The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-10 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Graham's nwn Journal, July 26.)
'lice intelligence frLan King William's Town is to
Cif. 231 inst., on the afternoon of which day a patrol,
under the command of Colonel Michell, returned to
quarters. They had been to the Keiskarnma, but
came back without booty, nearly all the Kafir cattle,
it is said, with a great many swept off from the co-
-I,my, having been driven to a distance, er placed for
time among the herds of the friendly Kafirs. On the
return of the p,:trol, the rear was attacked by a.
strong party of Ksfirs under the Chief Seyolo, but
these were soon repulsed, without loss on our side.
The accounts state that the Fingees attached to
Colonel Michell called out to the enemy to know if
they had had enough, to which Seyolo replied, "that
he had lost his country and his cattle, and did not
desire peace, and if peace were attained, the Governor
roust make it himself." A petrol under Colonel Eyre
had been out since Monday, but not having returned
no account is given of its movements. The news
from Kreli's country is of a pacific character. Two
messengers from the Chief Kreli arrived at King
William's Town, on the evening of the 231, with a
communication to the Governor, purporting that the
Chief was now sensible of having committed a great
error, and is willing to make every reparation in his
power, and be responsible for any mischief which may
have been done in his country. That he will main-
tain peace in his country so long as the war may con-
tinue here, and act with fidelity towards the colony
under the eye of the British Resident, who he re-
quests may be recalled to act as his future medium
of communication. This is said to be the substance
of the communication made to the Governor, whose
answer had not been given at the date of the com-
munication.

The accounts further state that messengers from
Sandilli had arrived at the kraal of the Chief Pato,
who had been sent for from Fort Murray to receive
their communication. This is suppc3od to have some
reference to terms of peace, but nothing beyond sup-
position is stated in the accounts transmitted. It is
added that Sandi is greatly dfjected, and contem-
plates removing, with all his people, to the unoccupied
country beyond the liye.
Information has come in from General Somerset's
CRialp to yesterday. The General had heard of the
fatal affair on the Koonap hill, and had instantly de-
Uched 100 men of the 74th Regiment, 30 of the
European Levy, and a detachment of the Cape
Mounted Rifles, under Lieutenant Green, the whole
under the command of Captain --, 74th Regiment,
to proceed to the scene of the murder, and to follow
the banditti wherever they may pursue their murder-
ous career.

The following has also come to hand by the same
opportunity .
" Yellow Wood Camp, July 25.
" The Kafirs are very numerous about here, but
they manage to escape most of our patrols !—although
both men and horses are done up with hard work.
The waggons from Ainslie that came here with sup-
plies, when returning were attacked between Manca-
zana post and T. Webster's farm in the drift, and
although escorted by 25 Fingoes and 8 Europeans,
the combined force of Hottentots and Kafirs attacked
them so fiercely that they succeeded in capturing the
waggons and oxen and all they contained, including
seven guns, 700 rounds of ball cartridge, blankets,
&c., and killed one Fingo and wounded the two Sut-
tons (father and son). Seven of the enemy fell, and
were left on the ground."
The following are the names of the persons killed
and wounded in the affair at the Koonap
Impey and Curley, of Fort Beau-
fort ; Messrs. Mortimer, B. Lang, and Clarke, of
Alice Levy.
Wounded—Sergeant Bradshaw and Private Nelson,
of Alice Levy.
Missing—Privates White and Redington, of Alice
Levy.
Private Brewer escaped unhue.
Of the Fort Brown party the following were
killed Sergeant Rosenbloo, Corporal Griffiths,
Privates M'Cluire and M`Veety, of Alice Levy.
Missing—Private M. Hoare, cf Alice Ltvy.
The following cornet-milk:Olen (the latest from
Beaufort) gives a more satisfactory statement of the
conditiou of affairs there, subsequent to the fatal
rencontre on the 25th of July:—
"CAPE TOWN, AUG. 1.
" TETE PRAAMBERG KAFIKS—BEAUFORT.

" A letter has been received from the Rev. Mr.
Albiet, missionary of the Rhenish Society at Schiel-
fontein, in the Beaufort district, calculated in some
degreo b allay the apprehensions entertained respect-
ing that part of the colony. Mr. Albeit writes from
Victoria (Beaufort), on the 23d of July Some
time ago it was reported that a great many strange
Kafirs and Hottentots of the Kat River were collected
in the Praambergen. Some thefts by Kafirs were
reported, and some expressions of the Kafirs gave
cause to fear that war would break out here. The
Civil Commissioner went to the Praamberg, and on
his way called at Schielfontein, leaving word for me
to follow him. Oa Monday morning I was at the
camp at the foot of the Praamberg, where about 100
farmers were assembled. I proposed to go alone into
the mountain with Daniel, my eider, who had accom
panied me. I wished also to have a witness on the
part of the farmers with me, and the field cornet was
chosen for that purpose. In consequence of our
proposals, the Kafirs came out of the mountains with-
out arms. Two thieves were apprehended, and will
be sent to Beaufort this day. The Hottentots were
obliged to take masters. This affair is consequently
settled in peace. Not a gun was fired ; the only
smoke seen was that of my pipe. Everybody is re-
turned home, and I leave for Schielfontein to-

morrow.'"

WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH
OUR CONVICTS ?

~~----

LETTErciii.
TO THE BIAS? la/N.SM GEORGE GRFY, BART., M.P.,

&3.
&c. &c.
Sir,—lt has been often asked, How does it happen
that all the plans of the Colonial-office have so
*ignally failed, and that at this moment, as far as the
transportation system operates, the reclamation of the
convict i 3 mare hopeless than at cny former period,
and crime increasing to an enormous extent ; for
n7isuredly such plans have included every variety of
trea4menr, from that which bordered upon excessive
cruelty to that whose fault was of an opposite
chlracter.

Of the effict produced by the plan of cruel treat-
ment, the Cnief Justice of New South Wales told
the Trawportation Committee, "That he would not
h..sitate to prefer death under any form that it could
be presented to him, rather than such a state of en-
dursnce as thc..t of the convict in Norfolk Island."

Nor were the efTi;ct3 produced by a lenient plan of
a better description, for, after haviug been in opera-
tion some years, Mr. Stewart, who war directed to
report upon the condition of the convicts in Norfolk
Isldnd in 184 G, represents "the state of crime there
as bet:- g of tale most atrocious character, and the in-
subordination of the men as very excessive." Upon
this Lord Grey directed natamires should be taken to
break up the establishment with the least possible
delay.
But Archbishop Whately's proposition shows most
clearly why it. is that all the plans have so utterly
failed ; it is because the C3loniai-office has always
made the interests of the colony, through the medium
of the settler, the primary object. Thus we have the
deliberate opinion of one of the foremost men of the
present day fully confirmed by the results of expe-
rience. Surely such a coincidence must to every
rational mind be conclusive as to the necessity of a
change.

.
Now it is clear there are only two modes of effect-
ing a change of the present system—either to abolish
the punishment of transportation, or to continue it in
a totally different manner from any yet practised ;
there is no third course worthy the attention of a
statesman, or a philanthropist, and any different
manner of continuing transportation can only ac-
complish the desired effect by strictly adhering to the
principle laid down by the Archbishop; and caring
nothing for the colony, nothing for the settler, except
as such interests must be incidentally promoted, by
an effectual punishment of the convict, giving the
best prospect of his reclamation from vice.
Such was the object of the plan which last year I
submitted for your consideration, believing that you,
who have already effected so great and salutary a
change in the treatment and in the condition of the
convict in this country, would, although the subject
was not in your department, exert yourself to pre-
vent your praiseworthy exertions being rendered
nearly useless, by handing over the half-reformed
convict to the tender mercies of the Colonial-office,
to be treated as formerly, contrazy to every sound
principle as deducible from theory—
from logic—and
from experience,
I observed in my former letter that my plan had
this material distinction from the probation system
devised and carried out by Lord Stanley and Sir J.
Graham, inasmuch as they sent the convicts to an old
colony, whereas I proposed that they should be trams
ported to a new one; and I submit to 3-our judgment
that this distinction alone would be quite sufficient to
account for the failure of their plan, and to hope for
success from the adoption of mine.
But as two of the most eminent statesmen of the
present day entrusted with the responsibilities of office
devised and carried into effect a plan for the reclama-
tion of convicts in the colonies, surely it must be con-
ceded that there cannot be anything very absurd or
ridiculous in the principle of such plan ; and when it
Was found to produce such lamentable effects a wise
man and a fair man would have endeavoured in the
first place to ascertain the cause of failure.
And the slightest examination would have convinced
even the Colonial-office that the failure of the plan
could most easily be accounted for, without imputing
the slightest blame to the principle. I think the at-
tempt to carry it out in an old colony instead of a new
one is in itself a sufficient cause, but beyond this nothing
can be more certain than that the plan never bad a
fair trial ; and that, if the authorities in the colony
had resolved that it should fail, they could not pos-
sibly have adopted plans more certain to produce that
effect, for the best plan must fail unless carried out
by faithful agents.
Sir W. Denison's statement is decisive upon the
point as to the manner the authorities in the colony
carried out Lord Stanley's plan. He says, " The
general complaint of the inefficiency of the officers at
the different convict stations applies in its full force to
those to whom the religious instruction of the convict is
entrusted." Can it be necessary to say a single ad-
ditional word to prove that the failure of his Lord-
ship's plan was entirely owiug to the manner in which
is was attempted to carry it out, and did not proceed
from the phn itself?
Why ! it is precisely the Male plan which you have
carried out with such marked benefit at the Island of
Portland.= What earthly reason can exist why that
which has been effected at Portland cannot be equally
well carried out in the colonies ? Certainly, it would
not be reasonable to expect that talent such as yours,
or Lord John Russell's, or Sir James Graham's should
be found in the colonies ; neither is it necessary, be-
cause in your hands ought still to remain the adminis-
trative authority; and all that is requisite is zeal and
fidelity to carry out your plans.
I cannot conceive that anything short of imperious
necessity would induce any man of sound judgment
to propose that gangs of convicts, to the number of
30,000 or 40,000,* should be distributed throughout
these realms, and then let loose upon society, after the
expiration of their respective sentences, in a country
where there is little or no employment for them,
and still lass desire to take them into service.
I have the honour to remain, &c.,
RIGBY WASON.

Corwar, Sept. 1, 1851.
* The number now under sentence in the colonies.

BALLOON DESCENT AT A LUNATIC ASYLUM.—
The veteran Green, having made his 485th ascent from
Vauxhall-gardens in the Nassau balloon on Monday evening
accompanied by a party of gentlemen, effected a safe descent
on the lawn in front of the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum.
Many of the patients, who were enjoying their evening,
amusements immediately assisted him in securing the bal-
loon, and rendering him the required assistance. It being
the intention of the company, which consisted of a party of
distinguished military officers, again to embark at dawn of
day on an aerial voyage, the descent was accomplished with
scarcely any loss of gas. Balloon ascents being now of so
frequent occurrence they scarcely deserve any notice in a
public journal, but it is with much pleasure that we record
this, being a practical illustration of the great improvement
which n hasn an
e views,
been effected
nby
the y Dr.treatment C no o 1 1
ay
fi,nlaif
en t d
et
bao
et
phi
ene followingrrsssaonnes
in
this
his
country. Here a large quantity f
imme-
diately rendered the required assistance; and, although the
extensive grounds soon became visited by neighbours from
all directions, with whom they mixed, they cheerfully re-
turned to the wards of the building, without any mischievous
excitement from the event. Mr. Green and his friends hav-
ing been received and made welcome by Dr. Diamond, they
again ascended early in the morning, Mr. Green observing,
it had never been his lot to alight in a more suitable or
cheerful spot ; his companions, some of whom had travelled
much in foreign countries, expressing in very strong lan-
guage the "immense humanity " now here displayed in the
treatment of lunatics compared to similar establishments
they had visited.
THE NEW PRINCIPLE OF ASCERTAINING VITALITY.
—Yesterday an inquest was held by Mr. Bedford, the coroner
in the Board-room of St. James's Workhouse, on the body
of a male child. The circumstances of this case would
scarcely be worth reporting but for the new light shown by
the surgeon as to the probable existence of a child, and the
inquiry altogether was of a most interesting character. On
Friday night a lad was going through Golden-square, when
a child called to him that there was a bundle by the side of
the railings. When he took it up he saw the body of a
take
child, and took it to the workhouse, in case life should
iexist,
bbeu t
Station-housea s the chil child wians deadvin e
back in
the usual way. The body aldndbibmrinhge mustit
immediately sent back to the
station-house, and, of course, was accordingly taken to the
-street,
eorrekho
examineduse M
the
h.
elFrbeondcji,i:
and of 4h la,dGirieoa
ollbartl
tbhoreocuhgibl
d- sltizeedt
halthough now in a state of almost pustreved that the child
eifaction. He found
the lungs were fully inflated, which
had breathed. The foreman
tohf
thhceebhjfiuol
drrymeaasnaknae thedv,ts.ihifseh ed
si
oon.fl
ka inflation
of the lungs might not bnecchaussaT
it could
e
ta
gases arising
abreising from
decomposition.
nr. }lag.rasedonfot breathed the ordinaryy Were
weight
hgrains.ad i weighedth et
child
would have been grains.
how this difference was accounted for, and he replied that if
life existed, respiration must of course take place. llespir
tion sets the functions of the heart in motliaonna,tonndotfhe vessels
;: of the lungs became filled. They were thus heavier where
life bad been than when it had not existed. The jury;
hsiesemneedw
and probably the best test, and returned a vcrdict of
highly satisfied with Mr. French's explanation
"Found
dead.

THE FATAL. ACCIDENT ON TUE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
RAILWAY.—The inquest on the bodies of the persons who
were killed in consequence of this accident was yesterday
resumed at Bicester. The engine-driver underwent a long
examination, as did Mr. M'Connell, the superintendent of the
Locomotive Department of the North-Western Railway--
They both gave it as their opinion that the accident wa:
occasioned by some displacement taking
place in the points
after the locomotive had passed over them, and beforeai the
carriages had artived on them. The inquest was again
ad-
journed.

SHOOTING AT A RAILWAY DIAIN.—The seven
o'clock train from Paddington, on passing the Roebuck Inn,
Oxf,rd-road, on Tuesday evening last, was maliciously shot
at by some party unknown. The engine-driver in commandbelieving he had passed over a detonating ball, the usual
s
istgiinisa,l
e
ie found that the stoker dist'
o(tledoanc :vehro,mblew the guard's Ni,histlenetainvd
ssa.w,optpweod ther?.
train, when l
gun and fired, the shotsr of
which were heard onpothinetetcd hndtere.
The coSUSPECTEDuntyof
its poisonings, another
light in the village
the family berland bids fair to e notorious or
usomNsulsripG9 IN. NOIITHITrERLAND7
ected case having just come to
of Kirkwhelpington. Two children in
-peeas2nt died last week, within twenty-
.NoPr°thl
The coroner, Mr. Stephen 'Reed, has
four hours jmfeaac,ohi'soonther. both of whom are supposed to
have died
wed wednfreso daiy (this day) for holding the inquest, and haa
directed a post mortar' emunination to be made in Ow mum.
tiine•