The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-19 00:00:00

S V.L",701,1)'.

wen for payment of legacy
came heirs the Bc,ecii law-courts last wn-k. Stephen
Henderson, a planter in Louisiana. died in 1838, pos-
sessed of property valued at 300,0001. He was born in
' the parish of Duublane, Perthshire, and his fortune
would appear to have been altogether self-acquired. He
left a will, which set out by protesting against any ex-
ception being taken to its form, writing, or spelling. He
p •ovicies for the conversion cf his Destrehan plantation
i .to a city to be called Daublane, and gives the following
picture of his family :—" fly whole family may be con-
sidered as a family of drunkards, and this misfortune
must have come upon the side cf my father ; although
that he was an antiquarian, learned and intel igent, yet
to get drunk once a month was to him a jubilee. My
motocr was a Drummond, a descendant of the M`Gregors,
but without much capacity. They were
bore cradle and high-minded as respects their interc urse
with oilers, but profligate and indolent as respects the
management of their private concerns; being poor they
were always in bankruptcy." He then proceeds to direct
that his slaves shall ba treated with humanity, and that
the adults shall receive 31b. of good beef or pork per
week' He says ;—" I have always treated my blacks
with much indulgence, aed even personal kindness. I
have always bEen opposed to slavery, but as it is properly
rocognieed by the constitution of the United States, to
tike that away you would at once destroy the greatest
and best regulated Goveinment in the Old or New
World. Therefore, all attempts made by the fanatics
or misguided people that is going about and preaching,
like evil spirits, against slavery, turns the heads of the
unfortunate negroes, and prepares them for the com-
mission of every kind of crime, which compels their
masters to limit the very liberty which they formerly
awarded to them." He gives directions for the eman-
cipation of his slaves by lot at intervals of five years,
and the furnishing of them with a free pas:age to " our
settlement in Africa ;" but " it must be clearly under-
stood that the benefit now granted to my slaves is not
to extend to a murderer or thief, or a confirmed runs-
away, or for any other high crime that can be legally
proved." Among a number of legacies, he leaves the two
which form the subject of the present action in the fol-
lowing terms :—" 2,100 dots. per annum to be paid to
the poor of the town of Duublane, in Perthshire, North
Britain (this sues t) be divided by the resident minister
of the Presbyterian church), and to the two highest civil
officers in the town, to be paid upon due proof of their
acceptance of their trust, say 2,000 dolt. ; 2,000 dole.

A roniewF,

Y.

mnrka

. _
f..r the erection of aschoolhouse in the town of Dunblane
for 10 yeere only, and for the purpose of educating of
the poor, this 'oeiria the !lace of my birth. I feel no
obligation, however, for these acts of charity ; it is only
done to help the poor who like myself may be:thrown on
the world without a penny or a friend. My greateat ob-
ject is to do the greatest quantity of good, and to the
greatest number, and to the poorest people. I shall leave
the world without regret, believing that I shall go to
a better and happier one." The pursuers in the nation
are the Rev. James Boe, minister of the parish, and the
Sheriff Substitute and Sheriff Clerk Depute of the
western district of Perthshire, Dunblane having no
burghal constitution. The defenders are the heirs-at-
law, the brothers and sisters of the testator, domiciled,
we believe, in Scotland. Since 1838 proceedings have
been going on in respect to Henderson's will in the
courts of Louisiana, and in 1850 the legacies were there
deeared of none effect, en the grounds that there are
three " Presbyterian " ministers in the town of Dun-
Wane (that is the parish minister and two ministers of
Diseenting Presbyterians) and to "highest civil law
ollicers "in the town ot Dunblane. It had also been re-
presented to the Court that the effect of the legacy, if
paid, would not he to benefit Dunblane, but to relieve
the heritors of the county, seeing that the town was un-
incorporated. The pursuers aver that tie invalidity of
the bequest was declared in their absence and on ex parts
evidence. The defenders meet the claim by three pre-
liminary pleaq, filet, that the pursuers have no title, that
the question is res judicata by tee American Courts, and
that this is not a competent Ccurt. The Lord Ordinary
(Benholme) repelled these preliminary pleas, and the
defenders reclaimed to the first division, which has now
found that the case is not res judicator, and that the Court
of Se:sion is forum, conzpetens. The Court, however,
reeerves the question ot title as entering into the merits.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)

CORN EXCHANGE.

GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended Nov. 19, 1857, made up from the Re-
turns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in
England and Wales, per Imperial Quarter.

_
- . -
WLIEAT I BARLEY I OATS I RYE I BEANS PEAS
51s 8d 41s 3d 25s 3d 34s id 44s 9d 43s ILI

THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES.

WITEAT I BARLEY I OATS I RYE I BEANS PEAS
54s 21 42s 9d 25s 6d 36s Od 45s 5d 44s 4d

ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.
Wheat, 91,010; barley, 81,57; oats, 13,455; rye, 134;
beans, 4,911 ; peas, 1,912 quarters.

MEAT MARKETS.

NE WHITE AND LEADENHALL.—The trade was tolerably
active, at full prices :—Beef, from 3s Od to 4s Gd; Mut-
ton, 33 2d to 4s 8,1; Veal, 3310 d to 4s 81; Pork, 3s Gd
to 5s 2d per Blbs, by the carcase.

EOLITHALL, Nov. 18.—The supply of fat stock in to-
day's market was only moderate, and the trade generally
ruled steady, as follows :—Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 10d ;
Mutton, 3s 6d to 5s 41; Veal, Is Od to 5s Od ; Pork,
4s Od to 5s Od per Bibs, to sink the offal.
ROMFORD, Nov. 18.—Our market was well supplied,
and the trade ruled inactive, at about stationary prices
:
Beef, from 3s Od to 4s Stl ; ➢lutton, 3e Oct to 5s 2d ;
' Veal, 4s Od to 4s 10,1 ; Pcrk, 4s 4d to 5s Od per Slos ;
Mulch Cows, 15/. to 18/. ; Suckling Calves, 16s to 23s
each.

THE INDIAN MUTIAIItS.

NEEMIJOH.

The following is from an officer at Neemuch,
Sept. 23 :
" The station from which I write is in the heart
of Rajpootana, a country abounding in and sur-
rounded by native States which compose anything
but one family, and between any two of which it
is very difficult to determine at any given time what
relation exists. There are Holkar's troops and
Scindia's troops and Salomba's troops, and the
mercenary troops of Odeypore, the Kotah Contin-
gent, the Jeypore, Joudpore, Meywar corps, and a
host more, and when any little dispute arises in the
country a sort of jumble takes place between these
bo lies, during which two of them at least are pretty
sure to come into collision.
" We are about 24 miles from Mundissore, a
town well known to the readers of British Indian
history. In these times of mutiny and revolt against
the British flag this town has taken upon itself to
ignore Scindia's authority, and to exalt a flag of its
own—the green flag of the Prophet, made use of in
these times by those who wish to show their defiance
of British power. The English .mails are stopped at
Mundi sore and the letters and p specs thrown into
the river. Mounted pickets are posted on the high
road on each side of the town.
" The town itself is in course of fortification. All
the ragamuffins of the country are gathered there ;
13 guns are posted on the walls. Recruits have been
made from the mutineers straggling a,'iout the coun-
try. Heavy bribes are offered to any (If our Sepoys
to join, and, in fact, the town thinks i t is going to
have Wall its own way. It is plain that, if possi-
ble, this state of things must be altered. We
must take Mundissore, and have our post road free.
Du.; the force at Neemuch is small, and M.'indissore
being inconveniently on the road between -Mils and
Mhow, all communication with the troops Ist that
station is stopped, and we cannot at present com-
bine our forces. To leave Neemuch unprot,,cted
would be to leave it to the mercies of some of our
friends, more to be dreaded, according to the pro-
verb, than our enemies, or, for what we know, it
might fall into our enemies' haads. Be that as it
racy, the Goveraor-General's agents have a difficult
part to play. Scindia wishes to regain Mundissore ;
Scindia is our ally, but Scindia and Scindia's troops
are two different parties. A combination between
thous troops and ourselves, it appears, would not be
politic. We must proceed on our own foundation,
or not at all ; and this we hope to do, by God's
help, with success before long. In the meantime,
t re Governor-General's agent for Meywar stationed
here sees a stuwbliugblock in another direction.
The town of Nimbhaira stands 16 miles distant on
the high road between this and llusseerabad. It is
walled, and has guns upon its walls. It is garri-
soned by a host of troops paid by the Nawab of
Took, a friend that has proved treacherous in time
of need. It is decided that the Wove have no
business there. They are inimical to the Bri-
tish Government ; they dream of Delhi : shortly
they will stop the post. Green flags obscure
the vision of the agent to the Governor-General.
Tong must be turned out and Odeypore in-
stalled. In short, the town must become a
British possession, and the Odeypora troops
must garrison it. The Governor-General's agent
impre3ses this point on the Commandant of Nee-
much, and a force is prepared. Her Majesty's
83d detachment afford all they can-70 men ;
the Bombay 12th Native Infantry afford 80, and
the 2d Bombay Cavalry 150 meo. Two 9-pounders
and a mortar accompany the force ; 12 Bengal offi-
cers from (late) Bengal Regiments are in atten-
dance : and 20 Christians of the 21 Bombay Cavalry
and 8 sergeants man the guns, which are horsed
and harnessed by the 2d Cavalry. This party leave
on the evening of the 19th. Colonel Jackson, 2d
Bombay Light Cavalry commands the force. A
short account of the attack upon and capture of
the town may not be uninteresting to our country-
men at home.

" The force, as above, arrived on their ground at
about 9 o'clock a.m. on the morning of the 20th.
They halted on the bank of a river which lay be-
tween them and the town, at about 700 yards dis-
tance from its walls. A party first went forward,
calling on the town to surrender and de'iver up all
aims. The Ameer, or representative of the Tonk
Newab, came forth from the gates and agreed to
surrender, but begged an hour's time for the arms
to be given up. Slowly a few ragged looking
warriors came outside the gates and placed some
weapons on the ground ; but it was evident that,
whatever might have been their chief's ideas, they
were loth to give up their means of defence, for an
hour passed, and they had only given up a few guns
ant pistols of British make, plunder which had evi-
dently been taken at the late mutiny at Neemuch.
Oue half-hour more was allowed, and then a herald
went into the town and proclaimed that if a com-
plete surrender of arms was not effected in a quarter
of an hour the town should be attacked. The herald
was made mincemeat of within the walls. British
troops were not to be treated thus; so whish went a
shell from our side into the midst of the town, and
hostilities began. The cavalry hemmed the enemy
ie at the gates. The 2-pounders were drawn up
within 500 yards of the town, the infantry within
100 yards, whence they commenced a rattling fire
at all heads that appeared above the walls, and now
there was warm work on both sides. The enemy
returned our fire well, but were careful in conceal-
ing their persons. The tire of musketry and match-
locks through the loopholes was tremendous, but
aim appeared to be a thing of little importance, or
our loss would have been severe. From half-past 1
to half-past 5 this work was continued, but the
stubborn gates remained firm, and little or no im-
pression was made upon the walls. Then the guns
advanced through deep mud under a galling fire to
within about 100 yards of the walls, where our in-
fantry had been keeping up a continued fire of
musketry from the beginning of the fight.
"Our plan now was to blow up the gates, make
a breach if possible in the walls, and take the town
by a-sault with the whole of the infantry and a party
of dismounted Bombay cavalry, the party to be led
by Colonel Jackson, commanding the force. Every-
thing was in preparation, Sergeant Taylor had the
bag of powder on his shoulder to blow up the gate,
and way ready for a run. Her Majesty's 83d had
been told off as coolly and steadily as if for parade,
and every one was worked up to the highest pitch
of eagerness and excitement, when, lo ! our hopes
were doomed to be disappointed, the order was
passed that, evening coming on, the troops were to
retire, and most slowly and unwillingly they fell
back. Nothing could exceed the bravery a all the
troops; the 12th Native Infantry, firm as a rock, car-
ing nothing for the balls that flew like hail-stones
around them, were only eager that our own 83d, who
of course behaved as British soldiers do, should not
be before them on the walls. In the action one cor-
poral of the 83d was killed within 30 yards of the
fort. Dr. Miles, 83d Foot, was severely wounded,
end an officer, Mr. Charles Burton, of the Officers'
Volunteer Corps, was slightly wounded ; 50 of the
cavalry had volunteered their services to dismount
and Join in the assault, and one jemadar (or native
silleal,ern officer), who was bravely advancing to
the walls, was shot through the liver, and now lies
in a dangerous state ; 17 men of all ranks were
wounded. The troops when they went out of
action had tasted no food since the day before, and
now they were too tired to eat ; they slept on the
damp ground on which the rain had fallen heavily
that day, with no tent or covering of any sort over
t hem. The gallantry of the native troops on this
occasion afforded us, their officers, peculiar grati-
fication, as the previous mutinous behaviour of
some of the men, all of whom we hope are
captured now, or have fled not to return, bad cast
a stigma on the two corps as a body, which we
were only too glad to see their bravery and loyalty
Ilia day wipe out,

"In the morning the commandant of the force
received intelligence that our brave enemy had
deserted the fort—a contingency we could hardly
have prevented with our small forc3, and mud up
to the horses' knees all round the fort. The end
seems a poor one after the high hopss that had
been entertained by the force, and considering the
ty with which, with another hour's daylight
on the previous evening, they might have triumph-
antly stormed and cut their way into the town,
many were the lamentations among the British
soldiers that they had been robbed of a chance
of avenging the horrible murders of their
countrymen and countrywomen. Any native
Iy fair game to a British soldier now ; he
takes him as the representative of the Bengal
s
epoy as a rac. But our political point was
gamed. The troops walked quietly in, the Bri ish
11 .g was erected <<n the principal building, and
Nimbhaira and the territ .ry of which it Ps the
principal town is now British property, to yield the
Government a revenue of 2,000 t. per annum. Toe
individual who cut up our herald or mess:,nger into
little pieces has been captured and. blown awa
r An a gun. y

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