it BENGAL. THE LATE MAJOR THOMAS FISHER. The late Major Thomas Fisher, 48th regt. N.I., whose name will be found in our obituary, had previously been in his Majesty's service in the ordnance department. He was pensioned upon the peace, when the various departments were reduced. He was then appointed private secretary to Sir Edward Thornton, ambassador to the Court of Portugal, and the nomination was confirmed by the master-general of ordnance. But before his departure for Portugal, a cadetship was offered him and accepted, and he came out to India in 1818. In 1821, the Marquis of Hastings selected him to survey the boundary of Sylhet, and he received the thanks of that nobleman, on the completion of the duty, for the very efficient manner in which it had been performed. In 1823 he was nominated, by Sir B. Paget, to the quarter-master-general's department, at the recommendation of the late Sir Herbert Taylor, who described him as a young officer of great talent and zeal. In the years 1824, 1825, and 1826, he was employed with the troops on the N.E. frontier against the Burmese, and received the thanks of Brigadier Macmorine, in Division Orders, for his gallant conduct in the field. He was attached, in 1825, to General Shuldham's army, and was employed with the advance division, which was thanked by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Edward Paget, for its exertions, although the expedition failed. make the preliminary arrangements for the proposed offering! Having mentioned NEPAUL, we may quote the following rather perplexing synopsis of the current reports relating to that country and its rulers, actual and aspiring : "The accounts from Nepaul are of a somewhat contradictory character. That there was lately some fighting betwixt the followers of the ex-king and the Nepaul troops, is a fact not denied; but while some accounts state that the deposed prince was at the head of from three to five thousand men, and was aided by the chiefs of the neighbourhood, others say that he had not more than from three to five hundred ill-armed, almost unarmed, ragamuffins at his back, and that he received no help from any one. According to one writer, he is a prisoner closely guarded in the fort of Kevalpore; while another states that he is comfortably settled' at a place called Bhutgown, about six miles from the capital. The writer last cited hints that the deposed and reigning monarchs (father and son) are conspiring against the minister, Jung Bahadoor, and says, that if his informant does not mislead him, the ex-king will in a very short time be again seated on the throne, with his dutiful son at his left hand. How the matter will end, we cannot venture to predict." The commercial report from CALCUTTA is encouraging. "Trade," it is stated, "continues to improve." We sincerely hope that the disastrous events which have convulsed the mercantile community here may not extend their baleful influence to India, so as to check the improvement re ported. At BOMBAY dissatisfaction was felt at the irregularity with which the mails for Europe were despatched. That which should have departed on the 27th of August was detained till the 31st; that announced for the 15th of September left on the 11th, and was conveyed to Ceylon instead of Aden. To commercial men these irregularities may be productive of serious inconvenience; while in regard to family correspondence, they may often lead to disappointment very severely felt. Some measures should be adopted to prevent such results. The news from CHINA is not exciting. Interminable discharges of paper artillery keep the atmosphere from stagnation. An uneasy feeling continues to prevail, and he must be a person of extraordinary sagacity who can satisfactorily cast the horoscope of affairs between the Celestial Empire and the Islands of the far West. He After the peace of 1826 Lieut. Fisher was ordered to survey Sylhet and the adjacent frontier for revenue and political purposes, and the result of his labours was published by order of Government. He was also the first to instruct and employ natives so as to render their labours available for the construction of maps. In 1829, Lieut. Fisher joined the detachment commanded by Capt., now: Lieut.-Col. Lister, employed in suppressing the insurrection in the Kassia Hills, and was present in most of the skirmishes and affairs which occurred with the insurgents in the commencement of that protracted contest. He commanded the detachment and directed its operations during the time Capt. Lister was disabled by a severe wound, and participated in the thanks bestowed by Government on all who had been employed in the service. In 1830, the late Mr. David Scott, agent to the Governor-General N. E. Frontier, without any solicitation, recommended Lieut. Fisher for the political charge of Cachar, and he was deputed to investigate the circumstances connected with the attack on, and the murder of, the rajah of that country by the Rajah of Munnipore. continued to manage the entire affairs of that province, to the perfect satisfaction of Government, until 1836, when he was removed on his promotion to a company. On this occasion the Sudder Board of Revenue at Calcutta, and the commissioner of the division, Mr. Lowis, made special applications to Government for the continuance of his services, on the ground of his peculiar fitness and capacity for the situation, and, to use the commissioner's own words in a letter to Government," of his knowledge of the relative rights of the people with whom he dealt, whose language he read and wrote with fluency, whose good-will he conciliated by a kind, temperate demeanour, and whose welfare he was at all times most anxious to promote." Government, however, although acknowledging the talents of Capt. Fisher and the value and importance of his services, considered itself unable to comply with this request, consistently with the regulation which limited the number of captains al lowed to be absent from a regiment on staff employ, and he was one of the few unfortunate officers who suffered from that rule. During the time Capt. Fisher was with his regiment he employed himself in composing an Essay on Reconnoitering, which met with the high approbation of the Commander-inChief; and shortly after, changes occurring in his corps, he was appointed by his excellency as assistant adjutant general. Ultimately, Lord Auckland gave him the command of one of the Assam corps, with the prospect of his succeeding to a civil appointment. He held the command of the 2nd Assam light infantry battalion until the day of his death (the 24th July, 1847), and the present efficient state of that corps proves the zealous manner in which he fulfilled that duty, as he had fulfilled all his other duties. He was an excellent officer, and proud of his profession, with which he was thoroughly acquainted, both practically and theoretically. His high attainments in almost every department of science and literature would have done honour to those who have enjoyed greater opportunities of study. Everyone who knew him could bear testimony to his intrinsic worth, and to the excellent qualities of his mind and heart. High principled, honourable and just in all his dealings, his integrity was without a blemish: full of forbearance and charity towards his neighbours, he was respected and beloved by all, and his sad and most unexpected death has been universally lamented.—Friend of India. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. SUPREME COURT. AUG. 20.-In the Matter of Radacaunt Dutt.-Mr. Clarke appeared on behalf of the father of Radacaunt Dutt, who had obtained a writ of habeas corpus, directed to Mr. James Ogilvie, superintendent of the institution of the General Assembly of the Church at Scotland, to bring up the body of his son. Mr. Dickens and Mr. Morton appeared for Mr. Ogilvie. The return stated that Radacaunt was not and never had been detained in Mr. Ogilvie's custody, and that he did not and never did exercise over his movements any control, power, or dominion whatsoever; that Radacaunt attended the school as a pupil, voluntarily, and continued such attendance until March last, when he left the institution; and that he returned thereto voluntarily, as a daily scholar in July last; and that he had always been and was now at perfect liberty to go wherever he pleased. That Mr. Ogilvie was unable to compel the attendance of Radacaunt, who represented himself to him to be of the age of seventeen years, but that he had applied to and endeavoured to persuade Radacaunt voluntarily to appear in court. An objection was taken to the form of the return as being insufficient, but this was overruled. Mr. Dickens and Mr. Morton contended that the cases were decisive even as to much younger persons than this. The King v. Greenhill, 4 Adolphus and Ellis, and other cases, decided that when a minor is brought before the Court by habeas corpus, if he be of an age to exercise a choice, the Court leaves him to elect where he will go. Mr. Clarke, said that he relied solely on 21 Geo. 3, c. 70, s. 18, where it was enacted "that the rights and authorities of fathers of families, and masters of families, according as the same might have been exercised by the Gentoo or Mahommedan law, shall be preserved to them respectively within their said families. Nor shall any acts done in consequence of the rule and law of caste, respecting the members of the said families only, be held and adjudged a crime, although the same may not be held justifiable by the laws of England.' And that in Brijonath Ghose's case, which was in July, 1833, the boy, who was sworn to be fourteen years of age, had addressed the Court himself, and remonstrated against being given up. He had also stated that he was afraid of being poisoned, which had brought down a severe reprimand from Sir J. P. Grant, as to who had instructed him to say this. The Court held, that under that section they could not interfere with the right of a Hindoo father. He gave Mr. Ogilvie and the other gentlemen credit for having the best intentions, but he relied on the statute. The CHIEF JUSTICE.-This case is governed by the properties properly and strictly applicable to the writ of habeas corpus. The question before the Court is not what the power of a Hindu father is, or what is his practical remedy; but only whether there is a continuing illegal restraint of this child. It was decided in Rex v. Greenhill, that when an infant is brought before the Court by habeas corpus, if he be of an age to exercise a choice, the Court leaves him to elect where he will go. I have never heard it asserted that an English father had a right to compel his son to reside in his house until the legal age of majority (twenty-one), though he may have a preferable right to his guardianship and custody. It has been decided that a child, though under the age of majority is for many purposes competent to act for himself; nor do I think that, in the present state of society, in English, a contrary doctrine would be tacitly submitted to. The true test, therefore, is not minority. As to Brijonath Ghose's case, if I had found that case contrary to the decision of the King's Bench, I should have been bound to defer to the higher authority, and especially where this case is consonant to all the former decisions on that point. This Court will render the Hindu parent the same assistance that it would an English one. The Court is bound to pay respect to the religious rights of the Hindus; but nothing can turn here upon the question of the faith or the expected conversions, all this was very properly abstained from in argument. Here there is no ground to suppose that the son is devoid of proper intelligence. I shall, therefore, only ask him where he wishes to go, and assure him that he shall be protected in going there. The boy Radicaunt was then brought before the Court. And being first informed that the Court did not go so far as to say that, his father was not entitled to have charge of him, the following questions were put to him: By the COURT.-Where do you wish to go,-you are at liberty to go where you please, to your father's or Mr. Ogilvie's? Radicaunt.-I do not wish to go to my father's house, but I would rather return to Mr. Ogilvie's. LITERARY.-We learn that a Life of Hyder Ali, by Prince Gholam Mahomed, is now in the press.-Hurkaru, Aug. 23. HINDU COLLEGE.-We hear that Mr. William Masters, late of the Patna College, will be appointed Lecturer of History and Natural Philosophy in the Hundu College. When is the chair of Civil Engineering going to be filled?-Ibid. A PRETENDED PRINCE FEROZE SHAH.-We mentioned some time ago that this Mahomedan prince had been distributing khelats and honorary titles to, and receiving nuzzurs from, the inhabitants of Rampore Bauleah. We have since seen a communication from Sir T. Metcalfe, of Delhi, containing an official and authoritative contradiction of his being a member of the royal family. The Emperor of Delhi has instructed the agent to announce to the world that Feroze Shah is not what he represents himself to be, and therefore can possess no legitimate right to create moharahs and rajahs. Prosnath Rae, the zemindar of Deghaputta, who was dubbed a rajah by this adventurer, may sue his Highness in a court of justice for the sum with which he purchased the title.—Ibid. NATIVE PHILANTHROPY.-We hear, with pleasure, that Baboos Brindabun Chunder Bose and Rajender Dutt have each of them established an English dispensary in their houses at Thunthunia and Bowbazar, respectively, where any sick person may go and receive medical aid from Baboos Satcory Dutt and Doorgachurn Banerjee, every day, gratis. The medicines are bought from the principal apothecaries' shops. Baboo Brindabun Chunder Bose, with great generosity, assists such men as are destitute of means with money or clothes. We wish the other millionaires of Calcutta would follow their humane examples.-Ibid. Aug. 24. THEATRICALS. -"The Rent Day," a melodrama by Douglas Jerrold, and a farce called "The First Night," were selected by the amateurs of Dum-Dum for the performance of Monday evening. "The Rent Day" was very successfully performed. -Ibid. Aug. 25. FIRE ON BOARD THE ASSAM."-The I. G. S. N. Company's steamer Assam, during her passage up, on Thursday, owing to an accident, caught fire when off Cossipore. The cause was, however, soon traced, and the fire almost immediately 'put out. It originated, as accounts go, in the mismanagement of some windsails employed to convey air down below into the engineroom.-Star, Aug. 28. THE SIR HERBERT MADDOCK."-We understand that the galvano-explosive operations against the hull of the Sir Herbert Maddock have been completely successful, and that if powder is available to the chemical engineers to continue them, the engines will be safe within the company's yard in ten days. There were four explosions of 25 lbs. each, and one of 280 lbs. which last, as far as can be judged, has shattered the fore part of the vessel in a very satisfactory manner. This explosion is described as a very magnificent sight, the column of water raised above the river shooting up at least eighty feet high, and the fragments of wreck gyrating in the eddies being immense. The state of the tides and the exhaustion of the store of powder compel a suspension of work till next week, when it is proposed to try another colossus of three hundred pounds, followed by a number of minor explosions. The success attained in the present series of experiments will probably prompt Government to undertake the recovery of the guns from the Stalkartt, by a similar method, when the weather is sufficiently improved.—Ibid. THE BORE.-There was a strong bore yesterday morning, Many parts of the strand were under water, viz. near the Metcalfe Hall, Bandshall, Custom House, &c., and the river was on a level with the contiguous land.-Ibid. LOSS OF THE BRIG " QUEEN."-We are sorry to announce the total loss of the brig Queen on her way down the river, in consequence of striking on the Auckland ridge, between the two lower buoys. The loss happened about six o'clock P. M. on the 28th instant. The accident was seen from the Megna pilot brig, which weighed immediately and went to her assistance; in the meantime, however, the steamer which was towing the Queen at the time had taken off all the crew. The wreck lies in the track of ships, and a row-boat has consequently been stationed there with a flag hoisted to warn those approaching. We have not heard the cause of the accident, but as it was about three-quarters ebb when it took place, it may be supposed to have been owing to venturing to keep the vessel under weigh a little too long.-Englishman, Aug. 31. OPENING OF A NEW ORPHANAGE FOR NATIVE FEMALE CHILDREN.-The ceremony of opening a new Native Female Orphanage, in connection with the Scottish Ladies' Association, was held yesterday, at noon, by the Rev. Dr. J. Charles, in the presence of a select company of ladies and gentlemen. As this institution is not generally known, a few particulars respecting its origin and present condition may be stated. Some years ago, Mrs. Charles conceived the idea of establishing an asylum for native female children, both Hindoo and Mahometan, who from the loss or indigence of their parents wished to gain admission into it. The children so obtained, besides the domestic advantages secured to them, were formed into a school and regularly instructed in elementary knowledge as well as Christianity. The plan was also extended so as to include a day school for female children. The institution thus founded by Mrs. Charles continued to be entirely dependent on her personal exertions for some time, when the degree of success which attended her laudable efforts suggested the expediency of giving it a more public and permanent character. With this view a correspondence was opened on the subject with the Scottish Ladies' Association, and eventually the School and Orphanage were incorporated with that society, and derived their main support from it. The general supervision, however, remained in the hands of Mrs. Charles, and is so at the present moment. The institution and its branch schools have been very much extended up to this time. Besides the Orphanage, in which there are now about twenty girls and young women, who are all trained to industrious and virtuous habits, and besides a general secular education, are taught the truths of the Christian religion,—there are six day schools in different localities in and near Calcutta. Nearly two hundred girls attend these schools, of which one, situated in Free School-street, is exclusively devoted for the gratuitous education of Christian female children, and is prized as a great blessing by poor families inhabiting that part of the town. The Orphanage was hitherto located in a house hired for the purpose at a rent of upwards of a hundred rupees; but it has now removed to the new Orphanage House, which was formally opened yesterday. The building stands on the Circular Road, almost contiguous to the European Female Orphan Asylum, and was formerly the late Captain Hyde's property. It has been altered and modified for the use of the Orphanage, and when quite complete it will have cost altogether about twentythree thousand rupes. The accommodations are extensive and convenient, and are intended both for European superintendents as well as for the wards. It is intended to obtain a reinforcement of agents from home, if possible, to farther enlarge the operations of this infant but most promising institution. The ceremony was accompanied by the usual religious exercises. -Hurkaru, Sept. 1. deservss to be, with the extreme penalty of the law.—Ibid. August 27. Death of his Highness the Rajah of Cooch Behar.—On the 23rd August his Highness the Rajah of Cooch Behar died of ulceration of the bowels. He was burned with due honours, and his ashes committed to the bosom of mother Ganges. His Highness will be succeeded by his son and only male heir, a promising lad of some five years of age, who is at present in Benares. It will be in the recollection of our readers that the Rajah of Cooch Behar was accompanied to the Holy city by Mr. Surgeon Moore, who was deputed to the medical charge of his Highness by the Supreme Government. Dr. Moore appears to have been assiduous in his attention to the Rajah, who left his own country in a state hopeless of life, and who was partially recovered by Dr. Moore's careful skill. It remains to be seen what arrangements will be made by the Bengal Government for the management of the large possessions of the young Rajah of Cooch Behar. The appointment of an English gentleman as general manager and tutor, would, perhaps, be the most advisable.-Ibid. Going ahead.-We learn that the steamer Benares, on her way down the other day, performed the distance between Mirzapore and Chunar, thirty-three miles, in one hour and thirty minutes, or at the astonishing rate of twenty-two miles an hour! She did the distance betwixt Benares and Ghazeepore in three hours and forty-five minutes, much at the same rate.—Ibid. CHITTAGONG.-Rain.-A correspondent at Chittagong, following the good example of our friend in Cuttack, has kindly furnished us with a note of the quantity of rain which fell there betwixt August 1846 and July 1847. The amount registered, inches 73.76, is little more than half that which fell in Cuttack during the same period, which was inches 135.65. Our Chittagong correspondent, however, remarks that the season reported on was there an unusually dry one. Here is his monthly account : August, December January, February March April November May Hurkaru, Aug. 28. CUTTACK.-Rain.—A correspondent at Cuttack sends us the following statement of the quantity of rain that has fallen monthly at that station for the last year. Our friend expresses a hope, in which we join, that others of our readers and correspondents would give us similar statements of the fall at their respective stations:August, 1846 September,, October ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19.13 32.87 23.48 November December January, 1847 February March 99 0.57 99 0.70 0.00 Cuttack, according to our correspondent, who is fully borne out by the above table, possesses “rather a moist climate;” but, according to the same authority, it is by no means an unhealthy one, as the soil is sandy, and consequently drinks up the superfluous moisture very rapidly.-Hurkaru, Aug. 24. FEROZEPORE.-Steam on the Sutlej.-A letter from Ferozepore mentions, that news had been received of the Mecance steamer. She was then about half-way between Bahawulpoor and Ferozepore, and had been one whole month on the river between Sukkur and Bahawulpoor, while Mr. Arratoon, the Armenian merchant, is reported to have accomplished the distance in twenty days in country boats, and to expect to reach Ferozepore in twenty more. The Meeanee is of forty horse power, one of the best steamers on the Indus, and has a flat in tow laden with goods, belonging to Parsees. If she should not reach Ferozepore under two months from Sukkur, her trip must be looked on as a failure.-Delhi Gazette, Aug. 21. DELHI.-Doongur Singh.-Information was brought into Delhi by express a day or two ago, announcing that Juwaheer Singh, brother of Doongur Singh, had been captured without bloodshed by Capt. Showers in the Beekaneer territory. That officer having obtained something like correct information of his whereabouts, followed up the "trail" to a village, the name of which we cannot make out, where he was completely surprised with his party consisting of a very few horse and camel-men. It is to be hoped that Doongur Singh, and his brother Bhopal Singh, will not long escape the very active measures now in progress. Doubts are, however, still entertained, as he is by some believed to be the author of a robbery very lately committed within a short distance of Objain, in which property on its way from Bombay, and to the amount of Rs. 15,000, belonging to a Kotah Seth, fell to the lot of the plundere. -- Ibid. LUCKNOW. A communication from Cawnpoor mentions a bazaar gup, which we give as we receive it, and without expressing any opinion as to its probability, that the king of Oudh had offered to relinquish the charge of his country into our hands on receiving an equivalent in the shape of a suitable pension. Rumours of a force of some kind to assemble at Cawnpoor in Oct. continue rife, but the object is not mentioned by our friends. Unless, indeed, the affairs of Nepal should require any demonstration, we are in hopes the rumour will prove incorrect. We regret extremely to add that three cases of cholera occurred in H. M.'s 21st fusileers on Thursday night last (the 23rd), and that all proved fatal in a short time. Some heavy rain fell on the 24th, and it is hoped it will have had the effect of stopping the progress of this horrible scourge.-Ibid Aug. 28. MONGHYR, Aug. 22. - The Weather. To-day we have a bright sunny day; for a month past and more we have had such weather as few have seen-rain, rain, rain, as if it would never cease-we have been uuder a cloud the whole time! In conse quence of this continued rainy weather, the Indian corn crop and other crops usual at this season of the year have suffered; but you must not conclude from this that the prices of grain have been at all affected by it; indeed, grain is cheaper than it has been for many years past. Grain, for instance, some time ago was at 2 to 24 maunds per rupee, other grain in proportion, more or less cheap, according to the quality of the grain. Shipments of grain to the eastward and westward are languid; in other years it used to be the contrary. The Ganges has behaved well, rising very gradually; even to this day it has not attained its full rise, but it has been approaching it for the last three or four days. -Indigo.-The indigo planters will do poorly in this quarter, from want of rain at the beginning of the season, and from over much lately. The whole of Tirhoot has been visited with an unprecedented inundation; it will not send down much indigo, much less by a great deal than was expected. Fine weather now cannot do much good-the mischief is done; there will not be above an average indigo season this year, if that. The River. The current in the river here is awful— wrecks frequently. Within the last few days eighteen poor creatures, among them two women, who had been wrecked, were saved from a watery grave. Our magistrate has, with laudable humanity, made presents to the drageewallahs who saved the drowning people, which rewards will no doubt encourage others to exert themselves, and by this means many a poor fellow will be spared, who would otherwise be left to his fate. Some of the residents on the banks, also, actively exerted themselves upon the occasion. Native Boats.-I have seen lately in the Hurkaru and Friend of India, several communications respecting the villany practised by charrundars in charge of boats with cargo up and down the country. That the evil exists is unquestionable, but the remedies proposed by the writers seemed, to my humble judgment, some impracticable, and others insufficient. You will then ask, Is there no remedy for the abuse? I am sorry to say I think there is none at present;-we must work with native hands, and natives usually want principle; till they have principle the evil must go on unchecked. You may devise one check and another, and try each in succession,-they will all fail for want of that one grand element. When we have railroads, we shall then not be quite so much at the mercy of native boatmen and charrundars as we are. The steamers that are now running on the Ganges tell about as much upon the native craft as a bucket of water poured into the Hooghly would tend to create a rise in that river. Boat-hire, on the contrary, is getting more and more dear, and for the last two years it has been some fifty per cent. higher than I have known it to be in previous years. A hundred steamers, at low rates of freight, would produce some effect. -Public Garden.-Our excellent magistrate, Mr. D. Cun He is liffe, is getting up a public garden on a small scale. working at it very hard. It is desirably situated near a tank, and will afford a delightful walk to the residents of the station. -Hurkaru, Aug. 30. SERAMPORE.-The wooden railing which was erected by the Government along the bank of the river last year, is rapidly giving way; a large portion slipped into the river last month, and another portion has gone this month. The river has been encroaching on this bank very much of late, and the bore, which used formerly scarcely to be felt on the Serampore side, now rushes up it with considerable force. We hear that this change respecting the bore has taken place within the last three years. Ibid. PUBNA. We are informed that a good deal of rain has fallen in this district, and the rivers Pudma and Ichamutty have risen considerably, and have been awfully encroaching on their banks.-Hurkaru. THE PUDMA RIVER.-This river has now assumed an alarm. ing aspect, and is rapidly encroaching on both of its banks. The depredations on the side of Rampoor Bauleah are fearful, and it is feared that the station will be swallowed up in the course of two or three years. The executive officers are now thinking of having a new bund constructed; but it is to be doubted whether it will be able to stand the violence and the encroachments of the river. RAGHAUT.-The Soorma reached Rajhaut on the morning of the 20th, and received on board some treasure and parcels for Calcutta. Lieut. and Mrs. Conroy embarked for the Presidency.-Benares Recorder, Aug. 24. TWENTY-FOUR PERGUNNAHS.-Estate of Rajah Kissennauth.— Ranee Harasoondory, the mother of the late Kissennauth Roy, has filed in the court of Roy Harachunder Ghose Bahadoor, Principal Sudder Ameen of the 24- Pergunnals, a bill against Ranee Surnomoyee Dossee, the widow of the Rajah, for obtaining possession of all the real and personal property left by her husband. The claim is based upon the incapacity of the widow and daughter of Kissenauth to inherit the property, in consequence of his having forfeited all right to inheritance by reason of his eating and drinking with Europeans in violation of the Hindu shastras. The property under litigation is immense, and consists of Company's papers, cash, gold mohurs, jewels, and extensive zemindaries in Lower Bengal, as well as in North Western Provinces. The bill of the widow against the government and Kissub Sirkat in the Supreme Court has not yet been disposed of. It is therefore evident that the lawyers of both the Queen's and Company's courts will be large consumers of Kissennauth's estate.-Hurkaru, Aug, 20. GOVERNMENT GENERAL ORDERS. RETIREMENT OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS. Fort William, Aug. 13, 1847.—The Hon. the President of the Council of India in council, with the concurrence of the Right Hon. the Governor-General, is pleased to notify, that no European non-commissioned officer or soldier is entitled to retire on a pension, after a service of twenty-one years, while under an unexpired contract for further service, and therefore men who re-enlist on a bounty for a specified term, will be required to complete their contract of service before they will be allowed to take their pension. Government, however, will not withhold from men so circumstanced the option of retiring, upon the condition of their refunding a proportionate amount of the bounty received, and in such cases the sum refunded is to be placed to the credit of Government with the pay-master, whose receipt for the same is to be attached to the usual documents submitted with applications for permission to retire on a pension, and to be considered as a release of the unexpired portion of the contract entered into on re-enlistment. The bounty to be refunded is to be in proportion to the number of whole years of service unperformed, no refund will be required for periods of less than a year, and men wishing to take their pensions will be allowed to do so, although their contracted periods of service are unexpired by any period less than 365 days. Non-commissioned officers and soldiers, after completing their twentieth year's service, will, in future, also be allowed the option of re-enlisting for one year on a bounty of rupees (16) sixteen, in order that their period of 21 years' service may expire simultaneously with the period for which bounty is granted. COURT-MARTIAL. MAJOR THOMAS SEYMOUR BURT, ENGINEERS. Head-Quarters, Simla, Aug. 13, 1847.-At a General Courtmartial, assembled at the fort of Allahabad, on Thursday, June 24, 1847, Major Thomas Seymour Burt, engineers, was arraigned nnder the following charges : 1st. For having, on or about Nov. 3, 1844, at Allahabad, on the occasion of his being relieved from the duties of executive engineer of the 6th division of the department of public works, in his transfer bill for the stores delivered over to the officer who relieved him, Capt. Williams, 8th N. I., made excessive charges to his own credit, to the amount of Co.'s Rs. 13,182 9 8, or thereabouts, for doors, door-locks, pullies, punkah-rods, lightning-rods, and other stores, with the intention of defrauding Government of that sum. 2nd. For having, about the same time, quitted Allahabad, without delivering over to Capt. Williams the surplus assignments, or the surplus cash realized under assignments, received by him, Maj. Burt, for the works of the said division, to the amount of Company's Rs. 18,838 14 9, or thereabouts, and having retained the money in his possession until on or about November 19th, 1846, with the intention of defrauding Government of the amount. 3rd. For having, after having been relieved from the duties of the 6th div. of the department of public works, failed to transfer to Capt. Williams, two assignments for the performance of works in that division, the one dated November 29th, 1844, for Rs. 5,000, the other dated January 28th, 1845, for Rs. 5,183; and having retained the said assignments, or the cash realized upon them, in his possession, until on or about November 19th, 1846, with the intention of defrauding Government of those sums. Finding. The court, having maturely weighed and considered the evidence brought forward in support of the prosecution, together with that adduced on the defence, are of opinion that the prisoner, Maj. T. S. Burt, engs., is, On the first charge, guilty, but they find the exact amount overcharged to be, Company's rupees 11,734 6 8. On the second charge, guilty. On the third charge, guilty. Sentence. The Court, having found the prisoner guilty, as above specified, do adjudge him, the said Maj. T. S. Burt, engs., to be dismissed the service. Approved and confirmed. (Signed) GOUGH, General, Com.-in-Chief. Head Quarters, Simla, Aug. 11, 1847. Remarks by the Right Honourable the Commander-in-Chief.With regard to the calculation of over-charges as made by the Court, the Commander-in-Chief considers the amount stated to nearly accurate, and, on the whole, favourable to Maj. Burt. The sentence of the Court will take effect from the date on which this sentence may be received at Allahabad. By order of His Excellency the Right Honourable the Commander-in-Chief. PAT. GRANT, Lieut.-col. Adj. Gen. of the Army. MASTER PILOT BUTTON JAMES FILBY. At a Court assembled on Tuesday, July 20th, 1847, under Art. No. 24, of 1845, Mr. Master Pilot Button James Filby, was tried on the following charges: First Charge. For disobedience of the orders and contempt of the authority which probibits a pilot from seeking directly or indirectly from the commander of any ship a gratuity for doing his duty as pilot, which offence is set forth in a memorial of Henry Richardson, the commander of the Fairy Queen, the truth of which was sworn to before the Mayor of Liverpool, as follows: "That your memorialist is the master of the bark, Fairy Queen, of Dublin, 319 tons register. That in the month of July, in the year 1846, your memorialist sailed from Calcutta to Dublin, having on board Mr. B. J. Filby, one of the pilots belonging to the first mentioned port, who was engaged to pilot the vessel down the river Hooghly. That at halfpast six o'clock on the evening of the 11th day of July aforesaid, the said B. J. Filby, left your memorialist's vessel about four miles north-west of the outer floating light vessel, and went on board the pilot brig. That your memorialist then delivered to the said B. J. Filby, a letter to be by him conveyed to Messrs. Church, Lake, and Company, of Calcutta aforesaid, merchants, to whom your memorialist's vessel has been consigned. That on receiving such letter, the said B. J. Filby enquired of your memorialist if he had mentioned him, the said B. J. Filby, in such letter, to which your me. morialist replied in the negative. That the said B. J. Filby appeared very indignant, and informed your memorialist that he felt himself very much disappointed, as he expected a gratuity, and always received one for piloting a vessel out. That your memorialist replied that he did not see how the said B. J. Filby could consider himself entitled to any gratuity, as he had not -performed any extraordinary services, he having had the as sistance of steam to tow the ship to sea, at an expence of 101. 5s., she drawing but sixteen feet of water. That the said B. J. Filby stated, that he had performed extraordinary services, inasmuch as he had not caused the ship to lose her anchors and cables, or to carry away her cutwater, as he might have done and finally stated that it would be worse for your memorialist another time." Second Charge. For conduct highly unbecoming a servant of Government, and calculated to bring into detestation and abhorrence the whole body of the pilot service, as set forth in the declaration of the commander of the Anne and Jane, sworn before the Mayor of Liverpool, as follows: "1, Thomas Smith of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, master mariner, do solemnly and sincerely declare that I am the master of the barque Anne and Jane. That in the month of July, in the year 1816, I was present in the office of Messrs. Church, Lake, and Company of Calcutta, merchants, when Mr. Filby, the pilot of the Fairy Queen, of Dublin, returned to town after piloting that vessel out to sea. That he then delivered a letter from Captain Richardson of the Fairy Queen, to Messrs. Church, Lake, and Company, and mmediately afterwards enquired if there were any directions therein to pay him any gratuity for piloting the Fairy Queen to sea, and on receiving an answer in the negative, he expressed his indignation at Captain Richardson's not doing so; he then entered into conversation with me and said he was very sorry that he did not cut across the cutwater and stem of the Fairy Queen, which he would have done had he known he was not going to receive anything for piloting her out." By order of the Superintendent of Marine. (Signed) JAMES SUTHERLAND, Secretary. ADAMS, G. to offic. as sub-treasurer dur. abs. of G. Udny on leave, Aug. 26. ALLEN, C. to offic. as civ. aud. dur. abs. of Loyd, Aug. 16. GUTHRIE, J. to offic. as jt. mag. and dep. coll. of Rohtuck dur. abs. of C. T. Le Bas. HEYWOOD, R. O. asst. to coll. of Monghyr, vested with special powers, Aug. 21. JACKSON, E. offic. mag. of Sarun, made over ch. of office to G. W. Battye, Aug. 28. MACKAY, C. to be princ. sud. ameen of Midnapore, Aug. 24. RICHARDSON, R. J. to be a mem. of local com. of public instruction at Dacca, Aug. 18. RUSSELL, A. E. asst. to coll. of Midnapore, vested with special powers, Aug. 25. SHEPHERD, R. ret. fr. furl. Aug. 25. SWETENHAM, H. civ. and sess. judge of Decca, res. ch. of office. TUCKER, St. Geo. to offic. as asst. sec. to govt. and to acct. N. W. P. dur. abs. of Shakespear, Aug. 14. WYATT, T. civ. and sess. judge of Rungpore, res. ch. of office. |