The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-07 00:00:00

INDIA.

TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR W. PARKER, K.C.8., &C.,
COMUANDER-IN-CHIEF.
H. C. Steam-vessel Phlegethon, Kie-tow Point,
17th September, 1841. SIR,.-.I beg leave to enclose for your information a letter
received from Mr. Hubertson, master of the brig Lyra, on my
arrival at this place, detailing an act of treachery
by the
Chinese killing his first-mate, and one of his sea-cunnies.
On the receipt of this letter, consulting with the master of
the Lyra, Anne, and Ariel, who gallantly offered their ser-
vices, I determined to attack the Mandarin station, and pro-
ceeded for that purpose at daylight on the 16th inst. When
we arrived I found that it was the village in which Mr. Stead,
the master of the transport Pestonjee Bomanjee, had been mur-
dered. I destroyed the village and took three prisoners, from
whom I learnt that the principal station of the soldiers was in
the town where the Lyra's people had been murdered, that they
mustered 500, and expected to be attacked.
At 11 A. at., I proceeded to the town, having 40 British and
80 Lascars • at 12 they opened a heavy fire of gingalls and match-
locks, which failing to do any execution, and finding we were
rapidly closing on them, they retreated up the mountains ; we
found their barracks and magazines, blew them up, set fire to
the whole town, and totally destroyed it.
Having now accomplished the object of our expedition, we
returned on board, and I am happy to say without any loss.
In performing this service I beg leave to express my thanks
to Messrs. Hubertson, Denham, and Woodman, masters of the
Lyra, Anne, and Ariel, for their efficient support.
It would be inviduous in me to praise any, where all be-
haved well ; but I beg leave to recommend to your notice the
First Lieutenant, Mr. Herbert Ryves, and Lieutenant R. B.
Crawford, R. M., a passenger belonging to the transport ser-
vice, who gallantly volunteered to lead, and was of the greatest
possible assistance to me.—l have the honour, &e.,
( Signed) JAMES J. I‘I'CLEVERTY,
Comman
P. S.—The Chinese sustained a loss ofLieut six. men killeddi ;n but
it was impossible to ascertain their wounded, as they carried
them with them.
Captain M'Cleverty, R.m., Steamer Phlegethon.

Brig Lyra, off Singlosau, Sept. 15, 1841.
Sir,—l have the painful duty to i eport to you, as the only
officer present belonging to her Majesty's fleet, a case of the
most unparalleled treachery and murder on the part of the
Chinese at the village of Kogisau, abreast of where we are
lying, and beg you will be kind enough to report the same to
his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.
I arrived here in company with the Ariel and Anne on the
10th instant, and anchorefron Kogisau; the following day we
all armed our boats, ant,. went on shore to look for fresh water,
and endeavoured to procure some stock. The natives at first
appeared frightened, but shortly came down to us, and entered
on the mast friendly terms, promising to supply us with fresh
stock on fair terms i and on Sunday morning, the 12th, I went
on shore with my launch and cutter, and the same friendly
communications subsisted, and the principal man of the place
gave my linguist a written paper, stating the time he would
have what things they could supply us with ; in consequence of
which, I again sent my launch at noon in charge of my chief
officer, Mr. Wainwright, who, on proceeding to the vil-
lage, and finding no person was returning to the boat, when
his party was surrounded by 200 or 300 soldiers, and fired at
, with gmgalls and matchlocks, and I regret to say Mr. Wain-
wright was wounded, and either killed or taken prisoner, and
one sea-tunny was shot through thehead and killed on the spot,
and one man wounded in his side, but escaped on board. On
hearing this I immed.;ately consulted with the masters of the
Ariel and Anne. The result was that we immediately seized
several boats, and by their crews sent chops on shore offering
Sp. drs. 1,000, for the bodies dead or alive, if not mutilated,
but to which I have received no answer.
I now beg you will be kind enough to use such measures as
you may deem most necessary to procure the release of my
officer, if alive.--I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) GEO. J. HUBERTSON,
Master of the Ls,
------

CIRCULAR.
TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN CHINA.
Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China has the
utmost satisfaction in announcing, for general information, that
the City of Tioghae, the capital of the Chusan group of islands,
was yesterday re••occupied by her Majesty's forces.
During the eight months that have elapsed since the island
oelixene rstFeedae
sea-face
ueearo itselff
greatlythel ,
cithtyoe
swctrreinneegYstaieoUnaotvetdehrnbeyrndheeenfret
defences.
eapjse.ea
appears
t sy 'Ttsho
ef ohracwveehs
is now one continued line of fortification, extendin for
nearly two miles, and redoubts and entrenchedeamps havegbe.en
thrown up in every direction.
The Chinese troops made a better attempt at resistance than
they have hitherto done, but nothing could withstand the in-
trepid valour and cEscipline of her Majesty's combined forcos,
and in less than two hours the batteries were cleared, the city
escaladed, and the enemy flying in all directions.
Great quantities of ordnance (amongst which are about forty
pieces of brass cannon), other arms and military stores of every
description, besides magazines of gunpowder, and large grana-
ries of rice, have been found ; and, from a variety of concur-
rent circumstances, it is evident that the Chinese authorities
had no conception that the place could be taken in such rapid
and gallant style.
Arrangements will be made immediately for establishing a
provisional government, and her Majesty's Plenipotentiary deems it advisable, after what has already happened, to intimate
to her Majesty's subjects, and all others, that under no cir-
cumstances will Tinghae and its dependencies be restored to
the Chinese Government, until the whole of the demands
of England are not or:iy complied with, but carried into full
effect.
'Um:, save the Queen.
Dated on board het Majesty's ship Blenheim, in Chusan har-
bour, this 2d day of •October, 1841.
(Siguedl
HENRY POTTINGER,
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.

CIRCULAR.
TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN CHINA.
Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China has the
renewed extreme gratification of announcing, for general infor-
mation, the further brilliant and important success of her
Majesty's combined naval and land forces, in the reduction and
occupation, on the 10th and lath instant, respectively, of the
cities of Chinghao and Ningpo.
The city of Chinghae is situated at the mouth of the Tahae,
or Ningpo river, and was covered so strongly by its citadel (a .s

BURMAH.
The great King Tharawaddy remains peaceably at Rangoon,
superintending the fortification of the new town which his
workmen have built, and constructing a flotilla of gun-boats.
He declares his intentions to be, and to have been, quite pa-
cific; but his object in coming down to Rangoon with so large
a force remains unexplained, and is shrouded in as much mys.
tery as ever. I have before mentioned the incivility with
which the commander of the Proserpine was treated on his visit
to Rangoon; and it now appears that Captain Hough, of the
Ganges steamer, was refused admittance into the royal pre-
sence unless he took off his shoes, and conformed in other
respects to the Burman notions of etiquette. The letters, how-
ever, his Majesty deigned to receive.
Her Majesty's ship Calliope, the steamers Ganges, Forbes,
and Diana, and the transports Thetis, Robarts, Larkins, and
Elizabeth Ainslie, have arrived at their destinations, and her
Majesty's brig Clio, and sloop Britomart, from the Straits, are
expected. Whether or no the formidable force in Burmah
will immediately return, it is impossible to say, but as it cannot
be doubted that the supreme Government had good cause for
believing Tharawaddy's intentions to be hostile, when they
sent it on, the probability is that a portion, at least, will remain
to watch his proceedings. The cost of the expedition is esti-
mated by the Friend of India at thirty lacs of rupees (er
£300,000).
A Plenipotentiary has arrived at Moulmein from Rangoon,
to assure the British authorities that tha King has no warilke
designs.

AFFGHANISTA.N.
INSURRECTION IN CAROOL.—Just previous to the closing
of the overland packet of the Ist of December, a report arrived
from the north-west that there had been a general rise of the
Affghans, who had laid siege to the City of Cabool. It has
not only turned out to be correct, but proved the forerunner of
more melancholy and disastrous news. The Affghans have
risen, and they have taken the city. The account of the
death of the amiable and talented Sir Alexander Burnes is
confirmed, and several other officers have also fallen victims to
the fury of the rebels. The insurrection broke out on the 2d
November, and the latest date up to which trustworthy infor-
mation has been received, is the 18th of the same month, the
communication having been closed ever since. On the capture
of the city, the British force was divided into'two sections, one
occupying the Balla Hissar, and the other an intrenched camp
and these positions have been subsequently maintained. Several
skirmishes, and one or two regular engagements, have taken
place, in nearly all of which, whether defensive or aggressive,
our troops have been completely victorious.
The rebellion has not, of course, been confined to the
movement on Cabool. It has spread into the Kohistan, where
a detachment of Goorkhas, stationed at Cherekai, have been
cut up, and two officers, Lieutenants Wheeler and Maule,
murdered by the enemy. A party of invalids who were pro-
ceeding to Ghuznie under the command of Captain Woodburn,
have also heed massacred with their leader, and Ghuznie itself
—which is fortunately strongly garrisoned and well provisioned
—is now reported to be in a state of siege. The gallant force
under General Sale, which so bravely fought its way through
the mountain pass of Khoord Cabool, remains at Jellallabad,
which place cannot be quitted. General Sale has vanquished
the insurgents, however, on every occasion on which they have
ventured to attack him, and has procured supplies of food.
Though badly off for ammunition, there appeared little doubt
that he would be able to hold out till the relief expected from
Peshawar should reach him.
It cannot be questioned that this insurrection will be ulti-
mately put down; but the sacrifice of life and expenditure of
money that mast be the price of its suppression furnish
cause enough for anxiety.
Should the object of the insurgents be, as is stated, to de-
pose Shalt Soojah, and raise another Monarch to his throne,
there is too much reason to fear that the cause will meet with
considerable support. The followers of those refractory Chiefs
who recently took the field to dispute the supremacy of the
Shah, will not refuse their aid.
The rebellion, as I have stated, commenced on the 2d No-
vember. No particulars of the attack on the city have been
received, and we are consequently unable to learn in what
manner, whether by stratagem or regular assault, the
insurgents gained possession of it. The first who fell vic-
tims to their fury, were Sir Alexander Burnes, his bro-
ther, Lieutenant Burnes, and Lieutenant Bradfoot, of the
Shah's service. On the following day the 37th Regiment
of Bengal Native Infantry, which had parted from
General Sale's force at Sell Baba, returned, and suceeeded
in effecting a junction with the British troops. Phis day
was also marked by a simultaneous attack on the canton-
ment, and the Balla Hissar, in which the enemy sustained
great loss, and were completely beaten off. There was a
skirmish in the town on the 4th, when Captains Swayne and
Robertson of her Majesty's 44th. and Captain Gordon, of
the 37th Native Infantry, were killed; and on the 6th the
British stormed a fart called Mahomed Khan, of which the
rebels had gained possession, and took it, after a short
struggle. Captain Raban, of her Majesty's 44th, lost his
life on this occasion ; and the insurgents took advantage of
our proceeding, by seizing two guns in the city. They
also, it is said, compelled some men belonging to one of the
Shah's regiments to direct their fire on the cantonments where
our troops were posted. The time up to the 11th was passed
in skirmishing; but on this day there was an important en-
gagement, by which our troops gained some solid advantages,
re-capturing the guns of which the enemy had gained posses-
sion, and materially weakening the force of the rebels. Captain
Codrington was killed, and Captain Paton and Major Thain,
aides-de-camp to General Elphinstone, were wounded, the lat-
ter slightly, the former severely. Since this there seems to
hive been no fighting, and the envoy, by the last accounts, is
reported as endeavouring to induce the Kohistanees and Kuz-
zelbashes, by a money bribe, to break with the Dooranees, and
fight for the Shah. This attempt is in itself a strong proof that
Sir W. 111'Naghten considers it necessary to desist from any
further aggressive act, and to confine our efforts for the defence
of our positions. The Kuzzelbashes were most active in the re-
volt, and a party of them, at the very outset, attacked the en-
trenched camp, but they were repulsed with great slaughter by
Auderson's Horse and the sth Cavalry.
A correspondent of the Agra Ukhbar gives the following
account of the forces at Cabool. I transcribe it, as it may be
interesting to your readers :
" First troop first brigade Horse Artillery, two squadrons
sth Cavalry, four squadrons Shah's Cavalry, her Majesty's
44th Foot, sth Native Infantry, 37th ditto, 54th ditto, 6th
Shah's ditto, 3d corps Shah's Sappers. Besides the 3d Shah's
Regiment at Chareekair, and some Affghan troops, whom I
do not take into account. •
" Guies.—Six iron 9-pounders, three24-pounder howitzers,
two 12-pounder howitzers, five 6-pounders, throe mountain
guns and howitzers, three sk-inch mortars, besides some guns
of the Shah's, of which two 6-pounders and a 16-pounder were
at Chareekair."
In reference to this statement, it seems necessary to remark
that no mention of the arrival of the 54th Native Infantry at
Cabool is made in any of the accounts, although the 37th (the
other regiment which was with General Sale) reached the city
on the 3d of November. The Shah's regiment at Chareekair,have
alluded to by the writer, is the corps were with it have no
whose destruction
already noticed; and the guns which
doubt fallen into the hands of the Kohistanees.
As for the events which have occurred at Jellellabad, since
the • ee
I
On the arrival of the
force matters were found to he in a most unpromising
state
the occupation of the place by General Sale's brigade, they
may be summed up in a few brief words.
The walls and defences were greatly dilapidated; there was
scarcely any ammunition, scarcely any provisions, and not
sufficient wa.' er. Sir R. Sale immediately took measures to
remedy these defects, and supply these deficiencies—the walls
were repaired and guns mounted, foraging parties succeeded in
obtaining provisions, and wells were dug for water. Several
skirmishes took place on different occasions; but the enemy did
not venture on any regular attack till the 15th of November,
and by this time General Sale was well prepared to receive
them. The attack of the 15th was utterly unsuccessful, the
insurgents were completely routed, and left 150 of their number
dead upon the field. From this time to the latter end of the month,
they appear to have been tolerably quiet; but they then as-
sembled a force amounting to about 3 000 men, and getting
into possession of some old forts about three miles distant from
our troops, sent out parties to fire on the British defences. The
insurgents again attacked us on the Ist December, but were
once more defeated with the greatest facility, all taking to their
heels as soon as our troop', which sallied out against them, made
their appearance. They do not appear to have a particle of the
courage possessed by their brother rebels of Cabool.
Two outposts in the neighbourhood of Jellellabad, occupied
by our troops, have been closely invested by the rebels ; one of
them has gallantly withstood their most determined efforts
but the garrison of the other have been compelled to.fight their
nay through their assailants, and seek safety in flight, Ali
Musjid, and Pesh-Bolack are the positions alluded to.
Of the events at Pesh-Bolack we have more detailed ac-
counts. A letter from an officer of the garrison, published in
the Agra Ukhbar, gives full particulars of the operations on
both sides, and of the subsequent escape of the little party from
their situation of peril. The narrative is in the highest degree
interesting, and will no doubt be re-published at home. It ap-
pears that a rifle regiment of the Shah's, under the command
of Captain Ferris had been originally stationed at Pesh-Bolack: