torial acquisition-yet it fairly equals some of those wonderful achievements which struck terror into our earlier enemies and established and consolidated our power in so many regions of the East. When we hear of a battle between 10,000 men or less on the one side, and 60,000 or upwards on the other, and learn that though the latter neither lacked courage nor perseverance, and yet were beaten-most thoroughly beaten-the heart of the man must be cold as an icicle that warms not with admiration of the gallant victors. The Sikhs first came down on the Governor-General and his escort; but, notwithstanding they had him at advantage, he kept his ground till the Commander-in-Chief came up with the main body of the force, and then went into action in command of a division subordinate to Sir Hugh Gough. The fire of the enemy was literally one continuous roar of thunder, and was heard at immense distances, justifying the remark of Sir Henry, that he had never seen one so hot in Europe. Of course our small army suffered dreadfully, one-half of the whole force, including nearly 50 officers, having been either killed or wounded--the GovernorGeneral and his staff being throughout special objects of aim. No full account of the battle has been yet received, nor does the last notification give any detail of the manœuvres. The enemy seems, however, as we gather from other sources, to have been successful in strategy, in having drawn the 3rd dragoons upon a body of their horse, and then retiring and opening up a destructive fire from a masked battery, and completing the work by pouring in upon the shattered corps a heavy body of cuirassiers; only 260 men remained unscathed. Six of the officers were killed, and several wounded. It was probably in the vicinity of the battery here mentioned that Major Broadfoot lost his life. Her Majesty's 80th foot had also a terrific struggle, having refused to yield ground though repeatedly under the fire of artillery, and as often obliged to repel cavalry by forming squares, their loss amounting to 200 men killed, as also six officers, including Col. Wood and Capt. Scheberras. The 29th (Queen's) lost Col. Taylor killed and Major Congreve wounded. The losses up to this time ascertained in the horse artillery are―killed, Major Todd, Capt. Swinley, Capt. Dashwood, Lieut. Lambert, and Lieut. Pollock; of the foot artil. lery, Capt. Tower and Lieut. Wheelwright wounded. The heavy sands met on the line of march seem to have greatly impeded artillery movements, the 12-pounder elephant battery not being in many places manageable with a single animal. Capt. Swinley's troop of horse artillery having got into very heavy sand and unable to move, it is feared was destroyed under the fire of the enemy's guns. They, however, at last lost all their own, which are now safe in Ferozepore, and beautiful pieces they are, ready, if need be, to pay them back in their own metal.

Colonel Wheeler's action is said to have been a spirited affair, but a good part of his baggage was made away with by the Sikhs. They are not likely to think this any very satisfactory equivalent for what they have lost. Four battalions of Sikhs attempted to cross the Sutlej on the 31st, but were intercepted by Colonel Wheeler, and then returned. In a day or two, some account of these will, perhaps, be obtained.

We learn that, although the result of the official returns of killed and wounded is not yet generally known, our loss in the action of the 18th at Moodkee was 250 killed and 500 wounded, and that in the last two battles of the 21st and 22nd, between 1,700 and 1,800 Europeans were killed and wounded. Particular regiments suffered fearfully, and of the native corps some appear to have had their full share of hard knocks. The total loss on our side in the three actions is estimated, of all ranks, at 4,200 killed and wounded. Upwards of 100 guns had beeen taken, and probably the enemy could have but few more on this side the Sutlej. His remaining artillery, which, however, includes, in all probability, the whole of his means wherever being, is estimated at 200 pieces. It may be supposed that their best guns were brought forward, and that among the remaining may be not a few in a defective and unserviceable state. The information in camp is said to be very bad, even in high places. The communication with the rear was still difficult and doubtful; several posts have been cut off, and among them the overland express mail, which would probably have else carried home some news of the Moodkee affair, and of the other actions which immediately followed. On the 28th, the report being that the Sikhs had re-crossed the river, the Commander-in-Chief moved towards the enemy; the Sikhs did not wait to give his Excellency an opportunity of driving them over the Sutlej, but prudently disappeared, and were on the 29th encamped on the other side of the river; at Hurreeke none were found by the cavalry sent for that purpose. Tej Singh was in Sir Hugh Gough's hands, considerably depressed; one account would lead us to suppose that he was a prisoner, and

when sent to the rear for purposes of safety, had contrived to escape from his guard. Bahadoor Sing, one of the Sikh generals, was killed during the fighting. It was rather confidently believed that the army would march on to Lahore, and even a day, the 20th of January, was, by some, named as the intended date for such movement in advance. The Sikhs are represented as anxious for peace, but the Governor-General is said to have refused to treat until he arrived at Lahore; and what were his ultimate determinations as to the country and people and rulers of the Punjub could not be known. Sir John Grey's force has been directed to occupy Loodiana for the present. We hear that various officers in staff employ have been directed to join their corps; among them Captain Blois, from Meerut; but we do not know whether this be for regimental duty or to superintend the pay department of the grand army.

"The 60th native infantry left Benares on the 31st ult. for Barrackpore. The 13th native infantry was to leave Barrackpore on the 30th ult. Her Majesty's 53rd foot was to leave Delhi on the 4th inst., en route for Kurnaul, where it expects further orders. The Commander-in-Chief's camp appears to have been on the 29th at Aurustee, on the banks of the Sutlej. The loss in the 2nd native infantry, which, to our regret, lately left this station, had been considerable in the late actions; Capt. Bolton has been severely wounded in two places; Capt. Gifford has lost an arm; Lieut. Armstrong was killed at Ferozah in the action of the 21st; two ensigns are also among the wounded, and the loss among the natives is 100 killed and wounded. We cannot refer to this matter without wishing our gallant friends a speedy and complete recovery, and expressing our hopes that then the Commander-in-Chief and the Governor-General will find an early opportunity of rewarding, in the person of Capt. Bolton, the services of a very meritorious and capable officer, who has served with distinction in Affghanistan, at Maharajpore, and has severely suffered during the present short but memorable campaign.

"A very unpleasant rumour has reached us respecting Loodianah, which is reported to have been attacked, sacked, and burned by the Sikhs. The commander-in-chief, receiving intelligence of their designs, is said to have moved to the relief of the place, or with the hope of finding them elsewhere, but after searching for them as far as between Hurreeke and Ferozepore without any vestige of them, he (so says the rumour) received intelligence that they had rapidly crossed the Sutlej, carrying their plunder with them.

"This account may be true, but we cannot yet lend it our credit. Intelligence has been received up to the 31st ultimo, from Loodianah itself, and letters from Kurnaul and Umballah make no mention whatever of such an event.

"The report most probably originated among the natives, and afterwards obtained partial credence among the community of this station.

"That Loodianah was most inadequately protected was previously known, but we are pretty certain that the small force stationed there would be able to hold the fort against any sudden aggression of the enemy, and that all that has been done, if the report be true, is that the inhabited part of the station outside of the fort has suffered by their visit. Even this little reverse should be speedily avenged, or it might have an ill effect with the disaffected portions of our own population as well as give heart to the Sikhs after the humiliation inflicted on them in the previous battles. The enemy will shun us if possible, it being more safe and profitable to make these rapid dours: but a grander effect must be produced, and a more decisive blow be struck, before we shall ourselves be altogether safe, letting alone having the Punjaub at our mercy. If our troops can be depended on, we have enough on the frontier, backed as they will soon be by other forces moving to their support, to destroy the military powers of Lahore. This must be done, at whatever else we aim; to prevent any more mishaps, 'twere well done if 'twere done quickly.

"The search made for the Sikhs by the Commander-in-Chief, originated in instructions issued by the Governor-General on the 28th, who had received intelligence that they had taken up an entrenched position between Loodianah and Ferozepore. There was also a Sikh force on the other bank facing the former station, but which of these, or whether both conjointly, did the mischief, does not appear. Many families and a large body of the native inhabitants moved from the town in time to save them. selves, and as the Sikhs did not turn back into our territory, little apprehension need be entertained on account of those who had quitted the station.

"What are our authorities about in the way of collecting in. telligence? The enemy moves about at pleasure in our terri

tory, takes up his entrenched positions, forces us where he chooses into action, sacks and burns a fortified station,-and all the while we seem to be dependant on chance for information, which, when received, is not to be trusted for completeness or accuracy. It is not sufficient that we gain signal advantages over him; good arrangements would prevent him gaining any from us. Why was Loodianah left chiefly in charge of the Puttealees? Was it to court assault, as necessary to our further relations, or what?

"Would that we could address a word of comfort to the many bereaved, in the deadly conflict, of the brave friends and relations they loved and honoured! The returns received from the European regiments, and respecting political and staff officers, are very full compared with the reports of casualties in native corps, in regard to many of which a mysterious silence is preserved. But from this it is evident, that except in regard to several cases, the truth of which has been repeatedly corroborated, the intelligence communicated to the public may still, as wanting completeness and authenticity, allow a little ground of hope. Some reported killed have been ascertained to be still alive, and, we trust, that not only may the aggregate of our casualties be found to have been overstated, but that some officers specified as dead will themselves, as soon as a little respite is given to the troops, find time to give the assurance in their own hand of having been spared. It would be a favour not only to ourselves, but to all suffering under apprehensions for the welfare of those who have been in action, if correct intelligence were supplied to us, not only of casualties, but also, and more especially, of cases in which previous unfavourable reports could be satisfactorily contradicted. Indeed, every scrap of news is at the present time valuable, and we must beg those who receive letters or authentic information in any other shape to keep us informed, Until the despatches of Government are received, and what detains them nobody can divine, we have to depend entirely on scattered items, derived from private correspondence.

"We do not like to promulgate rumours of an unpleasant kind, until there is something of reason to believe that they may be true. What we now allude to is, a report which reached us before our last issue, when we suppressed it, in the hope that it would immediately be explained away, but which, we regret to say, has now assumed a shape still more authentic, to the effect, that some of our native troops on the frontier had proved faithless. Most happy shall we be to find that even yet the statement may be found untrue, but previous events have shewn that such things are possible, and it was so often reported that the Sikhs had bribed our men, and received their promise to desert, that we fear the intelligence may, to some extent, be found correct. A cavalry corps has been named as having repeated the trick that another corps played in Affghanistan, having been dilatory, or having gone threes about,' when ordered to charge, and it was left to the irregulars to make up for their defeat by another instance of that bravery for which this branch of the mounted service has been so often distinguished. What we had before heard referred only to infantry regiments, amongst which was one specified. Mention is now made of another, and one or two corps as having been backward and otherwise exhibiting want of spirit, if of nothing worse. Possibly the terrific fire of the enemy, and their overpowering numbers, may have created confusion in the recently recruited portion of our native ranks, and this may have given rise to more unfavourable construction; but there are several circumstances which lay the conduct of a part of the force open to suspicion. The want of combination in our divisions, the havoc made so disproportionately amongst the Europeans, the virtual defeat of one division, the closing of the daks and the detention of the dispatches, give a hint that something wrong and unexpected occurred at the critical time in our own army. What confounded us in the reading of the first intelligence of our victories was that General Littler has been unsuccessful, and he one of the bravest and most experienced generals in the field! He is not the man likely to fail if his men prove faithful; and it is due to the reputation of the gallant general that a full investigation should be made, and he freed from every imputation by the full exposure of any defect on the part of his men.

"Letters incidently mention that of H. M.'s 31st foot, Lieutenant Pollard has died of his wounds, but that Colonel Bolton, Lieutenant-Colonel Byrne, and Captain Young, are doing well.

"We regret to mention that Colonel Gough, is reported to have died of his wounds."

(From the Calcutta Engishman, Jan. 9.)

We yesterday saw a letter from Umballah, dated 30th Decem. ber, which mentions a report that one of Sir Henry Hardinge's

sons had fallen. We sincerely hope that this rumour may prove unfounded, and that it has arisen only from the confusion of names in the various scraps of intelligence which have been forwarded to anxious friends. The same letter states that Mr. Cust political agent, had been killed, and also mentions Captain Garvock, of the 31st Queen's, and Tritton; but the rank of the latter officer not being stated, it is uncertain whether Captain Tritton, of the 3rd dragoons, or Lieut. Tritton, of the 31st foot. is intended. Colonel Wheeler is said to have lost an arm, and Captain Houghton, of the 63rd N. I., aid-de-camp to General Gilbert is also mentioned therein as being severely wounded.

We hear that all the officers of artillery at Dum Dum who can be spared are ordered to proceed immediately to the northwest.

Rumours were in circulation yesterday that attempts had been made to tamper with some of the sepoys at Barrackpore in the same manner as at Dinapore, but we have not at present any authentic intelligence on the subject

A letter from Futteyghur mentions that the shroffs at Umritsir had written to their friends at the former station in the following terms:-"The troops on both sides are numerous; it is not known who will beat no chance of settlement; keep a bright look out on your ledgers and cash."

THE LATE BATTLES.

Busseean belonged to the Jeened state, and when that lapsed, was in the portion retained by the British Government. It is a pretty extensive place, has 2,500 inhabitants residing in about 500 houses of brick and mud; it has twenty shops, and one temple of Siva.

Wudnee, sixteen miles from Busseean.-The Wudaee purgunna was occupied some years back by the late Captain Murray as a lapse to the British Government; but Runjeet Singh, ever anxious to keep up his influence in the states south of the Sutlej, put in his claim: eventually I believe it was settled on the favourite son, Sheer Singh, and on his accession to the guddee became a portion of the Lahore possessions. To retain it, a garrison of 200 men (it would be almost a libel on the military profession to style them soldiers) is kept in the fort of Wudnee. The body of the place is of brick, and consists of a square of about a hundred yards with a low decagon tower, or bastion, at each corner and midway in each curtain: it is surrounded by a fausse braie of mud and encircled by a deep ditch. The bastion in the east face is prolonged and ends in a semicircle; through it is the entrance to the enceinte; access to the fausse braie is from the north, through a casemated circular bastion, and by a causeway across the ditch. On my riding towards the entrance, the man sitting sentry rose and closed the gate, and then informed me of its being hookum naheen, for strangers to visit the interior. What is contained within the wall I cannot therefore state, beyond a small white temple of Siva, whose pinnacles are perceptible above the rampart. The brickwork is in good order, but the fausse braie is in a bad condition. The village of Wudnee, Budnee, Woodnee, or Boodnee (it is called by all these names), is east of the fort, and is composed of about four hundred mud houses; the shops are thirty-five in number, and the inhabitants about two thousand, principally Sikhs, Brahmins, and Khetries.

Bloga Purona, 12 miles from Busseean, belongs to Nehal Singh, Aloowala; it is a small village of about 150 mud houses and about 700 inhabitants, Seikhs and Mahomedans, principally the former. There are five shops, but no temple of any description; and as a symptom of verging on the desert, the three wells are about forty yards deep. The cultivation around is various, -wheat, barley, bajra, sesame, and mustard.

Moodkee, 16 miles from Bhoga Poorana, is a large village belonging to the Lahore Raj; contains about 600 houses (many of brick) and 4,000 inhabitants, Seikhs, Mahomedans, and Hindoos. There are thirty shops in the village, and one hundred Lahore sepoys are on duty at the place.

Sooltaan Khan Walla, 13 miles from Moodkee, consists of about two hundred and fifty houses, of which but eight are of brick; the shops are ten in number; and the inhabitants amount to about twelve hundred, of the three religions. There is also a mosque of mud, and a small fortification of the same material. In November, 1838, the village was in great danger, if not partially burned, from the ignition of several haystacks by some followers of a brigade of the army of the Indus. Kool is about two miles distant, and when we were there the other day the bheesties had to come here for water. This place, Furreedkote, and fifty-eight other villages, belong to Sirdar Pahar Singh, who derives from them a revenue of rupees 48,000.-VIATOR, in Delhi Gazette.