ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 81, 25 April 1846, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

The news of Col. Despard's defeat had reached England. The Times, in an article of Nov. 24th, in noticing this event, after some prelirainaiy remarks, makes the following observations :—: — " One of these not unusual but scarcely noticed reverses has recently tarnished our arms in the South Pacific. In the last of our acquired settlements we have as yet little to boast of in the way of military achievements, nor have our failures been merely negative. The affair of Wairau has not been effaced from the memory of that numerous class who take an interest in the fortunes of New Zealand ; and before we have had time to forget the fate of Captain Wakefield and his companions, we are called upon to lament the death of other officers, complicated with the defeat of a military force. It would be unfair, at this time and distance, to criticise the manoeuvres of the troops under Col. Despard's command, or to pronounce arbitrarily whether the instructions which he gave, or the means of carrying them into effect, are to be reprehended for their insufficiency. There are two points clearly ascertained; the first is, that our troops have been repulsed with loss; the second, that our foes exhibited in combat a greater bravery, and in fortification a greater skill, than we are generally disposed to allow to a savage people. And we may safely infer, what indeed the Australian papers lead us to believe, that our men advanced to storm the stockade elated with the confidence of success, and unprovided with the means of securing it. This will, of course, be a subject of future inquiry. Even if we could aftord to lose a few score of men in a remote dependency, we copld not dispense with the necessity of investigating the causes of the loss, and punishing the neglect or the disobedience which had occasioned it. But we cannot afford this loss. A wanton waste of blood is always unpardonable, but to a state whose empire is out of proportion to its military strength, and scattered over every quarter of the globe, it is positively dang-erous. It is dangerous to the welfare of its distant subjects not less, than to its own honour." After inquiring if it is possible to found a colony without destroying its inhabitants, and if no relation can exist between two nations of different origin, but either that of alien enemies or that of conqueror and subject, and referring to the fate of the Indians in South and North America, and the present state of India, as seeming to negative the possibility of these conditions, the writer thus concludes: " Will it be so in New Zealand ? God forbid ! But what guarantee have we that it shall not be so? Blood has been shed twice. The savage has repulsed his civilized enemy. The gun has been found to be as effective in the hands of the barbarian as of the European ; the stockade as stout a defence to the New Zealander as to the Englishman. The untutored and undisciplined throngs of savages, — or, if disciplined, disciplined for the nonce by example or necessity, have prevailed over British tactics and courage. The honour of a flag has been soiled, and we know that unvindicated honour deals in carnage. The European by this time has been taught to respect the qualities of his antagonist. But when did our mutual respect teach two castes of unequal power to live together in amity? The New Hollander is not respected; he is therefore cuffed and beaten like a dog, or shot down in sport. Such sport would be dangerous in New Zealand, and provoke a return in kind. The New Zealander must be chastised ; but before you can master him — but the category is painful, though suggested by the warnings of the past. " What is to be done? New Zealand was designed to be a model colony, where natives and foreigners might live happily together, enjoying the fruit of peaceful industry, and the blessings of a prevalent Christianity. Look on this picture and on that ! Will the hope ever be realized ? We will not say this is impossible ; but to realize it events must be put in a very different train from the present. We mutt have no littlt war*. We mutt have no hollow truce. Either a war conducted on an adequate scale, all efficient and all terminating — a war which shall cut away all the roots and suckers of future resistance — or a treaty intelligible to and recognised by all whom it concerns; a treaty which shall leave no room for special pleading, or opportunity for infringement; a treaty which shall satisfy the savage and settler ; which shall preclude the possibility of that fearful warfare which race wages against race, till one or the other is extinct. This is the only alternative ; there is no third course/

Through the kindness of Capt. Sharp we are enabled to give the following English news up to December 8, extracted from a Calcutta

paper of 17th January, — and an. account of two most important and decisive victories obtained by the British arms in India over theSikhs, extracted from the Calcutta Star, 12th January. Among the recent deaths we notice thos& of John Backhouse, Esq., the late Undersecretary of State in the Foreign Department ; the eminent Judge Story, Judgeof the Supreme Court of the United States ; and Mrs. Fry, the celebrated philanthropist. The Queen has been pleased to bestow a pension of £200 a-year on Lady Shee, wife of Sir Martin Archer Sbee, in consideration of her husband's eminence as an artist, and of his services as President of the Royal Academy, during a period of fourteen years.

Royal Artillery. — One thousand recruits are immediately to be raised to complete the strength of this gallant and distinguished regiment ; and as a further inducement for young intelligent men to enlist into her Majesty's service, the bounty-money for enlistment has been raised from £5 : 15 : 6 to £9:5: 6 per mail. — Monthly Times, Dec. 8. Sir Charles Fitzroy has returned from the Windward Islands, preparatory to embarking for Sydney, where be is to assume the rein* of government.

Ecclesiastical Appointments. — Tne Venerable William Rowe Lyall, M.A., has been appointed Dean of Canterbury, void by the translation of Dr. Bagot, Bishop of Oxford, the late Dean, to the See of Bath and Wells. The Rev. Dr. Buckland has been appointed Dean of Westminster, void by the promotion of Dr. S. Wilberforce, the late Dean, to the Bishopric of Oxford. The Rev. John Peel, M.A., ha* been appointed Dean of Worcester, void by the resignation of the Bishop of Rochester, the late Dean. Her Majesty has appointed the Rev. J. Gifford Ward, M.A., to be Dean of Lincoln, void by the death of Doctor Gordon. The Spanish General Narvaez has been created by the Queen of Spain a Grandee of the first class, with the title of Duke of Valentia, a height frora which it will be perilous to look down upon the humble home of hi* birth, and his earlier occupations as a contrabandist trader. Strange rumours are afloat as to the liberalism of the Pope, who is said to be de iberating upon the expediency of proclaiming tlve Greek, Gallic, and the Protestant Churches/ all branches of the one Catholic Christian, Church. " In the present state of our relations with America, it is by no means unreasonable to suppose that the Government are mindful of the means which will enable the country, with as little delay as maybe, to present an imposing front to all the world. We find it, however, somewhat difficult to depend upon many of the reports at present in circulation. Among oiher warlike rumours it is stated that orders hava been issued for 42,000 sets of accoutrements for the militia of the English counties, the whole to be ready by the Ist of March, and this is. supposed to be preliminary to a chan je or revision in this department of the service, it being in contemplation to abolish the ballot, and to raise the regiments by beat of drum. This may be partly true, but as a whole it requires confirmation. Il is also reported that there is to be an increase of the army by 20,000 men, 10,000 to be formed into second or reserve batallions, with an addition of two Captains, two Lieutenants, and two Ensigns to each. The 12th, 20th, 23rd, 42nd, 71st, 91st, 97th regts., and 2nd Rifle Brigade, have already this augmentation to their strength. We believe it to be tru<* that a naval officer of experience has been engaged taking measurements of the large steamers under mail contract, with orders to ieport immediately to the Admiralty on their capabilities for carrying guns of the largest calibre; and it is said that the large steamers forming the fleet of the West Jndia Royal Mail Company, as also the vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, and the Great Britain and Great Western, have been quietly but officially inspected. It is also asserted that the recent experiments with a one- gun battery in the Woolwich marshes, recommended to be made by a board of officers appointed to consider and suggest the best mode of constructing defences for the coasts, having been completed, and th© result highly satisfactory, batteries on the same principle will be erected at Sheerness, Poitsmouth, Plymouth, Pembroke, and other places on the coasts. A great number of traversing platforms, 16 feet long, to be fixed by pivots to the masonry of the embrasures, are in progress of construction at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and some idea of the quantity of work now performed in the carriage department may be formed, when it is stated that about five or six years a?o only about 100 hands were employed in that branch, and that there are now between 3i>o and 360 men employed, aided by many new improvements in machinery, equal to the work of a great number of hands. Large guns have been forwarded to Jersey and other exposed islands, and to the Cape of Good Hope and our colonial possessions, and the greatest activity prevails to strengthen every place at home and abroad. Anumber of the block ships heavily armed will soon be ready for their respective stations, and add greatly to the defence of the coast. Such are same of the hostile preparations said to be going on at the present time." — London Mail, Dec. b. Two most important victories have lately been gained over the Sikhs by the British army under the command of Sir Hugh Gougb, G.C.8., one at Moodkee on the 18th Dec,, where the enemy attempted to surprise the British camp, and were repulsed at all points with the loss of 17 guns ; the second engage-

"merit took place on the evening of the 21st' and the morning of the 22d at Ferozshah, where the British army under Sir Hugh Gongh, the Commander-in-chief, and Sir H. Haidinge the Governor General, second in command, assaulted the entrenched camp of the Sikhs, defended by 103 pieces of cannon, some of heavy calibre, and after driving the enemy from his position captured 74 guns with all the munitions of war in their camp. Many of the guns have long Persian inscriptions on them and very old dates, some are highly ornamented. Of the British forces there were 37 European, and 17 Native officers killed, and 78 European, and 18 Native officers wounded. The total number of killed in both engagements in the British army was 694, and 1,721 wounded. In the list of those killed at Moodkee were Major Gen. Sir R. H. Sale, G.C.8., Major Gen. Sir J. M'Caskill.K.C.B., Major W. R. Herries and Capt. J. Munro, A. D. C. to the Gov. Gen., Capt. J. Trower, Capt. F. Dashwood, and Lieut. R. Pollock, Royal Artillery ; Lieut. H. W. Hart, H.M. 31st, &c. Wounded — Lieut. Col. Bunbury, 80th foot, Major P. Grant Dep. Adjt. Gen., Capt. G. E. Hillier A.D.C. to the Gov. Gen., Brigr .W. Mactier, Brigade Major T. L. HarTington Cavalry Div., Major W. Alexander sth L. Cay. ; Brigadier S. Bolton C.8. ; Brigadier H. M. Wheeler C.B &c, &c. Among the killed at Ferozshah were Major A. W. Fitzroy Somerset Mil. Sec. to the Gov. Gen. ; Capt. A. DA. Todd R. A., Bt. Capt. J. E. Codd 3d Light Dragoons, Lieuts. J. and R. Pollard, and W. Bernard 31st foot; Lieut. Col. N. Wallace, Brigadier ; Lieut. Col. A. B. Taylor, Capts. J. Dunne, and J. I. Field 9th foot, Capts. A. D. W. Best, R. Scheberros, Lieuts. R. B. Warren, and G. €. G. Bythesea 80th foot, Capts. G. H. Clarke and H. Wells, Lieuts. T. K. Scott, W. M'Mair, R. Gubbins, M. Kelly and G. Sims 62d foot. Wounded — Lieut. Col. R. B. Wood A.D.C to the Gov. Gen. ; Capts. W. R. Warner and M. Mackenzie R. A., Lieuts. Col. D. Harriott an 1 M. White C. B. ; Major C. W. M. Batters, 3d Lt. Dragoons, Major G. Baldwin 31st ioot y Capt. W. Kuowles 50th foot, Capt. A. Barton 9th foot, Major R. A, Lockhart, Bt. Capt. S, Graser (since dead) and Lieut. M. D. Freeman 80 foot, &c. The following extracts detailing the battle of Ferozshah are from the despatch of the Commander-in-chief : On the morning of the 21st, (be offensive was resumed. Our columns of all arms debouched four miles on the road to Ferozshah, where it was known that the enemy, posted in great force and with a most formidable artillery, had remained since the action of the 18th incessantly employed in entrenching his position. Instead of advancing to the direct attack of their formidable works our force manoeuvred to their right ;jthe second and fourth divisions of infantry in front, supported by the Ist division and cavalry in 2d line, continued to defile for some time out of cannon shot between the Sikhs and Ferozepoie. The desired effect was not long delayed. A cloud of dust was seen on our left, and, according to instructions sent to him on the preceding erening Major General Sir John Littler, with his division, availing himself of the offered opportunity, was discovered in full march to unite his force with mine. The junction was soon effected, and thus was accomplished one of the great objects of all our harrassing marches and privations in the relief of this division of our army from the blockade of the numerous forces by which it was surrounded. Dispositions were now made for a united attack on the enemy's entrenched Camp. We found it to be a parallelogram of about a mile in length and half a mile in breadth, including, within its area, the strong village of Ferozshah; the shorter sides looking towards the Sutlej and Moodkee, and the longer towards Ferozepore and the open country. We moved against the last named place, the ground in front of which was like the Sikh position at Moodkee, covered with low jungle. The Divisions of Major General Sir John 'Littler, Brigadier Wallace who had succeeded Major General Sir John McCaskill, and Major ■General Gilbert, deployed into line, having in the centre our whole force of Artillery, with the exception of 3 Troops of Horse Artillery, one on either flank and one in support, to be moved as occasion required. Major General Sir Harry Smith's Division, and our small Cavalry Force, moved in second line having a Brigade in reserve to cover each wing. I should here observe that I committed the charge and direction of the left wing to Lieu-tenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge, while I personally conducted the right. A very heavy cannonade was opened by the enemy, who bad dispersed over their position upwards one hundred Guns, more than forty of which were of battering calibre. These kept up a heavy and well directed fire, which the practice of our far less numerous Artillery of much lighter metal, checked in some degree, but could not silence; finally in the face of a storm of shot and shell, our Infantry advanced and carried these formidable entrenchments. They threw themselves upon the guns, and with •matchless gallantry, wrested them from_ the enemy, but, when the batteries were partially within our grasp, our soldiery had to face such a fire of musketry from the Sikh Infantry arrajed behind their guns, that in spite of the most heroic efforts, a portion only of the entrenchment could be carried. Night fell while the conflict was every where raging. Although I now brought up Major General Sir Harry Smith's Division, and he captured and long letained another point of the position, H. M.'s 3d Light Dragoons charged and took

some of the most formidable batteries, yet the enemy remained in possession of a considerable portion of the great quadrangle; whilst our Troops, intermingled with theirs, kept possession of the remainder and finally bivouacked upon it. Exhausted by their gallant efforts, greatly reduced in numbers, and suffering extremely from thirst, yet animated by an indomitable spiiit. In this state of things the long night wore away. Near the middle of it one of their heavy guns was advanced and played with deadly effect upon our troops. liieutenant-X3eneral -Sir Henry Hardinge immediately formed H.M.~'i 80th foot and the first European light infantry. They were led to the attack by their commanding officers, and, animated in their exertionsby Lieut.-Col. Wood, (A.D.C.'to the Lieut.-Gene-ral) who was wounded on the outset. The 80th captured the gun, and the enemy dismayed by this countercheck, did not venture to press on further. During the whole night however they continued to harass our troops by fire of artillery, wherever moonlight discovered our position. But with day-light of the 22d came retribution. Our Infantry formed line, supported on both flanks by Horse Artillery, whilst a fire was opened from our centre by such of our heavy guns as remained effective, aided by a flight of rockets. A masked battery played with great effect upon this point, dismounting our pieces and blowing up our tumbrils. At this moment Lieu ten ant-General Sir Henry Hardinge placed himself at the head of the left, whilst I rode to the head of right wing. Our line advanced unchecked by the enemy's fire, drove them rapidly out of the village of Ferozeshah and their encampment, then changing front to its left, on its centre our fence continued to sweep the Camp, bearing down all opposition, and dislodged the enemy from their whole position. The line then halted, as if on a day of manoeuvre, receiving its two leaders as they rode along its front, with a gratifying cheer, and displayed the captured standards of the Kahlsa Army. We had taken upwards of 73 pieces of cannon, and were masters of the whole field. The force assumed a position on the ground which it had won , but even here its labors were not to cease. In the course of two hours, Siidar Tej Sing, who had commanded in the great lost battle brought up from the vicinity of Ferozepore fresh batalions, and a large Field Artillery, supported by 30,000 Ghurchurras, hitherto encamped near the river. He drove in our cavalry parties, and made strenuous efforts to regain the position at Ferozeshah. This attempt was defeated ; but its failure had scarcely become manifest, when the Sirdar renewed the contest with more troops and a large Artillery. He commenced by a combination against our left flank, and, when this was frustrated, made such a demonstration against the captured village, as compelled us to change our whole front to the right. His guns, during this manoeuvre, maintained an incessant fire, whilst our Artillery ammunition being completely expended in these protracted combats, we were unable to answer him with a single shot. I now directed our almost exhausted cavalry to threaten both flanks at once, preparing the infantry to advance in support, which apparently caused him suddenly to cease his fire and abandon the field. The loss of this Army has been heavy : how could a hope be formed that it should be otherwise? within 30 hours this force stormed an entrenched Camp, fought a general action, and sustained two considerable combats with the enemy. Within four days it has dislodged from their positions on the left bank of the Sutlege 60,000 Seikh soldiers, supported by upwards of 150 pieces of cannon, 108 of which the enemy acknowledged to have lost, and 91 of which are in our possession. — Calcutta Star, Jan. 12.