The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-21 00:00:00

ItErLY.

"King William's Town, July 22.
" Gentlemen,—Your 'memoir' of the 19th inst.
reached me yesterday.
" 2. I have always thought that any regular force
at my disposal, which could be given for the interior
defence of the frontier, would be inadequate for the
purpose, although I ordered there every available
reinforcement. My proclamations of the 25th of De-
cember and 3d of February last, the general disre-
gard of which has led to the misfortunes therein
predicted, were issued such being my impression.
Had the levy en masse which I called forth been
readily afforded affairs at this moment within the
colony would not wear their present disastrous aspect
from marauders. lam aware that there is now much
difficulty in the farmers on the immediate frontier
turning out, owing to the desertion of their servants;
but this is not the case on what may be termed the
second line,; and I'expect much from a commando
now in the field under Mr. Cole, the Civil Commis-
sioner of Albert.

' 3. It is indeed melancholy to observe the awful
state of the country, on which you so truly comment.
Major- General Somerset is now detached into the
colony from the immediate frontier, and his 'Frontier
Orders' of the 13th inst. show that he is ably exert-
ing himself to meet the evil.
"4. However much I admire the conduct of the
Albany Rangers—and I have every reason to do so—
I cannot admit that the inhabitants of Graham's
Town have done as much as might have been ex-
pected to contribute towards the general defence, and
I ground such an assertion upon their noble conduct
in 1835.

" 5. Your comments upon the defection of the Hot-
tentots are most just. Lamentable is that defection,
and equally unexpected by me as by yourselves. It
has cramped my movements and protracted the dura-
tion of the war, which would otherwise have ere this
bee❑ brought to a conclusion.
"6. I am but too well aware, gentlemen, of the
helpless condition of many of the inhabitants of the
colony. No one can more regret it than myself; and
I feel additional pain because I know that the greater
part of the evils which have assailed them might have
been averted. Had the burghers at once turned out
at the commencement of hostilities, we should not
have now to depore all that you so truly and lamentably
describe. In 1849 I proposed to the colony an im-
provement and modification of the system called the
commando system,' which it most unthinkingly op-
posed. Had the force contemplated by that improved
system been at my disposal, the state of affairs would
have been indeed far different from what it now is
within the colonial border.

"7. The course I have pursued in British Kafraria
is the correct one. Had I swerved from a persever-
ance in it, however awfully the marauding parties
have recently carried on their depredations, there
would then have been a general rush into the colony
of the whole of the Kafir tribes. In war that
must be attempted whiCh carries with it a pro-
spect of the greatest general benefit to the whole.
"8. I posted the division of the troops under
Major-General Somerset at Fort Hare, as a second
line for interior defence, and for the burghers to rally
round. Major-General Somerset bas moved this
division, with my sanction, into the most disturbed
districts, and this most active and enterprising officer
has my authority to establish posts of burghers at
every prominent point best calculated to repel banditti.
"9. You are of opinion that the time has now
arrived when every ablebodied man should be requird
to turn out. I think this time arrived seven months
ago, and I accordingly then called upon them by my
proclamation to do so. But what was the result ?
Whenever the burghers will turn out for the occupa-
tion of posts, you are aware that I ration them and
feed their horses, and their services are important.
" 10. Two thousand of the Hottentot levies, as you
know, returned to their homes. lam in daily expec-
tation of further reinforcements from England, and
on their arrival, if Major-General Somerset's opera-
tions should not have had the desired effect, and if
the present demeanour of the Kafirs, which from the
recent and combined successes against them in British
Kafraria is decidedly that of despondency, continues,
I may be enabled to make a more extended disposi-
tion of the force under my command.
" 11. I have thus entered into this subject with
you, gentlemen, with a desire to show that, while as a
citizen I sympathise in the present calamity, as Com-
mander•in-Chief I am exerting myself to the utmost
to restore tranquillity.—l have the honour to be, &c.,
" H. G. SMITH.
" The Gentlemen forming the Board of
Defence, Graham's Town."

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
Arrived at Table 84, on the sth September, ship
Token, schooner Louisa, and Abel, and ship Roman
Emperor; 6th, brig Louisa Fredcrika; 7th, barques Pro-
tector and Gateshead-perk, and her Majesty's steamer
Ithadarnanthus; Bth, ship Maidstone; 9th, schooner
Mercury; and 10th, barque Columbus.
At Simon's Bay, 6th, berg& Emelyn; her Majesty's
steamer Cyclops; 9th, ship Token; 10th, her Majesty's
item- Birkenhead.
At Mossel Bay, August 30th, schooner Louisa; Sept.
Ist, steam-vessel Phoenix, ship Anne Mary, and brig
Curlew.
At Mgoa Bay, August 29th, barque Mahtoree; Sept.
Ist,
brigs Fortuna, Diadem, and Jessie Smith, and
barque ElizAbetb.