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The British force consisted of 16,700 men, and 69 guns, chiefly horse artillery.

"The Sikh forces varied from 48,000 to 60,000 men, with 108 pieces of cannon of heavy calibre, in fixed batteries.

"You will observe that every soldier who could be brought into our ranks had, by these combinations from Umballah and Loodianah to Ferozepore, been render ed available; that the force was most efficient, and notwithstanding the difficulty of the ground, intersected with jungle, the vast superiority of the enemy's wellserved artillery, and the breastworks behind which their infantry fought, that our British force, particularly our infantry, surmounted every obstacle, capturing that evening and the following morning seventy pieces of artillery, and the whole of the enemy's camp-equipage and military stores.

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I refer to the report of the Commander-in-Chief for the details of this brilliant exploit.

"The three attempts of the Sikh army, reinforced by Tej Sing's army, to retake their position in the course of the day, were unavailing.

"The Sikh army then retreated on the fords of the Sutlej, disheartened by the capture of its artillery, and the severe loss it had sustained in killed and wounded, and has since crossed over to the other side of the river.

"The force thus promptly brought forward from Umballah to the frontier, has proved that it was sufficient for the protective object for which it was prepared, to repulse the treachery of the

arrogance of the Sikh army.

"It has further proved, that the military precautions taken were most necessary. It has driven the invading force from our territories, and punished the mutinous soldiery of a most unscrupulous government."

It is not easy to overrate the importance of these two great victories; and it was not only the disparity of numbers between the combatants, and immense advantage in artillery possessed by the Sikhs which might have caused apprehension for the result-but we were exposed to a more imminent peril. The most active efforts were made by the enemy to corrupt the native soldiers in our army. ployed for the purpose, who, there is good reason to believe, gained full access to the Sepoy regiments, and employed every species of temptation to induce them to desert their colours, and go over to the Sikhs. And it must not be forgotten that many of these Sepoys were natives of the same territories whence the enemy had recruited his ranks, so that some of the strongest feelings of which we are susceptible could be appealed to. But it was all in vain. Not a single soldier swerved in his allegiance; and we deem this one of the most gratifying incidents that occurred throughout the memorable campaign.

Emissaries were em

The conduct of the GovernorGeneral needs no eulogy. We know not whether to admire most his patient forbearance, whereby he put his antagonists completely in the wrong, and armed himself with a " quarrel just," his skilful combinations, or his heroism in

Brilliant

the midst of battle. indeed has been his career as a soldier and a statesman, from the battle fields of Spain to the victories on the banks of the Sutlej; and it is a subject of deep thankfulness that the destinies of our Indian empire, during the late critical events, have been, under the blessing of Divine Providence, guided by the able hands of Sir Henry Hardinge.

SCINDE. The chief event this year that deserves notice in connexion with our occupation of our occupation of Scinde, was the successful prosecution of military operations by Major-General Sir Charles Napier against the mountain desert tribes on the right bank of the Indus north of Shikarpoor. This was a most harassing service, and required, to use the words of Sir Henry Hardinge, in a general order announcing the result, "on the part of the General the utmost prudence, skill, and foresight; and on the part of the troops, the greatest fortitude in enduring the fatigues and privations to which they were exposed."

Sir Charles Napier communicated the intelligence to the Governor-General in the following despatch:

"Dated Camp at Truckee,

9th March, 1845. "Right Honourable Sir,-I have to report to you the conclusion of the war against the mountain and desert tribes, who, driven into their last refuge, the stronghold at Truckee, have this day laid down their arms; the fort of Deyrah is destroyed; and Islam Boogtie, the only chief not a prisoner, is said to be a lonely fugitive in the Ketrau country, far in

the north, and ruled by a chief whose daughter Islam married.

"To detail the movements which led to this result would produce a despatch of greater length than is necessary; nor indeed could it be well understood, as no map exists of this part of Sehwistan and Cutchee; suffice it, therefore, to say, that the mountain tribes occupy a country of extensive deserts and barren mountains, stretching about 140 miles from east to west. On the western side it is about 120 miles in breadth, but has a triangular form, and diminishes towards the east to the breadth of about fifty miles. Into this apex, or smaller part, we succeeded in driving the robber chiefs, but with great difficulty, for this part of the country is full of the most dangerous defiles. To enter them with a an operation regular force, is which threatens it with destruc

tion. The only credit to be acquired in such a war is that which results from patience under privations created by the dearth of water and the difficulty of getting up supplies. These deprivations were borne by this whole force with so much good-humour, as to show that the eager desire of every one to do his duty absorbed all other feelings, and deserves my highest praise. These privations fell especially hard upon those hard-working and muchenduring men called camp-followers.

"The demands of this campaign at times placed Major-Generals Simpson and Hunter in commands which, in point of numbers, were more suited to the rank of captains than to that of general officers; but well aware of the vast import

ance attaching to each post in so dangerous a country as this, these general officers devoted themselves, with the greatest alacrity, to the duties demanded of them. In short, I must speak in the highest terms of all the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates in this field force, whether belonging to the general staff, my personal staff, or to regiments. Everything has been accomplished by their personal exertions, each in his own sphere. I have also been fortunate in the commanders of all arms, and I therefore give a simple list of their names in the margin, that whatever credit the Supreme Government may deem due to the troops may be theirs.

The result of this campaign may be divided into two partsthe physical effect, and the moral effect.

"With regard to the first, the results are as follow:-First, The total destruction of the robber tribes; Deyriah Khan, chief of the Jackranies, Dinanah Moondrannee, Sooliman Ramdanee, and Toork Ali, and their tribes, all surrendered on the 5th, accompanied by Jumal Khan, nephew of Beeja Khan Doomkie, with a large portion of that tribe. These men I pardoned and saved from plunder, but on condition of their being transplanted into the Scinde territory; the great chief Beeja Khan, and the rest of the Doomkies, refused to surrender on the proffered conditions. They held

out till this day, when they were forced to submit unconditionally, together with Meer Hussen Notanee, a leading chief of the Boogtie tribe, and his followers; also Mundoo Khan Doomkie, nephew to Beejar Khan, and Wuzeer Doomkie, son of Beejar Khan; Ali Sher Boordie, a minor desert chief, surrendered a week ago, and was the first who broke the coalition. The chiefs and their tribes who held out have been deservedly plundered by the troops which I had despatched in all directions to intercept their retreat with their baggage, cattle, and household furniture; almost everything has been taken, except what was in possession of their women and children, who have been in no way molested, or even approached by the troops.

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The moral effect of this expedition has been―

"1st. To spread a wholesome respect for our arms among the neighbouring nations, who, seeing that tribes so warlike and honoured among them have been broken to pieces without daring to fight a battle even when posted in the celebrated fastness of Truckee, will form a just idea of the British power. Indeed, I have already received within the last few days letters from neighbouring tribes, asking me to attach their territory to Scinde, to be under the British rule, and thus to be protected from the pillage and misery in which they live.

"2nd. The moral effect in Scinde will be to give confidence to the people (especially those bordering on the desert frontier) whose cries against the Government during the last summer, for not affording them protection against the robber tribes, were

both frequent and just; but the great heat at that time rendered it impossible to give them that protection. The example now made of the robber tribes will show the people of Scinde that the Government has both the will and the power to protect them. "The above results can hardly be denied.

"In conclusion, I have to observe that the war lasted from the 16th of January to the 9th of March, a period of fifty-two days. This was too long, but the robbers had stricken such terror into the camel-owners, that to get sufficient carriage for our supplies was difficult in the extreme; and if we had fallen back one march to meet our provisions, during our operations, the exultation among the robbers and all their allies would assuredly have been so sudden and so great, that I think it very doubtful whether we must not have retreated altogether, for our camel-men would have deserted, and enemies would have risen up in every direction.

and a night what a convoy of hired camels would take six days and six nights to perform, besides requiring a guard; whereas the camel corps required no guard, the drivers being well armed with muskets. There could scarcely be a better specimen of the great power of this corps, even in its infancy.

"Had a baggage camel corps been formed, this campaign could easily have been concluded in thirty days. In the above forced march made by the camel corps, not one animal was lost, nor did any of them fail till during the last week, when, being obliged to make a forced march among these tremendous rocks, the corps lost fifteen animals; but this is not marching-it is climbing. Το show the nature of the ground over which we have carried on our operations during the last three weeks, I have only to say, that the robbers have been seen pulling their camels up precipices by ropes; and they probably knew the easiest places of access.

“The campaign has convinced me of the necessity of a camel baggage corps being formed on a very extensive scale. Without that the loss of camels will always be immense in the field, and the efficiency of the army liable to be paralyzed at the most critical moment of the campaign."