LATEST INDIA NEWS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 11, 6 September 1842, Page 3

LATEST INDIA NEWS.

At the latest dates from India, another engagement was said to have taken place between the English under Sale, and the Affghans under AkhbarKhan, in which the latter were defeated, and five hundred of their number killed. The loss of the English is not stated, and indeed, the whole account is discredited, as no intelligence of it had reached Calcutta, although Government was in possession of news from the Camp at Jellallabad a few days later than the date on which the engagement is said to have occurred. Jealousies still unfortunately prevailed between the civil and military officers, and a want of union and mutual understanding much retards the successful issue of the present disastrous contest. Accounts had reached Calcutta of the occur-

rence of an earthquake at Jellallabad, about the middle of February, from which the Fort occupied by the English had sustained considerable damage. Three bastions of the four were “ injured,” and part of the parapet thrown down, but nothing more. Colonel Monteath was buried up to his chin in the ruins of liis house, but dug out uninjured. Sir Robert Sale and Captain Macgregor rushed from their houses into the court yard, and described the ground as “ undulating like a sea, opening in large chasms, and closing with a loud report.” Captain Mackeson had contrived to send about 3,000 rupees to Jellallabad, which proved a most seasonable relief, for the garrison were getting badly off for forage for their horses. There was a rumour abroad that Ghuznee had fallen. We cannot guarantee its accuracy, but it is not in any way improbable. The enemy were in possession both of our artillery and ammunition, and although the force of Colonel Palmer was said to he well provisioned and strongly posted, a thousand Sepoys might easily be overcome hy a mass of 2,000 Affglians; now freed from Cabool, maddened with success, and furious for farther conquest. - The Calcutta Star, quoted by • the Sydney Observer, publishes the following correspondence, detailing the attempt of the harassed troops to cut their way through Khybur pass, their failure and retreat.

Camp Rawulsa, 2 9th January. —This letter will give you a partial account of the manner we cut our way through the Khybur Pass. You must first know that on the 15th day of this month, the 53rd and 64th were ordered on to Ali Musjid. We accordingly marched at ten o’clock at night on the 15th, going through the pass unmolested, and reaching Ali Musjid about eleven next day. Our men started with nothing hut their greatcoats, and -officers marched as lightly as possible ; the remainder of the brigade was expected to have followed us in a day or two after, but on our appearing at Ali Musjid (for what earthly purpose we were sent there for God only knows) it was the signal for the whole of the Afiredees to be up in arms against us, and to attempt to shut up the pass, which they have done most effectually, and no gold will induce them to open it. Brigader Wild, with the 60th and 30th, attempted to force the pass on the 19th, in order to join us, but I am sorry to say he was beaten back with heavy loss in men, baggage, &c. On the 2nd another attempt was made, when he succeeded in knocking down the breastworks of the enemy which had been built in the narrow' defiles. At this time we were hemmed in, in Ali Musjid, starving; the Sepoys were put on half rations, and were nearly perishing with the cold, having no covering at nights but their great coats and the canopy of heaven for tents. The officers fared the same, having nothing to eat for eight days but chupatees and bull-beef, which was only fit to give to dogs. At last we grew desperate; Wild could not join us, and the pass was shut up in every direction. It was at lenght determined when only five maunds of atta in store, that we should bravely cut our way back; Brigadier Wild, at the same time, making a demonstration in eur favor at the mouth of the pass. So, accordingly, the Dawn of the 24th saw our two corps under arms, and we bade adieu to Ali Musjid. We had no sooner left the fort than the whole of the surrounding hills swarmed with Affreedees; the little baggage that some of us had, we had made up our minds to have destroyed the night before, rather than it should fall into the hands of the enemy; the arms of the sick were also broken up, and some amunition destroyed. The enemy kept annoying our rear the whole day, and with their long jazails, that carry an enormous distance, they had greatly the advantage over our men. Our Blacks, however, behaved nobly, and though I say it wh6 should not, the old 64th has earned for itself an everlasting name for that day’s work; I could not have believed that blaclcey had so much pluck; our corps being in the rear, we bore the whole brunt of the affair, and it was in the narrow defile called the “Kaffir hungEe,” that here was the tug of war. It was here poor Wilson of ours was shot dead. He was standing close to me, the ball entered his lungs and he died instantly without a groan. Our loss has been veiy severe. One Captain killed, one Lieutenant (Rattray) wounded through-the arm, but doing well, 138 rank and file killed and wounded. In the 53rd, Swinton wounded (severely in the knee), and Baron von Meyern through the leg; between forty and fifty rank and file killed and wounded. In the 13th,' wounded Brigadier Wild and Captain Lofric; in the 60th, wounded, Gwaitlcin, Phillips, Alexander, and Montgomery; doing duty with the 60th, poor Lock of the sth, killed, he was first stunned by a stone, and the brutes got hold of his body and cut it up into mincemeat ; Ensign Halked also of the sth, severely wounded.

The British Navy. —The total number of vessels in the navy of every description at present in commission is 271. Of these 19 are line-of-battle ships, 34 frigates, 69 steam vessels, 112 brigs and sloops, 11 flag and receivingships, 7 troop-ships, 3 royal yachts,. 1 storeship, 1 hospital-ship, 1 gunnery-ship, 11 tenders and lighters, and 2 navy transports.