Argus.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 121, 17 December 1858, Page 3

Argus.

September 23. .. Sir John Lawrence has issued the following circular to all the deputy-collectors under his sway in the Punjaub. It relates to another regiment the 64th, who. are tn route in a disarmed state; and here I may as Well mention that the total number of these disarmed soldiers amounts, to 18,000 in the Punjaub alone:— "The disarmed regiment, the 64th Native Infantry, are now «n route from Peshawur to Uinballa, under escort of a regiment of Jesailchees; and I request that instructions maybe at once quietly issued to all the police officers in your district to be on the alert, but without in any way interfering with, or harassing or annoying the disarmed men. They are to be particularly enjoined to guard their thatmahs and chokies against surprise, should the sepoys of the 64th be disposed to be mischievous. The arms. of. the police should be carefully secured and deposited in the upper story of such thannalis and chokies as have one, under custody of two or three Burkundazes, and yet be ready for use at a moment's notice. Every police officer should further report to you as soon the disarmed sepoys have passed out of his beat. "2. I am to add that, in issuing instructions to the above effect, you should be careful not to excite alarms, and to particularly caution your subordinates to avoid harassing the men of the 64th in any way."

No proclamation of the change of Government from the Company to the Queen has as yet appeared, and the natives are beginning to pooh-pooh the whole affair, which should have been brought into the most public notice without a single day's delay. The only thing savoring of it which has appeared in the Calcutta papers,-as-published by authority, in an advertisement that .Government require the assistance of experienced firework makers-for some special purpose, and that they are to apply without delay, &c. With a people like the inhabitants of India, effect, and promptitude in producing it, for any special purpose, is more than half the battle;.and we have lost many precious days, which ought to have been used to a better and lasting purpose. In Oude, where the final struggle must take place, there are still about 50,000 men in arms against us; every movement, almost every intention of ours. is known to the leading rebels by means of spies, whom they have and can depend upon, in every direction :!and although I believe that the last blow will be given to the rebellion in the coming.-cold weather, we must look for a somewhat more desperate resistance than usual, and the loss of many precious lives, before it is finally accomplished. The very great mortality which has taken place in the shipment of horses from the different ports of Australia ha s created no little attention here.' The Admiral Boxer, which arrived lately at Bombay from Sydney,landed only 76 out of 103-shipped. This mates the Australian horse too costly for cavalry 'purposes, and I am bound to say also, that the stamp of horses selected has not come up to what it might and should have been," in the opinion of the best judges, and those who have been in the colonies. The Government have despatched the Albuera with convicts.to Swan River, and to return with 120 horses from that colony. The experiment will be watched : with much interest. :

Calcutta. October &.

The*1 principal incident of the fortnight lias' been the publication of a proclamation issued by the King of Delhi, on the 26th of August, 1857, which is a curiosity, as showing that the rebellion was long ago hatched. It is of some value to'oar statesmen also, as showing where the shoe pinched •under our rule, and the hopes which the King held out as an inducement for rebellion against us. It is somewhat strange that this document should only just have come to light; but, be that as it may, there is no doubt of its authenticity, and it has called forth considerable animadversions from the Press of India.

The usual calm before a storm prevails now, but I shall soon have stirring deeds and great events to chronicle. The coining cold season must see the end of the greatest rebellion the world :ever knew. ■'-.

The greatest preparations are. being made for the illumination, but the day upon which her Majesty's proclamation is to be issued lias not yet been made known. Government House, the Gehlerlong Monument, the Town Hall, and other principal building, will he a perfect blaze of light, whilst, strange to say, " God .save the Queen," and other similar mottoes, will adorn the private residences of many of the principal and petted servants of the Company, whose hearts will be in deep mourning at the change, whilst their houses are in a flood of variegated lamps and loyal mottoes and transparencies. I had hoped that all this would have been over, and the account have swelled the bulk of this letter, but must exercise my patience, and wait a little longer. The time is veiy propitious for the change, as the native liolidays, known as the Hindoo Doorgah Poojah, will commence on Tuesday next, the twelfth instant, and last, without any intermission, until the twenty-third, during which time all the banks, the Treasury, and indeed, all the business places in Calcutta are closed ; and all who can afford it hie away to Ghandanagore (the French settlement about to be transferred to us), or other placesawny from town.