The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1858,

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's Office :

MARSEILLES, DEC. 15.

The Presse d' Orient explains that Namik Pacha,
the Governor of Jeddah, having invited to dinner
the Cadi and ten of the principal merchants, re-
tained them as prisoners.
The Journal de Constantinople declares that the
administrative crisis on account of the Principali-
ties is ended.

ST. PETERSBURG, DEC. 15.

Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is still suf-
fering from cough, with expectoration. Fever still
continues, but is less violent.

(Signed) KARELL,

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY.

The Prime Minister of Algeria has received from
General Devaux, Commandant at Constantina,
report on the progress made in boring Artesian
wells in the part of the Sahara belonging to that
province:—
" The document states that in the Eastern Sa-
hara, from Biskra to Tougourth and Onargla, there
were several oases which were formerly in a flou-
rishing condition, but the villages built on them
have now fallen into ruins, and caravans proceed-
ing towards Central Africa can no longer find there
water and provisions. The borings which have
been terminated on the line crossing the Oued-
Rir from Biskra to Onargla lead to the hope that
those oases will be restored to their ancient ferti-
lity. Since last year the quantity of water that
has sprung forth has more than doubled, and now
forms a large stream in the most scorching part of
Algeria.' During the season of 1857-58, five bor-
ings were executed, which supplied a flow of
water of 9,583 litres a minute. Four others are
in course of execution, but although they have
already reached a greater depth than those above
mentioned, the water has not yet risen. The basin
of the Hodna, in which the five wells have turned
out so favourably, is very well suited for the estab-
lishment of a colony of Europeans. The fertility
of the soil is most remarkable, the yield of wheat
being 40 for 1, and the health of the workmen
who have been engaged in the borings has always
been excellent. At Sidi Sliman, about 16 miles
from Tougourth, the oasis was in complete decay;
the palm trees had been cut down ; and three wells,
which had supplied the village with water, were
completely dried up. Now there is a fountain
which yields 4,000 litres of water a minute, and
the place will soon be restored to life and fertility.
The new well is bored in such a situation that the
irrigation of the whole oasis can be readily effected.
Houses are being rebuilt, and the inhabitants, who
had been dispersed among the villages in the neigh-
bourhood are returning. During the last two
years, 15 Artesian wells have been undertaken, of
which 11 have perfectly succeeded; of the other
four, two lead to the expectation of giving a large
supply of water, and the other two will be at least
as good as ordinary wells. During the season 1858-
4859, the well of Metkaouack will probably be
completed, and new searches for water will be
made in other parts of the basin of the Hodna, as
well as between Temarin and Onargla. At about
eight miles from El-Hadji'ra are the ruins of a
large village. Some experimental borings are being
made near the spot, and in the event of their being
successful, the journey of the caravans towards
Central Africa will be materially facilitated. The
relations with the Touaregs will become more
regular and frequent, and an advantageous com-
merce may be established between the French
possessions and those tribes who attend all the
markets of Central ' Africa. The effect produced
on the natives by these works has been very bene-
ficial, and they show themselves deeply sensible
to those primary benefits of civilisation. A part of
the water from the wells has always been reserved
for the poor ; a schcik who endeavered to deprive
them of this favour was dismissed, and that ex-
ample was sufficient to prevent a recurrence of the
offence." The report concludes by stating that, if
the oases scattered over the part of Africa above
alluded to be restored to prosperity, powerful means
of action for the future development of the colony
will have been prepared.

A letter from Toulon states that the Grand Duke
Constantine of Russia is expected there towards the
end of the present week from Nice, and that it is
even said that the prince will proceed to Paris to
visit the Emperor and Empress.
; BOURSE, Dec. 15.—Business has been very
limited, and the market has been rather depressed.
Threes have been done at 73f., and are now at
73f. 15c. ; Mobilier varied from 972 f. 50c. to 980 f. ;
Austrian, 640 f. to 642 f. 50c. ; Orleans, 1,390 f. to
1,392 f. 50c. ; Northern, I,ooof. to I,oolf. 25e. ;
Lyons, 875 f. to 880 f. ; and Southern, 585 f. to
587 f. 50c. The following aro the last quota-
tions :-
41 per Cents..... 96 50 /Credit Fonder....

Do. end month .. Belgian 4f lOO
3 per Cents. 72 90 Piedmonteso (5)
Do. end month.... 72 95 Roman 93
Bank Shares. 3065 Austrian
Credit Mobilier .. 970 Spanish Threes
Do. Account ..... 970 Home Debt 43 50

said in other quarters that his Majesty is resolved
to follow up his great work, and to realise it in
spite of every obstacle. Admiral Putiatine has
arrived here direst from Paris, and has been received
by the Emperor."

INDIA.

(From the Times' Correspondent)
BOMBAY, Nov. 13.
I take the opportunity offered by the departure
of H.M.'s steamer Auckland, Capt. Stephens, for
Aden, to correct and complete the narrative of the
campaign. I have one important correction to make
at the outset. It was not Tantia Topee who nego.
tiated with Capt. Kerr for a surrender, but the
Nawab of Banda ; the error arose simply from a
substitution of names in the telegraph message
conveying the news to Bombay. It is to Captain
Kerr and the Southern Mahratta Horse that credit
is due for turning Tantia Topee from the plunder
of Bhilsa. Such is the terror attached to Kerr's
name, that when the rebels learnt his arrival at
Hoshungabad they turned finally from their course,
and directed their steps towards the Nerbudda.
Capt. Kerr, with 350 men, arrived at Hoshungabad
after a march of 38 days, from Kulludghur. In
that short space of time he traversed 650 miles of
country ; he crossed five rivers and countless nul-
lahs, all swollen by rains ; he toiled through the
black soil of the richest cotton country in India,
where made roads are not yet in existence, and at
a period when all traffic even by bullock carts is at
a stand. At Hoshungabad orders awaited him,
in obedience to which he marched (Oct. 30) to
Bhilsa, taking a bridle path through the hills. On
the Ist Nov., after a morning march, he learnt that
Tantia Topee had crossed the Nerbudda, and with
rapid decision he retraced his footsteps to Hoshung-
abad, where he arrived the same nght, thus forcing
three marches into 24 hours. The greatest excite-
ment prevailed in the town when he entered it ; the
population were in a panic, the shops closed, and the
Europeans and troops were moving into their in-
trenchments as if Hoshungabad were in immediate
danger of an attack. There were really no grounds
for such exaggerated fears, Tantia Topee having a
wholesome dread of attacking any place guarded by
regular troops. His army, reduced to 4,ooo—viz.,
2,200 infantry, all mounted on ponies, and 1,800
cavalry of the Bengal Irregulars and Gwalior Con-
tingent, was dispirited and weary. The men, over-
loaded with jewels, discontented, and cursing their
officers as the authors of their present misery, were
in little humour to fight. The 'horses and elephants
were much worn by fatigue and want of food. Their
ammunition was exhausted. In fact, their condi-
tion was well nigh desperate. They arrived on the
north bank of the Nerbudda at a point 50 miles
east of Hoshungabad on the 30th Oct.,the very day
on which Kerr marched towards Bhilsa. On the
31st they crossed the river, and on the Ist of Nov.
they proceeded south to Sohagpoor, the Rajah of
which place had promised them assistance.
Kerr, with his 350 sabres, knowing the advan-
tage of decision, and the effect which even a small
body of men would create, proceeded at once to So-
hagpoor, and saved it from the enemy, who, on
hearing of his approach, went on to Futtehpoor,
about 18 miles westward. One great advantage had
been gained by Kerr's movement. Tantia Topee,
not knowing the scanty force opposed to him, and
unwilling to face it, was cut from the direction of
Oomrawuttee and the Deccan, while in his rear the
country through which he would have to pass if he
desired to take the direction of Nagpore was one of
the wildest of Central India, inhabited by the pri-
mitive race of the Goonds, who might become de-
termined enemies if their cupidity became excited
by the prospect of plundering the treasure at the
disposal of the so-called Peishwa's army. Through
that country, which comprises the eastern spurs of
the Kudhya' and Mahadeo ranges, there were no
roads. The paths leading towards Nagpore were
impracticable to elephants and camels, and led
through at least three defiles well known to the
natives as being only passable for infantry and
horse in single file. To cross this tract Tantia Topee
would have to proceed cautiously and slowly, and
might thus give time to a column from Nagpore to
cut him off.

At Sohagpoor a servant of the Nawab of Banda
was caught in the act of posting two letters, one
addressed to Sir Robert Hamilton, the other to
Captain Kerr, offering to surrender if protection
were granted to him, declaring that he was prisoner
in the hands of the Rao and Tantia, and that he
was tired of rebellion. The truth of the latter state-
ment was very properly doubted by Kerr, who
sent back the servant with this answer—that no
promise could be made except that of a fair trial.
Having done this, and his confidence having been
increased by the intelligence of the low condition
to which the rebel army had been evidently reduced,
he advanced :on the 2d Nov. ten miles to Hutwas,
and reconnoitred Futtehpoor, eight miles in his
front. The result was not encouraging; he found
that the place was still .occupied by Tantia Topee,
that it was situated on rocky ground intersected by
deep nullahs, that in its front was thick rocky
jungle 21 miles deep, and consequently that an
attack by cavalry was impossible. The only posi-
tion to be assumed seemed to be one of expectation.
Gen. Michel was advancing from Bhilsa with Lock-
hart's and De Salis's brigades, and would reach the
Nerbudda on the 6th. Tantia would not venture on
attacking, and might lose valuable time by hesita-
tion. Possibly he might retire into the Putchmur-
ree Hills, and there he would be so enclosed that,
although it would be difficult to attack him in front,
he would suffer severely from hunger. Hopes were
still entertained that the Goonds might be raised
against him, and that the friendly assistance of the
Rajahs of Futtehpoor and Sohagpoor might be
neutralised. Delay, however, was ill suited to
Kerr's temper, and on the 3d he tried the effect of
a march on Futtehpoor. The result was, that
Tantia Topee retired into the hills, and Futteh-
poor, which might have been held with ease, was
abandoned by the enemy, and Kerr encamped
there under the very trees which had served on
the previous night to protect the dusky bodies
of Tantia and his men. The Rajahs were
cowed by the retreat of the latter, and came in
to explain their conduct, which, after the explana-
tion, still remained inexplicable. On the 4th Kerr
intended to advance to Kopoor Kurin, four miles in
his front, at the foot of the hills into which Tantia
had retired. Several sepoys, caught with arms in
their hands, had been shot.
Great efforts in the meanwhile had been made to
concentrate troops round the rebels. The Kamptee
force, comprising Madras infantry, artillery, and
cavalry, and the Nagporp Irregular Horse, moved
out on Nov. 7th, while Brigadier Hill had orders to
bring the detachments at Aurungabad, Baitool,
Ellichpore, Mominbad, and Hingolee to a common
centre at Oomrawuttee. .

Lord Elphinstone is here, having come down
from Matheran to be present at the swearing-in of
Mr. Ellis, as successor to Mr. Hart, and to receive
Sir P. Grant.

P.S., Nov. 13.—Letters from Capt. Kerr. dated
Kopoor Kurin, Nov. 4th, have just been received.
They say that it_was impossible for the cavalry to
follow up Tantia Topee through the Putchmurree
hills, the jungle being impracticable for cavalry,
and the paths, being scarcely broad enough for
horses.

Gen. Michel was at Hoshungabad on the Bth, and
had despatched Parkes with a force of cavalry and
artillery to Baitool. It was supposed that Tantia
would make westward towards Mooltye, a place a
little to the southward of Baitool. When lastheard
of he could not have been far from Sindwarra, whose
Rajah would, it was said, assist him. He had
money, and with it had already been able to assem-
ble a new force of Rohillas from the Nizam's
country.
From Scinde a telegram informs me that the fort
of Rewarree was taken by Brigadier Eveleigh
(Nawabgunge, Cawnpore) on Oct. 9th, with the loss
of only 2 Europeans killed and only 3 wounded.
Madhoo Singh, of Ameethie, surrendered to Major
Bonner, the civil officer accompanying the Com-
mander-in Chief. If this surrender is the effect of
Her Majesty's proclamation of amnesty, it is a most
hopeful and significant fact.

COLLISION AT SEA.—GLASGOW, Wednesday.—
The morning journals have the following in their second
edition :—" The steamtug Glowworm, belonging to the
underwriters, came into collision with the tug Champion
last night off the Cumbries, when the latter went down,
drowning the master, engineer, pilot, and firemen. The un-
fortunate men are all married, and belong to Greenock.
The Champion was owned by the Greenock Towing Com-
Puy,"

ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE, SAND-

HURS7'.

The result of the first competitive examination
of the Staff and Cadet Colleges was publicly an-
nounced on Tuesday, the 14th inst., by the Com-
missioners of the College. The Commissioners
present on the occasion were—General Sir George
Wetherall, Adjutant-General; Major-General Sir
Harry Jones, Governor of the College; Col. the Hon.
A. Gordon, Deputy-Quartermaster-General ; be-
sides the following officers :—Major-General Ca-
meron and Colonel Elwyn, Council of Military.
Education ; Colonel Chapman, Commanding
Engineers at Aldershot ; Colonel Kennedy,
Assistant Quartermaster-General, Aldershott ;
Colonel Rochfort Scott, Lieutenant-Governor ;
Colonel P. Macdougall, Commandant of Staff
College ; Colonel W. Napier, Superintendent of
Studies ; and the other officers of the College and
many visitors.
The Commissioners having inspected the gentle-
men cadets on parade, proceeded to examine their
drawings and those of the officers of the Staff
College, comprising landscape and military draw-
ing, fortification, surveys in the field, and military
reconnaissances, with which they expressed their
satisfaction. They next proceeded to the Riding
School, and witnessed the riding of the gentlemen
cadets and the officers of the Staff College, which
was very good. After this they adjourned to the
board-room, where the real business of the day
began.
The Vice-President of the Council of Education,
Major-General Cameron, then announced to the
officers of the Staff College the result of their
examination, as follows :—Captain Petiie, 14th
Regiment ; Major Gamble, 4th ; Major Carey, 40th ;
Captain Wilson, 55th; and Captain Branfill, 4th
Light Dragoons. The five officers belonged to the
old senior department, and were declared to have
passed so creditable an examination as to induce
the Council to report them to the General Com-
manding-in-Chief as qualified to be attached to the
Artillery and Cavalry, in order to complete the
course as prescribed by the new regulations qualify-
ing an officer for the Staff.
The rest of the officers of the Staff College were
declared to have passed their first yearly examina-

tion in such a Manner as to lead the Council to
expect that they would complete their course
satisfactorily.
The Vice-President of the Council took this op-
portunity of thanking the Commandant of the
Staff College and the professors for having so ably
carried out the plans of the Council of Education.
The result of the competitive examinations of
the gentlemen cadets for commissions was next an-
nounced in presence of the whole College.
The following, gentlemen cadets were declared to
have gained their commissions :
Marks.
Pearson 7,243
Haly
Kemmis • 6,045
Scovell
Anstruther
Watson 5,682
Beckwith
Roband 5,402
Greerson
Simmonds 5,160

Heyland
Gunter

Marks
Deere 4,830
Trevillian 4,190
Terrot
Salmond
Wilson
Hickson
Pardoe
Foster
Ewing
Brander
Harris

Two of these cadets, Mr. Hickson and Mr. Haly,
both being responsible under-officers have had their
commissions antedated to the 6th of November last,
in consequence of her Majesty having honoured' the
college with a visit on that day for the first time.
Thus, then, it appears his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief has presented the Royal Mili-
tary College with 22 commissions this term.
This has been the first trial of the competitive
examination, and under the able superintendence
of Major-General Cameron and other members of
the Council of Education, it must be pronounced as
most successful. _ _ _ _

Sir George Wetherall, in an able address to the
cadets, begged to assure them, in the name of his
Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief (who was
unavoidably absent) how much he had the interests
of the college at heart, and that it gave. him (Sir
George) infinite satisfaction to express to them
personully the duke's feeling on this occasion. He
then presented the certificates to each of the gen-
tlemen cadets who had obtained commissions, and
most heartily congratulated the two senior under-
officers, Hickson and Haly, on their good fortune,
which they merited from their high character.
The Commissioners then repaired to partake of
the hospitality of the Governor, Major-General
Sir Harry D. Jones. Thus ended most satis-
factorily the first trial of the new system of
competitive examination (at the Royal Military
College) under the able superintendence of the
Council of Military Education.

The Royal Bride, auxiliary screw steamer, the
property of Messrs. Milnes and Kington, of Bristol, made
her first passage from this country to Melbourne in 89 days
from Plymouth._

AMERICAN MAILS.—The Cunard mail steamer
America sails from Liverpool for Boston and Halifax on
Saturday. The Liverpool Post-office box will close on that
day at 1 p.m., with late fees at 2 p.m., and on the landing
staße at 3 p.m.
RAPID RUNS OF LIVERPOOL CLlPPERS.—Yester-
day (Wednesday) the Aberdeen clipper Robin Hood, be-
longing to Mr. James Beazley, of Liverpool, arrived at
Start Point, for London, having made the extraordinarily
rapid run of 96 days from Foo-chow-foo, and 68 days from
Anjer, against the monsoon. Information was also re-
ceived at Liverpool of the arrival at Melbourne, in 76 days,
of the clipper Morning Light, from Liverpool.
The United States steamer Fulton left Cowes
yesterday for New York, with the American mails.
Advices were received yesterday of the loss of the
ship Lady Hodgkinson, Captain Young, on the coast of
Malabar, while on her voyage from London to Bombay,
with 361 soldiers. The telegram adds that she was
" likely to go to pieces," but that the troops, crew, and part
of the cargo were saved. This vessel, registered 946 tons,
was built at Sunderland in 1853, and since that period has
traded between London and the East Indies. Her classffi-
cation'at Lloyd's was A 1 for 13 years.
The Finance Committee of the Council of India
have engaged the ships Red Riding Hood, Ardbeg, and
Clive, for the conveyance of stores, respectively, to Bom-
bay, Calcutta, and Madras'.
_

The accounts from India are bad for the shipping
interest. The aggregate burden of the vessels seeking
freight in the Calcutta river amounted to 2.50,000 tons, and
the charge to Liverpool and London had fallen to the un-
precented rates of between ss. and 10s. for heavy goods
(saltpetre, sugar, &c.), and 20s. to 255. for light. At Bom-
bay there was an equal glut, and cotton was being taken at
20s. In the China waters the estimated supply was 300,000
tons, and few vessels were getting cargoes. At Singapore
matters were in a similar position; and at Java there was
capacity for 45,000 tons all disengaged. As the vess els ar-
riving. from England with troops were ready to take any
price for return freight there was little prospect of improve-
ment.

THE BANKRUPTCY OF DAVID HUGHES.—lntelli-
gence has been received by the mail which arrived in Lon-
don yesterday from Australia, of the success of the measures
taken to prevent this bankrupt, whose frauds have created
so much sensation amongst the profession and the public,
from getting off altogether unscathed. It will be recollected
that he absconded in the name of Dyer, with his wife and
family, on board the Red Jacket, which sailed from Liver-
pool on the 20th July last, and the news of his departure,
which soon transpired, was the first intimation of anything
wrong. Proceedings in bankruptcy were then instituted
against him, and mast strenuously resisted, but the creditors
}ying succeeded in defeating the opposition, full powers were
sent out by the next Australian mail, and for which one day's
time only was left, in the hope of intercepting the funds it
was suspected he had taken with him, and a most exciting
race must,unknown to one another, have taken place between
the Mail and the Red Jacket, in which the latter, notwith-
standing her speed and the long start of 26 days, was des-
tined to lose by so close a shave as 21 hours only, the
Mail arriving on Monday the 11th and the Red Jacket on
Tuesday, the 12th of October, at Melbourne. The agents
of the creditors, on receipt of their instructions, had ken
every necessary measure to ensure success, and imme-
diately the telegram of the Red Jacket being in sight
reached them; they proceeded in a steamer alongside, and
aGer a strict search for the delinquent, who had resorted to
a hiding-plitee•in the vessel, he after some show of resist-
ance came to a parley with his pursuers ; and upon hand-
ing over to them all his boxes and money, he was allowed
to depart with the wearing appearel, and sufficient to keep
his family from starvation on landing. It is understood
that great credit is due both to the solicitors here (Messrs.
Lowless and Nelson), and to the agent they employed out
there (who is a son of a very old member of his profession,
Mr. Jones, of Crosby-square„ for the energy with which
the bankrupt was followed up, and which has led to this
success.
It appears that the present mail from Australia
has brought the first £720,000 of the Victoria 6 per Cent.
Debentures, which are to be put upon the London market
during the next four years to the extent of £7,000,000.
They are consigned to the London and Westminster and
London Joint-Stock Banks by the following six tanks in
Australia, who have entered into a contract with the local
Government—viz., the Union Bank of Australia, the Bank
of Victoria, the London Chartez e I Bank of Austral a, the
Bank of Australasia, the Bank of New South Wales, and
the Colonial Bank of Australasia. These establishments
will also be represented here by their respective agents, who
will form a committee to de2ide as to the terms to be ac-
cepted from time to time. The minimum price fixed in the
contract is 105, and the analogous securities (" Victoria
Government 6 per Cent. Debentures"), previously on'the
London market, are quoted in yesterday's share list at 112
to 11A.., including a half-year's dividend due in January. It
was understood that the present debentures were to be sold
at the rate of £150,000 per month, dating from October
last, in which case only £150,000, and not £750,000, should
now be offered, to be followed by £150,000 in each succeed-
ing month. Whether the incessant feeding of the market
at this rate will allow any likelihood of the existing quota-
tion being maintained will be a matter for einsil ration
on the part of buyers. The contract betwec n the banks
and the Government thus far merely includes the supply
for one year—£l,soo,ooo; but from railway works contem-
plated it is to be presumed the whole £7,000,000 authorised
will be required within the period named, of four years, and
that the arrangements will therefore be prolonged. The
banks are to receive a commission of 1 per cent., besides I
per cent. brokerage on all sales, and are to be employed to
pay the interest, for which they are to be alllowed i per
cent. They are also to have the negotiation of the Govern-
ment bills to be drawn on London monthly during the con-
tinuance of the sales,—Timee city Article.