A half-monthly overland mail brings intelligence from Calcutta to the
8th of February. The most striking thing in it is a kind of rumour founded on known facts. The military men of the Bengal Presidency division remark the number of troops removed, not for the usual relief by general orders, but by order of the Supreme Government. Similar removals, as may be collected from casual arid Occasional orders for bullocks and other incidentals to a march, have taken place in the other divisions of Bengal; and it had at last been discovered that the desti- nation of all these troops is the North-west Provinces. It may be thence inferred that the state of the Punjaub gives some disquiet to Government. These movements are the more remarkable, as the usual time for marching large numbers of troops is past; and the force cannot be concentrated before the com- mencement of the hot season, which is not usually the _period for action. Froth their unobtrusive nature, however, and Sir Henry Hardinge's character, it is pre- sumed that they are only precautionary and defensive, and that no act of aggres- sion is contemplated. Sir Robert and Lady Sale had left Calcutta for the Upper Provinces.
There.is nothing new from ficinde, the Punjaub, Kholapore, or Sincunt Warree. Nepaul, so lately the scene of revolt, seems tranquil; for Prince Waldemar was travelling through it, with an escort provided by its ruler.
According to " reports " received via' Lahore, Afghanistan, which has recently suffered so much from the plague, is now visited by famine. Dost Afahomed had been set upon, when out riding, by a band of conspirators who wounded him se- verely,. but did not succeed in their attempt m his life. conspirators, Ithan is said to be busily occupied in repairing the fortifications of Jellalabad; and still keeps the Sikhs in fear for Peshawar.
Railway speculation continued to engage the public attention. Government was said to be determined to have the construction and management of railways, whether established at the public expense or by private capital; but that propo- sition had not met with much favour.
Commercial affairs at Calcutta were duller than ever.
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