The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-15 00:00:00

BRIGADIER SMITH'S COLUMN.

The following is from an officer with Brigadier
Smith's column, which has again taken the field :
Camp before Poorie, 18 miles from Seepree,
August 9, 1858.
Here we are out again, after our old friend of the
Padon fort, Man Sing, or Bower Sing, as he is now
called. He is in the fort of Poorie, with 3,000 or
4,000 men, 3 large guns, and about 24 small ones.
We left Seepree on the sth, but, on account of the
heavy nature of the road, could only reach Jeary
that day. The worst part of the road was that
close to Seepree, where the guns sunk to their axles
in the mud, and the horses to their haunches. Even
the legs of the infantry occasionally disappeared in
the most mysterious manner, and it would not
astonish us in the least to find, on our return, a
fine ripe crop of shoes and ammunition boots, for a
good many were left planted in this rich alluvial
soil. The road from Jeari was better, and on the
afternoon of the 6th we arrived before Poorie
Fort, and bivouacked before the walls. This
afternoon and the next morning we spent in recon-
noitring, and in receiving and replying to letters from
Man Sing, who says he is our great friend, and that
he does not want to fight us, but won't give him-
self up, though his life has been promised, as he is
afraid we will hang him. If we had large guns
we would soon make a breach and take the place,
but as it is, we cannot get in, and so are waiting
patiently for the 18-pounders from Gwalior, when
we will no doubt soon bring him to terms. Our
force consists of four horse artillery guns (Colonel
Blake's), 450 of her Majesty's 95th, 350 of the 10th
N. 1., 1 squadron Bth Hussars, and 1 squadron Ist
Lancers. On the afternoon of the 7th, Brigadier
Smith went close to the gate of the fort, to have a
conference with Man Sing. He was attended by
his brigade-major only, but Man Sing, though he
came out with an armed rabble at his heels, took
fright at' two lancers who galloped towards the
brigadier, and retired, his followers clustering
round our good brigadier, and making such an
awful row, that we thought it was all up with our
gallant chief. I am happy to say they did not
touch him, for we cannot afford to loose such a fine
brave fellow, and one so' much loved in the force.
As he would not come to terms, we retired to our
camp out of shot, and are " biding our time." When
the big guns arrive, we shall have some glorious
fun of it, and pay them well. There are two regi-
ments of Gwalior mutineers in the fort. Man Sing
is a fine-looking young man, and like our Rob Roy
has long arms, reaching below the knee. We are
all in good health, though till to-day we have been
roughing it without tents, and, need I say, very
jolly at the prospect of another scrimmage.

BOMBAY COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE
(From the Bombay Standard of Aug. 19.)

Our money market continues easy, but, before
long, a demand is expected, owing to the near ap-
proach of the opening of the season. The prospects
of the harvest all over the country are reported as
favourable. Rain has fallen abundantly m the in-
terior, but at the Presidency the fall has been some-
what below the average. However, as six weeks
of the rainy season yet remains, there is no cause
for apprehension.
IMPORTS.

Cotton piece goods continue to show considerable
and improved activity, and goods, almost all " to
arrive," have been sold, and some that are in Man-
chester ready for shipment have been eagerly bought
up ; also prices have further advanced. Of grey
shirting, 40-inch, all descriptions are in very good
demand, and advanced in price 2 to 8 annas ; Bto
9lbs. extremely scarce and eagerly sought for.
45 inch—All kinds in good demand ; 7 to 91b. most
wanted ; 2to 8 annas advanced. 50 inch—ln ac-
tive demand, but prices remain as last quoted. All
descriptions of grey madapollam are more inquired
for and in better demand than last reported, and prices
have advanced 1 to 2 annas ; jacconet in very good
demand and scarce at Ito 2 annas advance. Drills
are dull, and have declined 2 to 4 annas. All de-
scriptions of T cloth in very good demand, and
advanced Ito 4 annas. Long cloth in very good
demand, 2to 8 annas advanced. All descriptions if
domestics in moderate inquiry, except narrow
widths, which are in good request. Bleached
shirting (Madapollam) is in good demand for low
to middling ; others dull. Low jacconets are in
demand ; others dull.
Satin Spots—Declined 2 annas per piece, though
in fair request. Twills—None at market, and
wanted. Turkey Red—Plain in fair request.
Twills and Mulls dull ; also Dimity. Fancy
Bleached Mulls—All descriptions in very good de-
mand; as also Lappets, checks and striped, low
Book Muslin, low Bleached Cambric, Lappet
Scarfs, Grey and Bleached Dhories, and Coloured
Muslin.
Dyed Madapollam and Mulls higher, but Book
Muslin and Cotton Velvet are dull of sale. Yarn
both Mule and Water in very good demand and
advanced on Nos. 20, 30, 40, and 50, of the former,
raid 20 and 30 of the latter. Sales in all 325 bales.
Turkey Red, inferior in moderate demand, best dull
Orange and Green, scarce, and in very: good de-
mandan d advanced.

METALS.—lron—British bar dull and declined,
while nail rod, round and square, hoop and sheet,
maintain their last value. Swedish bar, and steel
in tubs and faggots, dull. Lead :—Pigs and sheet
in demand. Tin plate in demand. Spelter in fair
demand, and advanced. Copper : all descriptions
dull and declined, while tile is in good demand and
advanced.

Quicksilver in demand. White and Red Lead :
Best of white scarce and in demand, and red main-
taining last value. Cochineal dull. Saffron : Best
in demand.

EXPORTS.
Cotton Wool—Owing to small and scanty stock,
and the good accounts from England and China,
prices advanced on Broach, Dhollera, and Manga-
role. More doing for the latter market than the
former. Only a fw boats have arrived from the
northward with Mowah cotton, but the arrivals
will now gradually increase. Sheep's W of—Best
none, and inferior maintaining last value : 500 can-
dies sold since mail arrived. Coffee—Mocha and
Malabar none. Pepper—Bhutcol and Malabar scarce
and maintaining last value. Saltpetre Dqll.
Munjeet-L--None. Scinde Its. 41 to 41 ; Muscat Rs.
31. Hemp--In demand for local consumption and
scarce. Copra—Scarce and in very good demand,
and advanced Rs. 72 to 75. Oil—Cocoa-nut scarce
and in very active demand, and advanced Rs. 51.
Teel—Dull, at Rs. 210 annas. Castor scarce and
maintaining last value. 3,000. maunds Gingellic
oil, £2 10s. ditto. Myrabollum—Dull. Coir—
Yarn No. 1, Its. 45 to 48 ; No. 2, Its. 35 to 40.
Fibre Rs. 48. Seeds—Lin., since the arrival of the
mail, in ;very good demand, and advanced to
Rs. 5 11 annas ; and "to arrive" in Jan., Rs. 51 ;
in October, Rs. 51. Rape—None. "To arrive" in
September, Its. 5 14 annas ; in October, Rs. 51; in
December, Its. 51. Poppy—None. Teel—Dull ;
Rs. 25 to 26. Niger—Scarce and in demand, and.
advanced Rs. 20. Bhoysing—Scarce and in de-
mand, and advanced to Rs. 201 to 21. Opium—
The market has bean very firm, and prices have
further advanced to Rs. 1,315 for Mundlesir and
Its. 1,310 for Indore.

EXCHANGE.
On London, advanced in the early part of the
fortnight to 2s. 00. for Bank Bills, and 2s, ld. for
Documents, 6 months' sight, at which figures very

large transactions have had effect. In the last few
days the rate has receded 2s. Odd. to 2s. Odd. for
Bank and Document Bills.

TONNAGE.

There is little change to note in rates of freight
to Great Britain, and our quotations remain the
same as our last.

THE CALCUTTA MAIL.

We have also received by express, our letters
and papers from Calcutta, to August 7.
The following summary is taken from the
Calcutta Englishman of August 7 :
Although three .weeks have elapsed since the
departure of the steamer for Suez, we have nothing
to record showing that the least progress has been
made towards the pacification of the country. On
the contrary, there are signs of much more work
during the ensuing cold weather, when we trust the
establishment of the Queen's authority in India,
backed by the presence of the reinforcements now on
their way out, will crush the last hopes of the rebels,
and establish that supremacy which has been so wan-
tonly lost. It is needless now to express any opinion
on the unsuccessful attempts that have been made to
quell the mutiny, but we cannot pass over in
silence the fact that• with the immense aid placed
at the, disposal of the Government, and the hearty
co-operation which every European was willing to
afford, the rebellion would long ere this have been
brought to an end, had the right man been in the right
place. This unfortunately was not the case. With a
supreme civil power to direct military tactics, with a
Commander-in-Chief cramped in his movements by
red-tape, with a Governor-General determined to
carry out his own views in spite of the advice of
Indian statesmen, possessing practical local expe-
rience—and with numberless proclamations, the ab-
surdity of which has become proverbial among the
rebels themselves, the Indian Government has in the
eyes of the natives, and we regret to add, in the opinion
of many Europeans too, been reduced to a position,
which places it more in the light of one suing for
peace than one who possesses the moral courage
and physical strength to enforce.
It is, however, unfair to cast the whole blame for
this state of things upon the Indian Government ;
indeed, much remains to be answered for by the
mother country.
Rebels, of whose existence there hardly appears to
have been the remotest idea, are reported to have con-
centrated in large numbers on some point or other,
moving about undisturbed as they like, and crossing
rivers without the least difficulty of finding the means
to do so, or meeting with the least opposition. The
service messages published by Government do not
aid much to clear up the mystery. One day we
hear that General Roberts was still at Tonk, but
talked of going to Tauda, and a 'few days after-
wards we are informed that he was moving to
Nusseerabad, whilst Brigadier Sir Hope Grant was
near Fyzabad, The same service message told us,
that whilst General Roberts talked of going to
Tanda, the rebels were moving about and plunder-
ing every village on their way. Another message
states that Col. Holmes at Boondee, a full march
behind the rebels, but that he was crippled for want
of carriage, so that the rebels, as a matter of
course, escaped. Now it is somewhat strange that
the enemy in all his movements never experiences
the least difficulty in procuring carriages or boats for
crossing rivers, whilst our forces passing through
districts stated to have returned to their former
loyalty cannot procure either with ready cash at
their command.

Those of our readers who have attentively pe-
rused the official intelligence sent home by each
successive mail must by this time have come to the
conclusion that the rebel forces have at last been
reduced to a small fraction. According to the
numerous bulletins published by Government the
result of the several engagements with the enemy
represent a stereotyped average of 300 killed and
100 supposed to have been cut up in the pursuit,
with the capture of numberless guns of all calibre,
and ammunition without end.

In Oude, the rebel chief Banee Madho, with
13,000 followers and 17 guns, is contemplating an
advance towards the Rajpootana states, and it is
said that he relies upon the people joining him
against the wish of their rulers. We have not
heard of any arrangements that may have been
made to prevent his carrying out his design, but it
appears that there is sufficient reason to question
the loyalty of the people of Jeypore, Odypore, and
even Kotah. The Begum at present is reported to
be at Mahnudee, and her followers seem ~to be
wavering between close allegiance to the rebels and
submission to the British Government. That noto-
rious rascal the Shahzada Feroze Shah continues to
commit all sorts of depredations, and mutilates every
native employed by the British Government who
may have the misfortune to fall into his hands. Of
the movements of the Nana absolutely nothing
authentic is known. Maim Sing, whose loyalty
seems to be guided by the aspect of politics, was
besieged at Fyzabad by the rebels in consequence
of his alleged adherence to the British Government.
The force that besieged him, amounted, according
to the official bulletins, to not less than 40,000
men,

In Bengal Proper we have but few occurrences to
notice. From Behar we have no news whatever, and
we apprehend that Brigadier Douglas has as yet not
been successful in driving the rebels out of the Jug-
despore jungle. In Shahabad the mutineers still
continue to be troublesome, and although they are
beaten whenever coming into contact with our
troops, yet they have not been able to clear the
district of them. In Mymensing an emeute has
occurred, which shows the extreme carelessness with
which the gaol has been guarded, at a time when
experience has shown that one of the first acts of
the rebels is always to liberate and let loose upon
the community the inmates of gaols. On the
25th of July nearly 600 convicts, handcuffed
and fettered, managed to overpower the guard,
seized their arms, and made clear off towards
Jumalpore. The collector, with the avail-
able guard, and assisted by the European resi-
dents of the station, pursued the fugitives,
and recaptured about 300, who, it appears,
surrendered without much opposition. How pri-
soners handcuffed and fettered could manage to
overpower the guard and seize their arms has not
been explained.

Whilst most of the native chiefs, whose loyalty
was never questioned, but who, it was feared might
have been forced by their people to rise against us,
have successfully overcome the crisis, difficulties have
arisen in a very unexpected quarter. Jung Bahadoor,
evidently not satisfied with the immense plunder his
Goorkhas have had in Oude, has been endeavouring
to create a misunderstanding, in the hope that under
existing circuinstances he could extort what other-
wise he could never have ventured to ask for. His ex-
pectations appear to have been that Gorruckpore
would be restored to the Nepaulese, and in those
expectations he has been disappointed.
Of the Governor-General's intended movements
we at last know so much that he has no intention to
return to Calcutta. Previous to his departure for
Allahabad a special act had to be passed by the
Legislative Council, authorising Lord Canning's
absence from the Presidency for a period of six
months. This expired on the 31st ultimo, and the
legislature has now extended it to a further period
of six months.