the superintendent will enable him to improve the discipline of the Indian Navy, to raise its character, and to promote its efficiency in all its parts."-Bombay Castle, Sept. 15, 1847. PRICE, Mr. Mids. 1.N. 1 year furl. to Eur. on m. c. RENWICK, Mr. Mids. J. M. 1.N. dismissed the Co.'s service, Sept. 10.

SANDERS, Comm. J. P. perm. to ret. to duty per Ajdaha, Sept. 9.

DOMESTIC.

BIRTHS.

ANDERSON, the lady of G. W. s. at Bombay, Aug. 24.
CHETHAM, the wife of Cond. S. s. at Bombay, Sept. 28.
DEAS, the lady of John, civ. surg. d. at Dhoolia, Sept. 14.
DE SILVA, the wife of Simon B. d. at Matharpacary, Sept. 14.
MCLAUGHLIN, the wife of Thomas, eng. I. N. d. at Kotre, Sept. 9.
MENGERT, the wife of the Rev. J. H. s. at Bombay, Sept. 29.
OLIVER, the wife of Norman, s. at Bombay, Sept. 15.
RAVENSCROFT, the lady of Arthur W. c.s. d. Sept. 26.
RAYMER, Mrs. s. at Dharwar, Aug. 25.

SPEEDY, Capt. H. M. 8th, s. at Poonah, Sept. 17.
WHITING, the wife of T. d. at Surat, Sept. 18.

MARRIAGES.

FRANCIS, Lieut. John Thomas, 5th L. I. to Georgina Anne, d. of
the late George Frankland, at Dharwar, Sept. 13.
MC DONALD, William Hardy, to Elmira Carr, at Bombay, Sept. 27.
WARD, J. to Mary Brown, at Kurrachee, Sept. 7.

DEATHS.

DUARTE, Angeleno, at Girgaum, aged 42, Sept. 20.
GIBB, Lieut. H. M. art. at Kurrachee, Sept. 3.
KINGSTON, Ellen, wife of Condr. G. at Tannah, Sept. 25.
MINEZES, Rev. L. at Hydrabad, Sept. 7.

NIXON, Charles Parker, I.N. at Poona, aged 23, Sept. 13.

TANNER, Anne M. A. wife of John, at Byculla, aged 36, Sept. 14.
VALLADARES, infant s. of Daniel, at Dhoolia, Sept. 10.
WATSON, Mary E. d. of Lieut. col. art. at Byculla, aged 11 mo.
Sept. 18.

SHIPPING. ARRIVALS.

SEPT. 11. Thomas Henry, Sury, Bordeaux; Lady of the Lake, Mactaggart, Singapore.-13. Steamer Medusa, Kingcome, Kurrachee; Victoria, Cruickshank, China.-14. Anjer, Bell, Liverpool; Majestic, Elgie, Aden.-15. Moffatt, Smith, London; Gilmore, Maw, put back from sea.-16. Mary, Kemp, Downs; Henry Gardner, Mortyce, Liverpool.-18. Steamer Sir C. Forbes, Litchfield, Surat.-20. Lord Western, Rice, China.-21. Pilot, Clayson, Cochin.-25. Steamer Atalanta, Gordon, Aden.-26. Mangosteen, Pedreath, Aden.-28. Sir Henry Hardinge, McDonald, London; Steamer Pekin, Townson, China.-29. Atiet, Rohoman, Surat; steamer Indus, Galbraith, Kurrachee.-30. Cruizer, Pense, Bushire; Manchester, Duval, Mauritius; steamer Sir C. Forbes, Litchfield, Surat; steamer Seaforth, Higgs, Colombo.

Per Sir Charles Forbes.-Major W. B. Goodfellow, Engrs. and Lieut. T. Oliver, 5th L.I.

Per steamer Atalanta.-Mr. Comrie, Mahomed Ally, and Dinshaw Merwanjee; Asst. surgeons Lawrence and Brown; Lieut. Turnbull,

Per Sir Henry Hardinge.-Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Brown and 3 children, Mrs. Peirse aud 3 children, Mrs. Cluny and 3 children, Lieut. Traverse; Messrs. T. Hall, W. Turton, S. Thomas, R. Cluny, and J. Brown.

Per Pekin. Mrs. Cleverly; Messrs. Cleverly, Campbell, and Colquhoun.

Per Indus.-Lieut. Creagh, H.M.'s 86th ft. and troops. Per steamer Sir C. Forbes.-Mrs. Smith, Rev. Mr. Taylor; Messrs. Smith, Dalzell, and J. Jenkins.

Per steamer Seaforth.-Mrs. Bell and 2 children, Mrs. Brown and 2 children, Mrs. Watkins and child, Mrs. Seaton; Capt. Ross, 1.N.; J. Bird; Lieut. Berthon, 18th Bombay N.I., Major Watkins, 23rd Bombay N.I.; Major Brown, N.L.I.; W. W. Bell.

DEPARTURES.

SEPT. 11. Ann Budson, Bragg, Liverpool; Harsingar, Malabar coast and Calcutta; steamer Seaforth, Higgs, Colombo.-13. Lady Lilford, Scott, London; Royal Albert, Scanlan, Colombo; steamer Carnac, Beyts, Colombo.-16. Gilmore, Maw, London; Hamoody, -, Malay Coast.-Somnath, Skinner, Liverpool.-17. Dadaloy, Malay Coast.-18. Steamer Medusa, Kingcome, Kurrachee; Ardaseer, Grainger, Hong Kong; steamer Lady Mary Wood, Evans, Colombo and China.-19. Thomas Fielden, Himtress, China.-20. Exmouth,- Calcutta; steamer Moozuffer, Ethersey, Kurrachee.

21. Brahmin, Taylor, Colombo and China.-23. Hope, Grange, Liverpool; Futtay Rahimon, Balfour, Calcutta.-24. Sephina Tulla,

Singapore.-25. Kirkman Finlay, Potter, Cochin.-26. Prince Albert, Thomson, Calcutta; Island Queen, Jackson, Singapore and China. 26. Clive, Frushard, Malabar Coast. 27. Constance, Rennie, Persian Gulf.-29. Steamer Surat, Collier, Surat; Culdee, Logan, Whampoa; Wanderer, White, Liverpool.-Nov. 1. Steamer Semiramis, Daniels, Suez.

PASSENGERS DEPARTED.

Per steamer Seaforth.-Mr. Charteris.

Per steamer Carnac. Mesdames Ponsonby, and Gordon and child; Capts. Ponsonby, 17th Bom. N.I., Gordon, and Rolland, 27th M.N.I.; Ens. Charles Griffith, 17th Bom. N.I.; Col. Wyndham; Davies, Esq.; and G. C. Grant, esq.

Per steamer Somnath.-Mrs. Skinner and child.

Per Lady Mary Wood.-Mrs. Evans and 2 children, Mrs. Bennett and two daughters, Lord A. Vane; Sir T. Munro, Bart. H.M.'s 10th Hussars; Hon. Capt. Jocelyn, Capt. Lugrin, Lieut. C. Abdy, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Simpson; Messrs. W. Wood, W. Kelly, W. Jenkins, H. Hughes, G. Elliot, J. Cook, W. Strong, D. Banner, S. Hating, J. Kelly, G. Stone, and R. Pope; and Mr. R.id, engi

neer.

Per steamer Medusa.-Miss St. Clair; Capt. St. Clair, horse artillery; Lieut. Hughes, 2nd B.I.C.; Ensign Vaughan, 60th rifles; Ensign Richardson, 7th N.I.; and troops.

Per steamer Moozuffer.-R. K. Pringle, Esq. Civil Commissioner; Lieut. J. F. Lester, 10th N.I.; Lieut. Robinson, 7thN.I.; and troops.

For SUEZ.-Lieut. Fraser, Indian Navy.

Per Brahmin.-Mrs. Taylor.

Per Kirkman.-J. Castern.

Per Prince Albert.-Mrs. Cassore an 1 two children.

Per steamer Surat.-Misses Collier and Simpson; Dr. F. C. Collier, 2nd L.C.; Capt. Peacock, 1st grens.

Per steamer Semiramis.-Mrs. Robson and servant; Mrs. Rennie; H. W. I. Wood, Esq.; Charles Forbes, Esq. and servant; Lieut. G. R. Scatcherd, 24th N.I.

TO ADEN.-Mrs. Badger; Rev. G. P. Badger; Lieut. C. G. Constable, I.N.

On London at 6 months'
On China at 60 days'
On Calcutta at 60 days'
Do. 30 days'
On Madras at 30 days'

Bombay Bank

Is. 10 d. to 18. 11d. per rupee. Rs. 210 to 212 per 100 Sp. drs.

994

Oriental do. Rs. 1,000 each (500 paid up) Commercial do.

Agra do.

........

Bank of Madras

OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. The Legislative Council was opened on Monday last, in the usual way and with the usual forms: the new members took the oaths and their seats, and the Governor delivered a speech, which, if it did not much differ from the usual run of such speeches in its vagueness and generalities, at any rate, possessed the novelty of being unusually lengthy.-Examiner, Sept. 1.

LIEUT. MACFARLANE.-We understand that the result of the Court of Inquiry held on Lieut. Macfarlane, arising out of matters connected with the assault case, before reported, was an honourable acquittal. We believe the inquiry lasted two days and part of a third.-Ceylon Times, Sept. 3.

THE MURDER OF MR. DICK.-Reports were abroad yesterday that the man Daniel Appoo (in search of whom Mr. Dick lost his life a few days since) had been captured and brought to Colombo. It is further stated, but with what truth we have not yet been able to ascertain, that he is supposed, on strong grounds, to have been in the house at the time Mr. Dick was there, and that it was to him that the woman Christian said "shoot him!" and that having killed him he ran out of the house at the same door which Mr. Northmore found unbolted. It is further said that Singho Appoo, being ashamed to acknowledge a too great intimacy, which existed between Daniel and his wife, trumped up the story of the gun being fired by some one, in order to screen that fact. It seems, after all, a somewhat singular circumstance, that Singho Appoo, for no apparent purpose, should keep a gun by him loaded with a charge evidently intended for deadly purposes. The truth will ooze out probably ere long, and should the rumour prove correct it will place Daniel in a very awkward predicament.—Ibid.

PENSION TO THE WIDOW OF THE LATE MR. DICK. The Observer of yesterday mentions that we noticed the settlement of a pension of 100l. a year on Mr. Dick's widow by Govern. ment. It was noticed in the Examiner of Saturday, as we received the information too late for Friday's issue. The pension is granted pending confirmation, which follows as a matter of course.-Ibid., Sept. 7.

NEGOMBO.-Death of the Police Magistrate by the Hand of a Native.-An inquest was held on Saturday last, at Negombo, on the body of F. L. Dick, Esq., police magistrate of that place, who had met his death from a gun-shot wound on the previous night. From the facts which were elicited on the inquest, it appears that the deceased had left his house about 8 o'clock on Friday night, in company with Mr. Northmore, C. C.S., and three peons, to go in search of a notorious burglar, a native, who had recently escaped from custody at Chilaw, and who was reported to be hiding in his father's house, situated at Palanchina, about five miles from Negombo, and to the northward of Kaderani. The man they were in search of was well known to be a most desperate character, and had often been heard to say he would shoot any one who attempted to capture him. The head men of Negombo endeavoured in vain to dissuade the magistrate from going on such an errand; he took a brace of loaded pistols in his belt, and, in the company we have stated, started on foot for Palanchina. They arrived there between 9 and 10, when the moon was well up, and objects were plainly distinguishable. The house which had been indicated was searched, but the burglar was not to be found; the father, however, told him he thought

his son was secreted in a cottage not far off, belonging to one Singho Appoo, and to this the party proceeded. Mr. Dick and one peon went to the front door, another went to the door at the rear, whilst Mr. Northmore and the third peon remained at a little distance. They knocked, and demanded admission, whereupon Singho Appoo called out to know who was there; one of the peons replied it was the magistrate of Negombo, and that he must open the door and let them in. A woman was then heard to say, "Take your gun and shoot the thieves." One of the shutters was at the moment half opened close to the deceased, who, it is supposed, peeped in, and immediately after a gun was fired, and he fell dead on the spot. Mr. Northmore and the peons then forced their way into the house, and secured Singho Appoo and his wife, who were the only inmates. The gun, which was quite hot, had been fired with slug, and the shot had completely divided the carotid artery, from which the blood was pouring in great quantities. The body was conveyed to the police station at Negombo, whence, after the inquest, it was removed to Colombo for interment. Mr. Dick was, we believe, much liked by all in his district, and the natives express much sorrow at the sad event. The verdict found was to the effect "That the deceased came by his death from a gun-shot wound given by one Singho Appoo." He will, of course, be brought to trial for manslaughter.-Examiner, Sept. 1.

TRINCOMALLEE.-Squall.-Private letters from Trincomallee state that the station had been visited with a most terrific squall from the north-west, on the 21st instant, attended with vivid lightning, thunder, and very heavy rain. The squall was so violent, that trees were torn up by the roots for forty miles in the direction of the Wanny, towards which it chiefly tended. The Admiralty House was struck by the electric fluid, and a goat was killed.-Ceylon Times, August 31.

KATREE.We have had a few cases of fever.

The Honourable Company's steamer Planet arrived here yesterday from Sukkur, with a jumptree in tow full of grain from Schwan. The steamer leaves to-morrow for Kurrachee. The Napier is the only vessel here, and it will be some time before she will be ready to start, engineers and artificers being hard at work in the naval yard about her engines. We have been expecting the Nimrod for some days past, also the Satellite. In a fortnight's time the navigation of the Indus will be far more intricate than it is at present; the Buggaur creek will in many parts be nearly dry, and thereby rendered useless for steamers.-Kurrachee, Advertiser, Sept. 8.

KURRACHU.Court Martial.-We understand that the court martial for the trial of Mr. Gordon, I.N., will assemble in the

course of a few days. We hear that the steamer Indus is not likely to start for Bombay before the 26th.-Bombay Times, Sept. 15.

· Major Green.-We have much pleasure in giving the following letter from Major Green a place in our editorial columns. Would readers, instead of railing at newspapers for unwittingly publishing inaccurate information, only take the trouble to correct it, they would do service to the state greater than they dream of. To check the spread of delusion is the common duty of all men in proportion to the amount of information a journalist gives, so occasionally must be the errors into which he falls; and it is as much for the advantage of the reader as for the gratification of the writer that these should be corrected as speedily as possible. Major Green has our best thanks.

To the Editor of the Bombay Times.

Sir,-In your paper of the 28th ultimo I find the following statement in one of your recent letters from Scinde,' and as it is calculated to mislead, and do much mischief, I beg you will put mine in juxta-position with it, and you can then judge of the accuracy of your correspondent :

"Extract.-Kurrachee, August 13, 1847.-Although there have been fewer cases in hospital of all classes, yet the cases of disease attribued to the climate have been more numerous and more fatal than last year. During the last fortnight, I believe I may say hardly a day has passed without one or more funerals amongst the European troops, and this is producing its effect on minds and bodies already depressed and enervated by the deadly effects of this most insidious climate, &c. &c.—Signed MEMPHIS. "My statement is this: that during the month of August last there died at Kurrachee, six men and two women, as enumerated below:-2nd troop, H. B., one gunner, dysentery. Sappers, one corporal, consumption. 1st European regt., one woman, paralysis. H. M.'s 60th Riffles, one corporal, diarrhea; one private, dysentery; two privates, liver; one woman, fever Total, six men, two women. Grand total eight.-I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, EDWARD GREEN, Major. 'Assistant-adjutant-general. -Ibid. Sept. 29."

66

1st com. 3d batt. artillery, from Shikarpore to Hydrabad, about the 28th Oct., 1847.

1st com. 4th batt. ditto, from Kurrachee to Shikarpore, about the 7th Oct.

2nd com. 3rd batt. ditto, from Hydrabad to Kurrachee, about the 1st Nov.

1st Scinde horse, from Khanghur to Hydrabad, about the 13th Dec.

2nd Scinde ditto, from Hydrabad to Khanghur, about the 15th Nov.

3rd regt. N.I., from Hydrabad to Shikarpore, about the 15th Oct.

4th regt. N.I., rifles, from Kurrachee to Hydrabad, about the 15th Nov.

7th regt. N.I., from Shikarpore to Kurrachee, about the 4th Dec.

11th regt. N.I, from Sukkur to Hydrabad, about the 7th Jan. 1848, or when relieved by the 9th N. I. from Bombay.

16th regt. N. I., from Shikarpore to Kurrachee, about the 25th Oct, 1847.

1st bell. batt., from Hydrabad to Shikarpore, about the 20th Nov.

-Kurrachee Advertiser, Aug. 15.

CHINA.

THE POST-OFFICE.

Subjoined is the reply of the Postmaster-general to the Memorial from Hongkong, upon the subject of the regulations promulgated on the 25th of February last, against keeping open accounts, or delivering letters to agents who do not produce a special mandate upon each application. His lordship will not consent to any alteration in the instructions issued by his predecessor on these points, but is determined that they shall be carried out to the letter. We therefore trust he has informed the acting-postmaster here how this is to be accomplished.

We have already stated our belief (China Mail, No. 106) that the system is impracticable, and that the attempt to enforce it will not only subject the public to serious inconvenience, but create insurmountable difficulties and unnecessary delays in the operations of the local Post-office. The case of the public, we

now know, will not be much considered in St. Martin's-leGrand; but should more time and more clerks be demanded, without any accession to the revenue, the present resolution may possibly be reconsidered. When the subject was first agitated, we were inclined to think that, instead of suspending the regulations pending the appeal home, it would have been better at once to attempt enforcing them with the utmost strictness, this being the speediest and surest method of proving to the Postmaster-general-or rather Colonel Maberly-by the testimony of his own officers, that the regulations, even if workable, are useless for any good purpose, and fraught with many evils.

The Memorial was not published, and we do not remember to have seen it; but slight as are the chances of any complaint against this department of the public service, however well founded, being favourably considered, the case is so strong, that, properly explained, farther inquiry at least, if not redress, might have been expected. But surely, since neither has been granted, the Postmaster-general might have adduced some better reason for the determination he has come to than that "the regulations are in accordance with the practice pursued in this country (England) and in the British colonies."

To suppose that a system which works well at home must necessarily be best adapted to her Majesty's possessions abroad, may be a very good official reason, but it is often a most unsound argument. We deny that accounts are not kept in the provincial offices in England: we deny that without them we here have a currency that enables us to "adjust" small payments with the requisite facility at the time of posting or receiving letters: we deny that, both in large towns and villages at home, letters addressed to parties beyond the bounds of the Post-office delivery are not given on application to friends or agents, who have no no mandate at all: we deny that the Postmaster-general interferes to prevent this being done, or that he would not greatly blame the Postmaster who did not avail himself of any reasonable means presented to him of forwarding such letters: we deny that a special authority is demanded upon every application when a servant is sent with his master's bag to the Postoffice, or that if he asked for a neighbour's, they would be refused to him: we deny that the system now laid down for Hongkong is enforced at any office at home, where letters are given out on Sundays; and we deny that, if every one on such occasions were required to produce a mandate, the business could be done.

We deny, moreover, as regards postal arrangements, that there is any analogy between Hongkong and any other British colony whatever. The great bulk of the letters brought here are addressed to parties who do not reside within the British dominions, but at places where there is no post-office, and who therefore employ agents on the spot to take delivery of their letters, and forward them by means they have themselves established. If these letters are to be refused to such well-known agents of houses at the open ports of China, how are they to be forwarded? and how delivered and settled for by the Postoffice? But it is needless arguing the case with the authors of he following document:

"General Post-office, 24th June, 1847. "Gentlemen,-The Postmaster-general has had before him a Memorial, dated the 20th March last, signed by yourselves and several other mercantile firms resident at Hongkong, respecting the inconvenience that will be occasioned to you by the adoption of certain regulations which have been laid down for the guidance of the Postmaster of Hongkong, with regard to the delivery of letters addressed to parties not residing at Victoria, and the payment of postage upon the letters posted at and addressed to Hongkong; and I am directed by his lordship to inform you that, having given this subject his careful consideration, he entirely concurs in the reasons which led his predecessor to issue the instructions to which you allude; and as the regulations established appear to him to be necessary for the proper and efficient performance of the duties of the Post-office at Hongkong, and are in accordance with the practice pursued in this country, and at the post-offices in the British colonies, his lordship does not deem it expedient to rescind them.

"I am, gentlemen, &c., "JAS. CAMPBELL." "To Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co., Hongkong.”— Mail.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

FRONTIER AFFAIRS.-Saturday, Aug. 7.-The past week has been barren either of foray on the part of the Kafirs, or of hostile movement on that of our troops. Both seem to be preparing for a coming struggle, in which it is probable that the policy of the Kafirs may be more accurately figured by the willow than the oak. They will probably bend to the storm, and by that means evade the mischief which might be the result of open, un

"King William's Town, 4th Aug. 1847. "We had an awful squall here on Monday night. It came with a strong hot wind from the north, and which suddenly veered to the north-west. Tents were struck down in an instant, trees uprooted, native huts destroyed, while, some burning embers being driven among the thatched buildings, a commissariat store, a new guard-room, and large commissariat marque with stores, were fired and destroyed. To add to the alarm, the conflagration was within four yards of the magazine, and close to several ammunition waggons loaded with gunpowder. We expected every instant to be blown up, the blankets and wheels of the ammunition waggons actually taking fire. The first warning we had of it was a soldier calling out, "Save your family, the magazine and all the ammunition waggons are about to blow up." This was about 8 o'clock P. M. The confusion

was indescribable. Several women and children ran down to the river, and among others the lady and children of the British Commissioner, Capt. Maclean, the former losing her shoes by the way, and in consequence having her feet much bruised and cut by stones, &c. in the course of the escape. They were out exposed to the weather for about two hours, when, all danger having subsided, they were enabled to return home. The imminency of the danger seems to have been caused in great part by carelessness, the ammunition being surrounded with loose thatch, which had been collected for the buildings now in progress. Much praise is, however, due to Lieut. Russell, R.A., who, by his coolness and judgment, inspired confidence, and by which, under Providence, the threatened calamity was happily averted." -Graham's Town Journal, Aug. 7.

STEAM-COMMUNICATION.-The following petition has resulted from the proceedings of the late meeting, held in the Commercial Exchange, on the subject of the extension of steam-communication to this colony :

Respectfully sheweth,

"That having learned that a company is about to be formed in London for extending the advantages of a direct and regular communication with the mother country by steam-packets to the Australian colonies and New Zealand, Memorialists wish to make known to your Excellency and her Majesty's Government their sense of the great and numerous benefits which this colony would derive from the success of this undertaking if the route chosen should be by the Cape of Good Hope.

"That, in all probability, the decision of the proposed company as to the route will be influenced by the views her Majesty's Government may entertain as to the general and local or colonial interests that may be promoted by a number of steam-packets constantly moving on any given line, so as to justify them in affording aid and encouragement in contracts for the transmission of mails, and in other matters connected with the public service.

"That in any scheme for the extension of steam-communication between Great Britain and her colonies, the Cape is entitled to much consideration, from the great extent of its territory, its rapidly-extending connection and influence with the people, tribes, and nations of Africa, and the necessity of maintaining here at all times a large military force, and a large naval force in time of war, between which and the Imperial Government quick and certain intercourse is of so much importance.

"That as all civilized countries now enjoy, or are about to obtain, this inestimable privilege of intercourse by steam-vessels with the great centres of government, wealth, and knowledge throughout the world, the exclusion of the Cape from all participation in this movement will leave it at a great disadvantage, and materially affect its prosperity and safety.

"That such an intercourse as the proposed company would effect between the Cape and the countries approached by the route from England to New Zealand, including the western coast of Africa, the eastern coast of South America, Mauritius, Sincapore, Swan River, South Australia, New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land, could not fail greatly to enlarge the commercial connections of this colony, and to render it in time the chief point of visit or rendezvous for the marine of all nations navi. gating the Southern Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

"That should it appear to the proposed company that the traffic by the Cape with passengers and mails would be insufficient at first to meet the expenses of their establishment, though Memorialists think it may be otherwise, they would submit to your Excellency whether a reasonable sum might not be advanced from the revenue of the colony as a bonus to the company on the regular delivery of mails at the Cape, and whether a similar suggestion might not be made by your Excellency to the Governors of Mauritius, the Australian colonies, and New Zealand, all of which would derive incalculable benefits from this grand system of quick and regular intercourse with one another, and with the rest of the world.

"Memorialists therefore pray that your Excellency will be pleased to give this subject your best consideration, and supply her Majesty's Government with such information respecting the bearings of the project on the commercial, political, and moral condition and prospects of this colony, and of Southern Africa generally, as they may be likely to desire, before coming to a final decision upon any proposals that may be made to them by the company."-Zuid-Afrikaan, Aug. 16.

HORRIBLE CASE OF MURDER.-(Extract of a Private Letter dated Beaufort, 7th August, 1847.)-A most cruel murder has just been committed in this district. A Tambookie, on the 29th, hired himself to one Gert Beukes, and on the 31st, in the middle of the night, attacked his master while in his sleep, and with a hand axe inflicted a severe wound on his forehead. The poor man, on receiving the blow, awoke, and held his arm up, which he severed from his body. In wrestling, the hand of the other arm was also cut nearly off, and the ruffian, having lost the axe, seized a spade, and beat and cut him with it till he was dead. The poor wife (who was in the last stage of pregnancy) attempted to fly with her two children, when he brought her back, and told her that if she did not show him where all her money was, he would kill her and her children. She opened the chest, which he rifled of its contents, consisting of wearing apparel and, it is said, Rds. 16,000 in cash. This is, however, not credited. He then examined the guns (three), took the best, and took the flints out of the others, and decamped. Unfortunately this ward, which is very extensive, is without a field cornet. The inhabitants, however, being roused by so cruel an act, made every exertion, and succeeded in apprehending the ruffian, whom they found in possession of the gun, powder, and clothes, but only Rds. 385 in cash. It is to be hoped that this circumstance will open the eyes of the Legislative Council to the folly of doing away with the assistant field cornets. Mr. Montagu, in proposing this measure, betrays great ignorance of the localities of the country districts. But for this cruel murder having been committed, the ruffian never would have been apprehended, as no private individual would have interested himself in the matter. Instead of doing away with the assistant field cornets (at least in the frontier districts), he ought to add to their num ber; for instance, the ward in which this murder was committed is at least sixty miles long, and as many broad. You cannot arbitrarily fix the residence of a field cornet, who very frequently resides at the extreme end of his ward. If any thing happens at the opposite extremity, a party must travel 120 miles to report the circumstance to the field cornet, the consequence of which is, that many rogues escape with impunity. Mr. Montagu conceives the field cornets are well paid with 201. a year. That they differ with him in opinion is proved by the fact, that two men have successively been appointed to this ward, and both have declined the appointment. — Ibid.

CHURCH LIGHTING AT GRAHAM'S TOWN.-In answer to some inquiry by the Lieut. Governor-and there have been a great many questions put lately from the same quarter, some of which we should now like to hear answered and carried out-the lighting of Graham's Town Church with gas has been suggested. The Lieut. Governor nobly comes forward with 50% to purchase the apparatus, and it is estimated by Mr. MacGregor that 1001. will cover the expense, and that the annual cost will not be more than 121.-unless the clergy are fond of making long sermons, in cold weather, four times a week, in which case the expenses will be increased, and the edification diminished. For, as the best method of keeping a church cool in hot weather is to advertise a charity sermon the day before, so, to preserve empty pews by gas light is to let the exhortation exceed an hour, when half the congregation are nodding, and the other half remain at home.-Sam Sly's African Journal.

A PARTING GLASS.-The members of the Club House gave a farewell dinner, for a time, to Capt. J. H. Hill, on Saturday last, before his departure to fill his new appointment of resident magistrate at Beaufort, as given in another page. The liberality of the entertainment was in unison with the respect held for the guest. And the various speeches and compliments that passed, with the "hip, hip, hips," and "one cheer more," were more

flattering than can well be described, but may help to cheer the gallant captain when absent from the gay and great metropolis, until his return.-Ibid.

SYMPTOMS OF CHANGE.-Gradually, and one by one, the old features of Cape Town are disappearing. Except by name, the Heerengracht will soon cease to be recognized "by the oldest inhabitant." And lately the round-house in the Fish Market has been removed, and the walls thrown open to the Bay, -perhaps, preparatory to the building of the "Sea Wall." The next improvement will be the downfall of the Tronk and the Treadmill, so as to leave a noble opening in a straight line with the Government Gardens.-Ibid.

ALLEN'S INDIAN MAIL,

LONDON,

FRIDAY, November 5, 1847.

WE understand that Sir JOHN F. DAVIS, Governor of Hong-Kong, has tendered his resignation of that office.

VISCOUNT ENFIELD has retired from the office which he for some time held of one of the secretaries to the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, and has been succeeded by Mr. GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS. Mr. LEWIS, who was returned at the late election as one of the members for the county of Hereford, is son of Sir THOMAS FRANKLAND LEWIS, whom he succeeded some years since in the office of Poor Law Commissioner.

THE mercantile atmosphere still continues gloomy, though Government, after a degree of delay sufficient to admit of the pressure gaining a giant power, have stepped in to allow of the Bank doing something, in appearance at least, to relieve it. The Bank Directors, however, it is believed, have not exceeded, and will not exceed, their legal powers; so that, as to any increase of the circulating medium beyond the amount prescribed by Sir ROBERT PEEL'S Bill, the ministerial movement will prove a nullity. It has, indeed, had one effect. It has enabled the Bank to raise its charge for discount to a rate never before attained; and if this be a remedial measure, it is certain that the remedy is worse than the disease. The Bank will at no time touch paper except it be of the first character, and if its charge for discount be eight-and-a-half and nine per cent., what percentage is to be levied by other discounters for accommodation afforded upon inferior security? The ordinary profits of no branch of commerce will admit of men borrowing at eight or nine per cent., and consequently assistance (so called), granted on such conditions, is but the assistance given by wreckers to ships in distress, by lighting fires to lure them to destruction. But good comes out of evil, and the monstrous remedy now proffered for national distress may lead, at no distant period, to a reconsideration of the policy under which all restraint upon the interest of money was removed. The Bank now discounts at nine per cent. Throughout the commercial commotions which occurred at several periods during the late war, good bills were freely discounted at five per cent., because the law for

bade the receipt of more. We speak not of the bills of gamblers and spendthrifts, who raised money to lavish on horses, dogs, and still more questionable objects; such bills, of course, were never discounted in the regular way at all. The fraternity of usurers dealing in these hazardous wares, who began by ruining dissipated young men, and usually ended by ruining themselves, effected the double process by breaking the law; but fair mercantile paper was always discountable at five per cent. Why is it not so now? Because the law which interferes to regulate so many things which might be safely left to men's discretion, has abandoned all interference in a matter where it is greatly required. The country is at this moment a prey to usury, and we seem advancing towards the happy state of India, where interest, varying from twenty to sixty per cent., or even more, repays the anxieties of the honest lender.

The iron empire of Rome was sapped by usury, and that of Britain is in danger of perishing from the same cause. It was an evil hour when our legislators became so far besotted as to receive the drivellings of idiocy for the inspirations of wisdom, and to be led thereby to break down the mounds which preserved the waters to fertilize, in place of letting them loose to destroy. A man named BENTHAM (now forgotten) wrote a pamphlet, which he called "A Defence of Usury," and in deference to the ravings of this, most contemptible person, the principle of restraint upon the interest of money was given up. True, that the prac tice of all great commercial nations was against the surrender; true, that all the great authorities that had ever given an opinion on the subject-BACON, LOCKE, CHILD, DaveNANT, MONTESQUIEU, and even ADAM SMITH-were against it; but the judgment of those masters of political science was set aside in favour of that of a man whose only proper school would have been an asylum for lunatics. Men have descended to worship the vilest of the animal. creation, including the ape. Much such was the being, though wearing human form, to whom English statesmen surrendered their understandings in the case of the usury laws. In his mind (if mind he had), all that was not folly. was malignity. Yet in his day he was worshipped by a servile knot of flatterers who found their account in it, for BENTHAM was rich and morbidly fond of adulation, and now we are blest with an overabounding harvest of the precious fruits of their idolatry. If those who clamoured for the abolition of the usury laws will tell us why when Consols were as low as 48 bills were discounted at five per cent., and why now, when Consols are above 80, men must pay nine per cent. for discounts-if they will give us a satisfactory solution of this matter apart from the influence of the law, they will manifest the possession of more brains than we have ever yet given them credit for.

We are not impugning the general principles of free trade; but the soundest advocates of free trade have held that money should furnish an exception to ordinary rules. With what grace can the advocates of a restricted currency contend against a restriction upon the interest of money? Why, upon the extreme principle of non-interference, should not men manufacture and circulate promissory notes to any extent they please-stopping only when they can no longer find fools to take them? The answer will be, because it is not for the public good that they should be permitted to do so: the welfare of the community requires