INDIA. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 735, 18 August 1852, Page 3

INDIA. [From the Mai tland Mercury.]

We have received files of the Bombay Gazette (overland summary), from the 17th January to the 15th March. It is clear from these papers that the Go- ' vernor General of India (Lord Dalhousie) is convinced that Burma will not be brought into amicable relations again until she has been taught a severe lesson by war. It appears ■ also toleiably clear that the Commander-in-Chief (Sir W., Gomm) has been quietly shelved, as at the latest accounts he had just moved from Lahore to Umritsir and Umballa, at which latter place it was said he intended to stop during the Burmese war— possibly to watch that the Sikhs do not take advantage [of the war to make cnother rise. Who is to" be commander in the Burmese war does not appear : General Goodwin, "an officer engaged in the last Burmese war," was it, was said, to command the Bengal portion of the attacking army, but whether he was to take command of the whole, is not stated. The papers represent the preparations for war to be on a large scale, and to be pushing forward with the greatest activity, particularly -at Calcutta. The total force was stated at from 20,000 to 25,000 men, while thirteen powerful steamers were already nearly all iv readiness to convey troops and take part in the operations, one being the Hermes, of H. M. Navy, and the other twelve Company's armed steamers, the Feroze, Muzuffer, Sesostris, "" Zenobia, Semiramis, Meudsa, Hugh Linsay, Tenasserim, Fire Queen, Enterprise, Proserpine, and Phlegethon. The impression was, from the activity displayed in making preparations under the immediate eye of the- Governor-General, who was at Calcutta, that it T<?as intended to despach this formidable fleet with the land ' forces, so as to commence operations early in April, against Rangoon and the other towns on the lower portion of the Irrawaddy, and having reduced them, to push on without delay fqjr the upper towns, Prome, &c, so as to establish the forces in the healthy upper provinces before the rains set in, in May. The larga force gathered for the purpose made it extremely probable that the campaign would not be a long one, but it was expected that the king would not consent to the terms demanded until the troops had attacked and taken Ummerapoora, the capital. Lord Dalhousie appears to have adopted as a seftler policy, the system of crushing insurrection or disturbance at once by the use of an overpowering force. When Sir Charles Napier conquered Scinde, some years since, he left in* possession of his dominio"ns one of theAmeers, Ali Moorad, who professed to be friendly. Before Napier left Scinde it was pretty clear, however, that Ali Moorad was not to be trusted and his conduct having since been anything but satisfactory, the government determined early this year to depose him, ostensible ground being that he had attained a throne, rightfully belonging to his brother, by forging certain documents. Before issuing the proclamation to that effect, however, an army of 14,000 men was approaching Ali Moorad's territory from different quarters, near 10,000 being at hand, ready, for action, The consequence was that he made no resistance, and was quietly dethroned and removed. Doubtless this is the cheapest mode of dealing with Indian troubles, which invariably gather strength' as they proceed, unlessput down with a strong hand. Some minor troubles still affected the Indian empire. The Nizam, still in appearance a powerful prince, was dilatory in paying up his stipulated arrears, and was suspected to be unfriendly to British rule. — In the north-west some of the hill tribes still continue troublesome, and it was not safe for .the British officers to stray far from the forts. — In the Malabar country" troubles had arisen from a fanatic sect, named the Moplahs, said to muster 90,000 fighting men, having revolted against the oppression of the Nairs, who were supported by the British.