The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-11-18 00:00:00

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN SOUTER TO MRS. SOUTER.

" Forty miles from Jellalabad.
" MY DEAR,—You may imagine how rejoiced I was on
the 10th of this month. I am sorry to hear the weather is
set in so oppressively hot, and that yourself and the children
are suffering from its effects : until the last five days the
weather has been the contrary with us : we are at a great
elevation above Jellalabad, which is about seventy or eighty
miles from this, and snow very close at hand. We were
hurried from Lughman to this place, in consequence of the
defeat of Ukhbar Khan by Gen. Sale. and notwithstanding
the weather was very inclement when we first arrived here,
we had nothing but bad tents to live in, which is still our
only shelter. The ladies and children are at times greatly to
be pitied, but they all seem cheerful and happy as people can
expect to be under such circumstances. I need not enumerate
the names of the ladies, for the newspapers must have already
informed you; suffice it to say, that their husbands owe
their lives to the presence of their wives. On the late dis-
astrous retreat from Cabul, Providence, indeed, has been
kind towards me, protected as I have been by Him through
the perils and dangers of one of the most harassing, bloody,
and disastrous succession of fights in the annals of military
history. At the commencement of the insurrection of the
2d of November last, I was ordered into the Balla Hissar
(which is above the city) with 100 men of the 44th ; there for
a succession of days and nights we were engaged in defend-
ing our position, and in firing upon the city : then I was
again ordered into cantonments. Some small forts com-
manded our lines and barracks, which it became necessary to
capture ; in these undertakings we lost a number of men and
several officers. Swayne and Robinson fell on the same day,
the 4th of November, Eaban on the 6th, and Mackrell and
M'Crea on the 10th. Mackrell died during the night, after
suffering amputation of one of his arms, one of his legs also
broken. M'Crea was cut down and killed on the spot.
Though we generally defeated the enemy, and gained our
points, yet the numbers opposed to us were so great that the
loss of life was always great, and victory dearly gained. At
length, cut off from all supplies, our draught bullocks con-
sumed, and our grain stores empty, nothing was left for us
but to capitulate, and enter into a treaty to evacuate the
country. All fighting ceased, and then supplies came in to
us though at a dear rate. The weather was incessantly and
intensely cold, and the snow fell to a great depth. Well,
after it was agreed that these refractory chiefs were to re-
ceive hies of rupees, provided they allowed us to march out
of their country unmolested, in spite of this agreement, they
commenced an attack upon our rear as soon as we were out
of cantonments at Cabul. Our halting ground for four or
five days was upon a great depth of snow. The Sepoys be-
came paralysed ft om cold, most of them suffered their arms,
accoutrements, and clothes to be taken from their persons
without making any resistance. Hundreds of them were cut
up by the enemy, as well as camp followers and servants :
many took to the hills and there perished. After the third day
not an armed Sepoy was to be seen out of four regiments,
consequently the whole brunt of defending the column in its
retreat fell upon the remaining handful of the 44th and Euro-
pean Artillery, whose cannon were abandoned owing to the
wretched condition of their horses. The native cavalry refused
to follow their officers against the enemy, fell back on the in-
fantry, and embarrassed their movements ; in like manner
camp followers and others rushed in upon us for protection,
when attacked by the Affghans, so much so that we were at
times powerless. The surrounding hills were generally co-
vered with people that poured deadly discharges of musketry
upon us ; even during night marches we were equally assailed,
and hourly the column became diminished in numbers. At
Jugdulluck, General Elphinstone and Colonel Shelton went
over to Ukhbar Khan and other chiefs to offer terms, which
they agreed to accede to ; and while this was going on, we
were suddenly attacked, our men falling very fast, and fight-
ing bravely at the time ; when, seeing the perilous situation
of our colours, I tore one colour from its staff and wrapped
it about my person. Cumberland took the other, but was
unable to button his great coat over it ; he then handed it to
Sergeant Carey, who secured it about him, but he fell during
the night of our last march; The enemy closing and strongly
pressing prevented our disengaging the colour, and it was
unavoidably lost. Elphinstone and Shelton were not al-
lowed to return to us, but were detained prisoners. In this
state of affairs, a night march was determined upon : the
44th reduced to between seventy or eighty men capable of
carrying arms, a few Artillerymen, and sth Cavalry, and still
an incumbranee of camp followers, &c., started at eight
o'clock at night. We soon came upon an encampment of
the enemy, who commenced following up our march, shooting
and cutting up stragglers in the rear, until we came to a
gorge between two low ranges of hills—here the road was
barricaded in two places with bushes, the progress of the
column was stopped, and a hand-in-hand fight took place
with the enemy, who had been in wait for us. Here my
horse fell with me, or rather a trooper of the sth Cavalry
in trying to pass me pushed me down the side of the hill ;
the horse from weakness (having been hit by two balls,
and having eaten scarcely anything for four days) was
unable to rise, and I was unable to rise either, until two
men raised the horse a little, and I extricated myself. I lost
the horse with my only remaining clothes that were on his
back, and I felt the effects of the fall for a considerable time
after. At this time and place fell Brigadier Anquetil, Major
Thain, Captain Dodgin, Dr. Harcourt, and poor Hallahan,
Captain Nicholls of the Artillery, and many other officers,
including Captains Bott, Blair, and Bassett, of the sth Ca-
valry. On clearing the gorge, we mustered but half of the
force we started with. At eight o'clock we continued our
march, the enomy fearing to .name near us, though we were
reduced to a handful of-men, but kept up a fire upon us at a
distance. I took a trooper by force from his saddle, and
mounted his horse. We approached Gundamuck as day-
light appeared, which displayed to the enemy the smallnesst
of our force. The enemy increasing in numbers with the
daylight, we were compelled to leave the road, and take to a
hill, before ascending which the trooper's horse was -shot
under me, staggered a few yards and fell. Some Affghan
horsemen appeared, to whom we made a sign to come to us,
which they did ; firing ceased. Major Griffiths and Mr.
Blewitt accompanied the party to negotiate with a neigh-
bouring chief for a certain sum of money, to let us proceed
to Jellallabad : a great number of Affghans came up the hill, "i
and appeared friendly with our people, until they commenced
snatching swords and pistols from the officers ; this we could
not stand, but drove them from the hill, and the fight com-
menced again. After two hours, during which time we
drove the Affghans several times down the hilt, our little
band (with the exception of about twenty men and a few offi-
cers of different regiments) being either killed or wounded, the
enemy suddenly rushed on us with their knives; an awful scene
took place, and ended in the massacre of all except myself, Ser-
jeant Fair (our mess serjeant), and seven men that the more
than usual humanity displayed by the Affghans was inclined
to spare in the conflict. My posteen flew open and exposed
the colour, they thought 1 was some great man looking so
flash. I was seized by two fellows after my sword dropped
from my hand by a severe cut in the shoulder, and my
pistols missed fire; they hurried me from the spot to a
distance, took my clothes from off me excepting my trousers
and cap, and led me away to a village by command of some
horsemen that were on the road, andl was made over to the
head man of the village, who treated me well, and had my
wound attended to. Here I remained a month, seeing
occasionally a couple of men of my regiment who were
detained in an adjoining village : at the end of a month 1
was handed over to Ukhbar Khan, and joined the ladies and
the other officers at Lughman. In the last struggle, Col-
lins, Hogg, Cumberland, Swinton, and Dr. Primrose were
killed, and about a dozen other officers ; Stewart. of the
Artillery, and Hamilton, of the sth Cavalry, amongst them.
In making through the Khoord Cabul Pass, Leighton was
shot in his thigh and fell from his horse ; afterwards, in
coming through the Tazeen Pass, he and White (who was
wounded in the head) were in Kujawahs. The enemy got
amongst the people, dragged away the camel with Leighton
and White upon it, and 1 fear they were deliberately killed.
Every inquiry concerning Leighton and White has been
made since we arrived here, which is close to Tazeen,
but no tidings have been heard of them, and had they
been taken into Cabul we should certainly have heard
before this. Wade was killed at Jugdulluck. Evans
is a lucky fellow in being left in Cabul in charge of sick
and wounded European soldiers, but for safety they have
been moved six merches beyond Cabul. I lost everything I
possessed, my little tent, eatables, and kitmutghar's traps went
the first day ; the pony took fright at the firing and got away
next night. I lost Master Jack, Thomas's pony ; he got off
by pulling up his peg ; his office was to carry grain and boo-
sah. The horse I bought for Tom carried my trunks and
bedding, I lost him and my traps in the Tazeen Pass near to
this ; my riding horse cost 150 rupees, he was shot in the
jaws and in the ribs ; as 1 said before, he fell, and I was
obliged to leave him. My bearer, Syce and Kitmurgar, got
as far as Jugdulluck, but very foot-sore from frosts. I never
saw them afterwards, nor have I been able to learn that
either of them has reached Jellalabad. Though a great many
of the officers and men were severe sufferers from the frost,
and lying on the snow, I escaped by always taking the pre-
caution to wrap the sheep's skin I had upon the saddle around
my feet when I laid down, but I have suffered from rheuma-
tism, and have it still about me. My wound, which is from
my right shoulder a long way down my blade-bone, is an
ugly one, but it is quite healed. The cut was made through
a sheepskin Posteen, under which the colour was concealed,
laying over my right shoulder that thick Petersham coat
used to wear at Kurnaul, a flannel, and shirt. My sword
fell from my hand, and the pistol I had in my left hand
missed fire ; I threw it then upon the ground, and gave my-
self up to be butchered. The man I tried to shoot seized me
together with his son-in-law, apd dragged me down the hill,
and then took my clothes, the colour, and money. I was
eventually walked off to a village two miles away. This same
man and his son-in law, whose names are Meer Jaum, came
afterwards to the village, where I was with my telescope to
show them how to use it, Afterwards the son-in-law and I
became thick : he brought me back the colour, though di-
vested of the tassels and most of its tinsel, one day to my
agreeable surprise; both the colours have been nothing but
a mere bundle of ribbons for sem years. The Gundamuck
people assailed us on the side of the hill I happened to be,
and by these people myself and the feW men were spared. I
was to have been ransomed fur 1000 rupees, and all was set-
tled, but the old Melick of the village persuaded me to write
to Captain M'Gregor of Jellalabad to give him more money;
in the meantime Ukhbar Khan caroe into the neighbourhood,
and the old rascal was obliged to hand me over to him—how-
ever, I laughed at him for losing his 1000 rupees, and told
him I would learn no more prayers. It is a miracle how I
should have escaped with a whole skin through all our fights
in Cabul, and in our retreat therefrom, until the last and
total annihilation of the 44th regiment. I regret that I am
the only officer surviving who witnessed the last conflict.
It is gratifying to know that the Commander-in-Chief in
India has expressed himself in approval of my conduct, and
that he bas promised to promote me ; but there are six com-
panies vacant in the 44th Regiment, and 'Young and Evans,
now only senior to me, to fill two of them : I intend writing
to him by the first opportunity on the subject. I have re-
ceived a letter from the Horse Guards, informing me that
Tom is noted for a commission. My mind is greatly relieved
to think that arrangements have been made to give you a
monthly allowance from nay pay ; I also hope you receive
something from the Cabul relief fund. Negotiations I be-
lieve are going on to obtain our release, but in the present
state of affairs it is impossible to say when that will occur.
It is a difficult matter to come to an understanding ; we have
waited patiently upwards of four months, and we must await
with patience now until the time arrives for our release. We
all wear Affghan dresses of one sort or the other, except
Shelton, who has not yet. He looks the picture of misery,
with a great big grey beard and moustachios. He meets with
little courtesy, every one thinking himself on an equality with.
the other. None of us have shaved since we left Cahill. A
young lad of my own regiment attends me, and Shelton has
got another lad. The remainder of the men were left at
Buddeahbad, in Lughman, but we hear they are to be given
up and sent into Jellalabad immediately. In mentioning
that Dr. Balfour and young Grey were killed during our last
march, I should have told you that they left the column
during the night in company with some other officers to try
and reach Jellalabad, a distance of thirty miles, but only one
of them was lucky enough to get in ; it was Dr. Brydon—the
rest met with their deaths on the road. Having written a
tolerably lengthy account of our disasters, with the cover of
a book instead of a table, and squatted upon the ground, to I
say nothing of a rheumatic wrist, I may now come to a con-
clusion. By the way, I am glad you have written to my
brother—his regiment is in Ireland. A great many news-
papers have been sent to us from Jellalabad, and a little
money. I received seven Derby newspapers, but no letters
from home ; I see my niece Harriot is married. Genera I
Elphinstone, you will have heard before this, died a short I

time ago, and his remains were sent to Jellalabad. Ukhbar '
Khan (our detainer,) in spite of all the newspapers say about
him, has treated us well since we have been his prisoners.
He is by far the less bigotted of the chiefs, and had it not
been for their counsels, I have no doubt we should have been
released long ago. He is a laughing merry fellow, and he is
the same man under adversity. I shall travel down to Hin-
dostan in light marching order. Marshall is amongst the
men that are saved, but he is badly wounded, and has lost
all his toes from frost. Singular to say, that the .two men
belonging to my company who have been saved are both.
drummers. -
" T. A. SOULTEC.

(Signed)
" March 25, 18422?

•

THE THIYGGEE DEPARTMENT.

(From the Agra Ukbar.)
In our issue of the 19th, we stated that we believed it to be
beyond a doubt, that the Thugs. although they have been
greatly thinned, are not altogether exterminated ; therefore,
that it would be a most unwise measure to reduce the Thug-
gee department for many years to come. Since then we
have had our supposition confirmed, and we now know for a
certainty, that several leading members of the Thug frater-
nity, in the Deckan and Southern India, together with many
others of minor note, are still at large: indeed the number
is estimated as approaching fifty ; and we understand that,
besides these, who are in themselves quite sufficient to revive
Thuggee throughout India, there is very strong reason for
believing that another class of these miscreants exists under
the guise of Biragees—Hindoo religious mendicants. In
fact, most direct and positive evidence on this point has been
obtained by some of the officers of the department ; and these
Biragees have hitherto only escaped detection through their
migratory habits, a constant change in their appearance, and
by their having kept the other Thugs in the dark as to their
permanent abiding places, or indeed the particular province
whence they come, though there is no doubt of their being
from some part of Hindostan. These wretches cannot, how-
ever, much longer escape detection ; even now parties are on
the look-out for them, as the routes they frequent are well
known, it having been ascertained that they travel even to
the southernmost point of India, and being besides further
surmised that they occasionally visit Ceylon.
If no impediment be thrown in the way to prevent the
continued exercise of that persevering zeal which has hitherto
been so conspicuous in the Thuggee department, the same
exertions which were so successful in tracing out and exter-
minating the race of Thugs of the Golah caste, who were for
so many ages safely and unsuspectedly located in the dense
jungles of the Cuttack province, will ere long trace out this
class likewise of those vile murderers.
Besides these, we are informed, that a set of miscreants
infest almost all the great thoroughfares, throughout India,
who make it their business to poison any traveller who un-
warily trusts himself to their hands ; and they are equally as
much to be dreaded as were the Thugs themselves. It is
quite necessary for the safety of the traveller, that these
wretches should be traced out and put down ; and, with the
knowledge that the government have of their existence, it
will be criminal to desist until we have well grounded reason
to believe the whole class have been exterminated ; but as
we cannot expect that the ordinary police of the country,
although reformed according to the plan proposed, will be
able to effect this, we hope that the important task will be
entrusted entirely to the Thuggee department, which has so
satisfactorily rooted out the greater portion of these secret
murderers. But to return to the Thugs already known, and
of whom a pretty good account has already been given,
thanks to the zeal and activity of Major Sleeman and his as-
sistants, we are told that active measures are still being car-
ried on against them, though in some parts of India they
have been completely eradicated; and there the endeavour is
to keep down " the system," but which will, we are con-
vinced, inevitably:revive, should this vigilance be withdrawn ;
for the seed of that system, we are assured, on good autbo-
rito, exists throughout the peninsula. In the Deckan and
Southern India, as we said before, many Thugs are, it is well
known, still at large • and, notwithstanding all the endea-
vours made to trace them out,—for now they have no fixed
dwelling-places,—the generality of them continue to elude
their pursuers; but the chase is not altogether fruitless, for,
during the last year, the offices in the south have been able
to bring eight of these wretches to justice, and we hear that
parties are now out in various quarters in search of others,
whose traces they are following on good information. The
success of the last year is mainly owing to the removal of one
of the offices to the southern province ; and parties from that
office are constantly to be heard of in those districts, as our
correspondents have from time to time made known.

WRECK OF AN EAST INDIAMAN.
bREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE.

We lament to announce the total loss of the Reliance, East
Indianian, Captain Thomas Green, off Etaples, to the West-
ward of Boulogne, in the dreadful gale on Saturday last. It
is stated, that the captain and all the crew, 116 men, have
perished, with the exception of five lascars and the carpenter,
a European.
The Reliance was an old ship, of 1,500 tons burden, being
the largest vessel in the trade. She left Canton for London,
early in May, with a cargo of more than 20,000 chests of tea,
in all 1,884,7481 b ; being the largest and most valuable cargo
of the season,—amounting, in fact, to one twentieth of the
whole annual export of tea. As much interest will be felt in
this country, in the loss of this vessel, we have copied from
the Canton Price Current of July 26th, the following entry
of her cargo, &c. ; the date being probably that of her
clearance :—" May 6, Ship Reliance, to London, 1,515 tons.
Cargo, 1,277,5661 b Congou ; 3,621 Soueliong ; 59,076 Hong
Muay ; 6,786 Pekoe ; 3,458 orange Pekoe ; 406,565 Twankay ;
2,251 Hyson ; 28,570 Hyson skin ; 82,084 young Hyson ;
9,037 gunpowder; 5,734 imperial; total 1,884,7481 b." We
do not find any silk or other produce entered as part of her
cargo. The intelligence of the loss of this vessel was brought
to Dover on Monday morning from Boulogne, by the Water
Witch steam-boat. We copy the following paragraph on the
subject from the city article of the London Times of
'Tuesday :
" The shipwreck of the Reliance, from China to London,
at Etaples, near Boulogne, on Saturday, has created con-
siderable sensation in the city. The loss of 110 per Sons out
of the 116 on board has cast a gloom of the most naelancholy
description among the, maphants connected with. the East
India trade. Her last place of resort was St. Helena, and the
parties interested in her fate were therefore in expectation
every`4ay of hearing of .her safe arrival. It appears, that of
the crew and passenOrs, numbering the amount of persons
already stated, the saved are one European, oiesoribed to be
the ship's, carpenter, and five Lascars, who reached the shore
in one of the bdats of the vessel. The Reliance was an old
ship on this trading station, and had on board a cargo of tea
of considerable value, besides the freightage incidental to a
voyage she was in the habit of performing. The quantity of
tea she brought was 1,884,7481 b, of which there were
1,277,5661 b of congou, and 406,5651 b of twankay, with smaller
proportions of other descriptions. Most fortunately for the
insurance offices and underwriters in this country, their risks
upon this vessel do not include more than from £14,000 to
£15,000 of the £195,000 for which it is said she is insured ;
the Indian offices, that is to say, the insurance offices of Cal-
cutta and Bombay, being responsible for at least £150,000 to
£lBO,OOO of the entire amount. This mishap, with those re-
ported from the Cape of Good Hope on Saturday, and others
which have occurred on the coast during the late severe
weather, have, in a material degree, depressed the feelings of
parties connected in our shipping interest. The London in-
surance-offices, and also the underwriters, have suffered by
the loss of the Abercrombie Robinson and the Waterloo; but,
we are assured, not to any serious extent."

(From the Times qf Wednesday.)
Few additional particulars have arrived of the loss of the
Reliance, East Indiaman, but there „now remains no doubt
of the fate of the great majority of her crew and passengers.
The more the subject is alluded to, the more intense is the
sympathy expressed at the death so many persons have ex-
perienced within sight almost of their native land. The fact
of the drifting on shore of the bodies of the captain, one of
the mates (Mr. Griffin,) and a seaman, as identified by the
ship-carpenter, leaves little hope for the escape of any of
those who were known to' be on board, and who are not
among the number saved. The cargo described yesterday
as principally consisting of teas, must, if not damaged be-
yond all use, be in such a depreciated condition as to render
it of small value in set off to the losses the underwriters will
have to make good ou their several risks. It is said, and
much to his credit, that the British Consul at Boulogne is
persevering in his exertions to rescue whatever property he
can from the wreck, for the benefit of the parties interested.
From a part of this responsible duty he will be by this time
relieved, one of the owners, Mr. Tomlin, having started for
the spot immediately the new was announced. Of the state
of the weather in the Channel some idea is conveyed by the
account of the difficulties which two or three experienced
pilots give of their passage for the river, in encountering
south-west gales and thick fogs. At Lloyd's and the Jeru-
salem Coffee-house much speculation exists on the probable
cause of the destruction of the vessel. Before, however,
some official account of her situation and loss is received, it
is a matter of mere conjecture whether it was through the
state of the weather or an oversight in navigation on the part
of the late respected and highly esteemed commander that
occasioned this most melancholy catastrophe.

'lO 1503 Is
tbe'past week dividends have been declared upon the
4'.srateestates of Daniel Wade Acraman, of 2s. in the pound.
at/d 'of William Edward Acraman and Alfred John Acraman,
of 7d. each in the pound. The sum of £B,OOO, the purchase
money of the pictures of Mr. D. W. Acraman, remains in
the hands of the assignees, till the Court of Review shall
have decided whether it belongs to his private estate or to the
estate of Mr. W. D, Acraman,'Bristol Mirror.
EXTRAORDINARY AND LAMENTABLE LOVE AFFAIR.—
The following singular, although serious, circumstance oc-
curred at Birstall last week, which has caused considerable
merriment to some, and, anxiety and pain to others. About
two years ago, a respectable and handsome young man com-
menced business here as barber, &c., and he has lately fallen
violently in love with a medical gentleman's daughter in this
village. Last week he addressed a letter to her, breathing
forth the, most ardent affection, and stating that if she did
not reciprocate his passion, she would soon see him pining
away, and the grave would be his inevitable fate. Four me-
dical and law students, residing in this locality, being in-
formed of the circumstance, determined to inflict some se-
vere punishment upon poor Tonsor for his imprudence.
Many were the suggestions proposed; at length they agreed
upon the following :—that they would send him a letter, pur-
porting to have been written by the fair lady, acknowledging
the receipt of his, and stating she would embrace with alacrity
the first opportunity of meeting him, and the most conveni-
ent time for her would be that evening at half-past eight,
and the most favourable place, her father's field. The pun-
ishment which they intended to inflict, if he came, was to
beat him severely, strip him of his clothes, and kick him
home ; but, however, their malicious machination was frus-
trated. When the barber received the fair lady's sublime
'and loving epistle, he was quite elevated with joy. He
'attired himself in his Sunday garb, brushed and curled his
hair, and was where a true lover should be at the appointed
'time; but, alas! instead of finding his Dulcinea in reality,
there was the medical student, dressed in a cloak, veil, and
bonnet, the other three being in ambush, disguised, and
ready to pounce upon their prey. The gay Lothario ap-
proached the fictitious lover, and accosted him thus How
'do you do, Miss !" but Miss was abashed, and did not reply.
They had not proceeded far before Miss stumbled, when the
kind hearted barber exclaimed, "Oh dear, Miss —, you
had better take my arm ?" She then placed her arm in his,
and at that instant the students rushed upon the •‘ happy
couple," and seized the unfortunate barber ; the fair lady ran
away, the poor barber crying out, " Oh, Miss —, don't
leave me; Oh, Miss —, don't leave me." But Miss was'
deaf to his cries and entreaties, she ran to the top of the
field, and took her bonnet, veil, and cloak off, put them under
the hedge, but on his return to them, shortly afterwards,
they were gone, but have not since been heard of. While
the others were trying to effect their object, the barber suc-
ceeded in getting one hand at liberty, he pulled out a razor
which he had provided himself with in case of danger, and
slashed at them right and left in a very vigorous manner.
When they were so unexpectedly made aware of his power,
one of them struck him with a stick, but he crying out "
shoot, I'll shoot!" although he had no fire-arms, made them
scamper in all directions, leaving the disconsolate lover mas-
ter of the field. The fugitives hastened to the nearest sur-
geon's, to get their wounds dressed, and one of them is so
seriously wounded as to be incapacitated from following his
ordinary avocation. The other two are not so severely
wounded, but they are lamenting over their wounds and lost
clothes.—Leeds Times,