Star.
London, England, 1816-01-20 00:00:00

EAST INDIES.

Yesterday evening an Aide-de-Camp of Earl Motto►
arrived in a post-chaise and four at the India Rosso,
with important dispatches, brought overland from
India. We say the dispatches are important, because
it was deemed necessary to entrust their contents to
the Secret Committee only, who of course permitted
no part of the intelligence to transpire which was
thought expedient to withhold from the public.—
Rumours, however, were soon circulated both within
and without the doors of the India House, that the
Mahratta war, which had been threatened for some
time past, had commenced, and had been carried on
with such vigour, that Poonah, the capital of the
►Mahratta Empire, had already fallen. This part of the
information we believe we can contradict, on pretty
good authority. The dispatches certainly bring down
the accounts from Bombay to September 30th. The
peace with the Nepaul Government had not then been
signed ; but it was expected to take place in November,
when the British troops were in a situation to act.
It may be inferred, however, from the delay which
had already occurred from the Mahratta troops con-
tinuing to keep the field, and lastly, from the circum-
stance of the British availing themselves oa every oc-
casion to augment their forces (which are said to
exhibit a threatening attitude) that considerable dif-
ficulties must-have arisen in bringing the peace to a
close. The Government in India have been cour-
plaining for the last five years of the depredations
committed by the Mahratta Pindaries in the territo-
ries of the British. They always appear to plunder,
burn, and destroy, at a time of year when the winds
are so hot that the British troops cannot follow them..
The season was now approaching when. the British
troops could act with full vigour, and there seems no
doubt that when affairs are settled With Nepaul, it is
intended not to let slip the opportunity of the season
to reduce the power of the Mahratta:. The Con-
greye rockets now going out to India are expected to
be used with success.

The Duke of YORK was engaged nearly the whole
of yesterday at the Secretary of State's Otlice, io
Downing-street, for the War Department, with Earl
BATHURST and Sir HENRY BUNIIURY, the Unaer-Se-
cretary of State.
Mr. WILLIAMS, the King's Messenger, Arrived in
Downing-street on Wednesday, between one and two
o'clock, from America, bringing with him the Com-
mercial Treaty and other dispatches. On his arrival,
Mr. HAMILTON, the Under• Secretary of Mate for Fo-
reign Affairs, being there, sent off a Messenger to
Lord CASTLEREAGH, at his seat at North Cray, Kent.

Lord CAsrri.mtsitou gives a grand dinner on thy
31st instant to about fifty Members of the House of
Commons, previous to the opening of Parliament.

We have already noticed that the customary Offi-
cial Circular had been sent to the Members of the
House of Comtnons who are friendly to Ministers,
requesting their attendance on the first day of the
ensuing Session. The notice alluded to is said, by a
Morning Paper, to have been followed by the sub-
joined letter :
" In referent, to my artily Letter of the 11th instant, I
have the honour to inform you, that his Majesty's Government
has determined to submit the Continuance of the Property Tax,
under certain modifications, to the donsider&on of the House of
Commons. The necessity of keeping up a very high Military
Establishmeht, and the inexpediency of making any reduttlyn
of consequence in the Ordnance Department, which, with Very
consiJerable increased expenditures, connected with the Civil
Lie, are subjects which wiU be found to require a full attendance
at the comtnencerneht of the Session.
" I have the satisfaction to add, that the present mite of the
Agricultural Interest has engaged the full attention of Ministers;
and they will be able to prove, to tie satisfaction of the House,
the gross exaggerations which have been industriously circulated
en that subject. As It is intended that the Session should be very
abort, it is hoped that all the Measures alluded to may be com-
pletely adjusted, previous to the Easter Recess.
" I have the hewer, Ste. /cc. Stn."
A strong expectation exists in the Catholic Body
that Lord CAIITLERZAGH will exert himself in support
of their claims in the ensuing Session of Parliathent.
The following is a letter from his Lordship to G. Silo
VittTOP' Esq. Chairman of the Catholic Meeting,
held at Newcastle, on the 27th ult. :
" Verdi:l).oam, January 5, NI& •
" Stit—On my return to town yesterday, I was imasered
with your letter of the Oath tilt. enclosing the Resobdassouter-
ed into by the Roman Catholics of the Coombs elf Illadmiber-
land, Durham, and the North Riding of Yorkshire, at thrdr late
Meeting at Newcastle. I shell lose me dose In oenumankating
the IFesolutioos to my soileagoes in_ the Goiremement, who will
share, no doubt, "with me, in t§e satisfaction yid& such liberal
and beoevokni senamentetzbanot fed) to ins*,
0.1 have the humour to reads; Sir,isilligreat'reepeit,
" Your very faithful Servant, " Surrutaaisoa„“