcement of na-
tive infantry, broke ground on the 23d ult. His force
is now fully equal to the task before him, and we may
expect hourly to hear that Moraree has shared the fate
of its neighbour fortlet. It is to be hoped, the garrison
will not get off with such ease as the other did, the de-
serting regiments deserve some chastisement for their
example and it ought to be soundly administered.
Chuttur Singh was, at the time our latest news left, at
Jhumsabad, a few miles east of Attock and at no great
distance from the Indus. The Attock is defended by
Lieut. Herbert Lieut. Nicholson is at Ramnagur. But
Chuttur Singh's force spreads over the country—and
portions even approach Wuzeerabad. His great object
is to come at the Peshawur division, but as yet he has
been baffled. At present he is on the look out for means
to cross over the Indus to the right bank, but at this
season neither boats nor fords are said to be available.
One of his sons, Adpar Singh, once nominal governor
of Peshawur betore General Ghoolab Singh and Major
Lawrence went thither, is at Jellulpore with some 1,500
men. It is also said that Shere Singh's furtherest
advanced detachments are at Pindee Buttian on
the right bank of the Chenab. just about a hundred and
fifty miles from Lahore, moving on to effect a junction
with Chuttur's division. The latter is believed to have
been joined also by the Bunnoo insurgent troops, to
whom offers were made by Shere Singh and I)ewan
Moolraj, but their passage down to the southward was
impeded by the Governor of the Dherajat, who kept the
passes into that country too strongly for a surprise, and
as fighting for nothing did not suit the appetite of these
gentlemen, they crossed the Indus high up at Esakhail
and moved on to Chuttur Singh.
It is said that the Maharaja of Kashmir, indignant
at the accusations made against him of complicity with
Chuttur Singh, demanded leave of the British represen-
tative to co-operate against that girder ; it is said that
leave was granted, and in consequence a force of about
6,000 men, under Colonel Steinbach, has been die.
patched to take the rebel in flank. It is currently
expected that the moment this force gets out of
the Maharaja's dominions it will mutiny,
under the Colonel, and fraternize with the
insurgent Seikhs, such being believed to be the pro-
gramme of its operations drawn up by Ghoolab Singh
himself. We are disposed to believe, however, that the
Dagro having (with more deliberation than is possible to
those who have actually flung away the scabbard) sur-
veyed the extent of our preparation, calculated its ade-
quacy to crush any force that could be brought against
us, and reflected on the certainty of the catastrophe, is
now disposed to exert himself, with the double hope of
exonerating himself from the suspicions levelled at him,
and of securing (for his services, of course) another
small slice of territory. We believe, therefore, that if
be does not contemplate at once championing the rebel
cause cdute qui eoute, he is too wise to venture on any
peoceeding which would easily be made to involve him
in the consequences, as that he is said to have concocted.
At Peshawar up to the 15th all was well, but the de-
termination of Government not to throw out rescuing
parties, till the army of the Punjaub had fairly taken the
field, was naturally misinterpreted by the country people.
Mrs. Lawrence had returned to Kohat, where she still
remained. But Major Lawrence had begun to feel so
secure in his position, if Chuttur Singh did not cross the
Indus, that he proposed she should return to Peshawur
as soon as recovered from her fatigues. It is said that
the alarm given by her escort at Chuckowal, which in-
duced them to turn back, was altogether fictitious. Lie*.
tenant Nicholson having travelled the same road
subsequently, and declared it perfectly safe. The
affair is believed to be a trick of Sultan Mahomed Khan,
though its ulterior object is not mentioned. That Bar-
rukzaie Sirdar, being at Kohat, has been summoned to
Peshawur to answer ceatain matters, and endea-
voured to evade the demand by declaring that Major
Lawrence had hostages enough of his in his power to
secure his fidelity; that he. was busy on some important
revenue collections, and that when these were settled he
would cheerfully come in. The excuse would appear to
have been rejected as frivolous. Kafilas from Kashmir
Caubul,passing through Peshawur, describes their transit
through Chuttur Singh's camp. The rebels suffer much
from want of supplies, and the country people take every
opportunity of murdering stray_ Seikhs.

-Peroaeiere now presents ti brilliant scene, regiment
after regiment moving in to complete the army of the
Punjaub. The prices of provisions were rising rapidly,
and it was therefore expected one division (Colonel
Godby's) would be immediately moved across the Sutlej
and towards Lahore. The Commander-in-Chief reached
Kulka on the 21st ult. His Excellency was to have
started again on the 23d for Munnee Majra, and pro•
ceeding thence vier Khur and Khumana to Loodhiana.
The Governor-General is expected to be at Umballah
on the 15th instant, from which date we may look for
action, and some clue to the policy proposed to be pur-
sued in regard to the Punjaub. All is impenetrable
darkness on that subject at present. The cry of our
contemporaries is generally for annexation; the opposite
view of the question as regards the justice of the mea-
sure will be found discussed in an article elsewhere
quoted.
AFFGHANISTAN.—The only public interest that at-
taches to this quarter is that arising from the chance of
Seikh insurrection being aided and abetted thence. The
chance, however, is of the slenderest. A large detach-
ment of the Ameer's troops was destroyed in the
Hazareh districts; greatly incensed at the event, Dost
Mahomed ordered the immediate advance of Ryder
Khan to punish the guilty tribes, and would have sup-
ported him with every available man from Caubul, but
the Sirdars interfered with a strong representation of
the impolicy of denuding the capital when affairs
below the passes were so critically situated. At the
same time the officers of the force pointed out the stout
resistance for which the Hazareh people were prepared,
and the difficulty of coping with them, assisted as they
would be by the rapid approach of winter. After pro-
tracted counsel it was at last resolved that operations
should be deferred to the spring. The Ameer had
taken hostages from the Khyber chief, which shows the
vigilance with which he regards the current of events in
the Punjaub.

Ouni.—Colonel Richmond is to leave Lucknow
shortly, and be succeeded in the residency by Colonel

__lversies the ovn-
mon place of the Court. .'he King amusesfi himself with
playing at soldiers, and exhausts afar from plethoric
treasury by expensive uniforms, and new birds of para-
dise for his harem. The usual breaches of the peace and
murders throughout the country occur. The death of
Colonel Wilcox, in charge of the Royal Observatory at
Lucknow, is a loss to science.
Hydrated is enlivened by the prospect of a petty cam-
paign against a contumacious Peerzada, administrator of
the revenues of one of the wealthiest shrines in the Ni-
zam's territories. This gentleman has confined his own
father, on account of a domestic crime which be is said
to have committed. On news of the affair coming to
the ears of the central authority, the Government sent
orders to the son to deliver up the prisoner to its officers
for trial. This the son refuses to do, denying the juris-
diction of the Nizam in such matters; and as the Go-
vernment orders have been repeatedly set at defiance, a
force has been dispatched to coerce the refractory _Peer-
zada. The fort of Goolburge, in which he holds out, is
very strong, and the British contingent at Secunderabad
is entrusted with the duty, if neces:ary, of reducing
it. The Resident is to proceed in person to the place if
the sight if British bayonets is insufficient to bring the
man to reason, but it is belfeved there will be no occasion
for him to do so.
Nepaul is said to be in a slight commotion, owing to
the movement of our troops, and an army of obset vaton
was to have been formed lest we should make a
" chuppao" on libutmandu. The intelligence from this
quarter is, however, at once rare and generally exagge-
rated.