The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-10 00:00:00

INDIA

We gave in our last full details of the intelligence brought
by the overland mail from India. We now supply the de-
spatches
of Generals Sale and Pollock, dtscribing the vic-

tories they ha.

severally achieved

troved, and withdrew the regiment. At this time the whole
mob of the city was collected and the house in flames. The
jemidar of chuprasses told Sir A. Burnes that there was a re-
port of a regiment having come to assist him. He was going
up to the top of the house; to look, and had got half away,
when he met an Affghan, who said he had been looking about,
and that there was not the least sign of a regiment ; my mas-
ter then turned back, and remarked there was no chance of
assistance coming either from cantonments or the King.
A Mussulman, a Cashmeree, came forward and said, if your
brother and chuprasses cease firing on the mob, I swear by
the Koran, that I will take you safe through the kirkce of
the garden to the chandoul, the fort of the Kuzzilhashes ; the
firing ceased, and Sir A. Burnes agreed to accompany him,
and for sake of disguise to put on a chogha and longee. The
moment he came out of the door a few paces with the Cash-
meree, this wretch called out, this is Sikundur Burnes ! He
was rushed upon by hundreds, and cut to pieces with their
knives. His brother, Captain Burnes, came out with him,
and was killed before Sir Alexander ; Captain Broadfoot was
shot some time before, in the house, and expired in half an
hour. There was a guard of one havildar, one naik and 12
sepahis ; they were all killed early in the affair ; all the Hin-
doostanees except myself were killed ; his sidar bearer, who
is now with me, escaped as was at home ; I got away by hav-
ing an Affghan dress ; all the Affghan servants deserted ; I
got into cantonments, after being hid two days in a shop.
Sir Alexander forbade the Sepoys and others firing on the
people, until they set fire to the gates."

" Jellalabad, April 7.
" Sir,—lnformation was on the evening of the sth instant
brought into this place, in the most positive and circum-
stantial terms, from spies in the enemy's camp, to the effect
that the force under Major-General Pollock, C. 8., had met
with a reverse in the Khyber, and retraced their steps to-
wards Peshawur, and about ten p.m. on the 6th a feit-de-
joie and salute of artillery was fired by Mahomed Akbur,
which was said to be in honour of the event. It was on the
same day, and through similar channels, announced to me
that the Affghans were sending reinforcements to aid in de-
fending the frontier passes. Although I could not wholly de-
pend upon these statements, which were improbable in them-
selves, and accompanied by counter reports of another revo-
lution at Cabool, which was assigned by some as the cause
of the rejoicing at the defeat of the Affghans in Khyber, and
by one account of the intended and even actual retreat of
the Sirdar to Lughman, I came, on a full consideration of
the various circumstances and rumours, to the resolution of
anticipating the last-mentioned event by a general attack on
the Affghan camp, in the hopes of relieving the place from
blockade, and facilitating General Pollock's advance. I ac-
cordingly gave directions to form three columns of infantry,
the centre consisting of the 13th Light Infantry, 500 rank
and file, under Colonel Dennie, C.B. ; the left, of the Isth
N. 1., 500 rank and file, under Lieutenant-Colonel Mon-
teith, C.B. ; and the right, of a company of the 13th Light
Infantry. another of the 35th Native Infantry, and the de-
tachment of Sappers and Miners under Lieutenant Orr, the
severity of Captain Broadfoot's wound still rendering him
non-effective ; the whole 360 strong, commanded by Captain
Havelock, her Majesty's 12th Light Infantry. These were
to be supported by the fire of the guns of No. 6 Light Field
Battery, under Captain Abbott, to which Captain Back-
house, S. S. Artillery, was also attached, and by the whole
of my small cavalry force under Captain Oldfield and Lieut.
Mayne. The troops issued from the Cabool and Peshawur
gate at daylight this morning. So far from the Sirdar
having made dispositions to avoid the encounter, the whole
force, not falling short in all of 6,000 men, was formed in
order of battle for the defence of his camp ; the right resting
on a fort, its left on the Cabool river, and the ruined works
within 800 yards of the place were filled with Ghilzie marks-
men, recently repaired for stout resistance. The attack was
led by the skirmishers and column under Captain Havelock,
which drove the enemy in the most satisfactory manner from
the extreme left of his advanced line of works, which it
pierced at once, and proceeded to advance into the plain,
whilst the central column directed its efforts against a square
fort, the defence of which was obstinately maintained. With
the deepest regret I have to mention that, whilst leading his
regiment to the assault, Col. Dennie, C. 8., of her Majesty's
13th Light Infantry, received a shot through the body,
which shortly after proved fatal. The rear of this work
having been gained by passing to its left, I gave orders for a
combined attack on the enemy's camp. It was in every way
brilliant and successful. The artillery advanced at the gal-
lop, and directed a heavy fire on the Affghan centre, whilst
two of the columns of infantry penetrated his line at the
same point, and the third drove his left hack from its sup-
port on the river, into the stream of which some of his horse
and foot were forced. The Affghans made repeated attempts
to check our advance by a smart fire of musketry, and
throwing forward heavy bodies of horse, which twice closely
threatened the troops under Captain Havelock, and by open-
ing against us three guns from a battery screened by a gar-
den wall, and said to have been served under the personal
superintendence of the Sirdar ; but in a short time they
were dislodged from every point of their position, their can-
non taken, and their camp involved in a general conflagra-
tion. The battle was over, and the enemy in full retreat in
the direction of Lughman about seven p.m. We have made
ourselves masters of two cavalry standards, recaptured four
guns lost by the Cabool and Gundamuck forces, the resto- BY THE QUEEN.—A PROCLAMATION.
ration of which to our government is received by the force VICTORIA, R.
with much honest exultation ; and destroyed the whole of Whereas it has been represented unto us that great quan-
the enemy's tents. In short the defeat of Mahomed Akhbar titres of the gold coin of this realm deficient in weight are
by the force which he boasted of blockading, has been, in now in circulation, contrary to the tenor of two proclama-
the open field, complete and signal. The fall of air officer so tions issued—one by his late Royal Highness George Prince
distinguished as Colonel Dennie will be felt as a public cala- Regent, in the name and on the behalf of his late Majesty
mity. Lamenting it in every way, I must share with his King George the Third, bearing date the first of July, one
country. his regiment, anti his friends, in the consolation thousand eight hundred and seventeen, and the other issued
afforded by the reflection that he was killed, most gallantly by his late Majesty King George the Fourth, bearing date
performing his duty. I have to express my entire satisfac-
h
tion with the conduct on this occasion of Lieutenant-Colonel one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-one the sixth
Monteith, C. 8., commanding one of the infantry columns t ixth o
;f a
ndFebruary,
there
being reason to believe that due atten-
tion is not paid to the weighing of the said gold coin, and the
under my own eye • of Captain Wilkinson, on whom the directions given in the acts of parliament now in force with
charge of the other devolved on the death of his Lieutenant- respect to the cutting, breaking, or defacing such pieces
Colonel ; of Captain Oldfield and Lieutenant Mayne, who thereof as are found to be of less weight than those declared
led the cavalry ; and of Captains Abbott and Backhouse, and by the last of the aforesaid proclamations to be current, and
Lieutenant Davis, artillery. The able and judicious manner to pass and be received in payment ' • we do by this our royal
in which Captain Havelock moved the force under his corn- proclamation declare and command that from and after the
mand, which acted on a line so distant as to render the ma- date hereof every gold sovereign of less weight than five pen-
noeuvres independent of my immediate controul, demands fly-weights two grains and a half, and every gold half-sove-
my particular and separate commendation. My acknow- reign of less weight than two penny-weights thirteen grains
ledgments are also especially due to Captain Wade, my and one-eighth, be not allowed to be current or pass in any
Brigade-Major, whose exertions on this day were, as they payment whatsoever. And we do hereby strictly require and
have ever been, most meritorious.- To Major Fraser, of the command all our loving subjects, and particularly all the
Light Cavalry, who acted as my Aid-de-Camp ; and to Cap- officers, collectors, and receivers of our revenues, strictly to
tarn Mainwaring, Commisseriat officer of the force, who was conform to the orders hereby given, and to the directions and
present and active in the field; Captain Macgregor, political regulations enacted and established in the several acts of
agent, handsomely offerel his services with No. 6 Light parliament now in force with respect to the cutting, breaking,
Field Battery, and was most useful in serving the guns ; and defacing such pieces of the said gold coin as shall be
Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood, her Majesty's 13th Light found deficient in weight. And we do hereby further ordain,
Infantry, made a dash at one of the enemy,
sovereigns and, in cutting declare,
half-
him down, his charger was so seriously injured as to have and command, that the said gold sovereigns and
ns of the weights last above described shall pass and
been since destroyed. Captain Havelock reports in the most be received as current and lawful money of the United King-
favourable manner the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Cox, dons of Great Britain and Ireland, every such sovereign as
her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry, who was the first to of the value of twenty shillings, and every such half-sove-
ize the enemy's guns after the party which captured them. reign as of the value of ten shillings, in all payments what
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
" R. SALE, Major-General."

THE ATTEMPT TO SHOOT THE QUEEN

A privy council was held,at Buckingham Palace on Friday,
at which her Majesty presided. The cabinet ministers, great
officers of the household, and several other privy councillors,
were in attendance.
At the council, the Archbishop of Canterbury was requested
to prepare a form of prayer to Almighty God for his provi-
dence in safely preserving her Majesty from the attempt of
an assassin to take her life. The following has since ap-
peared :

" THANKSGIVING PRAYER.
" A form of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God, for
his late merciful preservation of the. Queen from the atro-
cious and treasonable attempt against her sacred person,
on Monday, the 30th of May, 1842. To be used at morn-
ing and, evening service, after the general thanksgiving, in
all churches and chapels throughout England and Wales,
and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, on Sunday, the sth
of this instant June, or so soon as the ministers thereof
shall receive the same ; and to be continued for thirty days

afterwards.
" Almighty and everlasting God, Creator and Governor of
the world, who by thy gracious providence has oftentimes
preserved thy chosen servants, the sovereigns whom thou
bast set over us, from the malice of wicked men ; we offer
unto thee our humble and hearty thanksgivings for thy great
mercy now again vouchsafed to us, in frustrating the late
traitorous attempt on the life of our Sovereign Lady Queen
Victoria.
" Continue, we beseech thee, 0 merciful Lord, thy watch-
ful care over her. Be thou her shield and defence against the
devices of secret treason, and the assaults of open violence.
Extend thy gracious protection to the Prince her Consort,
the Prince of Wales, and the whole Royal Family. Direct
and prosper her counsels, and so guide and support her by
thy Holy Spirit, that evermore trusting in thee, she may
faithfully govern thy people committed to her charge, to their
good, and to the glory of thy holy name.
" And to us and all her subjects, 0 Lord, impart such a
measure of thy grace, that, under a deep and lasting sense of
thy manifold mercy, we may show forth our thankfulness
unto thee, by loyal attachment to our Sovereign, and dutiful
obedience to all thy commandments.
" Give ear, we beseech thee, 0 merciful Father, to these
our supplications and prayers, which we humbly offer before
thee, in the name, and through the mediation of, Jesus
Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen."

soever.
Given at our court at Buckingham Palace, this third day
of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and forty-two, and in the fifth year of our reign.
God save the Queen.

" Camp, Sulla Chunee, near Ali Musjid, April 6,1842.
" Sir,—lt is with feelings of gratification i have the ho-
nour to report, for the information of the Right Hon. the
Governor-General in council, the following detail of opera-
tions undertaken and carried into effect against the Afree-
dc

On the subject of this proclamation the London Times
of yesterday has the following observations :
Js : The proclamation published in yesterday's Gazette about
" Yesterday morning, at half-past three, the troops were the light coinage has created a considerable sensation inove-
the
under arms, the camp struck, and according to arrangements city. The bankers have already been weighing every s
previously made, the treasure, ammunition, and baggage reign singly for two days, and to-day the shopkeepers are
placed on the road leading from Jurnrood towards the en- beginning to act on the same principle, so that no light sore-
trance of the Whyber Pass. The enemy had for some days
reign will pass as current. Much, of course, is said of the
appeared in great numbers at the mouth of the pass, which loss which the holders will incur by
they had fortified with a strong breast-work of stones and sovereigns reduced from the nominal to the bullion value ;
bushes. The hills on the right and left were rocky and pre- but the general impression is that the evil of a light coinage
cipitous, presenting great natural obstacles to the ascent of suddenly having their
had reached such a pitch that it was necessary some remedy,
troops. To gain the summit of these heights, defended as
they were by a numerous body of the enemy, was an under- For some time the bankers have been unable to refuse
past
taking of considerable difficulty. even if a violent one, should be taken to arrest its progress.
to take light coinage, lest they should offend their customers,
" The columns destined to accomplish this most important and the consequence was, that they were encumbered with a
object moved off simultaneously with the main column in- quantity of coin which was inadmissible at the Bank of
tended to assault the entrance, but were compelled to make England. A similar difficulty occurred at the Stamp and
a considerable detour to the right and left to enable them to other revenue offices, and the complaints of individuals who,
commence the ascent. having a coin that was considered a legal tender in all tran-
" The right column, consisting of 4 companies of her
Majesty's 9th Foot, 4 companies of the 26th Native Infantr sactions of business, could not pass it at Somerset-house,
y, were often repeated. By the proclamation, at least, the
and 4 companies of the 6th Native Infantry, under the corn-
anomaly is put an end to according to which a coin which
wand of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, of her Majesty's 9th was currency between man and man was not currency
Foot, and Major Anderson, of the 64th Regiment of Native with respect to payments to the government. Much
Infantry. inconvenience, of course, arises at the first from the money
"The left column, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel being slowly weighed at the bankers, and the public having
Moselty and Major Huish, consisting of 4 companies of her a considerable quantity of coin forced back upon their hands,
Majesty 9th Foot, 4 companies of the 26th Native Infantry, but this inconvenience will, it is expected, have its attendant
4 companies of the 64th Native Infantry, and 400 Jezailchees, good, and the vigilance which those who receive gold coin
commenced the ascent, led by Captain Ferris. Regiment of will be found to exercise in their own defence will prove a
Jezailchees. Both columns, after considerable opposition, serious check to the practice of " sweating," which has de-
which they overcame in the most gallant style, succeeded in teriorated the coin to a great extent. That there is much
routing the enemy and gaining possession of the crest of the dissatisfaction on the subject is, of course, necessary, in a
hills on either side ; while the flanking columns were in pro- matter which will entail a loss on so many of the holders of
press on the heights, I ordered Captain Alexander, in corn- gold coin, and among other complaints is one that an office
wand of the Artillery, to place the guns in position, and to has not been formally appointed to take the sovereigns at
throw shrapnell among the enemy when opportunity offered, bullion value—a complaint which is founded on the belief,
which assisted much in their discomforture, As Lieutenant- that the holders of light sovereigns will be driven to the
Colonel Taylor, from the opposition he had met with, and bullion merchants, who would, of course, pay only such a
the extremely difficult nature of the ground, was some time price as would allow a profit to themselves, and thus the
in reaching the summit of the hill on the right, I detached a holder would sustain a further loss, in addition to that
party (Grenadiers of her Majesty's 9th Foot, and 6th Corn- created by the difference between the nominal and the bullion
pany of the 53d Native Infantry), under the command of value of the coin. However, the fact that the mint is ready
Brigadier Wild, to assault it in front ;it was, however, so to coin all bullion that is taken to them would seem sufficient
extremely steep near the top, that, notwithstanding the un- to obviate all alarm of that sort.
daunted gallantry of the officers and men, they were unable
to gain a foating on the summit, and I regret to say the
enemy were enabled to throw stones with fatal effect upon
some of the leading Grenadiers of the 9th Foot. Finding the
heights in our possession, I now advanced the main column
to the mouth of the pass, and commenced destroying the
barrier which the enemy had evacuated on perceiving their
position was turned, a portion of the right and left columns
being left to keep the heights under the command of Lieu-,
tenant-Colonel Mosely and Major Anderson, respectively.
Major Huish and Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor continued their
advance to crown the hills in front and on each side, which
were covered with the enemy, who appeared determined to
contest every inch of the ground, but nothing could resist the
gallantry of our troops, who carried everything before them.
A position of considerable strength above the bridge now re-
mained to be carried, and again the Jezailchees were conspi-
cuous in forcing the enemy to relinquish their strong holds.
Crowning parties having taken possession of their heights,
all opposition on the part of the enemy may be said to have
ceased, as no large body of them has since come in sight.
The nature of the arrangements made for the protection of
the baggage will he best understood when I state that not a
single baggage animal has fallen into the hands of the enemy
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
" G. POLLOCK, Major-General."

DEATH OF SIR ALEXANDER BURNES

Subjoined will be found a melancholy narrative, the only
trustworthy one very probably we shall ever have of the
murder of Sir Alexander Burnes, furnished by a native ser-
vant who witnessed in person the matter he professes to de-
scribe. It has every appearance of truthfulness ; and for our
own part we have no hesitation in attaching to it the fullest
credence. It is melancholy to think that Sir Alexander and
his brother perished from treachery such as this ; and that
they might have been saved had they retired in time to the
cantonments, and not pressed it too strictly to be their duty
to remain where they were:—
" As you must be deeply concerned to learn any details of
the event which led to the death of the late lamented Sir
Alexander Burnes and his brother at Cabool, I do myself the
honour to forward you the deposition of Bowh Singh, lately
a chuprassee in Sir Alexander's service, who was an eye wit-
ness of the events which terminated so fatally ; he was a
faithful servant, and his statement may, I conceive, be fully
relied on.

FEMALE AND INFANT LABOUR IN MINES.-
LORD ASHLEY'S BILL.

DEPOSITION OF BOWH SINGH.
was duly informed by his Aff-
hanSirer v
antsprevious to his murder, that there was
sthe Alexander
day Burnes
a stir in the city, and that, if he remained in it, his life
be in danger ; they told him he had
better go to the canton-
ments ; this he declined doing, giving as his reason that
Affghans never received any injuryfrom him, but on thete
contrary, he had done much for them, andthat
sure they would never injure him.
" On the day of the murder, as early as three o'clock in
the morning, a co sid (Wullee Mahnra e-ci) came
on duty outside ; he said, a
and inform
to me, I was
' ---es
im-
mediately, that there is a tumult in theit your
e, master
y, and that the
merchants are removing their goods and valuables from the
shops.'
" I knew what my master bad said on this subject •
ect the day
before, so did not like awakening him, but put on m
and went into the char chouk ; here I met the Wuz ;
eye crlupras
Nuza-
mut Dowlah going towards my master's house I imme-
diately returned with him, and on our arrival
awoke him,
when my master dressed quickly, and went to the wuzeer
and talked with him sometime ; the wuzeer endeavoured to
induce him to go immediately into cantonments, assuring
him it was not safe to remain in the cit h
Y ; -e, however, per-
si,ted in remaining, saying, ' If I go, the Affghans will say I
was afraid,
Na
ran away, --he, however, sent a note to Sir
William M`Naghten by Wullee Mahomed.
" A chobdar came from the King to call the wuzeer, who
asked and obtained permission to go ; at the door the wuzeer
said to Sir Alexander Burnes, ' hy, ou see already that
some of Ameer Oola'n Khan's peo W
ha
plehave collected to attack
you ; if you will allow me, I shall disperse them.' He, Sir
A. Burnes, said, ' No, the King has sent for you, go to him
without delay.' The wuzeer accordingly mounted his horse,
and went away. The house gates were then closed, and were
in a little while surrounded by Ameer Oolah Khan and his
people. Hydur Khan, the late Kot%val of the city, whom Sir
Alexander Burnes had turned out of office, brought fuel from
the humam on the opposite side of the street, and set fire to
the gates. The wuzeer shortly returned from the Bella His-
sar with one of the King's pultuns ; on seeing the gates on
parently for
tire, and the immense crowd about, be took It ape d
granted that Sir A. Burnes had either escaped, or been es-

(From the Morning Herald.)
The horrible enormities perpetrated on female and infant
labour in mines are no longer to be endured ; the merest pe-
rusal of the report and evidence of the commission of in-
quiry into this division of female and children employment
settled that fact. Lord Ashley was the author of that com-
mission ; he last night gave evidence that the public will
should be obeyed, and that the labours of the commission
should not be resultless of good. Nature will be no longer
outraged in the mines of England, and to Lord Ashley
will be due the credit of saving the country from the future
disgrace of the scandalous barbarities enacted therein, and
the demoralising consequences.
Lord Ashley commences the purgation of these brutalities
by properly calling on the legislature to prohibit the employ-
ment of females in mining operations ; to exclude therefrom
all youthful male labour under the age of 13 ; to limit engine
work to adult labour ; and to prevent future and release
present apprenticeship in mines.
These are most proper provisions as a commencement,
for they can be nothing more than means of putting down at
once the most crying atrocities of mining labour. The fe-
male sex cannot, it is certain, be saved from the most dis-
gusting and brutalising impurity if they are allowed to work
in mines ; if English women are to be protected in the at-
tributes of their sex, they must be kept on the surface of the
earth, The women are worse than the men, was the forcible
expression of one of the witnesses recorded in the report ;
the only way to make them better, and through their improve-
ment to civilise the other sex, and give to children the bene-
fits of parents, is to exclude them from the cause of their
deterioration and demoralisation.
The restriction of male infant labour to children upwards
of thirteen years is most humane; it is absolutely necessary,
because the legal inspection of mines is a hopeless experiment;
it is necessary, moreover, to protect the physical development
of the youth whose lots are cast in colliery distric
forts,
the such as
those described in the report—which, happily credit
of the country, are not the great mining districts of England,
but are chiefly the land sale mines of the inland counties.
The limitation, too, of engine work to ma adults is
pastindis
htful accidents, and ear-
pensable for the protection of youth from labour far y
their strength, from the most frig
depravity.
The law of apprenticeship generally is a subject which
requires revision and amendment; but that which is terme
st d
apprenticeship in mines is, in reality, bond age of the mo
horribly cruel description—worse than Brazilian slavery, or
Russian serfage ; it cannot be amended ;
it mu b wholly
destroyed, not only for the future, but its present veictims—
too frequently sent from union workhouses, by direction of
the poor law guardians, and under the sanction of the poor
law commissioners—must be emancipated. Jt is impossible
to peruse the blue books without corning to Lord Ashley's
conclusion, that mining apprenticeship cannot be improved,
but must at once be terminated, and wholly put an end to.
Lord Ashley's calm, earnest, and impressive address was
listend to by the house with eager attention. Ile had the
sympathies of his auditory, as he will have the applause of
his readers, and, what is far more valuable, the approbation
of his own conscience. There are no difficulties in his path
save those which will be easily overcome by so resolute, yet
so conciliatins• a tactician as his lordship. We rejoice in
the prospect of the noble lord's success for the sake of the
mining sufferers, and still more for the certainty that success
in their cause will increase Lord Ashley's power to do good
in those other departments of the same great cause in which
opponents are more influential, fallacies and sophistries more
powerful, and obstacles more formidable.
Further reports from the children's employ ment commis-
sion will give Lord Ashley further employment in other
divisions of infant labour. If, then, there be one legislator
who is more to be envied than another for his cause, his
energy, his prudence, his skill, and his motives, he is the
good Lord Ashley.

THE Bis Hoy OF LICHFIELD.-11,:e are happy to state that
this excellent prelate has so much improved in health, that
he has been able to leave London.
CLOSING OF THE BOSPHORUS AND DARDANELLES.—
A letter has been received at Lloyd's from the Admiralty,
enclosing a despatch from her Majesty's Consul at Constan-
tinople, Sir Stratford Canning, announcing the closing of the
Dardanelles and Bosphorus to merchant steam-vessels after
sunset.