The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-20 00:00:00

OVERLAND MAIL

INDIA AND CHINA.

We have received from Marseilles our dispatches
in anticipation of the Overland Mail, which left Bom-
bay on the 17th ult. This mail also brings us intel-
ligence from Hong-Kong to the 30th of March, from
Calcutta and Singapore to the 6th, and from Madras
to the 13th of April.
The most important incident of the fortnight over
which this news extends has been the announcement
of the entire extinction of all hopes of the introduc-
tion of railway communication into Bengal for tLe
prssent, the sum of 1,000,0001. (the limit of the
guarantee) being considered inadequate to the con-
struction of a sufficient length of line to yield a pay-
ing traffic. It is expected that the construction
of the first section of the. Bombay Railway, the
only undertaking of the kind now extant in India,
will be commenced at the, close of the approaching
monsoon.

Another atrocity has been committed by the Affree-
dees near Kohat. Dr. Healy, of the Bengal army,
lately posted to the Ist Punjaub Cavalry, now sta-
tioned at Kohat, was proceeding to join that regiment
by the eastern pass, which was supposed to be still
open, when on the 20th of March, within a few miles
of Kohat, he was set upon by the hill men, his groom
and grasscutter killed on the spot, and himself so se-
verely wounded that he died immediately after reach-
ing Kohat, whither he was carried by Captain Daly,
who went to look after him with a party the moment
he heard of the attack. The fatal wound was a gash
in the skull eight inches long.
The true cause of the Affreedees rising is stated to
be as follows :—The Affreedees have from time im-
memorial been allowed to receive salt at the rate of
four maunds per rupee. The Board of Administra-
tion ordered that they should be supplied at four
rupees per maund ! This, at Colonel Lawrence's re-
quest, was lowered to one rupee per maund—making
them pay in salt•tax more than was allowed for
keeping open the road.
A detachment of the Bengal army, consisting of a
wing of the 10th NatiVe Infantry and two guns, has
met with a reverse in Oude ; they had been ordered
to aid the King of Oudes'i forces in coercing a refrac-
tory Zemindar, who had taken refuge in a fort named
Beitah, where he successfully resisted the attack of
the combined forces. Our loss consisted of Lieute-
nant E. D. Elderton and 10 men of the 10th Native

Infantry killed, and 25 wounded; of our artillery,
11 men and 1 gun ; and 70 men of the King of Oude's
troops. The garrison lost only eight men, and
evacuated the fort during the night of the 28th of
March.

Sir C. Napier has been lately much indisposed, but
his energy as a reformer appears undiminished. He
has lately issued a General Order on the subject of
the very numerous applications for leave of absence
made by officers during the hot weather, refusing to
allow officers to he away from their men in that season
except in case of illness. In confirming the sentence
of a court-martial held on a field officer, who had
entered into a- correspondence concerning► an order
issued by a superior authority, instead of at once
obeying it, Sir Charles remarks, " those who imagine
this army is a debating society will find themselves
very much mistaken."
..,.
The Nizam's dominions were in their usual state,
the rest of India is tranquil.
An error in excess has occurred in the distribution
of the Sinde prize money; the overdrawn amount
has been ordered to be refunded in six monthly in-
stalments. It is stated that Sir C. Napier's share
of the sum to be refunded will amount to 2,0001.
Mr. Hamilton, the resident at Indore, has been
most fully and honourably acquitted of the charge
preferred against him by his assistant, Captain
Harris, whose conduct in the matter is most strongly
condemned by the Governor-General. Captain Harris
is dismissed from his civil appointment, and remanded
to his regiment. _ _ _

Five of the native subordinates of the Sudder
Court at Agra have been tried, and convicted of cor-
rupt practices, and sentenced, three to four years'
imprisonment, one to three years', and one to two
years'.
Cholera has broken out with virulence in the
European Artillery barracks at Bombay. The second
battalion of Artillery, now in these barracks, are to
be moved thence into tents pitched for them on the
esplanade of the fort.
Lady Dalhousie, accompanied by Major Fane,
Aide-de-Camp, and Dr. Grant, passed through
Meerut on Wednesday, the 31 inst. Her Ladyship
arrived at Mussoorie on the 6th of April, and thence
will march across the mountains to Simlah. The
Governor• General left Calcutta on the 15th inst. for
the Upper Provinces and Simlah. His Lordship and
suite will proceed in carriages drawn and pushed by
bearers.

It has been finally determined to remove Mr. Pat-
ton from the chief magistracy of Calcutta, the Go•
vernor-General having confirmed the decision of the
Bengal Government upon the report of the commis-
sioners. It is said that Mr. Patton is to be appointed
judge at Burd wan.

Mr. Blunt, of the Bengal civil service, late senior
member of the Board of Salt and Opium, has been
arrested for debt.

The Commander-in-Chief was making the tour of
the stations of the Jullunder Doab, and intended
proceeding by Kote Kangra and the Hill route to
Simlah, where he was expected by the 22d or 23d of
April.
The Hon. Sir Christopher Rawlinson, appointed
Chief Justice of her Majesty's Supreme Court at
Madras, has arrived at that presidency.
Trade at Bombay continued dull, with no imme-
diate hope of improvement. Freights only 1/. 18s.
to 21. to Liverpool, and 2/. ss. to London, and still
declining.