CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. [From the Sydney Morning Herald, May 25.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 719, 23 June 1852, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. [From the Sydney Morning Herald, May 25.]

"We now give, more in detail, a summary of the news which we have received from the' Cape colony. Our previous narrative of the war brought down the events to the end of February, at which, date we were appiised of Sir Harry Smith's intention to take the field in person." We now learn that his Excellency lef^. King William's Town on the sth of March, at the

head of an imposing force,- consisting of the.following troops":— lst cavalry column.- under Colonel Pole ; 12th Lancers, 224 rank and file ; C M Rifles, 26 ditto ; total, 250. The 2nd column, under Colonel Michael, Royal Artillery, 2 guns, 18 iank*and file ; 6th Regiment; 380* ditto; 45th Regiment, 248 ditto; 60th Regiment 397 ditto ; C. M. Rifles, 25 ditto ; Ist corps of Levies, 100 ditto] Fingoes, 100 ditto; Catty's Rifles, 7Q ditto; total, 1338. The 3rd column under Colonel Eyre :— Royal Artillery, 2 guns, 18 rank and file ; 43rd Regiment,' 386 ditto ; 73r<i Regiment. 356 ditto ; C. M. Rifles, 25 ditto-; Ist corps Levies, 100 ditto ; Fingoes, 100 ; total, 985. 22 rank and and file, 2nd regiment ; 60 rank and file, 43rd regiment ; and 20 Montagne's< Horse, to reinforce Fort White. These, with the Comman-der-in-Chief's escort, formed a force of 2746 men ; and large parties of hurghers, mostly I mounted also, made simultaneously for the ap . pointed rendezvous at Fort Brown. On the day preceding Sir Harry's march; disastrous intelligence had been received from Waterkloof. The following appears to be the best account of the affair : — At midnight on the 4th instant, Colonel Yarborough marched from Fort Beaufort in comraandiof 300 of the 91st regiment and 120 of the 74th regiment ; and about three hours afterwards.about 70 of the'C. M. Rifles,- under Captain Bramley, marched to overtake them. They had orders to attack at daylight the first kraal they should meet with. They attacked and burned some kraals belonging to the enemy, and captured about ninety head of cattle, and thirty horses. General Somerset marched at four o'clock in the morning, with the remaining of the Cape Mounted Riflemen, and a howitzer,, and on coming up to the patrol he found Colonel Yarborough hardly pressed and badly wounded in the thigh ; the enemy having attacked him in almost overwhelming number?, as he was comiug out of Waterkloof. Captain Bramley of the C. M. Rifles, and Ensign Hibbertofthe 91st Regiment was also wounded. Colonel Yarborough was brought off at once, but Bramley and Hibbert, with the rest of the men who were wounded, and about two hundred of the infantry, were nearly surrounded and cut off by a very large body of the enemy. They were, however brought off in safety by a squadron of the Cape Mounted Rifles, under Captain Carey, who charged and routed the enemy. Upon the 11th of March, the following extract from a report from Lieut. -Col. Eyre, and j dated the same day, was published at Head Quarters, Blinkwater. We have done two good days' work, and theresuit is satisfactory. We have penetrated a dense bush in eight different directions^ — burned a large number of huts, and killed certainly a good number of Kafirs — eleven were seen today, all heaped together, killed apparently by cannon shot or shell, and many others were also found this morning. We surprised a den; I believe, myself, Macomo's Head Quarters. We took one hundred and thirty women and children hidden in caves in an immense krantz. Among these women is one of Macomo's wives, and there are two of "his children: His wife had a quantity of ammunition in her possession. She says that Macomo went yesterday into Kafirland. Tiiey all say that the Hottentots are in Waterk'oof, and the Kafirs are in Fuller's Hock. We found all soits of things concealed in caves, mealies, butter, clothes, blankets, pots and pans of all descriptions, a bullet mould, lead, and some little ammunition. The troops have worked admirably. I propose bivouacking again in the bush and going at them again. Wm. Eyp.e, Lieut. -Colonel 73rd Regiment. A memorandum, affixed to this report by the Military Secretary, distinctly states that the den thus surprised was Macomo's Kraal, believed to be inaccessible. From another letter, dated on the same day, , from head quarters, we take the following detail of the disposition of the troops :—: — We commenced operations yesterday in riijht good style, Colonel Eyre sub-divided- his division into three columns — one commanded by Major Pinckney, 73rd Regiment ; one by Colonel Skipworth, 43rd Regiment ; the other by himself ; all of which took different kloofs between the Blinkwater and Fuller's Hock. The fighting commenced early, and was carried on with vigour the whole day, but with what effect is not yet known. The division under Colonel Michel took the kloofs from Blakeway's round to the Gwar (M'Master's) dividing also into sub-divisions. The third is under Colonel Napier, with his cavalry, 600 infantry, 400 Somerset Burghers. This division takes the Waterkloof, and is also divided similarly to the other two. Captain Bruce, 74th Highlanders, with 200 more of all arms, co-operates from Post Retiei. Captain Stevenson,. with his levy, and all the available Fingoes, keeps the head of Bush neck and Konap. Colonel Pole, 12th Lancers, is stationed at Eiland's Post to cut off the enemy's retreat in that direction. With these arrangements, success is certain. Such a force, and so well placed, has never yet been brought to bear on the enemy. From a.Fingoe who lias just come in, we learn 'that the enemy has been everywhere defeated, but not without loss on our side. He reports five killed in Colonel Napier's division, and three in Colonel Skipworth's, and many wonnded. At the latest dates from head quarters the intelligence, as we stated yesterday, gave every hope that the war was drawing to a close. The enemy Tvere retiring in dismay from their fastnesses, vigorously pursued by the British. It was calculated, that altogether - there were 22,000 men doing military duty in the various districts of the frontier, of whom seven thousand were British troops of unquestionable discipline, and experienced in bush warfare. These, which include cavalry, artillery, faithful burghers, and a well-ordered commissariat, would seem to form a force which ought to produce decisive effects ; and we shall look forward with hope to the next despatches from the frontier? .We now turn from ~ Sir Harry's operations in the battle field to his almost equally hostile transactions in Council. The Secretary of the Government, - Mr. Montagu, whose official quarrels at Van Diemen's Land with Sir John Franklin are not yet forgotten by Australian colonists, had taken upon himself to express his decided' opinion that it was highly impolitic for the Legislative Council to proceed any further

with the consideration of the constitutional ordinances, proposed by her Majesty's Government. In his place in Council, the hon. Secretary caused to be read by the clerk a letter which" he had written to Sir Harry Smith, in which be stated at length his reasons for still advising the postponement of the consideration" of the ordinances ; the chief reason being his belief that throughout every province of the colony, even in Cape Town itself, the most serious disaffection pervaded the coloured classes. On this this point he uses the following strong language :—: — Short of an organized conspiracy, it is hard to conceive that any other or more decisive evidence could have been elicited than has been elicited by the late Commission of Inquiry. If a real disposition to insurrection existed among the coloured classes, which for want of a leader and of means of combination has hitherto reached no crisis, it is difficult to see now otherwise it could have been disclosed than by such conversations, and by such reluctant and apparently sorrowful communications from coloured women to their mistresses, as were relate 3 before the Commission. I do not think the proposed postponement should be objected to from a fear of any charge of temporising or vacillating, or of breaking the promise "of Her Majesty in this matter. Jt is the duty of a Governmerit to exercise its care for the whole community under such circumstances as may arise ; to avert danger from the mass as well as from individuals, and to be guided by the highest considerations of public safety. I believe that the altered circumstances, since' the beginning of last December, fully justify the exercise of the discretion of the Government, even had the instructions it has received been more positive and definite than they have been; or even had the time of the operation of free institutions been distinctly fixed and promised. It is not capable of a rational argument that a promise intended for a benefit, is to be kept against the wishes of those to whom it is made, or- when it is seen to involve injury and danger. I have now given freely my opinion on this subject, and in doing so I have been guided by my sense of duty to myself, as well as to the colony. I have now respectfully to request on, behalf of the Treasurer -General and myself — if you should decide upon the Council proceeding at present with the consideration of the draft constitutions — that you will give me distinct and positive instructions .to proceed with the discussion as a government measure, and direct our course. My own opinion and that of the Treasurer- General being that there is danger in so proceeding? in which we -are fortified by the opinions of the whole of the unofficial members, we are entitled to be absolutely relieved from the responsibility of the consequences should the ordinances now proceed in consequence of your instructions. I have also to recall to your attention that the 43rd regiment was dispensed with in Cape Town upon my advice and assurance of-tran-quillity. As that assuiance is now inapplicable, and I believe there is a strong probability of disturbance, which may result in bloodshed in the western districts, I earnestly request that my assurance may now be considered as cancelled if the discussion of the ordinances proceeds, and that an equivalent number of troops may be made available in the western districts. I further request that I may be distinctly informed, that you relieve me from all responsibility of the consequences of proceeding at the present time with the draft constitution ordinances. To this communication Sir Harry returned the following reply :—: — King William's Town, 18th February, 1852. The Hon. the Secretary to Government. Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I herewith transmit a minute, containing my positive orders and injunctions to proceed to the consideration of the draft ordinance's for establishing a representative form of government according to the directions transmitted to me, and which I cheerfully obey. I hereby take upon myself every responsibility adverted to in the last paragraph of your letter. I have, fortunately, no desire to retire from any reponsibility when a regard for the interests of the Government with which I am entrusted demands it. I have, &c, •H. G. Smith, Governor.

Minute to be laid before the Legislative Council, assembled for the purpose with the least possible delay. The Hon. the Secretary to Government, and Legislative Council. I have had under my consideration .the Hon. the Secretary to Government's letter to me of the 12th instant, requesting my instructions as to the Legislative Council proceeding in the of the draft Ordinances transmitted by her Majesty's Government for the express purpose or being so considered, — in which, as it appears to me, much unnecessary delay has taken place. I had hoped my. letter to Mr. Montague, of the Hth January last, in which I state that "no obstacle must or shall intervene to prevent the draft Ordinances being brought before the Legislative Council," and which I conclude by saying, — "regard this communication as strictly official, and, of course make every use of it in the Executive and Legislative Councils as my recorded opinion and desire," would have rendered any further reference to me unnecessary. I desire that the Legislative Council proceed to the discussion of these ordinances as a Government measure, leaving each separate clause' an open^ question. I apprehend far greater embarrassment to the Government by delay than by procedure. I am ordered by her Majesty's Government to proceed, and my own opinion concurs in the expediency of that order. I see no cause whatever • for appreheusion as to any public disturbance. The discussion of the Draft Ordinances will elicit the general feeling of the colony, which will be, of course, submitted to her. Majesty's Government for its guidance in granting a Representative Government to the colony of the Cape. I have ever advocated its being granted ; and I advocate it now. I hope the war on this frontier will very soon be terminated. Under any circumstances, however, I do not view a war upon the borders — and it is now nothing more — as affording cause for deferring th,e grant of a Representative Government. ' -

It ever pains me to differ in opinion with the Honourable the Secretary to Government, whose every energy is devoted to the interest? and benefits of this colony; but as I cannot yield to any one in entertaining this feeling, and* as I am -responsible to my Queen under letters patent, to her Majesty's Government by my instructions, and to the duty I owe to the colony as its Governor — that sense of duty which so impels the Honorable the Secretary to Government impels me — and I therefore desire the Legislative Council to proceed to the discussion" of the draft ordinances as a government measure. The war approaches a peculiar crisis ; and my proclamation of the 6th instant, in which I state that I shall myself be in the field on the Bth proximo, prevents me from presiding in Council, as I should' otherwise most assuredly have done. H. G. Smith, Governor. In accordauce with these directions Mr. Montague again brought the Ordinances under the consideration of the Council who had begun the discussion, of the vaiious clauses in detail. Upon the arrival of Lieutenant- Govern or Darling at Cape Town, an ..address was presented to him by the City Corporation, wherein tkeir grateful acknowledgments are made to the Queen for the proposed new Constitution. At Graham's Town, on the contrary, public opinion was evidently adverse to it, and general approval of Mr. Montague's conduct was expressed. In the despatch containing General Cathcart's instructions, Ear? Grey thus defines the course to be pursued when the war has terminated :—: — When this has been effected (the termination of the war), the measures to be adopted for the purpose' of guarding against the recurrence of a similar calamity will require your most careful and deliberate consideration. The events of the, last twenty years too clearly demonstrate the al solute necessity of a revision of the system of policy hitherto pursued on the Cape frontier, in order^that the best precautions which the circumstances admit of may he taken against the periodical renewal of the gievious losses and sufferings inflicted upon the colonists, and the heavy pecuniary burden entailed on the mother country by successive Kafir wars. I have therefore to instruct you to consider, with the Assistant Commissioners, who have already been sent to the Cape, the state in which affairs may be left on the termination .of the war, and to prepare for the information of Her Majesty's Government and of Parliament a report fully explaining your views as to the policy to be hereafter adopted, and the measures to which you look as being the best calculated to guard against the evils which have been experienced. In preparing such' a report, you will exercise <lhe fullest and most unlimited discretion in recommending for the consideration of HerMajesty's Government the course which may appear the best to your own judgment, without regarding yourself as in any degree bound by the instructions which have been given or the views -which have been expressed by myself or by preceding Secretaries of State to former j Governments of the Cape. You will consider I only what are the measures best calculated to meet the just claims and to promote the tiue and permanent interests of Her Majesty's subjects both in tlje colony -and in the mother country.