It was supposed at the beginning of the week that
the necessity for an expedition to Abyssinia had been avoided. A letter was received by Colonel Merewether, Political Agent at Aden, from Consul Cameron, reporting that native rebels had separated the prisoners from King Theodore. Native rebels would probably give .them up in hopes of our support, and no expedition would in that case be necessary.. It has since, however, been stated that Theodore retains many of his prisoners, and there is some reason to doubt whether Mr. Cameron has the means of ascertaining the King's true position. The preparations therefore have been silently going forward, and we are informed from' Bombay that the army of invasion will comprise about 10,000 men, including an unusual proportion st-artillery, and that the command will be entrusted to Colonel Merewether, a very good selection.
