INDIAN ITEMS,

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 117, 3 December 1858, Page 4

INDIAN ITEMS,

By the Leichhardt, from Calcutta, we (Sydney Herald) liave twelve days' later papers, viz., to 30th August. The news, however, is not only scanty, but of a fragmentary nature.

The following intelligence is supplied by the Government to the Englishman: — " Service message from G. F. Edrnonstone, Esq., dated Allahabad, the 27th August 10-15 p.m. We hear from Lucknow that 'the crossing of the Goomtec by our Sultaupore column was to commence on the morning of the 24th. The rebels must be very strong, but are said to be dispirited. Ranee Madhoo has joined them with thirteen thousand men, of whom eight thousand are his own followers, and eight guns. It is reported from Neemuch on the 25 th instant, that the Gwalior fugitive rebels are moving towards Rampoora, and have arrived at Boojah, five coss beyond the Maillai pass. A small detachment was posted on yesterday to Manapa. Brigadier Parke, with a light column, expected to reach Rampoora on the 22nd." Copy of service message by electric telegraph,, from Patna, 27th August—" It is reported at Chnpprah that Brigadier Douglass attacked the rebels, first at Bansdee, and subsequently at Gya Ghaut, inflicting considerable loss on them. They are said to have fled towards Huldee, but we hear of nothing direct from the brigadier's camp." The following is from Fultyghur, dated 22nd August:—"Some of my men, from Shajehhanpore, brought me a little bit of news, which I thought I might send you. The rebels from the Oudc side, mustering as report gave out, 25,000, led on by the old scoundrel the Moulavie of Bareilly, the Nawab of Furruckabad, and the Nawab of Bareilly, gave out they would conclude their * Mohorum at Shajehampore, and were on the march when they were met by our forces (General G. or J. Jones, I believe, popularly called the ' Avenger,') joined by the ilajah of Powy and his forces, and were routed with great slaughter. The general is said to have masked his Artillery till they were well in range, and then let out on them with grand effect. Great damage done amongst the horses, of which from 200 to 300 were taken—none of the principals were done for, so far as report goes. So much for these blood-thirsty villains who can only fight and murder women and children and defenceless men. I hope the- ' Avenger' will snare none of them."

The Phoenix of the 28th Augus says :— The account of the revelations relative to the Defa Ismail Khan conspiracy, shows that it was but the work of a comparative few, who hoped that the murder of the European officers would prove sufficient to make all the sepoys belonging to the corps join in the mutiny. Such has been "in a great measure the plan pursued in all the sepoy regiments. As long as the officers were alive and well, there were good men— though in the case of the Poorbea regiments they were but few—to rally round them ; but the moment the officers were killed, it was "you must join now; the sahibs have been safkurroed, and none will believe but all had a hand in it." Thus, at least some —not many, we admit—regiments were drawn into the mutiny, which would never otherwise have been involved. Following this plan, a comparatively small number of badly inclined men are, in a native corps, sufficient to get up mutiny; that is, if the corps should unfortunately be stationed where- no Buropean regiment is present. This consideration should teach the military authorities that, with such men, only the Bternest course- will suffice. The quicker they are shot down, and the regiments

freed from their contaminating influence and example, the better it, will be for all parties. ■* ■"" TheLucknow correspondent of the Delhi Gazette supplies the following information, under date 18th August:—" Matters in Lucknovv and Oude altogether seem to be assuming a most favorable aspect. From all accounts more energy lias been displayed during the past fortnight than has been shewn for months, both in the settlement of the country and the beating off from our civil and military posts those bodies of the rebels that had kept threatening them ever so long. In Lucknow itself the active and vigorous measures of both the civil and military authorise?, are rendering the city better "in management, appearance, and safety, than ever. General Sir H. Grant's force will probably be in possession of Sultanpoor at the end of this week. He may or may not have to encounter the rebels in effecting his object. Although there are large bodies of mutinous sepoys under some noted rebel leaders in the neighbourhood, yet, in all probability they will follow in the track of their brethren, and retire or disperse at the approach of our troops. The circumstances connected with the capture of Sundeela are interesling, as I have heard them, and I will give the substance of what has been told me. Mr Kavanagh, with his usual daring love of adventure and zeal for the service of Government, thought that he could effect the capture of Sundeela, and the dispersion of those rebels which had so long been threatening our civil post at Mulleeabad. He proposed to Captain Dawson to attack Suncleela, and by a sudden march came up to it early one fine morning, beat in the picquets of the enemy, and, after some harcl fighting, took possession of the town. Captain Dawson made over all his cavalry, about 50 men, to Mr Kavanagh, and with his infantry, at the point of the bayonet, he drove out the mutineers from their nest. Mr Kavanagh was most active in the pursuit with his sowars, and killed all who did not run away too fast. He had his horse shot under him during this engagement. Captain Dawson had some hard fighting in the town, but at last got complete possession oi' it, having captured one gun and about twenty-five prisoners who had been keeping up a hot fire from an upperroomed building. Mr Kavanagh, it is said, had an encounter with a young Seikh, who had deserted from the Baillie Guard during the seige, and was desirous of saving his life if possible, but a Seikh of our parly came suddenly up and put an end to the young fellow. The casualties are said to be on the side of the enemy about 50. I have not heard it mentioned what our loss was, but it must have been trifling. The moral effect of this undertaking will be very great; for it must be considered, of about"3ooo men and 150 cavalry, under some of their most fanatical leaders, such as Feroze Sha, Lukkar Shah, and others, who have of late been committing horrid atrocities after the capture of some of our outlying Thannahs. In one instance I hear Feroze Shah had forty-five of our police murdered in cold blood. Viewed as an act of daring, the capture of the large town ot" Sundeela must be ranked with the most victorious of our late actions, when it is considered that there was no regular military force to aid Mr Kavanagh in effecting his object.

Two smart shocks of an earthquake were experienced in Calcutta on the afternoon of the 24th of August, The direction was apparently from east to west, and the force such as sent doors and window frames shaking. The hvcvval between the shocks was about a minute in duration. Simultaneous shocks are recorded as having been felt in different parts of India.

The Patna correspondent of the Indian .Empire writes on the 18th:—" A party of the Shahabad rebels, about 1000 in number, on the 13th inst., approached Doomraon in their columns, with an intention of attacking the Doomraon Rajah, when some of our troops that are located there advanced to meet them, and about 8 a.m, both parties met, when a few shells from the naval brigade caused them to retreat. Oar cavalry started in pursuit, and near the village of Kusseah, about five miles south of Doomraon, found the enemy drawn up in line; cur cavalry charged most gallantly through the heavy fire of musketry from the enemy and broke their ranks, when they fled into the village, from whence they were driven into the surrounding crops. About fifty or sixty of them, mostly sepoys, were killed. A few Sheiks, and two men from the military train were wounded on our side. The Rajah of Docmraon accompanied our troops, and behaved most gallantly during the action. It is reported that the rebels have sworn to kill the Rajah for not having joined them, as well as for aiding the British. The rebels at Shahabad are said to number somewhere about 12,000 strong, and have also a few guns of their own manufacture; they have readily established gun foundries, and are in the process of manufacturing some heavy guns."

A Young Sage. —First Boy : 1 say, Bill, then you're getting a crown a week now ? —Second Boy : Well you might a knew that, by seeing all the fellers come soapin' around me that wouldn't a noticed me when I was poor

Royal Stuff. —An eminent spirit, merchant m Dublin announces, in an Irish paper, that he has still a small quantity of the whiskey on hand which was drunk by George IV. when in Dublin. Agricultural Reason.—& farmer who recently had his butter seized by the clerk of the market for short weight, gave as a reasonthat the cow was subject t<? cramps,and caused the butter to shrink in weight. Popularity. —Some wag remarks truly, when he says that "popularity, in politics, is to see jour name in large type posted to a fence. Somebody will enquire as to who you are, and when the first rain comes you will disappear."