9 APRIL 1842, Page 9

Iftistetlantous.

The Duke of Wellington hunted on Monday with the Vine hounds. The meet was at Ashe Park, where the Duke arrived soon after eleven. A fox was quickly found, which enabled his Grace to return early to Strathfieldsaye, and leave immediately for London ; a pretty strong proof that his Grace is in good health.—Morning Post. A subsequent paragraph mentions that the Duke walked in his garden at Apsley House between six and seven o'clock on Thursday morning.

The blue riband, which became vacant on the death of the late Duke of Norfolk, has been conferred upon the Duke of Cleveland.

We understand that a marriage will shortly take place between the Honourable Henry Petre, second son of Lord Petre, and Miss Walmes- ley, only daughter of Richard Walmesley, Esq., of Middleton Hall, Essex ; and that Mr. Petre will return immediately with his bride to Wellington in New Zealand, where he has considerable property.— Colonial Wellington,

Lady Jane Peel was called to town, from Brighton, on Sunday morn- ing, by the sadden illness of her mother, the aged Dowager Dutchess of Richmond.

It is said that among the Earl of Munster's papers one has been found addressed to the Queen, requesting that the same allowance may be made to his children from the Privy Purse as that which he enjoyed.

Lord Rolle expired at his seat, Bicton Park, near Honiton, Devon, on Sunday morning. John Rolle, Baron Rolle of Stevenstone, in the county of Devon, Colonel of the South Devon Militia, and Recorder of Torrington, was born the 16th October 1755, and was consequently in Iris eighty-sixth year ; he married first, in 1788, Judith Maria, only daughter of Mr. Henry Walrond of Bovey House, Devon, who died the 1st October 1820, without issue; and secondly, in 1822, the Honourable Louisa Trefusis, youngest daughter of Robert George 'William, fifteenth Baron Clinton, who survives. Lord Rolle obtained his peerage by creation in 1796. As he dies without issue, the title be- -comes extinct. Lady Rolle is seriously indisposed.

Mr. Yates, the popular manager of the Adelphi Theatre, is lying ill at Morrison's Hotel in Dublin ; having broken a blood-vessel in a fit of .sea-sickness on the passage across the Irish ChanneL

The Morning Post says that the European Powers have come to a compromise in respect to the marriage of Isabella the Second of Spain, in order to avoid disagreement— "England has abandoned the project of marrying the Queen to a Prince of the house of Coburg; France has withdrawn her claims for a Prince of the Orleans family ; and Austria has renounced her hopes of an alliance between the youthful Queen and an Austrian Archduke. We are enabled to state upon the -best authority, that the combined choice of England and France has at length definitively fallen upon a Prince of Bavaria; and M. Pageot, who has recently returned from London, has just been sent on an extraordinary mission to Vienna, in order to obtain the sanction of Austria to this marriage, and also her mediation with the Courts of Berlin and St. Petersburg for their consent and approbation." The Post adds, that the negotiations for the marriage of the Duke of Bordeaux with the Grand Dutchess of Olga Russia are supposed to have fallen to the ground.

A letter from Bologna, dated March 21st, describes a new triumph of the great musician of the day-

" The whole town is in a ferment of delight—Rossini's Stabat Mater has been performed at the Lyceum, in a style impossible to be accomplished in any other city of Europe; Donizetti conducting, and Rossini himself giving the time; Clara Novello, Ivanhoff, and Prince Belgiojoso singing the solos—chorus and orchestra excellent. But perhaps the crowning perfection was the enthu- siasm of the audience, which amounted to a furor scarcely conceivable in England. The whole town literally followed Rossini home after the perform- ance; and when he subsequently entered the carriage with Clara Novelle', to go to a supper given in his honour, the shouts and vaults were tremendous. The crowd then proceeded to unharness the horses, and draw them in triumph ; but Rossini good-humouredly put his bead out of the carriage-window and implored them not, as the animals were skittish, and might kick some of them. During supper the band played under the windows ; and the multitude re- peatedly called out Rossini into the balcony, where he appeared with lights, and pleasantly bowed and thanked them. "The Bolognese may well be proud of their townsman, who at his advanced age has composed this beautiful music; for, in the original Stabat Mater, written for the Spanish Cardinal, the solos were net Rimini% but have been lately added, at the request of his friend Troupenas, by his still fertile genius. The world, in its gossiping vagaries, has denominated Rossini selfish and avaricious, yet he supports nearly thirty poor relations, and gives away thou- sands in charity ; privately it is true, for he is too great to boast or seek popularity by such deeds, which spring with him from pure benevolence ; neither is he anxious to court the society of the mere rich, or the noble and idle traveller, but to artists his purse is ever open, and, what is of infinitely more advantage, his counsel is ever most kindly and judiciously bestowed. May he long enjoy health and the love and honour he so richly merits and receives!"

Louis Philippe has been unwell : he bad a cold on Monday, and kept his chamber ; but he resumed his usual habits on Tuesday. There have been rumours In London that the King is troubled with some dropsical symptoms.

The Chamber of Deputies discussed on Monday the additional ex- traordinary credits for 1841 and 1842, amounting to 84,000,000 francs. An additional supply of 3,693,000 francs for Algiers gave rise to a warm debate; in which M. Thiers urged the necessity of a large outlay to improve the African port, so as to secure naval communication with Toulon ; an object, he said, which M. Guizot has postponed in the wish not to excite the jealousy of England. Marshal Soult said, that if the Chamber wished the works at Algiers to proceed with greater rapidity, it had only to vote larger sums of money. The debate was adjourned.

The overland mail brings advices from Bombay to the 1st of March. The most important intelligence from India relates to no new facts, but consists in a confirmation of the main part of the accounts last received from Cabal. The following connected narrative is abridged, with some alteration, from the Times— The disturbance which led to the open war and final evacuation of the city seems to have commenced with the slaughter of Sir Alexander Burnes and his brother, and Captain Broadfoot of the Forty-fourth, on the 1st November. On the 2d, Shah Soojah sent his son to the relief of Burnes; and on the same day Sir William Macnaghten, who was in the cantonment, requested leave for Briga- dier Skelton to shell the town from the Bala Hisser. 'The infuriated populace attacked the Commissariat fort, between the town and the cantonment, and took it, and three days after another fort with stores in it ; the troops having had but two days' provisions in the cantonment. At this time a difference of opinion prevailed between the British leaders ; the Envoy being desirous of offensive measures, while General Elphinstone, from circumstances connected with the forces, among whom despondency and vacillation are described as then prevailing, maintained his opinion for defensive ones. At the solicitation of the Envoy, some small forts in the neighbourhood, which contained grain, were captured. In the mean time, the news of the dispersion of several of the Afghan corps in Shah Soojah's service, commanded by British officers, reached the besieged, and contributed to add to their gloomy prognostics. Various reverses and successes followed during some days; and ultimately the troops were all withdrawn from the Bala Hisser to the camp. The insurgents, who had learned that there were movements of succours from Candahar, showed a disposition to negotiate for the withdrawal of the British troops; Sir William Macnaghten, on the other hand, having learned the retreat of the Candabar brigade, and General Sale's blockaded state at Jellalabad, agreed to a convention comprising twenty articles. Meanwhile, Akbar Khan, the second son of Dost Mahommed, had appeared in the town ; and by his appointment Sir William Macuaghten went to hold a conference with him on the 23d (not the 25th) of December, accompanied by Captains Lawrence, Trevor, and Mackenzie. They bad not been present five minutes when a signal was given, and all were seized and forced to mount behind some Ghilzee chiefs. The British Envoy resisted, and was slain, as also Captain Trevor, who had slipped off the horse on which he had been placed. Their murderers are now said to be "Ghazees," or religious enthusiasts, who fight as soldiers for "the sake of God," and who, if killed in battle, are called " Shalidees," or martyrs. The treatment of Sir William's body has been described as most barbarous; though his lady offered a large sum for its ransom, in order to have it decently interred. The other two officers were saved by the dread of the Ghazees to fire at them, lest the Ghilzees who rode before them should be wounded. They returned to the cantonment on the 28th. Akhbar Khan has, it is said, boasted of his having in person killed Sir William Macnaghten. Major Pottinger then took charge of the British mission, and the negotia- tions for the withdrawal of the troops were continued. On the 4th January, a treaty was signed. It stipulated that, on delivering up six hostages, granting orders for the evacuation of the different strong-holds, and abandoning the treasure and certain munitions of war, the British force should be permitted to march to Jellalabad unmolested, taking with them their arms, and, as it would appear, their guns and ammunition. The sick and wounded were to be left to the care of the "existing Government." The orders for evacuation alluded to appear to have been written on the 30th December, as the instructions re- ceived by Sir R. Sale for the abandonment of Jellalabad bore that date. The officers surrendered as hostages are said to be Captains Walsh, of the Fifty- second Madras Native Infantry, Drummond, of the Third Cavalry, and Webb, of the Thirty-eighth Madras Native Infantry, and Lieutenants Airie, of her Majesty's Third, Aide-de-camp to General Elphinstone, Connolly and War- burton of the Artillery. Shah Soojah refused to accompany the retiring form; and was left in the Bala Hisser with about 3,000 followers, defending himself against the attacks of the enemy. The troops marched on the 5th January ; and the cantonments, as soon as they had quitted them, were set in flames. The snow was one foot deep on the ground when the troops reached Beegroma, three miles distant. The schemes of Akhbar Khan then became evident : he had despatched emissaries throughout the country through which the unfortu- nate British soldiers had to pass, calling on the people to rise en mane and slay the infidels. His call was not in vain. On the first day's march, Cornet Bardynnan of the Fifth Cavalry and some men were killed. Mahommed Akhbar Khan, who- had taken charge of the retreat, contrived to induce the British to take up stations at night where he chose. On the 7th, they moved to Bareckhar, where the three mountain-guns were seized. Their rear-guard were obliged to act on the defensive during the whole of the day. On the 8th, the camp was nearly surrounded by enemies ; and it became evident that the British soldiers would have to fight their way to Jellalabad. Captain Skinner went to Mahommed Akhbar Khan, who was on a hill close to the British camp, and inquired why they could not proceed according to the convention. The reply was, that they had left the Cabal cantonments before the troops destined to protect them were ready ; and that no chief but he (Akhbar Khan) had the means or power to protect them, notwithstanding their convention. Akhbar Khan, whose violent hatred to the British had been sharpened not only by the conquest of his father's territories, but by his own exile and sub-

sequent imprisonment in Bokbara, and by his wild fanaticism, demanded then,

on the third day of the retreat from Cabul, that the British should, wii5n sur- rounded by the Ghazees under his command, make new terms with him, and promise not to proceed further than Tazeen, until the withdrawal of the three under Sir R. Sale from Jellalabad was known ; and be insisted on six besieges. The convention is not fully known, but it is pretended that among the sr there were some declaring that all the British troops were to evacuate Afghan- istan. Major Pottinger, who was lame from a wound, instantly offered to be a hostage; and at Akhbar Khan's orders, Captains M'Kenzie and.Lawrance were included. The Ghazees were, however, not restrained in their attacks ; and a fearful slaughter followed on the movement towards Khoord Cabal. The column was attacked on all sides. The fourteen ladies, who were in the centre, seemed objects of special desire. Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Boyd had each a child carried off. Akhbar Khan, while the Ghazees were thus busy, professed, his inability to restrain them ; and on the 9th January demanded that the ladies should be placed under his protection. The miserable weather, the snowy wastes, the rough mountain-tracks, and the month of January in the coldest regions of Central Asia, compelled them to yield : the hostages halted for some clays in that neighbourhood.

The demand on General Sale to relinquish his post was made on the 9th Janu- ary ; and on that day he refused to do so unless by orders from the Supreme Go- vernment. This answer was taken back to Akhbar Khan. The unfortunate Sepoys began again to move, and were again assailed: the Sepoys, who form Snell good soldiers under the broiling sun of India, being enervated and stupi- fied by the cold, scarcely offered any resistance, and hundreds of them were soon despatsted by the Ghazee cut-throats ; but the Europeans and some brave men kept together until they reached the pass of Jugdulluk. Here General Elphinstone and Brigadier Skelton became hostages, and were detained two miles distant by Akhbar. General Elphinstone wrote a note in pencil to Bri- gadier Anguetil—. March tonight; there is treachery." The British troops marched early in the night : they came to the frightful mountain-pass ; it was barricaded ; they forced the way, and reached Jugdulluk ; which they defended some time, until Brigadier Anguetil was killed. All order was then lost, and confusion and separation, slaughter and destruction, ensued. Several officers who were well mounted attempted to make good their way into Jellalabad. Some of them arrived within three or four miles ; when they were murdered and plundered, and their bodies left on the road. Only one officer, Dr. Brydon, of the Fifth Bengal Native Infantry, though wounded in several places and exhausted, succeeded in reaching the place of safety in Jellelabad on the 13th. Of the fate of the other 6,500 soldiers and 7,000 camp-followers nothing cer- tain is known ; many have been killed, others are dispersed. Some of the Sepoys are said to have been sold as slaves to the Usbeck 'Tartars.

Letters continued to arrive at Bombay from various quarters, describing the state of the prisoners and hostages. Akhhar Khan is said, in a letter received from Major Pottinger, dated 23d January, to be at the fort of Badeeabad, in the Lughman country ; where he keeps the following prisoners—Generals Elphinstone and Skelton, Lieutenant Mackenzie, Captain and Mrs. Anderson and child, Captain Boyd, Lieutenant Eve, Lieutenant Waller, Mrs. Trevor, Lady Sale, Lady Marnaghten, Mrs. Start, Mr. and Mrs. Ryley, Sergeant and Mrs. Wade, Captains Troop, Johnson, and G. P. Lawrence, and Major Pottinger. There are besides the six officers and the sick who were left at Cabal on the departure of the troops. Akhbar Khan, in the letters from that fort, which are received unsealed, is described as doing every thing " to make them comfortable."

The latest intelligence from Cabul is, that Shah Soojah has succeeded in se- curing the good-will of all the chiefs. Newab Mahomed Zeman Khan has been appointed Vizier; and Ameer Oolla Lagharee, one of the lea0ers in the late insurrection has been promoted.

The Supreme Government, on the 31st January, published a proclamation admitting the fact of the convention at Cabal, the disastrous retreat of the troops, and declaring that the most active measures had been adopted and would be steadily pursued, for expediting powerful reinforcements to the Afghan frontier.

Orders were also published on the 5th of February for the purpose of having a tenth company added to every regiment in India ; which, with other mea- sures adopted, will cause an increase of about 26,000 men.

From other quarters the news is not important.

General Sale had maintained his position at Jellalabad, which he fortified with a ditch ; and he planted cannon in different places, with a determination to defend his position to the utmost. Akhbar Khan had attempted to raise the Oolooses, or heads of the neighbouring clans, in order to attack Jellalabad ; but the gallantry and resolution displayed by Sir Robert Sale in October, during his march from Cabal to Jella- labad, had given them such proofs of his bravery that they had hitherto hesitated. The troops in Jellalabad are stated to be well provided with food, and able to keep their ground until the beginning of March.

Colonel Wild had been foiled in an attempt to penetrate the Khyber- rie Pass, from Peshawar, with a brigade for the relief of Jellalabad. General Pollack, with a considerable force, was just about to proceed through the pass.

An attempt of the insurgents to seize Ghuznee is said to have been so far successful, that the town was in their power ; but Colonel Palmer, with his regiment and six months' provisions, was safe in the citadel. At Cattdahar, on the 1 1 th, Prince Suftur Jung, the youngest and favourite son of Shah Soojah, and Mahommed Atta, a local chief, came with a iaigG free within about five miles' distance. General Nott marched against them on the 12th, and in a short time dispersed the whole, with a trifling loss. The young Prince proved himself a coward, as he is a traitor to his father's friends.

The Siekh expedition into Thibet had been routed, and its leader, Zorawur Singh, killed.

The mutiny in the Madras troops at Secunderabad, about a reduction in their batta, had been forcibly suppressed.

Lord Auckland had made preparations for his voyage to Europe on board the Hungerford, a large trader from Calcutta.

The latest intelligence from China is to the 17th January. The Bri- tish expedition there appears to be waiting for the reinforcement from England and India. The report that there had been an attack on Hang-chow-foo was without foundation. Nevertheless, a sort of war- fare was carried on. The British naval commander at Hong Kong continued to seize Chinese junks. The Chinese at Canton were busy in making the defences of that river as effective as possible. They had three Dutch eugiueers, named Van Seholte, Van Braam, and Van Schroek, for whom they sent a junk to Java some months ago. It is not stated if those engineers belong to the Dutch army, although it is presumed that they do.

The Chinese Emperor is represented as incensed and alarmed with the proceedings of the foreigners. Some of the reports from his lieu- tenants in the provinces he had read " with fast-falling tears." Great preparations are stated to be made in the province of Pekin, which is under his own Imperial jurisdiction, to resist the invaders, who were expected there. Large forces were collected in the neighbourhood of Ningpo; and as Sir Hugh Gough thought more troops necessary in order to maintain that position, the .Admiral despatched a ship to take about eight hun- dred Europeans from Hong Kong. The Queen's ship Cornwallis bad proceeded from Hong Kong to join the expedition.

The first division of the Twenty-ninth Regiment will sail from Gravesend on Saturday [today], on board the ships Beulah and Eliza- beth. The second division will embark on the 15th instant, in the Thomas Lowry, Glenelg, and Charles Kerr. The regiment has com- pleted its numbers to its new establishment of a thousand rank and file.—Correspondent of the Standard.

The Government has determined to annex the Chatham Islands to the colony of New Zealand. The German settlers, therefore, if they proceed with their enterprise, will be subject to the sovereignty of the British Crown.—Cdonia/ Gazette.