The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-05 00:00:00

CAUBUL.

Sieeman and Captain Shakspcare, hem paid up their

arrears.

Now that the eyes of the public of India have been
withdrawn from the late conflicts and arrangements at
Gwahor, they are again naturally directed to the Pun-
jaub, where dissension and disord"r are in the ascendant
in e.very part of the country. The brother Rajahs of
Jumhoo, Goolab Singh and Suehet Singh, after plunder-
in; the royal treasury during their short visit to the
capital of almost all it contained, and then retiring to
their mountaia fastnesses, have shown no sign of
interfering in the government, but are quietly pre-
paring themselves for the time when the powerful
empire of Runjeet Singh shall fa .1 to pieces, and
they will have the long coveted opportunity of de-
claring themselves independent of the throne of
Lahore. Of the prospects of Peshawur we have al-
ready spoken. Dewan Sawun Mull, the Governor of
Mooltan, who has been strengthening himself ever since
the death of Runjeet Singh, has nearly shaken off the
yoke, and Rajah Heera Singh is in no condition to re-
impose it,-with a refractory soldiery whom he can at
present control only by means of large sums distributed
amongst them at every feast, review, or occasion of the

LAIIORE.

The news. from this partjof Central Asia affords much
matter for speculation. It extends to the 9th January.
:We find from our letters direct from that place that
the acquisitiOn of Chiva by the Ameer of Bukhara
is .sp'Tiken of-as a Nit accompli, and as well known
beyond the Hindoo Koh ; but his conquest seems
none of the _most complete, as his Minister Summud
Khan refuses to undertake the government, because,
we presume; he Considered the number of troops
his master was about to place at his disposal totally
inadequate to the task which was about to be imposed
upon him, being only half these by whom the Ameer
had conquered the province. The victor had, it appears,
some slight apprehension for his own country, originat-
ing in rumours of an invasion by Dost Mahomed Khan,
but which were quite groundless, and wished to retura
to Bokhara as expeditiously as possible. The reports of
a political intercourse be ween Yar Mahomed of Herat
and Dost Mahomed, which have been for some time
strongly bruitedi have now resolved themselves into a
certainty, and a closer connection, through the means
of a matrimonial alliance between their fimilie., has
ben formed between the two chiefs. A vakeel arrived
at Caubul -at the latter end of December with letters
and presents from Yar Mahomed, who, it may be re-
membered,.having got rid of his master Shah Katuram
(brother of Shah Soojah of Caubul), usurped the sove-
reignty of Herat, in 1841, to the detriment of the sons
of Shah Kaniram, whom he expelled. These letters
urged the Post to become a member of a great con-.
federation which he, Yar Mahomed. was forming at the
instigation of Persia, bete een all the chiefs in Central
Asia,- and -cif which his ,brothers at Candahar were re-
presented to be already members. He offered his daughter
in marriage to Mahomed Akbar Khan, and the offer
haling' been accepted with some appearance. of avidity,
the initiatory ceremonies were performed with great
pomp on the last day of the year. The vakeel was
then honourably dismissed, by the Dost, who sent with
him a reeresentative of his own, and also some handsome
presents in return for those he had received. It appears
also certain that Dost Mahomed and his son are actively
engaged in secret intrigues with Sultan Mahomed at
Lahore, and Peer Mahomed at Peshawur, but do not
yet consider themselves in a condition to quit Caubul for
the purpose of invading the trans-Indian possessions of
the Sikhs, and which it has been for months expected
they would do -with as little delay as possible. But the
imprisonment at large of Sultan Mahomed, the brother
of the. Post, at Lahore, with all his family, is apparently
a stumbling-block in their way, which is not easily got
over, as it is probable that the moment Dost Mahomed
appeared as an enemy on the east of the Khyber, the life
of Sultan Mahomed would be sacrificed by the Sikhs in
their present state of anarchy. Besides, the factions
which are still powerful in Caubul, headed by Mahomed
Zaman Khan, by Jubbar Khan, and others, render it a
matter of consid.erition with the Post how far it would be
prudent to leave the capital until his rule is esta-
blished on a firmer basis than it now enjoys. It is
true that there are symptoms, notwithstanding his in-
ordinate extortions, several instances of which are given
by our friends in Affghanistan, of the rule of Dost
Mahomed acquiring, especially in the East, that de-
gree of stability which may ultimately induce the long
threatened and highly probable invasion, and when it
does occur it is more likely that he will not have much
difficulty in accomplishing the conquest of. Peshawur,
and its dependencies, as far as the Attock at least, as
the " force of circumstances" is preparing the people of
the land for a change, and his brother Peer Mahomed
is on the spot, and will,' at the proper time, give him
all the assistance in his power, as his influence is con-
siderable. The Governor of-Peshawur. Tej Singh, is
disaffected to the present Government of Lahore, in con-
sequence of the indignities offered to his most intimate
friendJemadar Khooshyal Singh, by Raja Heera Singh,
besides which he is not capable of resisting with troops
who, are serving most unwillingly at a distance from
the capital, where their more fortunate brethren are
basking in the sun of the Minister's favour and bounty.
These are all considerations which will doubtless wt igh
with Dost Mahomed. The forts of the Khyber, at Lall-
poorah and at Jellalabad, are all in his hands or those
of his son, or of men who are attached to him.
Alec Musjid is about being put into a state of repair ;
native expresses are passing weekly from Lahore to
Peshawur, and from Peshawur to Caubul, between the
brothers, and it was only in the beginning. of January
that Mahomed Akbar Khan's Lieutenant-Governor
at Jellalabad, was ascertained, by our news-writer at
Peshawur, to have come to the latter place in the disguise
of a beggar, with dispatches from Caubul, which he de-
livered in person to Peer Mahomed Khan, and then re-
turned by a different route to Jellalabad. These are all
signs of the times, and will be found at the fitting period
to resolve themselves into an attack on Peshawur by the
Affghans. Many rumours were lately afloat at:Lahore,
at Ferozepore, and elsewhere, res euting the advance of
Mahomed Akbar Khan to Jellalabad, and the murder
of Sooja-ood-Dowlah, son of Nawab Zutuan Khan, with
many other tales of a similar nature, which gather
strength as they proceed, but they have all turned out
erroneous, or false in fact, as we supposed from the be-
nning they would.

kind.—
Two remarkable instances have lately occurred. The
first in regard to the mutinous battalions which returned
from Peshawur. On their approach to Lahore the. Mi-
nister sent orders to tin m to disband themselves, but so
far from obeying, they entered the cantonments of the
troops formerly under the command of General Avita-
bile, and received from them assurance of assistance in
the attainment of their object, i. e. payment of arrears
and increase of future pay to the extent enjoyed by the
other troops ; and to this day they remain at Lahore un-
punished, though they have not succeeded in obtaining
their pay. The second occurred on the 25th January,
whrn the officers of the Sikh troops assembled, and after
consultation proceeded to the Minister and informed him
that unless Maharajah Dhulleep Singh was formally in-
stalled and rec,,gnised by him, Heera Singh, as his sot e-
reign, they would look out for another Wuzeer. They
succeeded in extorting a promise from him, that the cere-
mony should be performed on the 2d of February, and
on that day a great durbah was held, at which all
the chiefs were present, and at which the boy king
took his seat as Sovereign of the Punjaub, receiving
the homage of all the assembled Sirdars. Previous to
this circumstance being known, letters were received
in Delhi, from Ferozepore, communicating the not im-
probable intelligence of the young Maharajah having
fallen a victim to some intrigue, and of a consequent col-
lision both at Lahore and Kussoor, a station opposite
Ferozepore, in which many lives were lost. The report
proved unfounded, and not having ourselves received
any direct confirmation of the rumour (though we con-
sidered it might be correct), we had hesitated to believe
in the truth of the statements made. A victory over
Futteh Khan Tawana, in the trans-Indian province of
Tank, had been confirmed, and a brother of that chi'
himself taken prisoner in an attempt to pass over to
Mooltan, whither he was sent to obtain aid from Dewan
Sawun Mull. Payments to a large amount had been
made to the troops at Peshawur, no doubt to prevent
the chance of their following the mutinous example of
the Ram Gol Battalion, and for the time a lull has taken
place, but how long it will last, and what may be its
result, it is impossible to say. Heera Singh is continuing
immense military preparations, tending, it is firmly be-
lieved, to resist an aggression on our part of which he is
in daily fear. As signs of coming events, and of the
intention of Lord Ellenborough to return to the upper
provinces, to carry out his plans in regard to the Pun-
pub, it is stated that the Body Guard will remain at
Benares during the approaching hot season, and that
' the marching establishment of the Governor-General's
camp has, as was the case on his Lordship's return to
the capital last year, been directed to be kept up iu
state of preparation.

• SINDE.
Our latest intelligence from Sinde is contained in a
letter from Kurrachee of the 22d ult. The occurrences
Of the month are scarcely sufficiently conspicuous or cons
netted to furnish subject for a narrative. Sir C. Napier
aPPears to have abandoned the project of an expedition
to the northward ' • matters indeed are so tranquil at
present along the frontier beyond Sukkur, that there is
really no enemy to encounter, and to go into the desert
er amongst the hills in quest of one, is too arduous a
feat with the hot weather at .hand. H. M.'s 86th is
under Orders to proceed to Hyderabad on the Ist March
(this day), but this is apparently for the purpose of per-
witting further reliefs. The 2d Bombay Cavalry have
exchanged places with the 3d ; the former left Deesa
on the 18th January, and having proceeded through
the' desert a distance of 314 miles, arrived at Hyderabad
between the 16th and 20th, and went into the quarters
previously occupied by the 3d, in the entrenched camp
1)y the river, three miles from the fort. The men were
in excellent health and spirits, .and no accident of any
B°ll had befallen the regiment on its march. Three of
the officers Captains Trevelyan and Prescott, and Lieut.
Marriot, when 214 miles on their march, were ordered
t 9 return to revise the finding of the court-martial on
Lieutenant Pilford, and would thus have entailed on
them an extra journey of 500 miles before rejoining
their corps. The medical committee, formerly ap-
pointed to report on the means of improving the salu-
nrity of the cantonments around Hyderabad, have in the
Meantime adopted a more cheering view of matters than
might have been anticipated. That the malaria is chiefly
occasioned by the inundation appears unquestionable ;
but much of the sickness recently experienced seems to
have' •
,iarisen from the watering of the fields by canals for
Lae purpose of irrigation, which can without trouble be
put a stop to, provided we are willing to purchase the
rlealth for our men at the expense of the fertility of the
soil. At Sukkur matters are much more unhopeful than
within the Delta, and there our troops have almotsht
equally suffered, however protected. Majesty'sHehri,,hese 13th
reached camp two months. since in the to editiOn
as to health and efficiency, but were attacked in num-
bers immediately on their arrival, and of the earliest
sufferers several have died.
S
stood out all the toils of Caubu
ii Sir
end. Sale,hardships who
of
whose health
jelia.
labad, has become ill, and will, it is feared, require to
quit his regiment for the present. Some idea of the effects
of the recent sickness on the constitutions of the men
may be gathered from the fact that out of a detachment
030 f 45 Europeans and 150 natives proceeding up the river,
of the latter and 82 of the former died before reach-
ing Ferozepore. Precisely one-half of the European
ar-
tillery left their bones at Sukkur, the survivors being,
iha
active service. Her Majesty's 28th, now at Poo-
in • thr.P.,ne,a to suffer almost as much as ever
Cif
e'teems climate of the Deccan, from the
sof the poison "soli damps of the Indus. Though
la State of matt
WWI on the r era is of unfrequ
bevisSittatteiciontisail3t esent occasion wbollyenutneexeepeencrrteedn, ce,
officerslutt
intervals,. ed with the climate are of opinion t
and
rieneed similar to that which has just been expe-
lter--Sukkur, S
be looked for periodically, as heretofore, at
thr. cora five to nine years. Our posts beyond
&c.—will, on
Inch eecasi hikarpore, Larkhanah,
who cherish ens, be Placed at the mercy of the hill men,
Rener blood feuds with religious fervency, from
at j) Is to forgive,
weadtttl.en tc generation. The Beloochees know not
and the thousand wrongs inflicted
even e)7,,va11, Kahan, Kojjuck, and Khelat, may yet be
iteanntiieoetn„eweht:n pestilence next converts our unprotected
Moir supplies, Into hospitals, when we have a wide river,
and th°
Napier
of miles of desert' in our rear between our troops
Predator Pries, and rugged mountains and a fierce
• Yan warlike population, maddened with the.
vengeance, in our immediate front. General
rNier has wisely resolved not to suffer his force to be
ao tnished under its present itrength. and the
abet.
aytetrhneor-General has been compelled to acknowledge
exigencies of the public service in the newly-
x_quired territory of Sinde compel him to add another
eginient to the Bengal irregular cavalry. The Bombay
governmentbLt.._ are said to have memorialised the Court of.
ectors for a large addition to their army. The cost of
the troops now on the Indus amounts to about a million
baling annually ; the entire revenues of the Ameers to
rut half of this ; our share annually to less than a quarter
ai million. The Indian army was, in the latter years of
Lord Auckland's rule, increased by 50,600 men, on account
"e operations in Affghanistan and China ; it was or-
dered te,
be reduced in February, 1843, by about 18,000,
so that it is now stronger by 32,000 men than it was be
-fere our recent war policy began ; it was found strong
enough for everything but foreign war, and so it would
again, were we to keep within our The
additional territories.
additional strength, we presume, is found requisite to
maintain peace in India on the new system of two gene-
ral wars a year. Futteh Khan continues in confinement
11. t Bukkur. This chief, it may be remembered, is
brother to Newaz Khan, the history of whose career is
wor;hy of remark. When Khelat was captured by Sir T.
IWilshire, and Mehrab Khan and his chiefs slain in battle
n November, 1839, his son, Nusseer. Khan, was driven
us
into banishment., and his cousin, Newaz Khan, set up by
• on the throne. His reign was short—he was com-
pelled() within ten monais to abdicate, and to seek refuge
faithful.
11' ra his Feringhee allies. -1-10,had been a puppet, but a
Tien afnadvoliii•Oli
fallen in battle with us,
him aside " it
w suusisteeedr
iciuhrilia;ltered views to set
whose father had
1,Y001• a year. When Si
the
Sir C. Napier was invested with
thirdolitical charg f
liewaa was allowed a pension of
hef eo- Ode this was' reduced td one-
of its primary amount —and when the impoverished
Complained, he was told that if he could not live
on 6001., he might sta
pennil rve, and accordingly he was left
11?
penniless. Hoping to find relief amongst his kinsfolk,
e made his way to.Khelat, and was immediately thrown
into prison, where shortly afterward
intes he died suddenly—
!Ln illustralhon of how brief is the rval wi th dis.crowned
loads between the prison and the grave. Futteh Khan
!trined at his brother's fate, sought refuge amongst the
o.ri .tish at Sukkur, and was
at once directed by the Go-
venor of Sinde to be placed in confinement! He was
. aitaenaole'to no authority of ours, charged with no fault,
and cusp,-;eted of no crime. He sought our hospitality,
and found a'Prison! Of the seven corps of infantry on-
- • ginalry ordel•el down, the 6th, 19th, 48th, and 64th
ISengal N. 1., haws been countermanded; the two former
having marched td Shahjehanpore and.. Bareilly, the
48th has been directed to stand fasti at Loodianah, and
the 64th ordered to Benares. The 4th and 69th "legi-
t:lents have been ordered instead of the 6th and 19th,
and are to proceed immediately to Sukkur, together
With the 7th Light Cavalry, and the 3d and 4th coin-
Panies of the 6th Battalion Artillery, each with a field
,battery attached, one with horse and the other with bul-
....a„:"°ek d.raught. The 2d and 4th troops of the Ist brigade
' 'of Horse Artillery, the 15th, 34th, and 63d Regiments
V:4l
,-,.°f Native Infantry, are still under orders for Sinde, but
, -Whether they are actually to proceed there appears to be
"------a matter of doubt. - The 64th having become mutinous,
-,.-e and positively refused to proeeed-terSifidte-their desti-
, '-nation was altered, and they were ordered for Benares
instead--one of the best stations in India, The 34th,
-------_-!cw at Ferozepore, were destined to take the place of
1,..,
~ aVe 64th aril equally declined-to proceed unless on tlpir
'
, awn terms. Letters from Loodianah of the 17th state
'' ... ,Erhart the troops there had become mutinous at the thoughts
, of service in Sinde, and occasioned much tribulation at
a
e,.
`-, the stattion; and, finally, the whole of the regiments on
e„. their wall, downwards have been halted on their march
• towards 'elikkur, until the matter could receive more
tateu , mature eolasideration.. Half the Bombay army being
"een, npied on ,•he Indus, and the troops not employed on
'e'rel_gn service being barely sufficient for the duties of
'` • .the residency, the Madras Government was applied to.
'-
, . The 47th Regiment under orders for Moulmein, was
:-4-1 . adiapatched for serv.jeo in Sinde ; but it was found advis-
.,,. *able to alter their destination ; . they were landed at
-`—llonilaity, and misunde‘?"andingss of a
..vestigation, The Madras
, :'• . Which broke out amongst them are at present under in-
grave description
4.j .
1.., ta
~Prci.ceo. from Belgaum to Surat in the Bombay Pre-
-2.oth N.I. having been ordered
uency, weee suddenly cou,
via-mended when two days
sn their torch. The 16th (4' bier- Majesty's Native In-

THE SIGN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 51_ 1844;

70 hhds. Allsopp's . at Rs. 65 per hhd.
103 '„ Barclay, Per :ins, and Co. at Rs. 50, per „
80 „ Combe, Dela{.l.ld, and Co. at Rs. 45 per „ .
SPIRITS.—The cinly change is in Brandy, which haS
advanced about 2 annas per gallon. Sides have had
effect at its. 1 14 0 and Rs. 2.0 0 respectively.

proved, merely beCanse- his attempted reforms did not
fall in with the • views of the Prmtorian bands of the_
State, whose, insolence and • power required a check ?
If GWalior is 'formdly attached to the British dominion.
after this war, or if it be so now, I think it can be de-

paulese at any rato, nor the Sikhs either; but again we
must wait and see.
The Lucknow Icing has at last discarded his disre-
putable minister, and set up an able and good man; it
may be fairly hoped with future benefit to his ill-
governed country, which is always in a troubled state.
Hyderabad (Nizain's) is quite tranquil, matters going on
as when I last wrote. No Minister has been appointed,
but the Vakeel Surajoodoula and Pershem Rambuksh
contrive to manage. Chundoo Lull has not regained
power, and it is said the Governor-General refused the
Nizam's wish to reinstate him; so says the report; at
least, -I have no other authority to give you. So much

fended. Why di I not the Bhaee and the Raja pro-
ceed to meet the Governor-General, as was pro-
mised—why were the troops advanced to. fight—why
did the Ranee in Dunbar openly encourage for days
previous to the fight the spirit of her sirdars—if peace,
was her object •? I cannot think that it was. She dis-
patched a confidential agent to the Governor-General
as he advanced, who professed peace to him, and sent
her messages to fight. If she and her advisers had de-
sired peace, she would have met the Governor-General.
As it was, Baboo Setooha's visit was only intended
to ascertain whether we were in earnest ; and he found
that we were; and wrote instructions accordingly. If it
be urged that Lord Ellenborough is a fighting character,
and will have war, in this instance he does not stand
alone. 'This advance has been contemplated for the last
six months, and was agreed on in council ; the army
was assembled ; and though no proclamation was made,
yet the Gwalior State was fully informed of the conse-
quences which would follow a refusal of the terms which
were demanded. Either we are rulers of India or we
are not. If we occupy the place of the Emperor of
Delhi and the Peishwah, we have a right to make our
own terms for the security of our dominions to States
which were their vassals, and are therefore ours. We
have no right to dictate at Lahore or in Nepaul, but we
have at Gwalior ; and to have our authority caviled at
and evaded when exercise of it became inevitable would
render us contemptible. lam not one of those who halloo
Lord Ellenborough on to conquest. I think in this mat-
ter.he had'-no alternative ; and if the succession had been
refused by the supreme Government, he would only
have acted rightly, and asserted rights which England,
no doubt, possesses ; but he was not prepared then,
and since then provocation has increased. We have yet
much to learn, and how the possession of Gwalior will
be managed. Are we virtually to rule there, or are we
merely to hold the sword ? I protest against the latter
as mischievous, and have done so before, perhaps risque ad
nauseam. The Calcutta papers facetiously have it thfit
Lord Ellenborough pursues a " long sword, morocco
bridle, whack. row-de-dow" kind of policy; and certainly
it will giveample room to such persons to say that he
does, seeing that he went into the thick of the fight,
where billets were' flying thick as hail. I think he might
have avoided this ; it has an unpleasant look. It is all
very well fur people to fight who are paid to do so, and
whose duty it is therefore to do so. Not so the Gover-
nor-General of India. His office is one of peace and
diplomacy, and a stray shot might have produced not
only a very bad moral effect, but a great deal of incon-
venience as regards public matters. This is probably
the last time his Lordship will have occasion to join in
an affair of the kind; but it would be as well that it
were signified to him that the field of battle is not his
place. It is fair only to say that he was induced to retire
after some time, and that he is said to have distributed
money to wounded men, as well as oranges, both of which
will be gratefully remembered.
As yet there is no official account of the action, and
indeed private ones do not abound. It appears to have
been confined to the storming of several well-served
batteries loaded with grape, which is about as destruc-
tive a service as can well be imagined upon troops whose
close formation renders heavy loss inevitable. There
were three actions on the 291 h, and there is no doubt, in
this simultaueous attack of three different bodies and
positions, the enemy's future operations will be distracted
and paralyzed. We may, however, hear of another en-
gagement, if any Sirdar has the heart to rally a force.
I do not think it. The Mahrattas are not like Belo-
chees—willing to fight for their country. All the troops
at Gwalior are mere mercenaries, having no interest in
the land, except for their pay. The Durbar having
yielded, as I will presume must be the case, the army will
yield also, or break up into small parties, which will be
beaten in detail. What appears of the Governor-Gene-
ral's action is this—that on the 29th of December, after
the Quartermaster-General's party had been fired on,
the army advanced towards that of Gwalior, which was
strongly posted in an intrenched position, It consisted
of 56 guns, well posted and served, 14 battalions of regu-
lar infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and some irregulars. Our
own numbers are not detailed as yet, but the brunt
of the fight fell upon her Majesty's 39th and 40th,
the Bengal 2d Grenadiers, and the 16th, and other
corps, which were roughly handled. 12,000 yards of
open plain, covered only with low green corn, had to be
passed before the batteries could be carried ; and the
storm of grape and shell was tremendous. Nothing
daunted, however, and led on most gallantly by Gene-
ral Valiant, the batteries were stormed, the Artillery-
men serving their guns to the last, and falling by the
bayonet around them. The batteries forced, the other
troops fled, and were pursued by the Gwalior contingent
with some effect. The column of General Littler, nn
the right, had a similar reception with similar results,
and the field was won. The grand strength of the
Mahrattas lay in their guns, which have long been
known as a fine park, in excellent order. As in the
battle of Mehidpoor, where Holkar lost his park, and
the battery of 40 pieces of cannon was ,stormed and car-
ried by the bayonet alone, so in this instance the bayo-
net seems to have done the work, and the action not to
have yielded in a display:of bull-dog courage to those of
Meanee and Dubber, while the loss appears more severe.
The Royal regiments have suffered severely. Of the 40th,
17 were killed, 171 wounded, with 8 officers; the Grena-
diers, 14 killed; the 16th,120 killed and wounded; Gene-
ral Littler's force, 300 killed and wounded: in all some
800 men. The enemy's loss said to be upwards of 2,000.
That tine old veteran, Gen. Churchill, mortally wounded.
died in the night; Captain Somerset, badly wounded in
both legs; Colonel Sanders, Military Secretary to the
Governor-General, shot through the heart; Major Stop-
ford, Captain Coddington, Lieutenant and Adjutant
Nelson, of her Majesty's 40th, badly, and four other
officers of the same corps, slightly, wounded. Other
corps lost from 80 to 100 men each, and a proportion of
officers. Besides those I have mentioned of the 39th,
Major Bray, Lieutenants Gray, Munro, and Colville,
are stated to be badly wounded; Captain Tinley, Lieu-
tenant Atkinson, Ensign; Scarlett and Bray, severely;
Captains Hubert and Campbell, Lieutenant Currie and
Ensign Newport, slightly. Cavalry—Major Crommelin
had his leg shot off; Lieutenant Friend, badly wounded.
There are also other casualties, and, till the official ac-
counts appear, private accounts give but uncertain par-
ticulars. General Valiant had a narrow escape, a.ball,
which struck him on the breast, having been turned by a
small pistol; his horse was wounded in three places. 'His
daring courage is said to have been the admiration of all.
Of the engagements with the other parties of the Gwa-
lior force we have no proper accounts, hut they were
all brilliant and successful; and as. the Bhaee and the
Regent were with the Governor-General, I hope the
matter is at an end. It is well the English army
was so large and well appointed as it was, or the loss
would have been heavier, and the work more protracted.
The reserve was not engaged at all, and with fresh
troops and the whole army collected after the battles,
all resistance on the part of the Mahratta army would be
hopeless. It is not improbable that the 6,000 cavalry
may take to the country, and plunder Mahratta fashion,
and this would afford some opportunities for General
Mackwell's Cavalry Brigade to distinguish themselves.
But there is little hope of this ; the Mahratta horse with
the Peishwa never stood for a fair fight, though num-
bering tens of thousands, except at Ashtee, where Gokla
fell ; and all that can be expected of these Gwalior
bodies is, that they will either submit to be reformed
under European officers for the service of the State, or
that they will take to plunder, become Pindarees, and be
gradually hunted down. Of course, all are on the tiptoe
of expectation for the Governor-General's proclamation,
and some exposition of the course he intends to pursue.
I shall not hear in time to write any comments upon it,
which is somewhat provoking ; but I have no help for
it, and must reserve any speculations I may have to
make till next mail.
At the beginning of a new year, it is only proper
to look back at the events of time past, at the head of
which stands Sinde. You in England appear prepared
to take up this subject and make inquiries. Cur bone?
We have got the country, whether for better or for worse
we know not yet. It was a grave to our troops last year,
and we know not whether any returns in the shape of
treasure may be ever expected—cedes, we have heard of
none yet. We hear of no trade either, and the splendid
castle:buildings of Sir A. Burnes, &c., on this subject,
have yet to be realised. That it will come to in time I
doubt not ; but at present there is none more than of
old, if so much. The troops are now more healthy, but
upwards of 2,000 sick have come, or are coming, to
Bombay, and the reliefs may present the same appear-
ance as the relieved next year, though may God will
otherwise 1 The Ameers are at Lussoor, in a sort of
imprisonment. Can they be restored ? It is an ugly
matter altogether. Besides Sinde, the state of Khytul
has lapsed to us. Gwalior may have been annexed, and
thus we are the richer in territory,
We have abstained, and justly, from interference in
the Punjaub, where as yet all is quiet. Gholab Singh
has gone to Jumboo with his 'army, and Heera Singh
rules with such peace as he can find. Truly, however,
he appears fitted for his work, and matters go on at a
kind of a rate. So long as the army is petted, and
money is lavished on it, it is quiet, but when this can be'
done no longer what is Heera Singh to do? Treasure
cannot last for ever. Gholab Single has helped himself
freely, and Heera Singh is obliged to pay heavily for
what support he gets. I don't think it will last—and
then? We mnst wait to see—it is quite useless to spe-
culate. Meanwhile, powder, shot, arms, &c., are being
stored up by the Sikhs, bodies of troops move into
threatening positions, and matters look more as if we
were to be the invaded rather than the invaders. But
Lord Ellenborough is wary, and justly so, arid appears
in no humour to commit himself. The Sikhs, or some
of their hairbrained leaders, may be mad enough to
cross the river and do some mischief, and then I pre-
sume the scabbard will be flung away on both sides, and
we shall in the end have the Indus for our boundary; at
present, however, all is quiet.
Affghanistan is distracted, and Dost Mahomed can do
little in the way of government or consolidation of his
power. Ah, there was a sad mistake in regard to him,
but now regret is useless. No attempt has been made
in Peshawur, nor can the fiery Akbar Khan rouse the
Mahomedan spirit for a crusade against the Sikhs.
Our traitorous friend, Ali Morad, in Sinde, appears,
doubtful, and whispers are heard of putting an end to
his rule. It would not be atirPrising if it were done, and
few wollici pity where Mahomed is Said sometimes
to, be here, aoznetimes there, sometimes plotting with
sawim alol- of Moultan, sometimes with the Murrees
and Brahooes ; he has done nothing, however, though
the miserable state of our armies was tempting. If he
could do nothing with them in their bad condition, it is
not/ likely he will attack them when the reinforcements
have reached them.
There has been some uneasiness regarding Nepaul, on ac-
count of some aggressions on our ally of Lucknow's terra
tory. Some troops were ordered nearer the Nepaul frontier,
and the matter appears for the present to have blown
over, The Uwalior news will not encourage 'the Ne

for politics. -
If we look back for any great improvement or ad-
vance in civil government, we are perhaps unable to put
our fingers -upon anything very specific, yet there is no
doubt that good has been dune, and is desired, and that
what has been done will be followed up gradually,
but unostentatiously. It is a noble thing to know
that slavery is virtually extinct, and this so quietly
accomplished that you hardly know of it. No debates,
no party displays, no trumpeting forth of philanthropic
desires, but a short and simple Government notification,
which .might have escaped notice in the public papers.
This has immortalized Lord Ellenborough's rulein India,
and will remain shining brightly when the glories of
Gwalior and Meeanee are dimmed by the lapse of years.
The State lotteries of Bengal have been abolished: minor
lotteries sprang up like mushrooms; they have been con-
ducted with unblushing dishonesty, became public
nuisances, and have been cut off, after a continuance of
a few months, by an act most concise, most stringent,
and mast admirable. The Government lottery at Madras
alone remains; and whether it will be suppressed or not
remains to be seen.
Deputy-magistrates have been appointed in various
places, and the new system works well, as relieving the
heads of departments from their load of work, hitherto
unsupportable. Look back in the last ten years, and
sae the improvement in civil government, and the happy
effects of bringing native gentlemen into connexion with
the Government. Where is now the cry of ruin to our
power by their employment ? Has it not been
strenthened ? Will it not continue to be strengthened ?
I have no doubt of it. I look on the present and the past
enactments on this head only as an earnest of what is to
come, and thank God no power on earth can now say
that the interests of our native subjects are neglected, or
that they are denied that participation in Government
which they deserved, and have earned.
The pay of the minor grades of police officers has been
increased, as if the Government had at last mognised
the fact which has stared them in the face for 50 years,
that police officers could not afford to work and be honest
upon mere pittances. English civil servants were dis-
honest till they were placed beyond the reach of tempta-
tion and corruption by proper salaries. Can we expect
anything more from, so called, dishonest natives ? I
care not how slowly increase is made in payment ; it is
enough to consider that the necessity for it has been re-
cognised, and is acted upon ; as time progresses, it will
become appareat, and as in judicial matters, it will work
its own cure. A fair trial has been demanded by num-
berless advocates of native improvement, and they will
see their aspirations, honest as they were hearty, an-
swered in time. Intolerant spirit, which existed in the
time of the Wellesley and Amherst Governments, was
checked in that of Bentinck, and is well nigh burnt out ;
at least, we hear of none, and may well conclude that it
is confined to a few, a very few, of the older civilians,
whose minds cannot accommodate themselves to pro-
gression ; they are few, and there are enough of old ci-
vilians with open liberal minds to carry out the more
enlightened and liberal views of the English public.
No man that ever governed India has been more dis-
interested in regard to his patronage than Lord Ellen-
borough. Formerly, as if jealous of interference, the
whole detail of the Government of Bengal, &c., and the.
whole of the patronage, were in the hands of the Go-
vernor-General. Now the Deputy-Governor of Bengal
has his own administration and patronage, and he of the
north-west provinces the same. The Governor-General
is merely the director of all—the grand point from which
all great questions emanate, more particularly political.
I look upon this as a vast improvement on what before
existed, and trust it will never be altered. It has left
the Governor-General both mental and personal liberty
to act on emergent occasions for the good of the State,
and has left to the direction of practical men matters of
civil local administration which they are more capable,
from long and intimate experience, of managing than
the Governor-General.
At no time have the finances of India been more
firm, and the resources of the country more buoyant.
Public and private securities are at a high
premium, inviting. the further extension of capital
and employment in useful works. I have already
exceeded my space, or perhaps we could point out
much to be done. If civilisation is to be accomplished,
we must have the means, and those are extension of
communication, roads, canals, and railways. Why not?
Look at America. True, we are locally poor here in
comparison, and not locomotive; but when people, poor
or rich, can travel in safety faster than twelve or four-
teen miles a day, they will, and people who have never
been beyond their own villages and towns will see won-
ders in the capital. We shall have improvements in
time, something to save us from the present imputation,
true and just, of doing nothing for the convenience of
the country. Capital is superabundant in England. All
your capitalists have burnt their fingers in loans to
America and other States, why not. at last try here, and
invest money under your own Government, and under
the management of your own countrymen? Why are
you tardy? What fear have you of insecurity? Send
out men to look at the country, and they will report
of its want of aid. It is but a month's journey, and they
can judge for themselves. If ever you will begin, the
Government will join you; the Government will not
begin of itself, and perhaps should not; above all, do
not delay; let it not be said of this enlightened tip here-
after, that it hung back when the interests of this noble
and required her aid, science, and capital.
AN INDIAN OFFICER.

THIRD REPORT from the SELECT
COMMITTEE on RAILWAYS.
The Select Committee appointed to coutider whether
any and what new provisions ought to be introduced
into such Railway Bills as may come before this House
during the present or future sessions, for the advantage
of the public and the improvement of the railway system,
and likewise to consider whether and what changes
ought to be made in the Standing Orders relating to
Railways, and to report their opinion thereon to the
House; and who were empowered to report their opinion
from time to time; and who were instructed that they
had power to consider of any arrangements advantageous
to the public with regard to existing Railway Companies
generally, to which, in the opinion of the Committee,
Parliament might justly give its sanction ;—Have fur-
ther examined into the matters to them referred, and
have agreed to the following Resolutions and Report :-
1. The Committee, in pursuance of the directions of
the House, have proceeded to consider several portions
of the subject of reference, and have agreed upon the
following Report, and upon the resolutions annexed to
it, embracing suggestions which have exclusive regard
to railways hereafter to be constructed.
2. From the number of Bills for the formation of new
lines now before Parliament; from the appearance of
many new schemes likely tecome under consideration in
the next session; from the greatly increased favour and
support which, as compared with the projects of former
years, these undertakings now receive from the owners
of landed property in the districts through which they
are to pass; from the reduced amounts of estimates of
cost, and the comparative certainty with which they can
be made; and from the improvement of trade and re-
dundance of capital in the country, combined with the
prevailing indisposition to run the risks which have ren-
dered some kinds of foreign investment so disastrous;
the Committee anticipate a very great extension of the
railway system within the next few years.
3 Independently of the formation of new Companies,
those already existing under Parliamentary sanction are
in many instances engaged, and in other instances likely
to be hereafter engaged, in seekingßills for the improve-
ment of their undertakings by means of an extension of
their powers in various forms.
4. It appears, therefore, to your Committee, that the
present moment, while Parliament still retains in its
own hands an entire and unimpaired discretion with re-
gard both to the incorporation of new companies and to
the enlargement of the powers of old ones, affords an
opportumity more favourable than any that can be ex-
pected hereafter to recur, for attaching beforehand to the
legislitive sanction, which is sowiht by these parties on their
own behalf, the conditions which may be deemed necessary
for the public good, and which may realise and apply such
conclusions as our experience of the railway system up
to the present time may be deemed to have sufficiently
established.
5. It would, however, according to the judgment of
the Committee, be a narrow and unwise estimate of the
public interests in this matter, which should regard
them exclusively as opposed to, or even as distinct from,
those of the railway companies. It is manifestly of
aid
great national importance to give countenance and
to the investment of capital in domestic improvements ;
and the very complaint of monopoly, which is urged
against railway companies. is an indication and a measure
of the increased accommodation to the traffic of the
country which they have afforded, inasmuch as it has
not been so much by force of statutory enactments
granting to them special privileges, as by superior
cheapness, security,. and rapidity of travelling, that their
command of the intercourse of their districts has
been acquired: and the Committee doubt whether the
establishment of railways in this country does not afford
a more remarkable instance than can be cited from any
analogous subject matter, of immense, and certain, and
almost uniform benefit to the public, combined with a
very moderate standard of average remuneration to the
projectors.
6. The Committee have been governed throughout
their consideration of the subject by the strongest con-
viction that no step should be taken by Parliament,
which would either induce so much as a reasonable sus-
picion of its good faith with regard to the integrity of
privileges already granted, and not shown to have been
abused, or which would prospectively discourage the
disposition now so actively in operation to• extend the
railway system by the formation of new lines.
7, But there are considerations, to be drawn from
other sources, and justly applicable to this subject. Par-
ties who are now cr hereafter to enter into the field of
railway adventure, unless they voluntarily compromise
the advantages of their position by unwise proceedings,
will profit largely by the costly experience of those who
have preceded them, and will be able to make their cal-
culations with comparative certainty in many cases which
were formerly full of doubt and hazard. The risks of
ruinous losses being thus greatly diminished, there is in
proportion less need of the prospect of a possibility of
extraordinary gains in order to supply adequate induce-
ment to projectors.
8. The rapid and regular increase of the traffic of the
country in past years, and the undiminished vigour of
its productive energies at the present moment, seem to

render it probable that a very
aggregate receipts derivable fee
cations will be. realised within
generation. It is extremely di:
the multiplication of railways,
with such as already subsist, may keep down their reve-
nues; but, assuming that in many cases this may be the
result, it appears, on the one hand, very possible that in
such instances, unless a more direct connexion be esta-
blished between the protection of existing lines and the
public interest, the property invested in them may. be
exposed to unnecessary depreciation, and new capital
expended to large amounts without any adequate ad-
vantage ; and, on the other hand, that there
may be in other instances, where no abstraction of traffic
shall be caused by new lines, an augmented in of income
altogether beyond what is required for the due encou-
ragement, of this kind of enterprise.
9. Adverting for the present exclusively to the latter
contingency, the Committee deem it clear, that although
the practical monopoly of Railway Companies has been
acquired in the main by the superior manner in which
they have accommodated the traffic of the country, it is
nevertheless regarded,. even at the present day, with
considerable jealousy by the public at large; that such
jealousy may be expected rapidly to grow, if the profits of
Railways generally should be augmented in, any very great
-
degree; that questions of an embarrassing
upon the original views with- which Parliament granted
Acts of Incorporation to Railway Companies, might be
raised, which it would be far better to obviate; and that
on-these accounts it is wise to reserve on the part of the
State the right of intervention, at a date sufficiently
remote, in the concerns of these Companies, and of a
reconsideration of their powers, and privileges.
10. Again, great as have been the benefits of Railways
to the public, that circumstance does not afford any good
reason against, seeking, by any just and reasonable means
to enlarge those advantages. Now.it is material to ob-
serve that in this country what is called the high fare
system ordinarily prevails; that the average charge or
Railway communication, a charge falling, in no inconsi-
derable degree on trade and commerce, is very mei
higher than in other countries where Railways have beat
established; and that there is no clear or early prospect
of a general reduction of the rate of charge under the
present system of IndependentCompaniee even although
it might be possible that that great experiment might be
tried, if it were tried fully and universally, with no very
unfavourable result, even upon immediate returns. It is a
qmestion which the Committee are far from thinking
themselves able at present to determine, whether it
would or not be advisable that the Government should;
at a future period, endeavour to effect a material reduce
tion of this charge ; and although, on the one hand, it
would be premature and most unwise in any degree to
prejudge this question, yet in the opinion of the Com-
mittee it is desirable to reserve to public, authority the
means of forming a judgment upon it when a proper
time shall have arrived. at least in all those cases with
regard to which the Legislature dies not stand com-
mitted, by proceedings already taken, to a different
course.
11. The power and influence lodged in the hands of
Railway Companies, as well as the jealousy entertained
towards them by the public, might rise, under conceiv-
able tircumstances, to an inconvenient height : tad
though the Committee do not regard such a con-
tingency as tone of very probable occurrence, yet they,
consider that even its existence as a contingency may.
come in aid of other an I very forcible reasons for reserv-
ing, on the part of the State, an opportunity of resuming
its jurisdiction, and of establishing effective control over
the railways of country.
12. The Committee are aware that it may be objected
to the adoption of a specific mode of dealing with new
railways, that it would be highly desirable to apply the
same mode of procedure to all undertakings of that
nature. But they have not thought that Parliament
would be justified in enacting, with regard to existing
rail.vays, independently of the concurrence of the com-
panies, all the provisions which they are about to recom-
mend for new lines ; nor have they been able to devise,
as the basis of a voluntary arrangement, any terms, to
which a sufficiently general and early assent of
bodies so numerous and mixed could reason-
ably be anticipated. They believe, however, from
the evidence which has been given before them,
and for the most part by persons largely interested
in Railways, connected with their management, and en-
joying in a high degree the confidenceof the proprietors,
that there exists among those bodies, to no inconsider-
able extent, an apprehension of the effects that may be
produced in the present state of trade and of the money
market, from the multiplication of undigested schemes,
and an anxiety to establish new and more definite rela-
tions between themselves and the State upon terms of
mutual advantage. And the Committee entertain the
hope, that among the existing Companies there may be
those which will be disposed to accede to arrangements,
resembling in their general principle and effect those
which are now proposed for new railways.
13. The House, however, will not fail to observe, that
there were reasons, during the infancy of railway en-
terprise and the uncertainty of its general success,
against imposing prospective liabilities upon projectors,
which have now in a great degree ceased to operate;
and that it may have been right not to subject the earlier
railways to any option of revision or purchase, and yet
may still be right to place railways now contemplated
under such conditions.
14. But although the efforts of earlier projectors have
reduced to comparative certainty, for the benefit of their
successors, much of what was to themselves doubtful
and hazardous, it still remains in a high degree pro •
blematic3l what results of the railway system, at pre.
sent unforeseen, may be developed during the next fifteen
or twenty years. In this state of things the Committee
would deem it unwise to enter into any engagements
which should tend to restrain the free action of the
Legislature or Government in future times, as it is im-
, possible to judge what amount of inconvenience might
thereby be entailed; but they would propose that such
powers only should be taken as, even though they may
fall short of the full extent of the occasion when it ar-
rives, may be either exercised for some substantial ad-
vantage, or, at the worst, left in abeyance without
detriment.
15. And the Committee are disposed to believe that if
these powers be reasonable in their nature and amount,
the circumstance of their assumption, or rather of their
reservation, by Parliament, will have no tendency to dis-
courage railway enterprise, but, on the contrary, may
rather go to augment the rational confidence of parties
disposed to engage in it ; because the indirect interest
thus established in the railways, on the behalf of the
public, will tend to soften the jealousy with which the
great influence of the Companies, and their almost ex-
elusive command of traffic, are regarded, and to remove
to a greater distance the probability of any unfavourable
change in the tone of legislation respecting them, or of
any such undiscriminating encouragement of the multi-
plication of new lines in districts already provided with
accommodation, as would require the unnecessary ex-
penditure of new capital, and entail a depreciation (Axe
isting property, not compensated by corresponding ad-
vantage to the public.
16. The Committee will not at this time further ex-
plain their view of competition by new railway compa-
nies against old ones than by stating that they are in-
clined to believe it may be much more efficient, as an in-
strument of injury to those which already subsist, than
as a means of guaranteeing to the public increased
cheapness of travelling ; a result which there is reason
to believe can rarely or never be realised, under the pre-
sent circumstances of railways, from that source, for any
considerable length of time. But the power of encou-
raging, or, if need be, of creating competition, even al-
though the remedy thus to be supplied might be partial,
and must be costly, is nevertheless an engine
of great capabilities in the hands of the
State, and one which might be used to •prac-
tical advantage in any case in which railways
realising very large profits should manifest a disposition
to deal illiberally by the public.
17. In this remark respecting the undiscriminating
encouragement of competition, the Committee have con-
templated exclusively the class of lines which might be
instituted for the purpose of abstracting the traffic of
existing railways, and by no means such as, by materially
shortening the distances between important places, or
by opening up new sources of traffic from districts pre-
viously unprovided for, are entitled to be' judged upon
their independent merits.
18. Besides the important powers which the Committee
propose to reserve for optional exercise at a distant !erne
wlinteos
tohfirrdai.clwlaassy
tohfeycerrtecaionmimmenni
edcbtahtee
with regard
imposition oline
passengers, and to the service of public departments, which
they trust and believe will not be found onerous in their
operation.
19. The Committee have still to look forward to the
completion of many important parts of their inquiry.
They have not as yet hilly examined into the changes
which it may be desirable to make in the Standing
Orders relating to Bills for new railways, and to the
construction of their works; the state of the law and
practice with regard to parochial rating ; the degree ct
supervision which it may be wise for any department of
the Government to exercise over future railway schemes
in their earlier stages; the conditions which it may be
desirable to attach to the grant of new powers (whether
for amalgamation, for increase of capital, or for other
beneficial purposes) to companies already incorporated,
or tinder which any prospective and voluntary arrange-
ment for an option of purchase or revision might be made
applicable to them; or the general regulations of law ap.
dilicable to all railway companies alike, which it may be
politic to adopt, with a view to the yet more safe and satis-
factory management of these most useful and most impor •
taut concerns. To guard, however, against any misunder-
standing of these latter words, the Committee must add,
that they point chiefly to amendments in the law, and that
any discretionary powers of interference with their man-
agement which it might be thought fit to grant, should,
in their judgment, be restrained within the narrowest
limits.
20. Your Committee have now to submit the resolu-
tions with which they are to close this Report ; and in
doing so they have only to add that while they have
studied to render them conformable in their principles
to the important considerations which have just been ex-
plained, they are aware that some of the particulars
stated in them—as, for example, the precise term of
fifteen years and of 10 per cent. respectively—may be
open, upon sufficient cause shown, to some modification,
'without impairing their general effect.

RESOLUTIONS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
RAILWAYS, WITH REGARD TO NEW RAILWAYS.
I. That the powers to be granted by any Act of the
present or future sessions of Parliament, for the con-
struction of new lines of railway, whether trunk, branch,
or junction lines, shall be subject to the following con-
ditions :
IL That if at the end of a term of years to be fixed,
the annual divisible profits upon the paid-up share
capital of any such line of railway shall be equal to a
per centage to be fixed, or so soon after the expiration
of the said term as the said *per centage shalt
have been reached, it shall be in the option
of the Goverment either, first, to purchp.aa the, hula

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