INDIA, (From the Correspondent of the Empire.) Calcutta, March 9, 1858.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XV, Issue 1135, 14 May 1858, Page 3

INDIA, (From the Correspondent of the Empire.) Calcutta, March 9, 1858.

The last mail which left this on the 22nd February, announced that Sir Colin Campbell was concentrating his army upon Lucknow, and it was thonght the attack would have been over and successful long ere this. The Ghorka contingent, however, under Jung Bahador, had to cross the Gogra ; a number of onr rescued ladies and children had to be conveyed to a place of safety, and Sir Hugh Rose, with the force under his command, had to come up from Jaugar. The rebels, under the Nana, as it is supposed, had also assembled in great force at Culpee, and threatened our rear, unless out-manaeuvered, or disposed of ; and so the attack has at tlii« date (March 9th) not yet absolutely commenced, although Dilkoosha, one of the fortified outposts of Lucknow, was attacked on the 4th by Sir Colin in person, and the enemy driven back, with the loss, however, of only one gun. As I write, no doubt the work of destruction and long-deserved retribution is going on, and may the God of battles, who holds the victory in his hand, bless the efforts of our brave soldiers. But one reverse at Lvcknow, where the enemy are said to be at least 100,000 strong, would cause consequences all over our Indian Empire and especially in Calcutta, where the natives are 1,000 to 1 which it is fearful to contemplate. On the night of the 2nd the people ofCalcutta experienced their second panic. The ganison was nearly bare of troops, and by a strange fatuity the disarmed sepoys at Barrackpore are still employed to mount sentry in Calcutta, with a ramrod in their hands, at the Governor-General's palace, the treasur)-, banks, &c. It appears that the Government received intelligence of some intention on their part, and at 11 o'clock a sudden order was given for the volunteer Infantry and Cavalry to mount and arm quickly for night duty. They were but a handfull, but the sailor brigade brought two guns to bear on theprircipal native street of business, and the whole European population were on the alert all uight. The alarm was gieat and the chance ot the Europeans would have been small if they had come to the fiknt in earnest. General Outram, who"holds a position at the Alambaugh, near Lucknow, has been twice attacked by overwhelming forces, but he succeeded in iepulsing the enemy with great loss. BriSadier Hope Grant has taken Meangunge, the gallant Queen's 53rd "Hegt. storming the place with a rush, wnd overcoming every obstacle. General Franks has met with signal and almost unheards of uccess, engaging two vastly superior bodies of the enemy in one day, and defeating one after the other with great slaughter to the foes. The defeated bodies subsequently formed a junction, ank having procured reinforcements, announced to no less than 25,000 men. General Franks, however, with one troop and battery of Horse Artillery, a squadaon of the Bayswing ofH.M. 10th Foot, H.M. 20th and 97th regts, and a small body of Ghorkas, outmanoeuvred the enemy , and by a forced march turned his flank, defeating him with the capture of 20 guns, and leaving 1800 dead on the field ; onr loss in killed and wounded was about 10 or 12. Several junior actions have been equally favourable to the British arms, and all e)es are turned towards Lucknow, as tne point on which British supremacy in India depends. Should that city fall, much will yet remain to bo done, and hard fighting and plenty of occupation for British ti oops will lemain for ye"rs to come; our race, religion, and habits are all antagonistic to the great mass of the people, consisting of more than 100 millions , and their own divisions and differences have alpne enabled us to maintain our rule. For years, as I have said before, India, I will^ not only be a wide field for the soldier, but afford .1 study and employment for the statesman aed philosopher, "f The Monica is In fiom your port with horses.

By way of Ceylon, we ('The Age'} have important intelligence from the scat of war to the 10th of March. We are reluctantly compelled to omLt the lengthy extracts we had prepared from the Bombay and Madras papers, and must content oui selves with giving the mere items of news in a summarised foim. The army was before Lucknow, and sipge operations were being conducted with spirit. Sir James Outram crossed the Goomtee on the 6th with 6000 men and thirty guns. He was attacked, but repulsed the enemy. A large body of rebels and sepoys made an advance on Gorruckpoie on the sth, were louted and pursued si'Ven miles by Colonel Rowcroft. On the 3rd, the troops under the orders of Sir Hugh Rose lorced the pass of Mudinpore, after a short but vigorous resistance. The enemy numbered about six thousand, anil suffered severely. The enemy were scattered in every direction. Sir Hugh had occupied the country to Jhani, with the exception of two or three forts which could easily be taken. At Calcutta an attack of the Sepoys at Barrackpore having.been apprehended, the volunteers turned out and guarded the city for a whole night. A Newaad who, it is said, has promised to furnish the Sepoys with arms, had been arrested. In the South Mahratta country the old rebellion of the Sawathwairee chiefs had been renewed, but was speedily quelled. The report of disturbances at Indore was unfounded. A battle had been fought at Chanda in the north west provinces on the 19th February. The enemy were routed with great loss, and a hot pursuit ensued. j Another battle had be&n fought at Saltanpore on th.fr 23rd Eebruary. The rebels were completely routed. Nineteen guns were taken and a great number of thje enemy killed. The loss to the British was trifling. / On the 26th February there was a brisk fight near JeDa labad. Hodson's horse created frightful havoc among the enemy. It is stated that the King of Delhi was to be banished for life to the Isle of Andaman in the Bay of Bengal. One hundred and sixty Sepoys had already been sent there and turned in among the savages with provisions for two years.