the Governor-General, from the Camp on the Soopra, of the date of Dec. 21, 1817, upon the news of a battle, in which he had completely defeated Mulhar Row Holkar by means of the first and third divisions of his army. Briga. dier-General Sir John Malcolm was then in full pursuit of the fugitives, with the greater part of his cavalry. The Camp of Holkar, and a number of his guns, remained in possession of

the victors.

Previous to this action, Lieut.Colonel Scott, commanding a British detachment at Nagpore, gave a defeat to a large body of horse and foot of the enemy, on the 26th and 27th of November.

On the 19th of December, Brigadier Gen. Doveton, from the Camp near Nagpore, addressed a report to the Adjutant-Gen. for the information of the Commander-in-Chief, relative to his arrival at Nagpore after a severe action with the enemy's cannon. The total number of guns taken from him are stated at 75, which were put into the Brigadier's possession by the Rajah after the action.

Despatches received at the India-house on June 8th, contained the following copies and

extracts:

The Governor-General, who dates from Camp Sonarie, Dec. 17, 1817, expresses the liveliest satisfaction in announcing the repulse and entire defeat by the British troops at Nagpore, of the forces of the Rajah of Berar, who had attacked them without any previous declaration of hostility. After some account of the action, it is added that reinforcements

are on their march to Nagpore from several quarters, and that a considerable British force will shortly be assembled there.

Lieut.-General Hislop then addresses the Governor-General for the purpose of giving him a particular relation of his late engagement with Holkar, and all the events of that day. A return of the heavy loss with which it was attended, with all the compliments due to the several officers who distinguished themselves, fill up the remainder of his letter. The Mysore horse, who acted with the British, and well supported them, are handsomely spoken of.

Brigadier-General Doveton, to whom this business was finally committed, writes on Dec. 30, for the information of the Commander-in-Chief, that the Arab Chiefs, in the city of Nagpore, having communicated their willingness to evacuate the place on certain conditions, and having sent out their principal Chief to conduct the negotiation, the whole was satisfactorily settled, and the whole evacuated the town at noon whilst the British marched in and took possession, hoisting their flag on the old palace.

By a despatch from the Governor in Council at Bombay to the Secret Committee, dated the 14th of January, 1818, it is asserted that the Peishwa was at Sapar, about 30 miles S. E. of Poonah, moving, as it was supposed, towards Sattarah. The approach of Brigadier-General Smith seems to have led the Peishwa to prosecute his flight to the southward.

Another despatch from the

same

same body to the Secret Committee, dated the 23rd of January, gives a letter from the first Assistant to the Political Agent of the Governor-General, dated Mundissoor, signifying that the victory over Mulhar Row Holkar brought about a treaty between that potentate and the British government, relieving the latter from the anarchy which has lately prevailed in that state; and also that all the Pindarries have been driven into one quarter, and are now in the vicinity of Johud. A letter from Major-General Sir W. G. Keir to the AdjutantGeneral, dated Camp, Dewdah, January 10, was sent for the information of the Commander-inChief, which informed him, that the division under his command was detached by Sir Thomas Hislop for the purpose of attacking a Pindarry chief who had encamped in the neighbourhood of Johud. Sir W. G. Keir moved towards the spot, and heard of the fugitives at a considerable distance. At length he was in formed on the 7th that a large body of the enemy were at Dhiruh, eight miles south of Sodree, with their baggage and families. He got within sight of Dhiruh on the next morning, but found to his great disappointment, that the enemy had decamped on the preceding day on hearing of the approach of the Bombay division of the army, leaving their guns, and a considerable quantity of baggage to follow them across the hills.

The last reports at Bombay from the Major-Gen. on the 21st and 26th of January, mention that he had succeeded in surprising a

body of Pindarries at the village of Mundassee near Veera. The same authority also speaks of a letter from Lieut.-Colonel Macmorine to the Resident, in which he reports the entire defeat of a body of the Rajah's troops at Sreenuggur, by the detachment under his command.

A letter from Brigadier-Gen. Lionel Smith, to the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, Resident at the court of the Peishwa, communicates some curious intelligence respecting that sovereign. It is dated Camp, Kurkumb, Feb. 21. The enemy having on their route turned upon Kurkumb were pursued thither, when it was learned that the Peishwa, had encamped the preceding evening near Ashta. General Smith pursued, and about half past eight on the morning of the 20th had the satisfaction of hearing their drums beating below a hill which concealed them from view. On their descent from the hill, the enemy descried them, and Goklah took the resolution of risking an action. It was maintained on both sides with great spirit; but after much difficulty, the dragoons and horse artillery succeded in making a fair charge, in which Goklah, the chief of the Mahratta army, fell fighting bravely to the last. The whole were now broken and pursued, and our troops were soon brought upon the enemy's baggage and followers. The Peishwa abandoned his palanquin early, and took to horse, but our men were unable through fatigue to pur

sue.

Twelve elephants, fiftyseven camels, several palanquins, and a few horses, fell into our

hands.

hands. I have not been able to trace the course of the Peishwa's flight, nor can I follow him till I have disposed of the Rajah's family in Poonah; and as he has made earnest entreaties for an early interview with you, I beg you, if possible, to meet me on my route there, that I may the sooner proceed in quest of the enemy.

A despatch was received at the India-board, dated August 26, from the Governor in Council at Bombay to the Secret Committee, dated April 11, in which there are many recent documents. The greater part of these are of little consequence in the present state of events, but some of them will be found of importance.

A Letter from Lieut. General Hislop to the Governor General and Commander in Chief, dated February 28, will probably be thought a curious exemplification of the laws of war in this country. "Having descended, says the Lieut. General, the Sindwah Ghaut without molestation, on my march I received an intimation that the Killedar of Talnier had determined upon resisting the occupation of his fort by the British troops; and this, on my arrival before the place, I found to be correct, as he had already commenced a fire from a few guns, and a number of the matchlocks from the walls upon our advanced parties. On this I directed a reconnoissance to be made by the quarter-master-general, Lieut.-Colonel Blacker, and the officers of engineers, with a company of light infantry, the deep ravines round the place pre

venting its accessibility on the service by the cavalry picquets. I sent at the same time a letter to the Killedar, warning him of the consequences which would ensue from his rebellion if persisted in ; to which I received no answer, but I afterwards learned that it had been delivered to him.

The reconnoissance being completed, I directed the ten sixpounders (including the horse artillery guns), and two five and a half inch howitzers, with some 12 pound rockets, to be brought into position, so as to knock off, in as great a degree as such limited means would admit of, the defences of the gateway. These opened with admirable effect about 11 o'clock from the heights on which the Pettah is situated, from about 100 to 300 yards distant from the walls, the enemy keeping up an occasional fire from his guns, and a sharp one from his match-locks, by which several casualties occurred. A second reconnoissance having been made by Lieut. Blacker, who advanced to the outer gate for the purpose, I determined upon storming it, in the hope that at all events a lodgment might be made within: two 6 pounders were accordingly brought, under cover, close to the gateway, and the flank companies of his majesty's Royal Scots and Madras European regiments, under Major Gordon, of the former corps, supported by the rifle battalion, the 3rd light infantry, and the picquets, under Major Knowles, were brought from camp for this purpose.

Meantime the Killedar, alarmed at these preparations, and at

the

the effect of the batteries, sent to solicit terms. He was desired to open his gates, and to surrender himself and his garrison unconditionally, which he promised to do: some delay, however, taking place, and the day beginning to decline, the guns and Europeans were brought up to the first gate, which was entered by the Euro. peans at the side by single files, without requiring to be blown open. The next gate was found open; and at the third the Killedar came out by the wicket, with a number of banyans, whom he had on the previous evening forced into the fort from the pettah, and surrendered himself to the Adjutant-general. The party advanced through another gate, and found the fifth, which led into the body of the place, shut, and the Arabs within still insisting upon terms. After some delay, the wicket of this gate was opened from within, and Lieut.-colonel Macgregor Murray, and Major Gordon entered by it, with two or three officers and ten or twelve grenadiers of the Royal Scots who were leading. I lament to state to your lordship that this gallant band was immediately attacked by the treacherous Arabs within, before adequate aid could be given from the wicket; in a moment they were fired upon and struck down with spears and arrows. The intrepid Major Gordon and Captain Mac. gregor resigned their invaluable lives at this spot, and Lieut.colonel Murray was wounded in several places with daggers before he had time to draw his sword to defend himself.

When the attack commenced

at the inner gate, the outer one was directed to be blown open, while the fire from the batteries covered the assault. Thirty or forty of the leading grenadiers having, in the meantime, succeeded in getting through the wicket, the garrison took shelter in the houses in the fort, whence they still opposed an obstinate resistance; but the remainder of the storming party having by this time got into the place, the whole of the garrison, consisting of about three hundred men, of whom a considerable number were Arabs, were put to the sword; a severe example indeed, but absolutely necessary, and one which I have no doubt will produce a most salutary effect on the future operations in this province. The Killedar I ordered to be hanged on one of the bastions immediately after the place fell. Whether he was accessory or not to the subsequent treachery of his men, his execution was justly due to his rebellion in the first instance, particularly after the warning he had received in the morning."

The India board having received dispatches, dated Sept. 28, from the Governor in Council at Bombay of the date of March 25, the following are part of the contents communicated to the Secret Committee.

A report from Brigadier-gen. Pritzler, addressed to the Adjutant General of the army, relating to his capture of Singhur, a strong hill fort, contains the subsequent particulars. The General invested the fort of Singhur on the 20th of February, and on the 22nd a battery of 4 mortars and

2 howitzers

2 howitzers was opened to the southward of the fort under the hills, while another of one mortar and one howitzer was fixed on a hill to the eastward, about 600 yards distant from the fort. Fresh additions were continually made to the batteries; and on the 28th two breaching batteries were completed, and opened their fire. The fire was returned by the enemy with great spirit; however, on March 1st proposals were made to surrender the fort, which was not acceded to. The garrison consisted of about 100 Arabs, 600 Gosains, and 500 natives of the Concan, of whom about 30 were killed and 100 wounded during the siege. The great natural strength of the fortress, and the only assailable point, the gateway, being at so great a height, are mentioned by the General as greatly increasing the difficulties of the siege. The second of March, however, put an end to this difficulty, being the day of its surrender. The terms granted were upon the whole such as were admissible, the Arabs and Gosains being allowed to proceed to Elichpoor, but without taking service on the road, for the security of which they are to give hostages.

Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Hislop, in a letter to the Governor General, dated Camp at Aurungabad, 31st of March, acquaints his Excellency that he transmits a general order which has been this day published to the troops under his command, acquainting the Supreme Government, and the Government of Fort George and Bombay, as also the Residents at the several native Courts of

the Deccan, that he has from this day relinquished the powers political and military, which were conferred upon him by the resolution of his Lordship dated the 10th of May, 1817. A general order is next published by the Commander in Chief, in which he issues his final orders, declaring that the army of the Deccan is discontinued, and the corps commanded by the Brigadiers General Smith and Doveton will revert to the footing on which they stood previously to the Lieutenant General's assumption of the chief command.

The Lieutenant General authorizes the general and personal staff at head quarters to maintain their field establishments until the arrival of his Excellency at Fort St. George.

Lieut.-colonel Adams writes to Brigadier General Doveton, under the date of April 17th, that in consequence of intelligence received of Bajee Row being in full force at Peepulhote, he marched on the preceding night with the hope of surprising him; but on reaching the place, he found that the enemy had moved on to Sewny. He resolved to follow him, and a little after sun-rise encountered his advanced party in full march, whom he pursued in the most difficult country that can be imagined, and came upon the Peishwa's united force in an extensive valley near Sewny. In the attack he was more successful than could have been expected; and he reckons the number of the enemy killed to be from 3 to 400. Four brass guns about six pounder caliber, and one considerably larger, with their pro