INDIA.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 63, 7 March 1843, Page 3

INDIA.

THE OVERLAND MAIL.—DISASTROUS. INTELLIGENCE. The Overland Mail confirms all the fears, which we felt, and expressed, last month upon the first intimation of Lord Ellenborough’s vacillating policy. Indecision at head quarters, has, as might have been anticipated, paralysed the extremities ; and the Governor-General, having declined the offer of the gallant Sir Robert Sale to advance upon Cabul at a time when the Affghans were dispirited by their defeat at Jellalabad, and his own troops flushed with victory, now “ leaves General Pollock to take his own ctiurse,” with an army decimated by the climate, and privations of every kind, without having even seen an enemy.

In the meantime Ukbar Khan has turned this delay to the best account, for the consolidation of his own power, having obtained possession of the Bala Hissar, with all the treasures of Shah Soojah, which makes him virtually the sovereign of Cabul, instead of the chiefof a liorde of nameless Adventurers. As to any hope of a successful interference with him by an advance upon Cabul, we see not the slightest prospect of it. The season is gone by, when it might have been practicable. The blow could not now be struck in time to cross the Passes again, before the winter of that inclement regidn commences; —and even supposing the capital to be reached, and taken, the expedi.ion would end like the last, in another retreat, and another massacre. Even now, as matters stand, there seems reason to apprehend that ill success is producing most dangerous consequences. There are alarming rumours as to the intentions of the Sheiks, whose fidelity Lord Auckland commanded by a more vigorous policy ; and if General Polaclc be compelled to fight his way back, with an army so weakened and demoralised, as his is now said to be, through the territories of this formidable power, we should look forward with little confidence to the issue.

Upon the whole, it is not easy to conceive a result more discreditable to the arms, and character, of England, and more iuauspicious, as regards the future career of the n,ew GovernorQeneral; nor is there anything in the intellh gehce from China to compensate us, for these disastrous tidings. There, as in Afghanistan, the troops are sinking under needless hardships and prolonged inaction. Not a blow has been struck of. any consequence ; and though preparations are said to be made; or rather are still making, for an advance up6n is probable that, by the time the army is ready to take the field, the Emperor will be farther than ever from the scene of action, as he is.reported already to have sought refuge in Tartary. As to the negociations, and the Imperial Commissioner, said by the last mail to be upon his way to the coast, with forty millions of dollars as the price of peace,—not word has been heard about them. The report' has, probably, done all that it. was intended to do, by serving as a blind to the Emperor’s removal from the capital, and delaying .those vigorous efforts, upon which success in a coup-de-main depends. The troops are now said to be in a state of absolute despondency, while it is becoming every day more evident that nothing but the most energetic, and uninterrupted action can counterbalance the vis inertia of the Chinese. They care no more about the taking of a few towns upon the coast, than we should do about the loss of half a dozen fishing smacks; and unless a blow could be struck in the heart of the Empire, we shall never give that impression of our power, which can alone now produce an honourable peace.