The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-17 00:00:00

DELHI.

The following letter r.achel us by the mail yes-
terdly
:--
"Camp near Delhi, July 28.
"We are still remaining in the position we took up on
the afternoon of the Bth of last month after fijbting the
i
battle of Ladle-Serai ; it sa.very strong one. We lie
about two miles from Delhi, s&parated by a long ridge of
hill, that rises in broken ground on the banks of the
Jumna to our left, and, smoothing down at its highest
point, extends to our extreme right, where our batteries
are placed. It is crossed towards the left by the grand
trunk road from the North-west, marked here and there
by the telegraph posts, from which still bang broken
pieces of wire. A little further to the right, on the ridge
of the hill, stands the tower called the Flagstaff ; and still
further along an old mosque, both occupied by pickets
of our men. To the extreme right is the hill on which
are placed our heavy batteries. Its top is crowned by a
building called Itao s lluuse, from an old Mah-
ratta chieftain who lived there. All these points are
connected by a road which runs along the summit of
the hill. It sides are covered by outcropping strata of
sandstone, which rise tier above tier. Part of the slope
towards our camp is occupied by the ruined huts of the
mutinous regiments and the Lollies of their unfortunate
officers.

" Behind the camp is a email river, which separa'es
us from the plain, commanded by three of our heavy
guns. It flews into the Jumna on the north side of
Delhi, and is of great ad santage to us, as its banks,
which are faced with stone, are too steep to allow the
enemy to brit), their horse artillery over, to attack our
rear, as they did on the 19th of June. Profiting by the
severe lesson of that night we have blown up all the
bridges save the two in the rear .of our camps. Our left
flank is covered by the Jumna, which is now much
swollen by the rains.
" To our right is a mound on which are paced three
beivy guns, and about threc-quarters of a mile beyond
this is the suburb called the Subzi-raundi, full of country
houzes, enclosures, and gardens," in which a number of
de-perate kilts have taken place between our into and
the enemy. We are encamped oil the ell parade ground
the native regiments, and are perfectly sate from
everything but their shells, which fall into our camp al-
most every evening. without doing any great harm.
" We are lying on the defensive ta we receive rein-
forcements, only firing from our batteries when the
enemy provoke UR by opening theirs or coming out at
the gates. They are c)ntinually getting in r,inforce-
inents. It is ILA known certainly whether the troops
from Neemuch have yet reached Delhi. Our spies state-
they are losing a goad many by desertion. Their money
is failing, and it is generally believed their stock of per-
cuszion caps is nearly exhausted, and they cannot make
new ones. They have four separate cumutanders-in•
chief, and have shown in every attack a want of con-
centration, which has helped us much in driving them
back.

" We were not troubled after the affair of the 6th till
the 15th. The day before they fired a salute cf 21 guns
for the sack of Agra and the reverse we had experienced
there. They vowed to carry our batteries next day, and
came out in great force to storm the pickets under Hin-
du° Rao's house and in the Subzl-runndi. They brought
two guns to bear upon our right. Oar men, under good
cover, kept them !wick fur several hours, only losing 12
Men, when Brigadier theadjutant-general,
ordered out our infantry and two troops of Horse Artil-
'cry into the Sul zi•mulidi. The infantry went in to clear
he thickets and gardens in front of Maio° Rao's hi:l
and the Subzi.muncli. As they came upon the enemy
they gave a tremendous cheer and dashed on. The Delhi-
wallahs turned their backa and ran in crowds to the
zates. Tho artillery galloped up and poured a shower
of grape into them. Our Lrco was within 200 yards of
the walls. Such a shower of grape and musketry fell
upon us that we were compelled to fall bask. Castuber-
lain had his arm shattered below the shoulder. Oar loss
was as heavy as 200 men killed and wounded, including
13 officers. We retired in good order. The enemy cli.l
not follow us far. Our men are getting very discontented
ci.h this kind of work. Tbey are ready to carry any
po,ition, however strong, the enemy must be driven
from. rut to carry a strong position a dozen of times
only to see it abandoned and reoccupied next morning
s what no colliers will do without losing heart.
" Since General Wilson has assumed command ‘2v
have remained more strictly on the defensive. We are