fforeign an Colonial.

FRANCE.—The attempted assassination of the King of the French, at Fontainebleau, on Thursday the 16th instant,* has cast all other occur- rences into the shade. We now subjoin as complete a narrative of the cir- cumstances under which the nefarious attempt was made, and of subse- quent occurrences, as the materials and space at command will allow. The King had gone to Fontainebleau to spend a few days; and, in order that he might witness the sport of boar-hunting, it was arranged that on Thursday a hunt should take place in the forest during his afternoon drive. The King proceeded in a char-h-bane drawn by Rix horses, and preceded by a piquenr, to view the sport; the Queen, the Princess Ade- laide, the Prince and Princess of Salerno, and the Dutchess de Nemours, accompanying his Majesty in the same carriage. There was no escort. As the char-h-banc passed onwards, it is understood that the assassin was stationed behind a wall of the reserved park; his head concealed with a handkerchief, and holding in his hand a gun levelled; but that he post- poned firing until the return of the Royal party, because he supposed the King would then be better stationed to receive his fire, at about six metrea from the muzzle of the gun. On the King's return, the Duke de Nemours and the Prince de Joinville attended on horseback; and some officers of the First Hussars, whom the hunt had attracted, galloped at the carriage- doors, with Captain Brahault, the King's Officier d'Ordonnance.

About half-past five o'clock, the King's char-h-banc emerged from the little park of Avon, on its return to the chateau; and approached the spot where the asss-q-sin had taken his station. The King was on the first bench, having on his left M. de Montalivet; on the second were the Queen and Princess of Salerno; on the third, Princess Adelaide and the Hutches; de Nemours; on the fourth, the Prince of Salerno, the Queen's brother. The vehicle was proceeding at a trot along and very near the wall of the little park. The assassin stood on a heap of bushes. "His doubly-loaded gun was levelled, at a height skilfully calculated, on the top of the wall. The royal equipage approached; but, instead of finding on his aiming-line the King's head, he found that of M. de Montalivet, whom he perfectly knew. He was then obliged to make a rapid but incomplete movement, in order to change the direction of his gun. He fired at a distance of twelve paces. The charge, consisting of two calibre bullets, tore the char-h-banc fringes above the King's head. The wadding fell on the Queen's knees. A second shot was fired in the same direction. The King exclaimed, Ce n'est non; c'est la fin de la chasse I' and he said to the piqueurs, Eh hien! continuons, nous aliens au chateau.' The cortege then resumed its march. On hearing the twofold detonation, one of the grooms who followed on horseback, named Millet, hurried to the wall, jumped off his saddle, got over the wall, and ran in pursuit of the assassin. 'I shall have thee alive, or thou shalt kill me,' cried he. The assassin turned round, and strove to defend himself. He is of prodigious strength, and Millet, despite his cou- rage, was in great danger; but he was soon succoured by the officers of Hussars who had followed the King, and who, having galloped round the wall, hastened, as well as M. de Labadie and de Brahanit, Ordonnance Of- ficers to his Majesty, to help him. The assassin gave up the struggle; sur- rendered; avowed his crime; expressing but a horrible regret at not having been able to accomplish it." He was found to be Lecomte, a person who had formerly held a situation in the Forest Guard. He is described as " a man of high stature, of dark complexion, with a firm look, his countenance denoting great excitement. He wore moustachios and a royale. "I haVe hastened too much," said he with an accent of bitter disappointment. He had taken a blouse to dis- guise himself, and a foulard covered his head; but he was otherwise dressed with care. His gun was of Vallee, and an excellent one.

Lecomte was conducted to the town prison amidst an immense crowd; and at one moment it was very difficult and almost dangerous to protect his life from their indignation. The officers of the First Hussars, never- theless, succeeded in opening themselves a way through the multitude

* By an accident, the first announcement of this event was omitted in the earlier part of our impression last week—It should have run through the whole.

'Who bad invaded the town, and in delivering up Lecomte to justice. The Procureur du Roi and Juge d'Instruction immediately arrived. In an examination which lasted above two hours, Lecomte again avowed that he had committed the well-determined design of killing the King. Intelligence of the occurrence reached Paris at eleven o'clock the same night. The Home Minister was at the English Ambassador's soiree. He immediately apprized the Keeper of the Seals and Procureur-General; who started together at midnight for the Royal residence, and afterwards inter- rogated the prisoner. In the course of the evening, the King wrote several letters; one to Marshal Soult, President of the Council; a second to the House Minister; a third to M. Guizot The Queen sent an estafette to the Princesses her daughters. The inhabitants of Fontainebleau, on learning how providentially his Majesty and the Royal Family had escaped, manifested their gratification in the most enthusiastic manner. All the houses were illuminated in the evening. On Friday morning a "To Deum " of thanksgiving was per- formed in the church of St. Louis at Fontainebleau. The King, the Queen, and their suites, and all the functionaries and citizens whom the news of the event had collected at and round the Court, attended.

In Paris there was the liveliest expression of feeling; and much anxiety was expressed by citizens of all classes for an opportunity to testify their gratification at the King's escape. The journals denounced the crime; and, with the exception of the Journal des Dibats, none of them attempted to give the occurrence a political complexion. That journal, however, on the strength of a rumour, which nobody seems to have heard but itself, "that the Minister of the Interior had received two telegraphic despatches from Grenoble and Lyons, announcing that anonymous letters had been ad- dressed to several public functionaries, whereby they were warned that the King was to be fired at, at Paris, on the 16th April," treated Lecomte's attempt as part and parcel of a political conspiracy. In this view of the matter the Journal des Dibats stands all but alone; only the Epoque lean- ing somewhat to the same side.

Both the Chambers met on Friday, and made arrangements for the pre- sentation of addresses to the King, on his arrival at Paris on Saturday, the day originally fixed for his return, and which he declined to change.

On Saturday a gratifying incident occurred—

"At an early hour, the Place Vendome was filled with National Guards, en grande tenue; nearly 5,000 men formed a square; and at the base of Napoleon's column was raised a sort of tent, with a little table covered with green baize. Whatever the order of the day was, it is certain that when the National Guards had assembled to pay a tribute of respect and sympathy, they were not aware that his Majesty was on his way from Fontainebleau. As soon as this was known, an unanimous desire was expressed to be presented to the King. His Majesty arrived about half-past twelve o'clock; and the wish of the National Guards being made known, was at once graciously acknowledged. The whole body marched in military order to the Place du Carrousel; and, having taken up their pwition in front of the Tuileries the King made his appearance,. holding the Count de Paris by the hand; and accompamed by the Prince de Jouiville e de Nemours, and Duke de Montpensier, walked down the whole ranks, amidst en- thusiastic cries of Vive le Roi

Then came the presentation, at the Tuileries, of the addresses from the Chambers. The Deputies walked in procession. M. Sauzet, the Presi- dent, the four Vice-Presidents, the four Secretaries, attended by the officers of the Chamber, walked in front. The Ministers followed; and then came the Deputies all dressed in black, marching two and two. The Ring, who was dressed in the uniform of a general officer, received the Deputies in the Throne-room. During the ceremony, he stood in front of the throne, surrounded by the Queen, the Dutchess of Orleans, Madame Adelaide, the Count de Paris, and the whole of the Royal Family. The number of Deputies present exceeded three hundred; among whom were M. Thiers, M. Lamartine, M. Odillon Barrot, and all the leading members of the Opposition as well as of the Ministerial party. hi. Berryer and several other leading Legitimists were also present. M. Gamier Pages and M. Ledra Rollin were absent.

Baron Pasquier, in introducing the Chamber of Peers to his Majesty, addressed the King- " Sire I wait not to make a speech to the King, but to present to him the Chamber of Peers, until all the members shall have entered; and it will be neces- sary for me to wait a long time, for they are very numerous. The sentiments of which their presence here offers you the expression are those of all France." His Majesty replied- " I appreciate the delicacy of the reserve which you impose on yourself. I am no less sensibly affected by the conduct of the Chamber of Peers. It knows how much the expression of its sentiments, always so precious to me becomes the snore so under this painful circumstance. I do not speak of myself. I only think of the danger which my family incurred; and it is very gratifying to me to re. carve this fresh proof of the affection of the Chamber of Peers towards me." Loud cries of "Vivo le Roi!" arose at the conclusion of his Majesty's speech.

M. Smut, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, next addressed his Majesty- " Sire, the entire Chamber comes to lay before you its emotions and its wishes. All opinions, all ranks, press forward to hail your miraculous preservation, as they would close together to defend you and to serve as a rampart between crime and you. Our language, Sire, is the faithful echo of the country. At this mo-

ment, a loud cry of in and devotion resounds from one end of the coun- try to the other. France, that ancient land of loyalty, so hospitable to the unfor- tunate, so generous even towards her enemies, rouses herself at the idea of these dastardly attempts, from which she believed herself to be for ever free. (Cries of " Vive le Roi P') But her confidence is not discouraged: she knows that a wretch may pollute her soil, but cannot endanger her institutions or dishonour bet renown. She knows that assassins are to be found among the noblest of na- tions, as they might arm themselves against the best of Kings. (Renewed cries of Vice le Roi ! ")

. But He who guards kings and _protects nations will not allow His designs to be thus thwarted. It is His to maintain the great missions which He has given and to protect the elected of nations with the inviolability of His power. He has visibly stretched forth His band over your august person.

"Sire, we bless Providence; we congratulate the country; we congratulate that Queen whom we see always at year side, as a devoted companion who shares your dangers, and as an angel of virtue who wards them off—(Loud cries of' " Vice in Reim !")—those Princes to whom you with confidence deliver over the future welfare of the country and our liberties; we congratulate the royal child, for the protection raised over you is a promise to him that it will be permitted you to bush your task, to form his youth, and to prepare him by the instruction of your trials, year courage, and the affection of your people, for the accomplishment of his high destinies."

The speech of M. Sauzet was followed by prolonged applause. The King replied-

" I am too much affected by all I hear, too deeply penetrated by the sentiments which you have just so warmly expressed of this numerous assembly which sur round me, as well as the Queen and my family, my sons and my grandsons, to express to you the feelings which fill my heart. I leave it to your own hearts to conceive what is pawing in mine, and which I cannot explain to you as I would wish. (Cries of "Vire Is Rol! ") You feel, without its being necessary for me to say, what is painful for me, not in the danger which I have incurred, but in the idea that my family were exposed to share those perils. I am happy in sharing your hope that Divine Providence will continue to watch over us; and that there will only remain of those deplorable attempts the remembrance of the indignation which they excite, and the testimonies of affection and devotedness which are poured out around me. (Renewed cries of" Vise is Roi!") France knows how much I am devoted to her. It is for her sake I wish to live; and all my days shall be devoted to her happiness and her prosperity."

The speech of his Majesty was delivered under feelings of great emotion, and was hailed with loud exclamation at the close.

On the Deputies retiring, the King transacted business with severe/ of the Ministers. At five o'clock the Archbishop of Paris arrived with some of his principal clergy. At six o'clock, there was a family dinner in the Diane Gallery. In the course of the evening, nearly eight hundred persons were received in the Tuileries drawingrooms.

The Peers assembled the same day; and a Royal ordonnance consti- tuting the Chamber a Court of Justice for the trial of the assassin was handed to the President.

On Sunday, the King received the congratulations of the Municipal Corporation.

On Monday, the Chamber of Peers sat as a Court of Justice, and de- creed immediate proceedings" against the author of, and accomplices in, the attempt committed on the King's person, at Fontainebleau, on the 16th instant." Two hundred and twenty-two Peers were present. It was be- lieved that the trial would be over by the 15th May.

Of the previous history of the assassin Lecomte the following particulars have been given- " Pierre Lecomte is forty-eight years of age. He was born at Beaumont

d'Or). He is a vindictive and violent man, of limited intelligence and de- testable reputation. He is unmarried, and lives in the Colysee, at Paris. Before 1830, Lecomte had, it is said, been a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Guard, and as such formed part of the expedition to Spain; later he served in the Mores campaign. In the former campaign he had received the cross of the Legion of Honour. In the Mores he served as orderly officer to General Church, after having passed successively through the grades of sub-lieutenant, lieutenant, and captain. He quitted the Greek service, saying that he was dissatisfied with the President of that republic, who, he added, did not like Frenchmen. Lecomte entered into the service of the domaine prive of the King in 1829, as simple garde. The petition in which he earnestly solicited this appointment was re- commended (apostillee) by the King, at that time Duke of Orleans, at the re commendation of the Viscount de Rumigny, who bad known Lecomte in Greece. The King, with his usual feeling of delicacy, and in the hope of obtaining some- thing more for the petitioner, carried his kindness so far as to add to his signa- ture on the petition the expression of a doubt as to whether Lecomte would ac- cept the place of simple garde. Thus patronized, Lecomte arrived successively, but rapidly, at the grade of Garde-Geueral at Fontainebleau, in 1839. He evinced much zeal, but, at the same time, was remarkable for his unsocial character, and a constant irritability, even towards his inferiors. It appears that, being irritated at a retention of 20 francs on his 'gratification,' which was inflicted upon him, in 1844, for insubordination towards the Inspector of the Forest, his superior, he gave in his resignation, in the most insulting manner. His resignation was accepted; but nevertheless the administration of the Civil List kindly consented to pay his retiring pension, to which he had forfeited all claim by giving in hia resignation. Lecomte had been to the Treasury of the Crown to receive the quar- terly payment of this pension, for which he was indebted to the benevolence of the King, on the very morning of the day when be set out for Fontainebleau with the intention of committing the criminal attempt for which he is now in custody. He had been the object of surveillance by the Police, but solely on account of some threatening letters which he had sent to the Baron de Sahnne, Conservator of the Crown Forests; who, however, had shown great kindness to him, by recommending, notwithstanding his conduct, that he should receive the pension to which he had lost all right. Lecomte had the reputation of being an excellent marksman; which renders the escape of the King s6ll more providential.",

The prisoner was brought from Fontainebleau to Paris on Monday morning, and placed in the Conciergerie; where he has undergone several examinations.

Millet, the groom, who arrested Lecomte, has been promoted to the place of piqueur. He has now 4,000 francs a year: as groom, he had only 1,200 francs.

Among the addresses to the King on this occasion' one was offered by a numerous meeting of British residents at Paris; the Duke of Montrose in the chair.

The bill demanding extraordinary credit for the navy has been unani- mously passed by the Chamber of Deputies, with an amendment moved by Tillers and Janvier, which the Ministry and Committee had assented to.

The Noniteur publishes the returns of the public revenue from the indi- rect taxes for the first quarter of the present year, with a comparison be- tween it and the same quarter in 1845 and 1844. The amount for this year is 198,429,000 francs, being an excess of 13,590,000 francs over the receipts of 1845; a result the more remarkable as these were greater by 642 000 francs than those of 1844. The principal source of this last in- crease has been the Customs-duties, which, including the sugars, produced no less thou 39,000,000 francs, equal to one-fifth of the whole revenue, and the increase upon which was 3,500,000 francs.

Srarw.—The Isturitz Cabinet was formed on the 12th instant; on which day the respective Ministers took the oaths of office. To the names formerly mentioned, that of M. Caneja, the Minister of Justice, has to be added.

Accounts from Madrid, to the 15th instant, report that a schism had already broken out in the Cabinet, and that Isturitz and Mon had ten- dered their resignations. There is a disagreement, it seems, as to whether the Cortes should be called together, and whether the Narvaez decrees against the press should t3 withdrawn. Isturitz is understood to be in favour of repealing the latter restrictions • but Queen Christina is not. As to the state of mattersin the provinces, the Morning Chronicle of Thursday says—

"The accounts are calculated to give considerable uneasiness. From Murcia Valencia, Valladolid, and other places, rumours are brought of insurrections, dis! turbances, and pronunciamientos. The care taken by the Government to prevent the circulation of these rumours adds to the evil, as it prevents the public know-

lag the tree state of the case. Gallieia is still in a state of complete rebellion. Even the Government papers admit that Lugo and Santiago are yet in the hands of the insurgents, though they declared two days before that the whole affair was put down: but in point of fact, nearly. the whole is in the hands of the insurgents. The effect of another Ministerial crisis will very probably be a general insurrec- tion throughout the kingdom, and, probably, a revolution."

BELGIVIL—The Chamber of Representatives resumed its sittings on the 20th instant. Much interest was excited to hear M. De Themes explana- tion of the causes which led to the formation of the new Cabinet: but his allusions were indistinct. As to the new Ministry, he says " it has been formed with the view of maintaining that policy of moderation by which the Government has been guided since 1830."

Grinnce.—It appears from Athens papers, received to the 10th instant, that a new edition of the budget of 1846 had appeared, in which the foreign debt, guaranteed by England, France, and Russia, is omitted! A deficiency on the year is taken for granted, instead of a surplus as in the List edition. The Chamber of Deputies had granted a provisional credit for four months; and had rejected the motion for an address to the King, praying him to dismiss his Ministers, by a majority of 69 to 33.

Easy bnams.—Intelligence in anticipation of the Bombay mail reached London early this week. The latest dates are Bombay March 17th, Cal- cutta March 7th, and Madras March 8th.

The previous accounts from the Panjaub, which came down to the 19th February, left the British army within sixteen miles of Lahore, and commu- nicated the unconditional submission of the representatives of the Lahore Government, and the terms upon which that submission was accepted. It was also communicated- that the young Maharajah Dhuleep Singh had joined the camp of the Governor-General, and was to accompany it to Lahore. The sequel has now to be told.

On the 20th February, the British army appeared under the walls of Lahore; and the first thing done was to make arrangements for sending Dhuleep Singh to his palace. These were particularized in a general order from the Governor-General to the Commander-in, chief; and were obviously intended to strongly mark the power and at the same time the forbearance of the British Government, under whose protection and by whose arms the young Prince was conducted to his ancestral residence.

The escort consisted of her Majesty's Ninth and Sixteenth Lancers, two troops of Horse Artillery, the Governor-General's body-guard, with the Third Regular and bath Irregular Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Cureton; and was accompanied by a number of distinguished officers mounted on elephants. Mr. Currie, the Secretary to the Government of India, was intrusted with the charge of the Maharajah and suite. The escort proceeded to the Maharajah's camp, distant about a mile and a half. Mr. Currie, in reporting the fulfilment of his mission, writes— "At about three-quarters .of a mile from the Maharajah's camp, I was met by the Minister, Rajah Gholab Singh, and some of the chiefs. Intimation of our ap- proach was then sent on to the Maharajah, that he might be ready on his elephant upon our arrival. On reaching the Maharajah's camp, the troops of our escort drew up; and the Maharajah, with Bhaee Ram Singh on the same elephant, came for- ward from his tent, accompanied by several chiefs. After the usual salutation and complimentary questions and replies, I placed the Maharajah's elephant next to mine; and the troops having fallen in, as at first, proceeded round the walls of the citylo the gate of the citadel. "On arriving, Brigadier Careton drew up the escort in line in front of the gate- way; and I took the Maharajah, accompanied by the officers enumerated in the former part of this letter, with Rajah Gholab Singh and the other chiefs, into the interior of the citadel, and to the inner door of his palace. I then observed to the Maharajah and chiefs, that by order of the Right Honourable the Governor- General, I had thus brought the Maharajah, conducted by the British army, to his palace, which his Highness had left for the purpose of tendering submission to the British Government, and for placing himself, his capital, and his country, at the mercy of the Governor-General, and requesting pardon for the insult that had been offered; and that the Governor-General had thus restored him to his palace as a mark of the favour which he desired to show to the descendant of the late tfaharajah Runjeet Singh. A salute of twenty-one guns was then fired by the Horse Artillery. We then took leave of the Maharajah at the gate of his palace; and, returning to the outside of the city, we, continuing our progress round Lahore, thus returned. to our camp. As our camp is situated opposite the South-east end of the city face, and the citadel is immediately within the city- walls at the North-west angle, we made the entire circuit of Lahore. I con- sidered this preferable to going through the city, the streets of which are very narrow, and would have much impeded the progress of our large escort.

"We did not see one gun upon any part of the walls; all their embrasures were empty."

On the 22d the citadel of Lahore and a part of the palace was formally taken possession of by a brigade of British troops under the personal com- mand of Lord Gough. This act, as marking the termination of the cam- paign, gave rise to the following general order by the Governor-General— "Foreign Department, Camp Lahore, Feb. 22, 1846. "The British army has this day occupied the gateway of the citadel of Lahore, the Badshahee Mosque, and the Hoozooree Bagh. The remaining part of the cita- del is the residence of his Highness the Maharajah, and also that of the families of the late Maharajah Runjeet Singh, for so many years the faithful ally of the British Government. In consideration of these circumstances, no troops will be posted within the precincts of the palace-gate. "The army of the Sutlej has now brought its operations in the field to a close, by the dispersion of the Sikh army, and the military occupation of Lahore, pre- ceded by a aeries of the most triumphant successes ever recorded in the military history of India. The British Government, trusting to the faith of treaties, and to the long-subsisting friendship between the two states, had limited military pre- parations to the defence of its own frontier. Compelled suddenly to assume the offensive, by the unprovoked invasion of its territories, the British army, under the command of its distinguished leader, has in sixty days defeated the Sikh for- ces in fear general actions; has captured 220 pieces of field artillery; and is now at the capital, dictating to the Lahore Durbar the terms of a treaty, the conditions of which will tend to secure the British provinces from the repetition of a similar e Governor-General being determined, however' to mark with reprobation the perfidious character of the war, has required, and will exact, that every re- maining piece of Sikh artillery which has been pointed against the British army during the campaign shall be surrendered.

"The Sikh army, whose insubordinate conduct is one of the chief causes of the anarchy and misrule which have brought the Sikh state to the brink of destruc- tion, is about to be disbanded.

"The soldiers of the army of the Sutlej have not only proved their superior prowess in battle, but have on every occasion with subordination and patience endured the fatigues and privations inseparable from a state of active operations in the field. The Native troops of this army have also proved that a faithful at- tachment to their colours and to the Company's service is an honouraable feature in the character of the British Sepoy. The Governor-General has repeatedly expressed

on his own part, and on that of the Government of India, admiration and gratitude for the important services which the Army has rendered. The Governor-General isnow pleased to resolve, as a testimony of the approbation of the Government of India of the bravery, discipline, and soldier-like bearing of the army of the Sntlej, that all the generals, officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, shall receive a gra- tuity of twelve months' batta. Every regiment which, in obedience to its or- ders, may have remained in posts and forts between Loodianali and Ferozepore, and was not present in action—as in the case of the troops ordered to remain at Moodkee to protect the wounded, and those left in the forts of Ferozepore and Loodianah—shall receive the gratuity of twelve months' batta. Obedience to orders is the first duty of a soldier; and the Governor-General, in affirming the '

principle can never admit that absence caused by the performance of India- pensableduties, on which the success of the operations in the field greatly de- pended, ought to disqualify any soldier placed in these circumstances from parti- cipating in the. gratuity given for the general good conduct of the army in the field. All regiments and individuals ordered to the frontier, and forming part of the army of the Sutlej, which may have reached Loodianah or Bussean before the date of this order, will be included as entitled to the gratuity. "By order of the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India, "F. Cunene Secretary to the Government "of India, with the Governor-General."

A Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday contains an extract from a despatch addressed to the Secret Committee of the East India Com- pany by Lord Hardinge, dated Lahore, March 4th. It mentions the res- toration of the Maharajah, and the occupation of the citadel of Lahore and part of the palace by the British troops. The following additional fact is communicated- " Having left a garrison at Fidler, Brigadier 'Wheeler advanced to the banks of the Bess; and the presence of his disciplined force has given confidence of pro- tection to the inhabitants of the Dooab, who are stated to be well satisfied with their change of rulers."

Every precaution was adopted by the Commander-in-chief to prevent offence of any kind to the inhabitants of Lahore. On the day that the troops encamped under the walls, sentries were placed at the gates to pre- vent ingress; and a proclamation was issued intimating the restoration of friendly relations, and advising the inhabitants to dismiss apprehension and to follow their respective callings with all confidence. The effect was in- stantly felt. Supplies of all sorts began to be brought in abundance into camp; the civility with which those who brought them were received, and punctuality with which they were paid, contrasting strikingly with the re- ception they had been accustomed to meet with from the Khalsa troops.

Some of the British officers appear to have been permitted to visit the town of Lahore; and one of them gives the following description of it in a letter to the Delhi Gazette— "Lahore appears to me the filthiest city I ever entered, and can boast of but few-lions. The mosque close to the Stumm Boorj (Badshaliee) has been a noble structure, and is still a splendid ruin. Runjeet Shigh demolished the cupolas, and turned the whole place into a magazine; his own,Hummad is now being garnished with the marble taken from the domes. The area of the city is not great, but the houses are lofty, and every spot crowded. The place is filled with desperate vagabonds; almost every second man is armed. They receive us quietly just now, although some twenty thousand soldiers are lurking in the narrow courts and streets. Lahore is begirt with a double line of defences, the walls lofty, the ditch deep and wide, and the bastions magnificent in size, but the whole utterly weak. The Shabemar gardens are large, but in beauty by no means equal to Deig. The Bhuagee Tope, or monster gun, would be a fine trophy; bathe is to be left here, as not having taken the field against us."

The Khalsa troops, after their defeat at Sobmon, retired towards Umrit- sir. Their commander, Tej Singh, was twice wounded in their last con- flict, and, seeing no advantage from further resistance, gave in. The rem- nant of the Khalsa army was obliged to surrender their cannon, and to disperse. The surrender of their guns was a proof of their conquest, for on them the great reliance was placed in battle. Groans and tears at- tended the departure from Lahore.

The first instalment of the indemnity-money [it amounts in all to about a million and a half sterling] had not been paid on the 1st March, but it was daily expected. The withdrawal of the British army was to take place about the 10th.

Permission was given, in the general orders of the 25th February, to the men of the Sixteenth Lancers and of the Thirty-first Foot to volunteer into other corps. These regiments are to come by water to Bombay, and there to embark for Europe.

General M‘Laren died of his wounds at Ferozepore. The Adjutant- General of the Bengal Army, Sir J. R. Lumley, died also at Ferozepore.

The news from Scinde is not of remarkable interest. Sir Charles Na- pier, having been fired at on going up the river Sutlej, landed at Ooch, and proceeded to Bhawulpore; where he landed on the 20th February, visited the Rajah, and set out on the 22d for Ferozepore to join the Governor- General. The distance is two hundred and thirty miles. He had not arrived at Lahore on the 1st March.

Arrangements were making for the occupation of the conquered terri- tories. These consist of the protected states on the South-eastern side of the Sutlej, confiscated by proclamation of the 13th December, and the region betwixt the Sutlej and the Bees, bill and dale. This territory is in the form of an equilateral triangle; the rivers already named, to the extent of 100 miles each constituting two sides, and an extension of the MCKW, tain-range on which Simla stands forming the third. It comprises an area of about 5,000 square miles, and yields a revenue of 400,0001. The level part of the country is considered the most fertile portion of the Pnnjaub; and is not surpassed in productiveness, in excellence of soil, or salubrity of climate, by any part of Hindostan. Its chief town is Jullinder, containing a population of about 40,000: Phulloor, Pagwarra, and Saltanpore, are places of minor consideration. It is expected that the British cantonments will not be far distant from Lahore, so as to be able to keep down all at- tempts at insurrection. Major Abbott is the engineer selected to make arrangements for new cantonments.

From the Lahore correspondence of the Delhi Gazette it would seem that the Ranee and Gholab Singh are plotting for each other's overthrow. The object of the Queen-mother is to promote her paramour Lall Singh to the Wuzeership. The Ranee was highly pleased at the reception given to her son by the Governor-General, and caused gnus to be fired in testimony of her joy. She ordered proclamation to be made that the old friendship between the Saha and the British had been renewed. It appears from the following incident, that post-office arrangements are not very complete at Lahore, and that it is not safe to be the bearer of bad news-- "A Sarnee Suwar, who came in from the camp with a bag of letters, went first to the Havelle of Rajah Dheean Singh, and was asked by a Sikh Sepoy of the name of Hunooman Singh, belonging to the battalion of Jewun Singh, what news he had brought. The Suwar replied, he did not know, as he was only a car- rier of letters: on which the Sepoy demanded the bag; which the Suwar refused. The Sepoy insisted; and being again refused, asked whether the British were really coming to Lahore? The Sower said they were, and that the Ithalsa troops had now lost their power. The Sikh was enraged, drew his sword, and severely wounded the Suwar, and on his falling to the ground cut of his head. The ser- vants of Meean Jowahir Singh, hearing the altercation, ran out, seized the Sikh, and took him before the Ranee; who ordered him to lose both his hands."

CAPE OF GOOD Horm—Files of papers to the 28th February have been received. The officials were giving out that there was nothing to fear from the Kafirs; but the settlers were far from feeling satisfied on this head. The South African Advertiser says- " Notwithstanding the assurances given by the Government of the absence of all ground of alarm, and notwithstanding the pacific professions of the Kafirs, the excitement amongst the Farmers continues with very little abatement. The great Western post-road has been literally thronged with the flocks and herds of those who were endeavouring to escape from the apprehended danger. The loss of stock has been very great. Valuable woolled sheep have been -left to wander without care in the field; and in many instances have been irretrievably lost in the dense thickets which margin all the larger streams in this province. Many of the farmers have resolved never to return to the frontier districts till some reasonable security is given for life and property, and until it is apparent that our Government have both the will and the power to restrain the Kafirs from future aggressions. Meetings are called in every quarter to take this subject under consideration. It must be made clearly known that the inhabitants have no faith in the neighbouring Kafirs; they do not believe their professions, nor will they trust themselves to their tender mercies. They know them to be as trea- cherous as they are dishonest, alike covetous and merciless; and they will not remain in a position where their lives and their property are constantly in jeo- pardy, and where the Government fail in maintaining the integrity of its own boundary against continual violation by these savage and dishonest tribes."

Water INDIES.—The mail-steamer Severn, which arrived at South- ampton on Sunday, brings distressing accounts of the state of the crops in the West India Islands, from the want of rain. The Jamaica Times of 'March 24th says- " In the Western parishes of the island, we regret to state, the canes are not half-filled with juice of any kind, and whole fields are being cut down which produce a return scarcely sufficient to .pay the concurrent expenditure. The pa- rishes of Trelawny and St. James, it is said, can scarcely be expected, as far as is ascertained, to produce much more than one-half the extent of their last year's crops."

In Barbadoes, the planters had commenced gathering, to save what they could. From most of the islands we have deplorable accounts of the effect of the drought.