It appears to be understood on all sides that the
India House is arranging for an expedition to Abyssinia, to be carried out should Theodore refuse to surrender his British captives. It will be organized by the Bombay Government, and consist of Bombay troops, under the command either of Sir William Staveley or Colonel Merewether, now Agent at Aden, a dashing, clear-headed officer, in whom General Jacob greatly believed. He ought to succeed if Government will leave him alone judiciously, and if good arrangements can be made for feeding the troops. It would be advisable to limit the expedition to Christians and Mohammedans, as the Hindoo Sepoys will eat neither beef, nor bread baked by any hands but their own. The plan of invasion, it is said, has been drawn up by Sir W. Coghlan, and it is a little hard that he should not carry it out. If we recollect rightly, he managed a most difficult and dangerous little expedition into the desert against the Sultan of Lahej with eminent judgment and success.
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