, 1858-01-15
India-FaII Of Delhi.

India-FaII Of Delhi.
The Indian mail had reached England
with dates from Calcutta to the 25th of
September, and from Bombay to the Sd of
October
The news is very important. Delhi, the
stronghold of the mutineers, having been
assaulted aud carried by the Europeans.
The assault was commenced on the morn
ing Of the l4th of September, the siege train
having previously reduced the bastions and
curtain, against which the fire was directed,
to crumbling ruins. The attack was made
in four columns, Of which one, composed Of
the Cashmere contingent, was repulsed.-
The others were successful.
An entrance was effected at the Cash
mere gate TO the north Of the city, and on
advance was made along the ramparts to
the Cabul gate, where an obstinate but in
effeetual resistance was made by the mutt
neers. The next day the British commen-
ced firing on the magazine, and stormed
that position on the 10th, capturing with
it 1875 pieces of cannon. The official dis
patches end at this point, but Intelligence,
in which full reliance was placed, had been
received, to the effect that after three more
days Of fighting, the British troops on the
goth took entire possession of the city.
The loss Of the British in killed and
wounded is stated at 600 men, including so
officers. The slaughter among tho mutt
neers is believed to have been great, but
no estimate is given. A large number es-
capped out Of the city, among them the
King of Delhi and his two sons, diguised
in women's clothes The English cavalry
had moved forward to intercept and destroy
the fugitives.
In his order for the assault, General Will
son stated that no quarter should be given
to the mutineers, but that all the women
and children should be spared.
IMPORTANT DECISION -Subjoined is the
decision Of the Acting Commissioner of the
General Land Office in relation to the re-
fusal Of Surveyor General to approve the
survey of donation claim:
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
Oct. l5, 1857.
Sir: In your letter Of the 22d of July
last, now before me, you state that the
Surveyor General has refused to approve
the survey of donation claim, made &c
cording to the abstract furnished, on the
ground that "it was not in a compact form
as it crossed a meandered stream" and
you ask the attention Of this Office to the
condition of number of claims which have
been permitted by former Surveyors Gen
eral, lying on both sides Of rapid streams
the disturbance of which claim would work
great injury to claimants, &C.
This Office has decided against the right
Of claimant to cross "adriga6le stream y
in order to get the quantity of land to
which he may be entitled in virtue of bis
settlement, &c., but what you describe as
rapid mountain stream, scarcely navigable
with canoe, canhot be considered as com.
lug under that headj and the location of q
claim on both sides of astream of this char.
acter should not be considsred cause for
rejection, where the improvements lie on
both sides, and the claim is in . campact
form, even though it may have been found
convenient or necessary in the prosecution
Of the public surveys to meander such
stream; nor should one passage of such a
stream through claim render it liable to
objection on the score Of compactness ol
form.
The sixth section of the donation act Of
1850 is liberal in its provisions with regard
kN N nf Insv I,k
vides that claims Shall be in compact
form, and, where it is practicable so to do,
the land so claimed shall be taken as near.
ly as practicable by legal subdivisions" il
also, where that cannot be done," makes
it the duty Of the Surveyor General "tO
survey and make each claim with the boun.
daries as claimed"
AS you do not present particular case
in which this difficulty exists, these general
views are merely thrown out for your con.
sideration, and are not laid down as rule
for your government in any particular class
Of cases; that will be done when all actual
case is presented for decision.
1t is desired that the most liberal course
consistent with law be pursued towards the
settlers, especially of that class to which
you refer, who settled early in good faith,
and have completed their four-years term
of settlement and occupation, and that ev.
cry facility be afforded them for the settle
ment Of their claims aud quieting their ii.
ties.
In reply to the closing paragraph Of your
letter, in which you inquire whether it is
the duty Of this (your) Office or the Sur
veyor General to decide in what shade
claims may be taken," have to state that
it belongs to the Register and Receiver,
under the 9Th section of the amendatory
act Of l7th July, 1854, to make such de.
cisions, and to the Surveyor General to see
that the surveys are properly executed in
accordance herewith.
Very respectfully,