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, 1868.

Here we are out again, after our old friend of the
Paden 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 Scepree 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 Jean 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 t' 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 Standlrd 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 in 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, iere is no cause
for apprehension.