The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-15

rivals for the seat in the House as Deega'e
from Nebraska, have both arrived here. Mr.
ferguson has the return, and will take his seat.
Mr.. Chapman will conteskthe seat. -,
We have some advices hich are rather Ia
vorable in regard to the financial pressure. Inc
railroad companies are, for the most part, ont
of the market in regard to loans. Ihey con-
sent rather to suffer. protest than to pay sucn
exorbitant rates of interest as they have done
to meet their obligations. The number of sus-
pended firms and corporations ia so great that
the measure for money must in a measure
cease. ~
The Empire State" must 60 to protest II
self. 1t seems that the loan advertised for by
the State Government has not been taken'
though the last day for receiving offers mas
expired. Cor. Bait. Sun.
Sinking of a Fall River stsamer-Narrow Is
cape of Passengers.
New York, Oct 2.-Midnight-The steam
or Empire State, hence for Fall River, struck
the rocks at He'll Gate during dense fog this
morning, and sunk. The passengers, including
one hundred and fifty ladies, we're all saved,
but their baggage was lost. The upper saloon
of the steamer is under water.
The East India Mutiny-Ths Siege Of Delhi.
To give the public an idea of what the fight
ing before Delhi consists of, says the Times,
and to show that the "pluck of the British
soldier is as brilliant in the heat of India as in
the biting cold of the Crimea, we publish the
following extract of letter from an officer In
high command with our force there. 1t should
be remembered that the action he describes Is
but one Of series that has extended over a
month, and that scarcely day has been allow
ed to pass without the enemy issuing In swarms
IN hor orr cd trO0na.
"The day commenced with firing on the
Ghoorka posts. Jackson, of the second Fusi-
leers, with No. company, very weak, attacked
and drove back the mutineers from Subzee
Mundee, but not being reinforced, he was
obliged to retire, and, in retiring, the gallant
fellow was killed.
"Skirmishing went on on the hill to the right
of Hindoo Rao's house the whole day. The
Ghoorkas and Rifles were engaged, and drove
back the mutineers four times. After each at
tack, our men fell back into their positions,
when the mutineers, relieved by their numbers,
again came on, our men became exhausted by
heat and exertion, and supports after each at
tack were necessary, until at last all the avail
able force was engaged. Welchman, with the
left wing of the LIST Fusileers, after Jackson's
death, had advanced, and had taken possession
of Subzee Mundee again, when he was severely
wounded, and had to leave the field the wing
cleared the streets, but the enemy renewed their
attack four times, and were successfully re-
pulsed. Young Owen, of the LIST, highly dis
tlnguished himself, charging four times down
the street with his company; his gallantry was
very conspicuous. The right wing in the mean
time continued their advance under Dennis,
and, after driving away the mutineers, and kill
ing large number in a serai, they retired ex-
hausted to Hindoo Rao's house.
The big guns on the right flank fred occa-
slonally, but, owing to the nature of the ground,
the enemy could avoid them. All our troops
had now been engaged, and the greater part
had fallen back exhausted. The General then
directed me to the Mosque Battery, where ap
plicstions were being constantly sent for rein
forcements. / sent every available man.
was then directed to assume command at Hin
doc Raos. When arrived there, found ev-
cry one exhausted and done up. There were
the LIST Fusileers and some Rifles, all done up.
| went on to the new advanced battery it was
crowded with WORKOUT men the artillerymen,
likewise done up, had ceased firing another
party of Rifles, in similar state, in another
position; 100 men of the I'd Fusileers, who
had marched q miles that morning, and had
had no breakfast, were lying down exhausted !;
three weak companies of Ghoorkss were out as
skirmishers; but they too were exhausted, and
the remainder were resting under a rock. The
heat was terrific, and the thermometer must
have been at least lao degrees, with hot wind
blowing, and frightful glare.
Well, the mutineers' all this time from behind
walls and rocks, we're keeping UP brick FIRE
all along our front-i. e., to the right OF Hindoo
Rao's house, as far as Subzee Mundee, and a
battery of two guns from Kissengung was fred
upon US, without having it returned. ordered
up, when at Hindoo Rao's, 100 of the Fusi-
leers; after serving out grog to them, threw
them forward to the left front of the new bat
terry. got reinforcement of 200 of Rothney's
Sikhs, who also had marched % miles, and had
as yet nothing to eat; and, shortly sfterward, q
small party of 80 of the I'd Fusileers, under
Harris, very gallant and determined fellow,
and another under the Sergeant-Ms jor. The
latter was sent with the LIST Fusileers. They
beat back the mutineers at once, and took pos
session of a temple on the left front of the bat
teries, and which commanded it. l directed
this to be held, as it moreover gave us the
command OF the skirmishing ground, hitherto
infested by the mutineers.
On the right threw forward Rothneys Sikhs,
some Guides, and few of the I'd Fusileers.
They advanced, and again took possession of
Subzee Mundee. Between this and the bat
teries our skirmishers now had command of the
whole ground. 1 ordered the position now
held TO be kept till sunset, and then they were
to retire to their camp.
We were now masters of the field. The
mutineers were completely beaten, and when
they found intended to hold my position they
fell back upon the town. Our loss was con-
siderable, but that of the enemy was very
severe. We suffered greatly from the sun; the
lst Fusileers alone had five officers out of ten
struck down by coups de 7soleI. The work for
the troops ia very hard, never getting whole
nights rest but the wing of the 6lst, aid one
of the Sth, beside some Sikhs, are expected,
when they will be relieved somewhat; but it is
very uphill work against such fearful odds, and
at this season of the year, but the men are
game, and will never give in.
We published some time since full review
of remarkable work on the Slavery question,
written by Mr.. H. r. Helper, native of North
Carolina. The Washington Union, unable, it
would seem, to answer this book in any other
way, took to calumniatng its author. 1t
charged that his real name was not Helper,
but Hilper; and that some ten years ago, be-
ing in partnership with Mr.. Michael Brown, of
Salisbury, in the book business, and that he
bad gone to New York with funds belonging
to the concern, of which he had never rendered
any account. The Journal of Commerce, &C
eording to its practice of serving as echo to
the Union, FASTENED to repeat this libel. A
letter, however, has been written by the Michael
Brown of Salisbury referred to in the Union,
which sets this calumny at rest, so far as it re-
lates to any business connection with him. For
the benefit of all the parties concerned, we give
the letter, as follows:
SALISBURY, N. c., Sept %, 1857.
DEAR Sir: Having noticed the article in the
Washington Union, in which it is stated that