The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-10 00:00:00

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL,.

INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
The London papers of Friday anticipated the Overland
Mail. The despatch brings important news from the
theatre of war on the banks of the Sutlej. The British
army, of about 43,000 men, is thus described in the Delhi
Gazette of the 233 of January :-11 troops of Horse Ar-
tillery. say 1.000; 8 companies of Foot Artillery, about
600; 7 companies of Sappers and Miners, 800; 3 regi-
ments of European Cavalry, at 450, 1,350 ; 7 regime As of
Native Light Cavalry, at 400, 2,800; 5 regiments of Ir-
regular Cavalry, at 700, 3,500; 9 regiments of European
Infantry, at 750, 6,750 ; 26 regiments of Native Infantry,
at 800, 20,800 ; 2 regiments of Local Infantry, at 800,
1,600 ;—forming a total of about 39,800. Besides which,
the following corps are on their way, or under orders :
The 4th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, from Scinde;
the 7th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, from Delhi ; the
67th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, Bundelkund. and the
Kumson Local Battalion : as also Captain Smith's Light
Field Battery, from Scinde, which, when they have joined
the force, will make " the suet of Sutlej " of the follow-
ing estimated strength •—Artillery. 1.680; sappers and
miners, 890. Cavalry—European, 1,350 ; native, 2,800 ;
irregular, 3,500-7,65,0. Infantry— European, 6,750; na-
tive, 23,200; irregular, 2,400-32,350. Ordnance—heavy
24-pounders, 12 ; howitzers, 10-inch, 6 ; howitzers, 8
inch, 6 ; iron 12-pounders (elephant battery), 12 ; already
with the force, siege guns taken from Umballah, where
they were sent for practice from Delhi, 8; 11 troops
Horse Artillery, 66 ; 5 Light Field Batteries, 30—making
the proposed army to consist of 42,480 men, with 140
pieces of ordnance of all sizes. There are also 21 mortars,
of various sizes, under despatch from Delhi to-day.
The army is formed into five divisions of infantry and
four brigades of cavalry, with a large brigade staff. The
cavalry is commanded by Major-General Sir J. Thack-
well, and the infantry divisions by Major-Generals Sir H.
G. Smith, W. R. Gilbert, Sir R. H. Dick, Sir J. H. Lit-
tler, and Sir J. Grey.
From the 223 of December, when the victory was won
by the British at Ferozeshali, up to the middle of Janu-
ary, both parties appeared to be ma paring for the ap-
proaching struggle on the right bank of the Sutlej. The
Governor-General remained at Ferozepore, engaged in
raising the bridge of boats, and in making preparations for
the crossing of the liver by the British army. The boats,
which had been sunk, were found to be somewhat in-
jured, and time was required for their repair. The cross-
ing of the river was expected about the 4th or 6th of Feb-
ruary, when the heavy guns which had left Delhi on the
10th of January were expected to have reached the camp.
Sir J. Littler 's division was stationed at Attaree, about
seven miles from Ferozepore; the head-quarters of the
Commander-in-Chief were at Arufkee, twelve miles
thence ; and Sir Harry Smith's force was in advance of
the others. not far from Hurreeke Puttun, which is one of
the great fords of the Sutlej.
In the mean time the Lahore Government was making
every effort to reorganize the army. Several attempts
had been made in different places to cross the river. A
strong force was collected at Phulloor, opposite to Loodi-
anah. This force was independent of the grand Sikh
army stationed on the way from Hurreeke ghat to Lahore
and its neighbourhood, with the object of protecting the
capital.
Some skirmishing took place near the Sikh bridge of
boats on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of January, without any
remarkable effect. On the 15th the Sikhs came over he
river at Phulloor, plundered the neighbourhood, and
pitched a camp on the left bank, in the British territory.
On the following days they made some further advances,
and intrenched themselves near a nulla. Sir H. Smith
moved his brigade up the Sutlej, driving the enemy before
him until the 21st, in the morning, when he came upon
one of the fortified positions of the enemy, which fired
grape shot amongst the British troops. Some of the
native troops are said to have thrown down their arms,
and to have fled, leaving the Europeans to bear the brunt
of the battle. Her Majesty's 53d and 31st were engaged,
and are said to have suffered severely, but they demanded
to he led anew to the fight, which Sir H. Smith did not
deem it prudent to do, and therefore withdrew the troops.
The Agra Ukhbar construes the retirement into a defeat;
while the Delhi Gazette states that heavy firing was
heard in the direction of Loodianah during the whole of
the afternoon of that day. Nothing positive appears to
have been known as to the results of that day when the
mails were leaving Bombay.
The preparations of the Governor-General at Foroze-
pore appear to be of an efficient kind, and it was supposed
that the British army would move over the Sutlej, and
before the hot weather set in, in April, take possession of
Lahore, the Sikh capital, which is not fifty miles distant
from the Sutlej. There is said to be considerable disunion
amongst the Sikh chiefs, many of whom have made pro-
positions to the British authorities, declaring their wil-
lingness to join the British standard as soon as it appeared
on the right bank of that river. It was supposed that the
Sikh troops would try another battle before they would
allow their capital to be taken.
The gallant conqueror of Scinde, Sir Charles Napier,
was again in the field, and, at the head of about 15,000
Bombay and 5,000 Bengal troops, was expected to cause
a powerful diversion, by proceeding to attack and to con-
quer Moultan and the southern provinces of the Sikh
dominions. The very name of Sir Charles Napier in-
fuses dread among the the native inhab.tants of the banks
of the Indus and of the five rivers of the Punjab ; he is
called by them Sheilanka beaee, " the Devil's brother."
His troops expected to he in movement towards the
enemy's frontiers on the 16th of February.
The latest intelligence from the Bombay troops in this
exhibition describes them as in the highest spirits, for
they look forward to victory for themselves, and even to
a coronet for their experienced leader.
It is undeniable that the Sikhs are a brave enemy,
whom the discipline they have learned from European
officers renders far more formidable than the other inha-
bitants of India. The necessity of the most strenuous
efforts to subdue the troops and the fanatics of Lahore is
evident. Their emissaries have attempted to tamper
with the Bengal sepoys, but, as yet, they have gained
nothing. The British troops have abundant supplies
of all kinds, and it remains to be known if anything
of a decided nature will occur before the hot season.

The late attempts to produce sedition amongst the
troops and inhabitants of Dinepore, Patna, &c., have
failed, and the ringleaders have been seized and punished.
The latest intelligence from Upper f•icinde states, that
r Majesty's 86th regiment had reached Roree on the
23d of January. A circumstance bad occurred in the
Sikh territory, near Bhawulpore, which it may be useful
to explain. Captain Brow, the chief of the Scinde
mounted police, went about ten miles into the Sikh dis-
trict in pursuit of a robber. The head of the village
promised to surrender the robber; but, instead of doing
so, he collected a number of horsemen (said to be 300)
and proceeded to attack the Scinde police. The first vol-
ley killed three men. This proves the spirit of the Sikh
authorities to the southward. Moulton was quiet, but
great efforts were made to restore the fortifications, as a
siege was expected.
An augmentation has been ordered of five regiments of
irregular cavalry to the Bengal army, and of three regi-
ments of infantry to that of Bombay.
The Bombay Railway, or, as it is called, the Great Pe-
ninsular Railway, has been most successful. The engi-
neers who have examined the districts through which it is
to pass into the interior, have found more facilities for the
undertaking than they ever expected.
The utmost tranquillity prevails in the interior of India.

AMERICA.
Advices have been received from New York to the 12th
ult. On the 9th the House of Representatives passed a
resolution, by a majority of 163 to 54 (o6ly three members
being absent) authorising the President to give notice to
Great Britain of the termination of the joint occupancy
of the Oregon territory. Another resolution was passed,
at the same time, declaring that nothing in the previous
resolution should interfere " with the right of the proper
authorities to pursue negotiations for an amicable settle-
ment." The debate was closed by a speech from Mr.
Adams, who persisted in the view that there was no doubt
but England would in the end concede peaceably all they
required.
On F►iday the packet-ship Virginian arrived at this
port from New York, with intelligence to the 14th ult.
Great confidence was entertained at Washington, that
the Oregon controversy would be amicably settled. As
the notice has been qualified by the expression, that it was
not meant nor desired thereby to interfere with or preclude
negotiation, it was supposed that it had been stripped of
its raise' ievous tendency, and could not be justly objected
to by Great Britain. The senate was about to commence
their debates upon this intermini.Me question, but there
was a probability of its postponement till after the arrival
of the steamer. It was expected also, that the bill for ex-

tending the protection of the American laws to the citi-
zens settled in the Oregon, -would be called up by the
house without offence to England. The duties on iron,
sugar, molasses, and clothing, are to be placed at 30 per
cent. ; on woollens at 25 per cent. ; on cotton goods 20
per cent., and spirits 75 per cent.
The latest news from Vera Cruz was to the 25th of Ja-
nuary. The government of Paredes was consolidating it-
self. It was said that Arista had arrived at San Luis de
Potore, that he had declared against Paredes, taken Tam-
pico, and levied a duty of 62 cents. to pay his troops.
President Polk's message had given great satisfaction to
the Americans resident in Mexico. Mr. Slidell had left
for Jalapa, and was to go to Vera Cruz. The papers say
there can be no doubt that Ucatan has declared her inde-
pendence of Mexico.
Since these advices we have received New York papers
, of the 16th ult., brought by the Duchess of Orlear,s,
Captain Richardson, which arrived at Havre on Thursday.
These journals put us in possession of the important cor-
respondence alluded to on Tuesday, respecting the joint
occupancy of the Oregon territory. The Oregon resolu-
tions, which had passed the house of representatives, were
under discussion in the senate on the 12th February; and
at the close of the sitting the house eras adjourned until
the 16th, when the subject was to be resumed. Mr. J. M.
Clayton spoke at great length in favour of giving the
twelve months' notice to Great Britain. England was no
common foe. The United States were not prepared for
war. But he did not apprehend any war if the notice were
given. Respecting the report in circulation at Wa-hing-
ton, on the 10th February, that Mexico had declared war
against the United States, we find no confirmation of it in
the papers before us. Santa Anna, however, was busily
engaged in making arrangements to return to Mexico, in
the hopes of resuming the dictatorship.
Since the above was in type the packet-ship Cambridge,
Captain Barstow, has arrived in the Mersey from New
York, whence she sailed on the 17th ultimo, bringing
three cabin passengers, Alexander Muir, Esq., and Dr.
Stewart, of Aberdeen, and Mr. A. R. Montgonnerie, of
Montreal. On the 24th ultimo, in lat. 39 30, lon. 48 8,
the Cambridge exchanged colours with the packet-ship
John R. Skiddy, hence for New York.
The advices received by this arrival add little to our
previous accounts. The Washington correspondent of
the Courier and Inquirer, under date the 14th ultimo,
states emphatically, that negotiations had not been re-
sumed by Mr. Pakenham.
The new tariff had become the topic of general discus-
sion.

The cholera is spreading from Caboul to Teheran.
The Governor of Sierra Leone (Mr. Ferguson), died at
Funchal. on the 9th ult.

THE WAR IN INDIA.—The 4th Hussars, and the
Bth, 21th, and 32nd Foot are ordered to India.
On Sunday week eight persons were killed and fourteen
wounded on the Lyons railway, by a collision between a
locomotive and the train.

THE GERMAN MOVEMENT.—Czerski, we regret to
say, has, with some other men of less note, joined the
pseudo-Christian community established by Ronge.
The finance minister of Greece has announced that he
can make no budget—that he has no money—that the
revenue books have disappeared—and that the public ac-
counts are in a state of chaos !

PROGRESS.—The Bey of Tunis has decreed the total
and immediate abolition of slavery within his dori.)ions.
He has even declared that if a slave from other countries
should land on the territory of Tunis he should, from that
moment, be free!
The editor of the Gazelle de France was sentenced on
Thursday, by the Court of Assizes of Pat is, to one year's
imprisonment and 3,000 f. fine, for An article containing
attacks against the rights which the King derives from the
choice of the nation. _ _

PROMPT EXECUTION OF A RAJAH.—It was stated in
our last accounts from India that the Rajah of Putteealah
had been hanged, but there was some doubt as to the
cause. A private letter removes all doubt, by stating that
the Putteealah Rajah was discovered intriguing against
the British Government, and was hanged upon the first
tree found suitable.—Calcutta Englishman.
The addenda to the Indian despatches, published by
authority, narrate the circumstances which led to the late
conflict. They depict a licentious army and an ir,compe-
tent government they show us the chiefs (women and
men) of a powerful nation sunk in the grossest debauch-
ery—the ministers not only joining with dancing girls,
but dressing like them, and dancing in public ; and the
government, including the Ranee. so continually drunk,
or so continually sick from being drunk, as to be incapa-
ble of attending to the important business which the
English government endeavoured to transact with them.
The whole Sikh army were possessed of a drunken idea
that they could conquer the English in the first battle.
SWITZERLAND.—The Swiss journals publish various
documents. Among them are two despatches from Lord
Aberdeen to M. Morier, dated the 13th and 30th of Ja-
nuary last, expressing the British Government's deco re-
gret at the conduct pursued by the Government of Vaud
towards the clergy of that canton. The same prints con-
tain a manifesto, whereby the clergy of Vaud vindicate
their conduct, and also a circular letter of the seven Ro-
man Catholic and Conservative cantons, addressed to all
the states of the confederacy. In this document the agi-
tation into which the Radical party have thrown Swit-
zerland, is exhibited in strong terms, and an immediate
return to a lawful state of things is urged as the only
means of saving the confederacy from anarchy.

PROTESTANTISM IN SPAIN.

(From the Continental Echo.)

When in Madrid, in 1842, the Rey. R. H. Rule, who
has recently published the particulars of his mission to
Gibraltar and Spain, anticipated the pleasure of joining in
Protestant worship at the chapel of the British Ambas-
sador. _ _ _

He says, "to obtain the necessary information of time and
place, I called at the residence of the national representa-
tive. The porter did not understand my inquiries, and I %%Ts
sent up stairs to try if I could be understood there. I
found a steward, or upper servant, who said that he had
been in that service eight years, but had never seen any
thing of the kind, nor, indeed, any observance of Sunday,
nor was there any chaplain. Several English gentlemen
had called from time to time, to make a similar inquiry ;
bu'' of course, had been disappointed. It is easy enough to
talk about the intolerance of the Spaniards, and about the
danger of meddling with their religion, while our country,
or our government, has kept it out of their power to be to-
lerant, by affording them no object for toleration ; and the
Protestant religion has been despised in Spain with some
show of reason, whenever the representative of our Sove-
reign, whatever be his private thoughts, (and these he is
not allowed an opportunity of manifesting,) seems to be
ashamed of it, and when travelling clergymen, either
through fear or shame, or for greater liberty, go through
the country in disguise, while yet they are known by their
own consuls, and by others, too, to be frequenting bull-
fights and comedies on the Lord's Day."
After enduring much persecution, the mission establish-
ment at Cadiz was suppressed. But had Mr. Rule been
supported by his Government—had not official pusillani-
mity dissipated the security which encompassed him on
account of his being a British subject, the Cadiz estab-
lishment might even now have been prospering.
The following circular, addressed to the vice-consuls,
will explain our meaning :—" I am directed by Viscount
Palmerston to instruct you to warn any British subjects
who may attempt, by preaching or by distributing books
in Spain, to assail the Roman Catholic religion, that they
will render themselves liable to a state prosecution, or
their expulsion from the country ; and that her Majesty's
mission in Madrid cannot be expected to protect them
from the consequences of such an open violation of the
laws of Spain.'
Mr. Rule subsequently remarl:s :—" We had formerly
been dealt with cautiously, as being Englishmen ; for it
was taken for granted we might not be oppressed. But
Lord Palmerston dissolved that charm."

Further on, the author exposes the unsoundness of the
policy of asking permis ion fur the exercise, by British
residents abroad, of religious worship, and shows that if
such petitions are volunteered by a British Government,
acting en false principles, or from an unworthy fear, a de-
nial must naturally be expected.
The substance of the remedies suggested by Mr. Rule
is as follows :-
1. The observance of Protestant worship in the habita-
tion of the British envoy at the court of Madrid.

2. Stationing Protestant ministers in the larger Spanish
seaport towns ; to which, says Mr. Rule, " I will venture
to state that there does not exist any legal hindrance."
3. Strengthening the bands of the Protestants at Gib-
ralter, and thence extending written correspondence with
Spain.

IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE

FROM ST. PETERSBURG.

EXTENSION OF FREE TRADE PRINCIPLES TO THE NORTH

OF EUROPE.

The Hull Packet, of Friday, (whose information from
the north of Europe is, from local position, earlier than
our own,) states, from "a confidential authority, entitled
to implicit confidence," that, notwithstanding what has
been stated from high quarters, nothing was to be done
with the Russian tariff this season, it is " more than
probable that, in a few days, an announcement of consi-
derable reductions in the duties on the leading exports,
and on many itnporti, will be made," and certainly " this
season." This is assumed to be the effect of the working
abroad of the development of the future commercial policy
of the British Government. The merchants of St. Peters-
burg had for some time thought that the example of Eng-
land would be followed ; bat they did not expect the move-
mtnt to occur so soon. Sir R. Peel himself declared that
he expected the example of England would be followed
gradually by foreign powers, but scarcely anticipated the
change at so early a period. The determination of Russia
to advance on the ground of " free trade," will direct
public attention to her financial and commercial laws.
The taxation in Russia is nearly all direct, the mass of the
population being serfs, whom only a capitation tax can
affect. The direct taxes are those on corn, brandy, salt,
and stamped paper, which as the country is almost wholly
agricultural, press more heavily on the poor than the
rich. Our cotemporary refers the inquiring reader on
this subject to an intelligent work, published in Paris,
entitled "The System of Legislation, Administration, and
Policy of Russia, in 1844 ; by a Russian Statesman."
From this it appears, that after twenty-three years' adop-
tion of the system, " Russian manufacturers are enabled to
furnish articles for consumption, which, apart from their
inferior quality, are fifty per cent. dearer than those im-
ported from England (and no cheaper than the Freed) or
Belgian), although the charges for labour, buildings, food,
and fuel, as well as the taxes, are five times higher in
England than in Russia. Hence it becomes improbable
that goods of Russian manufacture will ever compete
with those of England." The interests of that country
would therefore be forwarded, were the monopolising sys-
tem on nearly 1.000 different fabrics considerably modi-
fied, if not altogether abrogated. From statistics fur-
nished, it is shown that the manufactures of Russia are
still iu their infancy. There was, in 1813, a deficiency of

nearly eight millions of roubles to cover expenses of im-
ports from abroad for the yearly consumption of the po-
pulation—the imports being that amount over the exports.
As regards commercial industry, Russia, compared with
with other countries of Europe and with America, ranks
but as a sevtnth state. The ratio of annual industry in
each of the seven following states may be thus stated in
francs per bead :—England 198, France 66, United States
72, German Confederation 56, Netherlands 150, Austria
19, Russia only 13. " The causes," says the writer of
the work alluded to, " to which America, as well as Eng-
land and France, is indebted for these marvellous results,
are to be found in nothing else than the liberty of each in-
dividual, the power of civilization, the protection of pri-
vate property and public credit ; and, above all, in the
wisdom of the national institutions and government."