28 MARCH 1846, Page 8

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INDIA.—Up to yesterday afternoon the overland mail from India had not arrived; but news notwithstanding has been received from the seat of war. The steamer Oriental ought to have brought the mail from Alexandria; but as she was three days too late, the steamer Virago was despatched, on the 9th instant, in her place. The Oriental, on arriving at Alexandria, did not of course find the snail; but she was fortunate enough to become the bearer of some copies of the Bombay Times of the 15th February; and- as the Virago was detained at sea, by an accident, for so long a time as to excite fears for her safety, the early arrival of the Oriental with the newspapers was a fortunate occurrence, the contents proving to be of high- interest.

A singularity may be noticed in connexion with this intelligence. In

the morning papers of Tuesday, very copious details of an engagement which took place near Loodianah, on the 28th January, were copied from the Bombay Times of February 15th, not drawn up from official despatches, but from other sources. Of course the arrival of the official reports was anxiously wished for; and arrive they did—not by the mail, however, but by the Bombay Times of the same date that had supplied the previous ma- terials; and the papers of Thursday published the authentic docuinents.. The readiest way of accounting for the discrepancy is, that two editions of the Bombay Times of the 15th had reached Alexandria; that the first edi- tion had found its way to England by the Oriental, and that the second had been forwarded via France on its value being discovered.

It is no longer questionable that another great battle had been fought on the banks of the Sutlej; but instead of the defeat which had been rumoured, a substantial victory was the result.

The previous unfavourable rumour may have originated in an occurrence'

which took place seven days prior to the battle, on the occasion of Sir Harry Smith's advance to form a junction with the troops at Loodianah.. A notice of this affair, and a statement of the cause which led to the- movement of the troops towards Loodianah, and which resulted in the decisive victory of Aliwal, are contained in the extract from a despatch by

the Commander-in-chief, dated 1st February, which forms the second of the subjoined documents.

" General Order by the Right Honourable the Governor-General. .‘ FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.

Camp, Ferozepore, 2d February 1846.

" The Governor-General announces to the army and the people of India, that he has received from his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of the army a report by Major-General Sir Harry Smith, K.C.B., dated the 30th ultimo, giving the- details of a complete victory gained by the troops under the immediate command of the Major-General, on the 28th of January, over the Sikh forces commanded by the Sirdar Runjoor Singh Majeethea. " In this decisive and glorious action, the enemy's infantry were dislodged from every position and village they attempted to hold, by rapid charges at the point of the bayonet. Their horsemen were driven from every part of the field by re- peated charges, in which the superior valour of the European and Native cavalry was most conspicuous; and the artillery, moving with its accustomed celerity, was always well to the-front, directing its fire with precision and effect. The result of these noble efforts of the three arms of artillery, cavalry, and infantry, in which the valour and discipline of the troops were happily combined with the skill of the commander, has been the signal defeat of the enemy; who was driven across the river with great loss, his camp being captured, and fifty-two pieces of artil- lery remaining in the hands of the victors. These trophies, in addition to those, taken at Ferozshah and Moodkee, complete the number of one hundred and forty-three pieces of artillery taken in the field from the enemy since the Bri- tish army moved from its cantonments to repel a most unprovoked aggression on its territories.

"To Major-General Sir Harry Smith, and to the brave troops he commanded, the Governor-General conveys the tribute of his admiration and the grateful ac- knowledgments of the Government and the people of India. The service rendered was most important, and was accomplished by the ability of the commander and the valour of the troops.

"The Governor-General's thanks are due to Brigadier Wheeler-' who, although still suffering from the wounds received at Moodkee,energeticallyheaded his Brigade, composed of her Majesty's Fiftieth Regiment, the Forty-eighth Native Infantry, and the Sirmoor Battalion. Great praise is also due to Brigadiers God- by and Hicks, who with the Thirty-sixth Native Infantry and Nnsseree Batta- lion, her Majesty's Thirty-first, and the Twenty-fourth and Forty-seventh Native Infantry, stormed the village of Aliwal, drove the enemy from it, and seized the guns by which it was defended.

".The Governor-General has much satisfaction in observing the warm terms of admiration in which the Major-General speaks of the Nusseree and Sirmoor Bat - talions, and the Shekawattee Brigade, under Brigadier Penny, Captain Fisher, and Major Forster. These corps nobly emulated the example of the regular re- giments of infantry. In short, the conduct of the troops, European and Native, regular and irregular, was throughout the field an honourable rivalry, in which every corps bravely did its duty. " Her Majesty's Sixteenth Lancers on this occasion have added to their former reputation, acquired in various fields of battle in Asia, by routing the enemy's cavalry in every direction, and by resolute charges of two of its squadrons under Captain Bere and Major Smith and Captain Pearson, penetrating the enemy's square of infantry; in which charges the squadrons were gallantly supported by the Third Light Native Cavalry under Major Angelo. " In these exploits the Native cavalry distinguished itself throughout the day; and the Governor-General is happy to bear this testimony to the fact, that since the army of the Sutlej commenced its operations on the 18th December, the Na- tive cavalry has on every occasion proved its superior prowess, whether in the general actions which have been fought, or in the various skirmishes at the out posts, such as that in which Captain Beecher was gallantly engaged with a small party of the Eighth Irregular Cavalry at Alloowalla on the morning of the 27th January. " The Governor-General's thanks are due in an especial manner to Brigadier Careton, who commanded the cavalry. This officer's whole life has been spent in' the most meritorious exertions in Europe and Asia • and on this occasion the skill and intrepidity with which the cavalry force was Iu'indled obtained the admiration of the army which witnessed their movements.

" The Government of India, ever desirous to mark its grateful sense of the ser- vices of the army, will cause a medal to be presented to every officer and soldier of the East India Company's service engaged in the battle of Aliwal; and requests, through his Excellency the Commander-in-chief, that a nominal roll may be fur- nished for that purpose.

"By order of the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India,

"F. Curios, Secretary to the

"Government of India with the Governor-General.'s Extract from a Despatch by his Excellency the Commander. in-chief to the. Right Honourable the Governor-General, dated February 1, 1846. "Meanwhile, the Upper Satlej has become the scene of very interesting opera- tions.

"It is a strange feature of thia-wai that the enemy, pressed for supplies on his own bank, has been striving to drawthem from his j agheer states on this side of the river. In the town and fort of Dhurrumkote, which were filled with grain, he had in the second week in January a small garrison of mercenaries--Rohillas, -Ensufties and Affghans. Major-General Sir Harry Smith was on the 18th sent against this place, with a single brigade of his division and a light field battery. He easily effected its reduction, the troops within it surrendering at discretion after a few cannon-shots. But whilst he was yet in march I received information of a more serious character. There remained little cause to doubt that Sirdar Runjoor Singh Majeethea had crossed from Philour at the head of a numerous force of all arms, and established himself in position at Baran Hara, between the old and the new courses of the Sutlej; not only threatning the city of Loodianah with plunder and devastation, but indicating a determination to intersect the line of our communications at Bussian and Raekote.

"The safety of the rich and populous town of Loodianah bad been in some measure provided for by the presence of three battalions of Native infantry, under Brigadier Godby; and the gradual advance of our reinforcements, amongst which was included her Majesty's Fifty-third P.egiment, and the position of the Sheka- ' wattee Brigade, near Russian, gave breathing-time to us La that direction. " Bat on the receipt of intelligence which could be relied on of the movements of Runjoor Singh, and his apparent views, Major-General Sir Harry Smith, with the brigade at Dhurumkote and BrigadierCureton's cavalry, was directed to ad- vance by Jugraon towards Loodianah; and his second brigade, under Brigadier Wheeler, moved on to support him. "Then commenced a series of very delicate combinations; the momentous cha- racter of which can only be comprehended by reflecting on the task which had devolved on this army of guarding the frontier from Rooper down to Mundote. " The Major-General, breaking up from Jugraon, moved towards Loodianah; when the Sirdar, relying on the vast superiority of his forces, assumed the initia- tive, and endeavoured to intercept his progress by marching in a line parallel to him, and opening upon his troops a &nous cannonade. The Major-General con- tinued coolly to manoeuvre; and when the Sikh Sirdar, bending round one wing of his army, enveloped his flank, be extricated himself by retiring with the steadi- ness of a field-day by echellon of battalions, and effected his communication with Loodianah, but not without severe loss. "Reinforced by Brigadier Godby, he felt himself to be strong; but his man- oeuvres had thrown him out of communication with Brigadier Wheeler, and a portion of his baggage had fallen into the hands of the enemy. The Sikh Sirdar took up an intrenched position at Bahowal, supporting himself on its fort; but threatened on either flank by General Smith and Brigadier Wheeler, finally de- camped and moved down to the Sutlej. The British troops made good their junction, and occupied the abandoned position of Butlhowal; the Shekawattee Brigade and her Majesty's Fifty-third Regiment also added to the strength of the jor-General, and he prepared to attack the Sikh Sirdar on his new ground. But on the 26th, Runjoor Singh was reinforced from the right bank with 4,000 regular troops, 12 pieces of artillery, and a large force of cavalry. Emboldened by this accession of strength,-he ventured on the measure of ad- vancing towards Jugraon, apparently with the view of intercepting our commu- nications by that route. " It is my gratifying duty to announce that this presumption has been rebuked by a splendid victory obtained over him. He has not only been repulsed by the Major-General, but his camp at Aliwal carried by storm, the whole of his can- nons and munitions of war captured, and his army driven headlong across the Sutlej; even on the right bank of which he found no refuge from the fire of our

I have the honour now to forward the Major-General's report, which has just reached me. It is so ample and luminous, that I might perhaps have spared some of the details into which admiration of the Major-General's conduct, and of the brave army confided to him, in these operations, has led me. "It now only remains for me to congratulate you, Right Honourable Sir, and the Government of India, on the brilliant success which, under Divine Provi- dence, the Major-General has achieved; and to record my opinion, that, through- out these arduous and important operations, he has displayed all the qualities of an able commander. Most strongly, and most earnestly at the same time, I beg to bring to your notice, and to that of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and the Honourable the Court of Directors, the officers and corps on whom he has so justly bestowed his commendations."

Despatch from Sir H. G. Smith, Major-General commanding, to the Adjutant- General of the Army.

"Camp, Field of the Battle of Aliwal, Jan. 30, 1846.

[The Major-General prefaces his account of the battle by mentioning, that the enemy abandoned the strongly intrenched fort of Buddawul on the night of the 22d January, and proceeded towards the ford of Tulwun, as though intending 'to cross the river; but his object was afterwards found to be to protect the pas- sage of a reinforcement of 4,000 men and twelve guns. On discovering that the -enemy had left the Buddawnl fort, the British tookpossession of it; and on the 26th received a reinforcement of infantry, cavalry, and some guns.

After making the necessary arrangements, the'army advanced, on the morning of the 28th, towards the enemy, who was occupying a position six miles distant.] " The troops moved forward towards the enemy; the advance conducted by Captain Waugh, Sixteenth Lancers, the Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster of -Cavalry, Major Bradford, of the First Cavalry, and Lieutenant Strachey, of the Engineers; who had been jointly employed in the conduct of troops up to the enemy's position, and for the purpose of reporting upon the faciiity and points of approach. Previously to the march of the troops, it had been intimated to me by Major Mackeson, that the information by spies led to the belief that the enemy would move somewhere at day-light, either on Jugraon, my position atBuddawul, or Loodianah. On a near approach to his outpost, this rumour was confirmed by a spy who had just left his camp, saying the Sikh army was actually in march towards Jugraon. My advance was steady, my troops well in hand; and if he had anticipated me on the Jugraon road, I could have fallen upon his centre with advantage.

"From the tops of the houses of the village of Poorein, I had a distant view of the enemy. He was in motion, and appeared directly opposite my front on „a ridge, of which the village of Aliwal may be regarded as the centre. His left appeared still to occupy its ground in the circular intrenchments; his right was brought forward, and occupied the ridge. I immediately deployed the cavalry into line, and moved on. As I neared the enemy, the ground became most favour- able for the troops to manoeuvre, being open andgrass land. I ordered the caval- ..ry to take ground to the right and left by brigades; thus displaying the heads of the infantry columns.; and as they reached the bard ground, I directed them to deploy into line. Brigadier Godby's Brigade was in direct echellon to the rear of the right; the Shekawattee infantry in like manner to the rear of my left; the cavalry in direct echelon on, and well to the rear of both flanks of the infantry. -The artillery massed on the right, and centre, and left. After deployment, I ob- served the enemy's left to outflank me: I therefore broke into open columns, and took ground to my right; when I had gained sufficient ground,. the troops wheeled into line: there was no dust—the sun shone bright- ly. The manceuvres were performed with the celerity and precision of the most correct field-day. The glistening of the bayonets and swords of this order of battle was most imposing; and the line advanced. Scarcely had it moved forward 150 yards, when, at ten o'clock, the enemy opened a fierce cannonade from his whole line. At first his balls fell short, but quickly reached us. Thus upon him, and capable of better ascertaining his position, I was compelled to halt the line, though under fire, for a few moments, until I aired that by bring- ing up my right andcarrying the village of Aliwal I with great effect pre-

cipitate myself upon his left and centre. I therefore ly brought up Briga- dier Godby's Brigade; and with it the First Brigad der Brigadier

made a rapid and noble charge, carried the village and oms of large calibre.

The line I ordered to advance; her Majesty's Thirty-fi Foot and the Native regiments contending for the front; and the battle becam eiteral. The enemy had a numerous body of cavalry on the heights to his left Bier Cureton to bring up the right brigade of cavalry; who, in e most

manner, dashed in among them, and drove them back upon their infantry. Meanwhile, a second gallant charge to my right was made by the Light Cavalry and the Body Guard. The Shekawattee Brigade was moved well to the right, in support of Brigadier Cureton. When I observed the enemy's encampment, and saw it was full of infantry, I immediately brought upon it Brigadier Godby's Brigade, by changing front, and taking the enemy's infantry en reverse. They

them before them, and took some guns without a check.

" While these operations were going on upon the right,. and the enemy's left flank was thus driven back, I occasionally observed the brigade under Brigadier Wheeler, an officer in whom I have the greatest confidence, charging and carrying guns and everything before it, again connecting his line and moving on in a manner which ably displayed the coolness of the Brigadier and the gallantry of his irresistible brigade—her Majesty's Fiftieth Foot, the Forty-eighth Native Infantry, and the Sirmoor Battalion; although the loss was, I regret to say, severe in the Fiftieth. Upon the left, Brigadier Wilson, with her Majesty's Fifty-third and Thirtieth Native Infantry, equalled in celerity and regularity their comrades on the right; and this brigade was opposed to the Aieen troops, called Avitabile's, when the fight was fiercely raging. " The enemy, well driven back on his left and centre, endeavoured to hold his right to cover the passage of the river; and he strongly occupied the village of Bhoondee. I directed a squadron of the Sixteenth Lancers, under Major Smith and Captain Pearson, to charge a body to the right of the village; which they did in the most gallant and determined style, bearing everything before them, as a squadron under Captain Bere had previously done; going right through a square of infantry, wheeling about and reentering the square in the most intrepid manner with the deadly lance. 'This charge was accompanied by the Third Light Cavalry, under Major Angelo, and as gallantly sustained. The largest On upon the field and seven others were then captured; while the Fifty-third Regi- ment carried the village by the bayonet, and the Thirtieth Native Infantry wheeled round to the rear in a most spirited manner. Lieutenant-Colonel Alex- ander's and Captain Turton's troops of Horse Artillery, under Major Lawrenson, dashed almost among the flying infantry, committing great havoc ; until about 800 or 1,000 men rallied under the high bank of a nuilab, and opened a heavy but ineffectual fire from below the tank. I immediately directed the Thirtieth Native Infantry to charge them; which they were able to do upon their left flank,

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while in a line in rear of the village. This Native corps nobly obeyed my orders, and rushed among the Avitabile troops, driving them from under the bank, and exposing them once more to the deadly fire of twelve guns within three hundred yards. The destruction was very great, as may be supposed, by guns served as these were. Her Majesty's Fifty-third Regiment moved forward in support of the Thirtieth Native Infantry, by the right of the village. The battle was won; our troops advancing. with the most perfect order to the common focus, the passage of the river. The enemy, completely hemmed in, were flying from our fire, and precipitating themselves in disordered masses into the ford and boats, in the utmost confusion and consternation. Our eight-inch howitzers soon began to play upon their boats, when the debris of the Sikh army appeared upon the opposite and high bank of the river, flying in every direction; although a sort of line was attempted to countenance their retreat, un- til all our guns commenced a furious cannonade; when they quickly receded. Nine guns were on the verge of the river by the ford. It appears as if they had been unlimbered to cover the ford. These, being. loaded, were fired once upon our advance. Two others were sticking in the river; one of them we got out. Two were seen to sink in the quicksands; two were dragged to the opposite bank and abandoned. These, and the one in the middle of the river, were gallantly spiked by Lieutenant Holmes, of the Eleventh Irregular Cavalry, and Gunner Scott, of the 1st troop Second Brigade Horse Artillery, who rode into the stream, and crossed for the purpose, covered by our gnus and light infantry. " Thus ended the battle of Aliwal, one of the most glorious victories ever achieved in India. By the united efforts of her Majesty's and the Honourable Company's troops, every gun the enemy had fell into our hands; as I infer from his never opening one upon us from the opposite bank of the river, which is high and favourable for the purpose. Fifty-two guns are now in the ordnance park, two sunk in the bed of the Sutlej, and two were spiked on the opposite bank; making a total of fifty-six pieces of cannon captured or destroyed. [It is stated in a foot-note " Eleven guns since ascertained to be sunk in the river; total, 67."] Many jinjalls, which were attached to Avitabile's corps, and which aided in the defence of the village of Bhoondee, have also been taken. The whole army of the enemy has been driven headlong over the difficult ford of a broad river; his camp

ge, stores of ammunition and of grain—his all, in fact—wrested from him

byy the repeated charges of cavalry and infantry, aided by. the gam of Alexander, Turton, Lane, Mill, Boileau, and of the Shekawattee Brigade, and by the eight- inch howitzers—our guns literally being constantly ahead of everything. The determined bravery of all was as conspicuous as noble. I am unwont to praise when praise is not merited, and I here moat avowedly express my firm opinion and conviction that no troops in any battle on record ever behaved more nobly; Bri- tish and Native (no distinction) cavalry all vying with her Majesty's Sixteenth Lancers, and striving to head in the repeated charges. Our guns and gunners, officers and men, may be equalled, but cannot be excelled, by any artillery in the world. Throughout the day, no hesitation, a bold and intrepid advance. And thus it is that our loss is comparatively small, though I deeply regret to say severe. The enemy fought with much resolution; they maintained frequent rep,- centres with our cavalry hand to hand. In one charge of infantry upon her Ma- jesty's Sixteenth Lancers, they threw away their muskets, and came on with their swords and targets against the lance." [The Major-General's record of the individuals who rendered conspicuous service during the eventful day is very copious. It embraces officers of all ranks and arms. The surgical and commissariat arrangements are well spoken of The exploits of the various regiments, European and Native, meet with hearty acknowledgment and commendation. The wounded were removed on the day after the battle to Loodianah. The forts of Buddawul and Noorpoor were blown up ]

Officers Killed and Wounded on the 21st January.

[See Extract from Despatch dated February let.)

First Brigade of Cavalry. Her Majesty's 16th Lancers—Killed, Lieutenant H. Swe- teuham and Comet G. B. Williams—Wounded, Major J. R. Smith (severely), Lieute- nants W. K. Orme (severely), T. rattle, and M. Morriss. 4th Irregular Cavalry— Killed, Lieutenant and Adjutant Smailpage.

Second Brigade of Cavalry. let Regiment Light Cavalry—Wounded, Cornet W. J. Beatson (slightly), and Cornet F. G. Farquhar (mortally). First Brigade of Infantry. Her Majesty's 31st Foot—Wounded, Lieutenant Atty (slightly). 24th Regiment Native Infantry—Wounded, Lieutenant Scott.

Second Brigade of Infantry. Wounded, Brigade Major Captain P. O'llanlon (badly). Her Majesty's 50th Foot—Killed, Lieutenant Grimes—Wounded, Captain W. Knowles (dangerously—leg amputated), Captain J. L. Wilton (severely), Lieutenants H. J. Fratnpton (dangerously—arm amputated), R. B. Betters, W. P. Eigee (slightly), A. W. White, W. C. Vernett, and J Purcell (severely), Ensign W. It. Farmer (severely). 48th Regiment Native Infantry—Wounded, Captain Troup, Lieutenant II. Palmer, and Ensign W. Marshall (slightly), Lieutenant and Adjutant Wall (severely). tk441.4(10r110-

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Fourth Brigade of Infantry. 36th Regiment Native Infantry—Wounded, EnsIgs Basahaw. Abstract of Loss on the 28th January.

Total klllod-151 men and 177 horses. Total wounded-413 men and 79 horses. Total missing- 2.5 men and 97 horses. Grand total of men killed, wounded and mis- sing, b89. Grand total of horses ditto, 353.

After an abstract of the captured ordnance, it is added—" The quantity of ammunition captured with the artillery, and found in the camp of the enemy, is beyond accurate calculation; consisting of shot, shell, grape, and small-arm am- munition of every description and for every calibre. The powder found in the limbers and waggons of the guns, and in the magazines of the intrenched camp, bas been destroyed, to prevent accidents. Six large hackery loads have also been appropriated to the destruction of forts in the neighbourhood. As many of the shot and shell as time would admit of being collected have been brought into the park: the shells, being useless, have been thrown into the river. The shot will be appropriated to the public service."

The following particulars bearing on military movements are supplied by the Bombay Times.

A division of Sikhs, about 40,000 strong, with a large park of well-appointed artillery, still continue at Hurreekee, in front of the division under the Com- mander-in-chief. Their pontoon bridge is protected by a battery of guns placed sii the British side of the river.

At Ithonda Ghat, the British were constructing a bridge; the boats which were sunk in December, to save them from the shot of the enemy, having been raised for thepurpose.

The Senate army is on the march. The division on the left bank of the Indus is commanded by General Simpson; that on the right by Sir Charles Napier; the steam flotilla, and a countless host of boats, moving up between them. The army is expected to take up a position near Mittun-kote, 140 miles above Sukkur and 810 below Ferozepore, and remain there till called on to cooperate after the hot season was over—about September or October. Gholab Singh, a chieftain of great influence in the Punjaub, has come down from his mountain holds, and arrived at Lahore with some 12,000 men and a vast amount of supplies: no fewer than 300,000 bullocks are said to attend his Camp.

The Moultan chief was playing fast and loose; offering to cooperate with Sir Charles Napier against the Sikhs, and making similar proposals at Lahore as re- gards resisting the English.

A general order had been issued on the subject of the Sixty-second Regiment. The Commander-in-chief completely exonerates the regiment from the imputation of having improperly fallen back at the battle of Ferozeshah. Credit is given for devoted gallantry ; and it is mentioned that the order to retire was issued by the Brigadier in command.

UNITED STATES.—AeeettritS from New York, to the 5th instant, reached Liverpool on Thursday, by the packet-ships Montezuma and the Marmion. These vessels had left port within a day of each other, and both entered the Mersey about the same time.

The news from Washington is to the 3d instant. On the 2d, the dis- cussion in the Senate on Mr. Colquitt's pacific resolutions was resumed; and continued on the following day.

The speaking during the two days seems to have been limited to two speeches, and neither of them presents any distinguishing feature. Mr. Breese urged an objection to arbitration, which he thought fatal—the want of power to make any award by arbitrement binding upon the parties. Mr. Dayton thought that the conduct of the United States on the question of arbitration would be deemed by the civilized world evasive and unsatis- factory. Mr. Haywood was to speak on the 4th; and it was understood that he would be the medium for communicating the sentiments of the President on the subject of a compromise.

The private correspondence received by this conveyance speaks confidently of the renewal of negotiations for settlement by the Executives of both .Governments. Mr. Calhoun has been using his influence with the Presi- dent to bring this about: he proposed to Mr. Polk to take the sense of the Senate on the propriety of advising the President to resume negotiations on the 49th parallel, yielding the navigation of the Columbia, Great Britain giving some other things as an equivalent. The President is understood to have declined to take the opinion of the Senate; deeming it better that the question should be managed by the Executive. After several consultations with members of the Senate, a Cabinet Council was held; and it was re- solved to submit another offer to Great Britain on the basis of the 49th parallel. It was believed that the despatch conveying the offer would be sent to England by the Cambria.

SrAne.—The final act that dispersed the Miraflores Cabinet occurred on the evening of the 16th instant. The Cabinet was known to be tottering for several weeks; but it did not serve the purpose of the party plotting against it to bring about a premature crisis. Narvaez, it appears, was in communication with the Queen, and had made overtures to Messrs. Mon

and Pidal, two of his former colleagues, to join him in the Government; but they declined. The plot continued to advance; and the morning of

the 16th was fixed upon by the partisans of the Minister de facto to make an attack on M. de Miraflores and his colleagues in the Chamber of De- puties. The Chamber was thrown into an uproar in consequence. M. Egana (a Minister expectant) began the attack, by declaring that the con- duct of the President, M. Castro y Orozco, in convening the Chamber, had been anti-constitutional. This statement occasioned the greatest confusion. M. Pe- suds, (another Minister expectant,) after vainly attempting to address the House was preparing to leave it in a state of considerable excitement, when the President ordered him to be stopped. This arrest increased the confusion, and it was long before order was restored. M. Castro y Orozco vindicated his conduct in con- vening the Chambers, and for ordering the arrest of M. Pezuela. A vote was afterwards taken, and the course adopted by the President was approved by a majority of 111 to 41. Explanations were then demanded as to the state of the Ministry. M. de .Miraflores replied, that the Cabinet was not aware of the exist- awe of any circumstance calculated to endanger its stability. The Queen had neither directly nor indirectly intimated that she was disposed to withdraw her confidence: had the slightest symptom of distrust been exhibited, the Ministry would have resigned on the instant. A motion tantamount to a vote of confi- dence in the Ministry was proposed, but the discussion was adjourned. The Madrid correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, writing on the 17th, says— It appears that the proceedings [in the Chamber] were duly reported by General Pezuela to Narvaez, and by him doubtless to the Queen; who was made to believe, that an attack had been made upon her prerogative, and who sent for the Marquis of Miraflores and his colleagues in the evening, and addressed them in something like reproach at having permitted what had occurred, proposing at the same time to issue a decree dissolving the present Chamber. To this the Marquis of Miraflores and Senor Istunz declared themselves opposed; and in consequence the whole Cabinet tendered their resignations; which were forthwith accepted, and General Narvaez nominated Minister of War, and appointed to form a new Cabinet:"

Next day the names of the new Ministers were gazetted—General Nar- vaez, President of Council and Minister of War; General Narvaez, Wmister (ad interim) of Foreign Affairs; General Don Juan De Pezuela, Minister of Marine and Colonies; Don Pedro Egana, Minister of Grace and Justice; Don Francisco De Paula Orlando, Minister of Finance; Don Javier De Burgos, Minister of the Home Department.

The Morning Chronicle gives some account of these worthies- " General Pezuela is Inspector-General of Cavalry, brother to the Marquis of Viluma, and is the Deputy who occasioned such a disturbance in the Chamber yesterday: his nomination seems something like a declaration of war after what occurred, and the vote given by the majority in approval of the President's con- duct, which was tantamount to a vote of censure on that of Pezuela. Senor Egana is a Basque Deputy of respectability, but of very high Monarchical notions, and a strong Fuerist into the bargain. Senor Orlando is said to have shown a good deal of business talent in the post he has filled for some time at the head of the civil department of the Army; but for the rest he is considered entirely de- voted to Narvaez, whqpte creation he is. Senor Burgos was one of the first Eats- tnto Ministers; a forTher Afrancesado, having accepted the Sub-Prefecture of Almeria under Joseph Bonaparte: he is a Senator, and a man of considerable knowledge and of practical experience in the department he now fills. Altogether, the complexion of the new Ministry is strongly military and Ultra-Royalist. "It is said that the Foreign Office will be offered to the Duke of Sotomayor; and that if he accept the appointment the London mission will be offered to Senor Isturiz. General Roncali, who it is supposed will be appointed Captain-General of Cuba when O'Donnell's time is out, in the mean time is gazetted for the first time as Conde de Alcor, though the title was conferred two }ears age. Senor .Arruzola is stated to have been named a member of the Council of State. Se- nor Pena .Aguayo has been named a Grand Cross of Isabel the Catholic; and Senor Istnriz, Grand Cross of Charles the Third."

The Narvaez Ministry were not long in giving a practical exhibition-al their political views and intentions. On the 17th two Royal decrees, of an arbitrary character, were published. The first suspends the Cortes: the second directs that for certain offences—namely, the publication of that which may be deemed seditious matter—the offending journal be suspended, and for a repetition of aggravated offence such journal be definitively sus- pended—in other words, suppressed.

Great alarm was felt at Madrid at the issuing of these decrees. The peace, however, remained unbroken. It was supposed that the suspension of the Cortes would lead to a dissolution and a new election.

Several dismissals had taken place. General Concha is superseded in the general command of the Basque Provinces, by General Urbistondo, formerly an officer in the Carlist army. It was believed that General Shelley would be appointed Inspector-General of the Cavalry, in the room of General Pezuela, and that General Roncali would succeed the former as Captain-General of Seville. Brigadier Cortes, one of the Chiefs of the War Department, had resigned his office. M. Arteta, the Political Chief of Madrid, had been dismissed, and replaced by General Balboa.

The editors of the principal journals bad met at M. Borrego's, and de- termined to suspend their publications.

Fassea.—A discussion on the secret service money, which commenced on Thursday sennight; in the Chamber of Peers, was converted into a de- bate on the subject of Poland. Stirring speeches in behalf of Polish na- tionality were made by the Count do Montalembert, the Prince de la Mos- kowa, and M. Victor Hugo. M. Guizot declined to interfere, but stated that France would afford a refuge and pecuniary assistance to the unfor- tunate insurgents. After two days' discussion, the secret service money bill was carried by a majority of 84. Ministers had a narrow escape from being outvoted in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday, on the National Guard question. "Had not M. Du- chatel acquiesced to a certain extent in the amendment moved by M. Lacrosse," says the Times, in a private letter, " Ministers would have been beaten." Ultimately, the amendment which went to blame the conduct of the Ministry for dissolving the National Guards of Toulouse and Car- casonne, and not reorganizing them within the period fixed by the law of 1831, was rejected by the Chamber on Monday, by 230 to 53.

The demonstrations for Polish nationality are likely to hasten the arm- ing of the Paris fortifications. The Cowrie,. de la Sarthe asserts that can- non and ammunition are conveyed by stealth into the forts.

The Duke D'Aumale and the Prince of Saxe-Coburg landed at Algiers in the afternoon of the 17th.

PoLaan.—The intelligence from Russian Poland is still meagre, but It is official. Field-Marshal Paskevitsch has been appointed to the chief command in the kingdom of Poland and the governments of Volhynia and Podolia. Martial law has been proclaimed in these three provinces. Orders have been issued to call out immediately for active service in the Polish provinces all the soldiers residing on unlimited furlough, or furlough for a year, in the governments of Vilna, Kovno, Grodno, Volhynia, Podolia, Kiev, and the kingdom of Poland. The leaders of the insurrectionary movement at Siedlce near Warsaw have already received their punishment. Potozki has been hanged at Siedlce; Kocishevski and Zarski have been hanged at Warsaw; Dobrytah and Rupprecht, sentenced to be hanged, had their lives spared, but are degraded from their rank, and condemned to exile and hard labour in Siberia; Mirezki and Deskur, were made to pass under the gallows, and sent to Siberia to be IsSpt at hard labour. Travellers arrived in Prussia represent the number of arrests in Warsaw as far more numerous than those which have taken place in Posen, and the number of troops under arms and in motion in the Russian as much greater than in the Prussian territories. The military, however, is still kept on the alert in Posen; and the soldiery, though concentrated in great masses in the province, much harrassed with marches and countermarches.

In Galicia the peasantry still give occasion for much anxiety. The roads throughout the province are said to be rendered unsafe by their predatory bands. A considerable force is represented as having drawn to a head under a village notary at Neumarkt, in the Carpathians, near the Hungarian frontier. Lemberg is still held in a state of siege. The disturbances among the peasantry are understood to be extending across the Vistula into the Russian provinces. A writer in the Hamburg Correspondent professes to ac- count for the bitter enmity against the Galician nobles that animates the peasants. For many years the Austrian Government has delegated to the nobles every function of executive government, the exercise of which is dis- pleasing to the peasants. The nobleman has been charged with the levying of taxes and the commutation-money for military services from the peasants on his estate. On the other hand, all benefits conferred upon the peasantry were made to flow through the hands of Government officials. This year, up- wards of 100,000 peasants were reduced to a state of destitution by floods following a deficient harvest. A committee of relief, organized by the no- bles, collected several thousand florins in the course of a few days: the Provincial Government ordered the money to be paid into the treasury, in order that the relief might be administered to the sufferers through its means. The alienation of the peasants from their oo.sotrymenof the supe- rior classes occasioned by this policy is representdiseWliaving been in- creased by the wild stories disseminated among the former by the dis- charged German soldiers whom the government has encouraged to settle in Galicia. The great number of these old soldiers settled in the country, explains in some degree the efficiency of the impromptu corps enrolled from among the peasants to resist the invasion of the insurgents of Cracow. We notice these statements as charges deliberately made against the Austrian Government, and which that Government is required to disprove. Prince Metternich's smooth and vague account of the " peasants war " of the nineteenth century in Galicia is not sufficient. The narratives of Silvio Pellico and others show of what craft and cruelty the Austrian Government has at times been capable; and it is notorious that the main difference between the diplomatic schools of Talleyrand and Metternich is, that while the former only sanctions the concealment of the truth, the latter sanctions the assertion of a falsehood when deemed expedient.

An ordinance has been issued by the Emperor of Austria, in which his Imperial Majesty declares, that having learned Prince Adam Czartoryzki had expressed approbation of the Polish insurrection, all the Prince's es- tates and moveable property in Austria are to be sequestrated from the use of himself, his wife, or descendants. This without any judicial investiga- tion, on a mere rumour, shows the real character of the Austrian Govern- ment. A Cologne paper states that the Prince had passed through that town on his way to Berlin to intercede for his countrymen compromised in the insurrection.

By an arrangement entered into between the three Powers, General 'Count Wrbna is to take the command of the free town of Cracow for three years. The Russian troops are to occupy Mogila and Krzeszo- wire, and the Western part of the territory is to be occupied by the Prus- sians. The Provisional Government is composed of civil and military agents, of whom Count Castiglione is the head. There is likewise a com- mission appointed to try the prisoners. Wolf, who was Minister of Finance under the Revolutionary Government, is kept guarded in his own house, not only on account of his having assumed that post, but as answerable for the large sums raised by the insurgents from the Austrians at Wieliezka.