11 MAY 1844, Page 8

gortign anb Linta.—The fuller accounts brought by the over-land mail

mention na very striking occurrence, but are not altogether without interest, The mutiny among certain Madras and Bengal regiments occupies the first place in the general attention, and is more clearly explained. The pay of the Native soldier is five rupees and a half (11s.) per month ; besides which, he receives subsistence money (called batta and half- batta) of one rupee and a half in cantonment, and if marching in the Company's territories, an additional sum of the same amount, called "extra batta," whereby his pay becomes eight rupees and a half per month. If he is on a foreign station, and in peculiar cases of scarcity, he receives an additional sum called "ration-money," as a compensation for the dearness of the articles of his use, such as grain, &c. Thus there were three indulgences to be considered—namely, the cantonment rate of half-hatia, the marching rate of extra batta, and the extraordinary indulgence of ration-money. When tranquillity was restored in Scinde, the ration-money which had been allowed to the Bengal troops was taken from them ; extra batta being still allowed, on account of their additional expense in living away from their families. This created discontent ; and the sickness in the provinces acted as another cause of dislike to the service. At the end of last year, several Bengal corps were ordered to march to Scinde. About the same time, in consequence of an order from the Home Government that Scinde was not to become a drain on the public purse, a stricter economy was enforced, and the troops in cantonments were deprived of their extra batta. This fell se- verely on the Bengal Sepoys, who had to maintain their wives and fami- lies at a distance, and who had to endure great privations on the Indus ; the crossing it being a crime to high-caste Hindoos. Orders were also issued that none of the troops going to Scinde were to be allowed batta. The consequence was, that several refused to march ; tbe difficulty being increased by the prevailing want of European officers, especially men of experience and influence with the soldiers. The Brahmin Sepoys insisted that the Indus is not in India, that they had only en- listed for India, and that they ought to be allowed the allowances and indulgences of a foreign station. The Governor-General then issued an order that officers and soldiers who had served in the battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad, in Scinde, and at Maharajpore and Punniar in G walior, should have six months' batta, and also that all the troops that had served in Scinde during the last year should have six months' baits; by which means twelve months' batta was conferred on the troops who served in Scinde, and were at the two first-named battles. This did not suffice to cure the disaffection ; and a Government notifica- tion was issued on the 12th March, regulating the compensation to be -given to the Sepoys in Scinde, where the prices of different articles were too high, and granting to the troops in cantonments there the field-allowances of Hinclostan ; which allowances were to begin from the time the troops should reach the frontiers. All cause for alarm had there- fore ceased, and the several regiments ordered were proceeding to their stations on the Indus. Three Bengal regiments had been ordered to be disbanded—the Seventh Light Cavalry, and the Fourth and Thirty- fourth Regiments of Native Infantry ; and in others steps were taken to bring ringleaders to account. The Forty-seventh Madras Regiment, which bad shown a mutinous disposition at Bombay, had been sent to garrison Aden. The cost of the grant to the Sepoys is estimated at .50,000L ; but the improvements on the Indus are expected to repay it ; and in so flourishing a state are the finances of India, that the Governor- General has abolished the transit-duties in the Presidency of Madras. Scinde itself was tranquil, and comparatively healthy.

Lahore was again raging with civil war. Cashmeera Singh, a bastard of Runjeet, was opposed to the Prime Minister, Heera Singh ; and as the Sikhs generally supported the new antagonist, another revolution is expected. The Afghan leader Akhbar Khan had actually led his troops to invade Peshawur; and it was supposed that he would compel the Lahore Government to claim aid from the British.

Gwalior was quiet ; and the British demonstration in that province had effectually quieted Bundelkund. The Governor-General had ordered an addition of ten men to each company of the Bengal and Bombay armies, amounting in all, with some other additions, to 12,000 men ; "And no more officers?" people cry.

Lord Elleuborough's conduct in some recent acts of patronage is sharply canvassed- " Mr. B. Hodgson," says the correspondent of the Times. "the late talented Resident in Nepaul, a:man well:known for his various scientific acquirements, and his zeal in the cause of education, was required to resign his post ; and Major Lawrence, who has served with political distinction in other places, has been appointed. No reason has been given for this ; and whatever the truth may be, it has been set down as one of Lord Ellenborough's arbitrary acts. It certainly appears unaccountable; but it is not fair to judge without data, and there appears none. Mr. Hodgson is too well known and too highly esteemed to suffer from a mere capricious act, as this appears; and as he has returned to England, he will no doubt bring his own case to the notice of those who can best redress it. Colonel Outram, who is said to have brought letters from the Duke to Lord Ellenborough, has been appointed to an obscure political agency at Nemawur, very little calculated to give scope to his exertions or talents; and he has accepted it, Isuppose, as he is in orders. To make room for him, Cap- tain Abbott, who is well known for his journey to Khiva and sufferings there- from, has been ejected from Nemawur, and ordered to join his corps' the Ar- tillery. This seems hard; but a sort of a justification has been put forward by Lord Ellenborough,—which is, that the Artillery has not officers enough for its duties; and the names of other officers are included in the same order to hold themselves in readiness to join their corps whenever they may be required."

A ball and supper were given to Lord Ellenborough on the 14th March. The invitations issued were 600, but only 130 persons were present. In returning thanks for the toast of his health, Lord Ellenborough is reported to have addressed the company in this odd speech- " Sir, I thank you for the honour you have done to me in proposing my health, and I thank all those who are present for the cordial manner in which they have responded to your call. It is true that the honourable Chairman has said I had power and influence in England—there was no measure connected with India in which I did not possess the greatest influence. Most people come to this country to make their fortunes; but I came here to do my duty, and because I deemed that in India I could be of most service to the country. I have met with opposition; but I have put down all opposition hitherto, and I will beat down all opposition that may arise. I am not surprised at the recep- tion I have met with, for the being must be senseless who would not support the Government; and I call on every man to do so." His Lordship then added, "I have come among you again ; and if those social relations which are desirable should not exist, the fault will be yours, and not mine."

- CnistA.—The latest date is February the 27th. Sir Henry Pottiuger was at Hong-kong, superintending the erection of some public build- ings; having kept down the expenditure under that head to the lowest possible 81`2011nr. Some European labourers, on arriving at Hong-kong in quest of employment; had had the as.a7:.:Ention of discovering that it was in vain to compete with Chinamen. The colony continued to be more healthy than it had been. There had been several robberies by the Chinese, both at Macao and long-kong.

SPAIN.—The interest of the news from Madrid is limited to the fact that the Bravo Cabinet have retired, and have been succeeded by other Ministers,—namely, General Narvaez, President of the Council and Minister of War; the Marquis de Villurna, Minister for Foreign Affairs ; S. Mon, Minister of Finance ; S. Pidal, Minister of the Interior ; S. Mayans, Minister of Justice ; and General Armero, Minister of Marine.

It appears from a letter of the Castellano, dated Burgos, 30th April, that Colonel Cayo Muro had raised the standard of revolt on the con- fines of the provinces of Soria and Logrouo, and taken the field at the head of ten or twelve horsemen.

Powrimat.—The " revolution " is at an end. A telegraphic de- spatch from Lisbon, dated 30th April, announces, that on the after- noon of the 28th the rebels surrendered. The soldiers marched oat before the Queen's troops, leavina' their arms in the fortress, aid pro- ceeding to an appointed station ; but 13onifim and the insurgent officers escaped into Spain !

FRANCE.—The Peers have continued to be engaged with the Secondary Instruction Bill ; the Deputies with the bill for amending Prison Discipline. The debate in the Peers goes against the University and in favour of the Church.

In the Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday, a petition was presented from 7,000 persons praying for abolition of slavery in the French Colo- nies. In the course of the discussion on it, M. Guizot declared that it was the intention of the Government to abolish Negro slavery in the French Colonies, and that in so doing they should he guided by the example and experience of Great Britain. The petition was referred to the Minister of Marine and Colonies.

The Dutchess of Kent, accompanied by members of the Royal Family. visited various parts of Paris on Thursday last week ; on Friday, her Royal Highness went to Notre Dante and the Holy Chapel ; and in the evening was entertained with a splendid fete at Menclon. On Sunday, the Royal party visited Versailles and Trianon. On Tuesday, they left Paris for Fontainhleau.

Ilaym—The Jamaica Gazette of the 8th April announces the ar- rival at Kingston of the French brig Adelina, with one hundred and forty passengers, all persons of colour, flying from a new insurrection in Hayti- " The new President, Gerard, had marched with a large army for St. Do- mingo city, to quell the insurrection in the Eastern portion of the island. Taking advantage of the absence of the General and troops, the Black people rose en moose on Sunday the 31st March, and commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of the Brown population. On Wednesday, the National Guards of the town of Aux Cayes went out with two pieces 0f ordnance to suppress the rebellion and punish the rebels ; but, as we have learned, their own General commanding delivered up the cannons to the Blacks, and joined them himself. Thus strengthened, they drove the National Guard back again to Aux Cayes, entered the town, and commenced a relentless butchery—murdering every Brown person without regard to sex or age. The wretched inhabitants had no means of defence ; no refuge, save on board the few foreign ships lying in the harbour—French, American, and English. Into these they crowded in confused and huddled batches; men, women' and children literally covering the decks, and exhibiting a distressing spectacle of misery and sudden destitution. But the decked vessels were not sufficient to hold the number of wretched refugees: the port was dotted over with small open boats, each containing as many human beings as it could hold, who dared not remain on land to await certain massacre, and yet could have little hope of escape by sea." The work of blood still proceeded on the 4th A pril. Some mahogany. cutters at Port-au-Prince had seized a Colonel Pimental ; and among his papers is said to have been one making an offer from de French Government, through the French Consul, of men and money in aid of the revolt.