But the improved position of your army, with in Affghanistan essential to the preservation sufficient means of carriage for as large a force of our empire in India; and, however the as it is necessary to move in Affghanistan, in-world might forgive or applaud me, I should duces me now to leave to your option the line and upon by which you shall withdraw your troops from never forgive myself, if I exposed that army that country. If you determine upon moving to any material and serious danger, for the upon Ghuznee, Cabool, and Jellalabad, you will possible accomplishment of any object now require, for the transport of provisions, a much to be obtained in Affghanistan." larger amount of carriage; and you will be The determination being, therefore, formpractically without communications, from the ed not to retire the British forces without time of your leaving Candahar. Dependent en- doing something to repair the wrongs and tirely upon the courage of your army, your own ability in directing it, I should not the disgrace they had suffered, the instruchave any doubt as to the success of the operations to General Pollock (July 23) were to tion; but whether you will be able to obtain pro- exert his force vigorously, "giving every visions for your troops during the whole march, proof of British power which is not inconand forage for your animals, may be a matter sistent with the usages of war and the dicof reasonable doubt. Yet upon this your suc- tates of British humanity; but you will cess will turn. You must remember that it was not the superior courage of the Afghans, but never forget that, after so exhibiting that want, and the inclemency of the season, which power, you are, without allowing yourself led to the destruction of the army at Cabool: to be diverted therefrom by any object, to and you must feel, as I do, that the loss of an- obey the positive orders of your Governother army, from whatever cause it might ment to withdraw your army from Afghanarise, might be fatal to our Government in India. istan. It will be your highest praise," his I do not undervalue the aid which our Govern; lordship adds, "after having re-established ment in India would receive from the successful the opinion of the invincibility of the Britexecution by your army of a march through Ghuznee and Cabool, over the scenes of our late ish arms upon the scene of their late misdisasters. I know all the effect which it would fortunes, to restore its armies to India in a have upon the midst of our soldiers, of our allies, perfectly efficient state, at a period when, of our enemies, in Asia, and of our countrymen I assure you, their presence in India is most and of all foreign nations, in Europe. It is an desirable." He gives the general directions, object of just ambition, which no one more than in case of the capture or surrender of Mamyself would rejoice to see effected; but I see that failure in the attempt is certain and irre-homed Akhbar Khan. "To the possession trievable ruin; and I would endeavor to inspire of that chief's person I attach very great you with the necessary caution, and make importance. You are already authorized to you feel that, great as are the objects to be give an assurance that his life shall be obtained by success, the risk is great also. You spared; but you will not make any other will recollect that what you will have to make is condition, nor make that lightly. I earnesta successful march; that that march must not be delayed by any hazardous operations against derer of Sir William Macnaghten, and the ly desire that that chief, the avowed murGhuznee or Cabool; that you should carefully calculate the time required to enable you to reach betrayer of a British army, should come Jellalabad in the first week in October, so as to into our power without any condition whatform the rear-guard of Major-General Pollock's soever." Subsequently (August 3rd), the rmy. If you should be enabled by a coup-de-Governor-General instructs General Polmain to get possession of Ghuznee and Cabool, lock, in the event of the sidar coming into you will act as you see fit, and leave decisive proofs of the power of the British army, without impeaching its humanity. You will bring away from the tomb of Mahmood of Ghuznee, his club, which hangs over it; and you will bring away the gates of his tomb, which are the gates of the temple of Somnaut. These will be the just trophies of your successful march. his hands without any previous conditions for preserving his life, to place him upon his trial, and, if he should be convicted, to deal with him as he would with any person who might be convicted, under similar circumstances, of the crime of murder, having regard to the jeopardy of the prisoners. "I have adopted this step upon full consideration and with a thorough conviction of its expediency," his lordship observes, in his despatch to the Secret Committee. In his despatch to the Secret Committee, August 16th, the Governor-General states that he adhered absolutely to his original intention of withdrawing the whole army from Affghanistan. "Some risk," he ob General Nott availed himself (July 26) of serves, "I deem it justifiable to incur for the option allowed him by the Governorthe recovery of the guns and of the prison- General, and decided upon a march to Caers, and with the view of exhibiting the tri-bul, "having looked at the difficulties in umphant march of a British army over the ground on which it once suffered defeat; but I consider the preservation of the army every point of view, and reflected on the advantages which would attend a successful accomplishment of such a move, and the The two forces consequently advanced from their respective positions, and met in September at Cabul. moral influence it would have throughout | eral Pollock tells Sir Jasper Nicolls, the Asia. There shall be no unnecessary risk," Commander-in-Chief, that some person in he says; "and, if expedient, I will mask his (Sir Jasper's) suite had communicated Ghuznee, and even Cabool; but, if an op- a secret of importance to an individual in portunity should offer, I will endeavor to the general's camp. General Nott writes strike a decisive blow for the honor of our (May 17) to Mr. Maddock: "I will not conarms. I am most anxious," he adds, "not- ceal from you that I have, and still may exwithstanding the conduct of the Affghan perience much inconvenience, in consechiefs, that our army should leave a deep quenee of the measures directed in your impression on the people of this country, communications being made public; the of our character for forbearance and huma- subject of your letter of the 15th March nity." was speedily known, even to the Affghan chiefs, although I have not, up to this moment, made known its contents to my old and confidential staff; and your communi. cations, now under reply, may possibly become equally public, and still more seriously injurious." The Governor-General, in consequence of these intimations, thought it necessary "to impress upon every officer employed in the military or political service of the Government the necessity of preserving absolute secrecy in all matters of a military nature which may come officially to his knowledge." For this caution, conveyed in the most inoffensive terms, his lordship (if we remember rightly) received the severe reprehension of a portion of the Indian press. The situation of the prisoners had been a subject of the Governor-General's "anxious consideration." So early as April 25, Mr. Secretary Maddock wrote to General Pollock upon this subject. He observed that the only safe and honorable course for a government to pursue, in such circumstances, was to effect the release by a general exchange, their ransom being a practice unknown to civilized nations; and if the Affghans had no general government, there should be no reservation of any prisoners in our hands; but as they were held by individual chiefs for their personal benefit, the general is authorized to make such partial arrangement as he might deem most advisable. Accordingly, as before stated, the general offered two lacs of rupees for their liberation. When all negotiation on his part failed, and the army advanced upon Cabul, the Governor-General directed him (September 13) to cause it to be intimated to Mahomed Akhbar Khan, that, in the event of any further delay taking place in their delivery, upon the proposed condition of the release of all the Affghan prisoners in our hands, it is his lordship's intention to remove Mahomed Akhbar Khan's family from Loodiana; and that it is under his lordship's consideration, whether Mahomed Akhbar Khan's wife and children should not be immediately sent to Calcutta, and eventually to England." 66 These documents clear up much of the apparent inconsistency and vacillation which were imputed to the proceedings of the Government authorities in relation to this measure by writers in India, and which evidently arose from the caution most properly observed by the Governor-General in guarding his intentions as much as possible from being divulged, and from their occasional disclosure by breaches of confidence in those who were intrusted with the secret. Much mischief seems to have been occasioned by this paltry treachery. Gen We cannot take leave of these papers without remarking upon another instance of that culpable practice of mutilating and falsifying official despatches which seems now to have grown into a system in the public offices. We pointed out on a former occasion* the improper liberties taken with one of Sir Robert Sale's despatches, in which important passages had been omitted in the copies published at home. In the collection before us, we find proof of, perhaps, a more censurable example of similar mutilation in India. The published extract from General Pollock's despatch of October 13th† concluded thus: Previous to my departure from Cabool, I destroyed with gunpowder the grand bazaar of that city, called the Chahar Chuttah, built in the reign of Arungzebe, by the celebrated Ali Murdan Khan, and which may be considered to have been the most frequented part of Cabool, and Central Asia. The remains of the late Envoy known as the grand emporium of this part of and Minister had been exposed to public insult in this bazaar, and my motive in effecting its destruction has been to impress upon the Affghans, that their atrocious conduct towards a British functionary has not been suffered to pass with impunity. In the extract amongst the papers before us, the following passage immediately follows: Vol. xxxvii. p. 193, As. Intell. † As. Intell. p. 31. Within, my fire Behold night's hosts revealed! Across the lawn o'er Just then upon a gust there swept a strain, So faintly heard, 'twas scarcely more than thought, Yet full of sweetness-and then died away, Then rose, and took a tone more definite The peal of bells. Yet I could scarce believe, In that secluded place, and silent hour, Hard upon midnight, there was thought of things So much in tune with poetry and heaven. Beyond the lawn, and grove, and many a roof, The parish church lay far. 'Twas from her tower The sound leaped forth-and I was fain to muse What it might mean-when like a flash it sprung Up to my memory, that the coming stroke Of midnight ushered in the ADVENT MORN. I closed my shutter, and, ere yet the peal Had sobered to the solemn stroke of twelve, Low on my knees, and not without some tears, Had owned the selfish arrogance of heart, Which could not stand within God's temple-dome, But I must bar the door upon mankind. SERVIA. A serious difference has arisen, not only between Russia and Turkey, but also between Russia and Austria, respecting the principality of Servia. If a look be cast at the frontier lines thing can appear so preposterous as the claim of and geographical forms of these countries, noRussia to dominate in Servia. The mountains forming the stupendous natural bulwark of Transylvania stretch north of the Danube to no very considerable distance from its mouth, leaving a narrow neck of passage between them and the Black Sea, through which, indeed, Russian armies may descend to the conquest of Turkey; but such a march on their part must always be with the permission of the military_Power in possession of the natural fortress of Transylvania. Defiant of this, Russian powers and pretensions flow through this pass around this bulwark, and extend up the Danube to Servia, a country which Austria holds, as it were, in its hand, which is at its doors, and with which it might, by the slightest effort, prevent any other Power from interfering. A foreign Power might as well dispute the domination of the Isle of Wight with England, as Russia dispute Servia with Austria. Then, the capital of Servia, Belgrade, has belonged to Austria. She lost it about a century back by the imbecility of her diplomatists, more than by the weakness of her arms. Yet Russia has substituted herself even here as protectress of the Christian population, in lieu of Austria. For the latter country to suffer this implies that she has sunk to the condition of a second-rate Power. Unfortunately she had when Servia liberated itself from Turkey. Austria was then in the fangs of Napoleon. The Servians in vain sent deputations to Vienna. From St. Petersburg alone did they receive aid and encouragement. The Russian Court afterwards insured their semi-independence by treaty. But Austria, restored to her independence and to her old territorial preponderance in 1815, ought naturally to have recovered, at the same time, her influence over Servia. But Russia has been a warring, an active, and a conquering Power since that time. Her triumphant march across the Balkan has kept up and augmented her supremacy. And Austria has been thrown back to the nullity to which Napoleon reduced her. Russia insists on preserving unimpaired her protectorate of Servia. This is the whole secret of her present diplomatic menaces and efforts; for if Turkey and other Powers can establish the precedent of effecting a revolution in any of the principalities by popular insurrection alone, and that then this is to be accepted as a fait accompli from the impossibility of Russia or other Powers marching an army into these principalities, then their independence is virtually established, or the path to it so plainly marked out as to be much the same thing. If affairs on the Danube were likely to remain in statu quo, it would not be of much consequence; but it is an undeniable fact that the Christians of North Turkey have acquired knowledge and spirit and hope and a degree of union, and that at no distant time they will endeavor CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. to throw off the Turkish yoke. The Turks are Lord CAMPBELL, in the English House of self-banished by their own treaties from the Lords, Friday, March 31, brought forward the three principalities still tributary to them. The resolutions of which he had given notice, and three fortresses they hold in Servia would not entered at some length into the causes that had resist even a popular attack for a week. In produced the existing controversy in Scotland. Bosina the Turks still reign as feudal chiefs, but He was strongly attached to the church of Scotthe late firman, lightening the burdens on the land; he was reared at the feet of one of its Christian serfs, shows that there too the Turkish ministers; but nevertheless he hoped that the lords are menaced with the same ejection as that majority of the members of that establishment which ousted them from Servia. Bulgaria itself would not persevere in their present course. If is far from tranquil. Prince Michel of Servia they did, they might depend upon it that it had an understanding with its clergy and with would end in a separation of church and state. the principal Christians, which was the cause of He considered that such a step would be highly the Porte's having conspired to overthrow him. detrimental to the best interests of the church But Prince Georgewitsch cannot be passive or of Scotland generally; and so far as his exeranti-Christian; if he does, he falls. The conse- tions could go, he would endeavor to prevent quence is, that very probable dismemberment such an unfortunate result. The noble lord confrom Turkey of all the provinces north of the cluded by moving his resolutions, which were Balkan at no distant day. Who is to inherit to the effect-That in the opinion of the house, them? The object of Russia is no doubt to pay the church of Scotland as by law established Austria with Bosina and Servia as the price of should be inviolably maintained; that it had her liberty, the absorption of the other provinces, produced the best effect upon the moral and rewith Bulgaria, by Russia. The western Powers, ligious character of the people of that country; on the other hand, must, despite of themselves, that with a view to heal the unhappy divisions aim at establishing an independent Sclavonian at present existing, the demands of the church, confederacy on the Danube. Austria wavers; its hold of Hungary is lessening every day; and if the Czar were to employ his rubles and his agents in fanning the flame of Magyarism, he would give the Court of Vienna enough to do at home to prevent her interfering with Russia on the Lower Danube. Austria, for these and many reasons, was temporising; it had besought Russia to interfere, when of a sudden the young Sultan, it is not known by whose counsel, commits an act which changes the entire nature of the case: Abdel Medjid sits down and writes a letter to the Czar, declaring that he was Sovereign of Servia, has a right to interfere with it, at least so far as not to allow its throne to be occupied by a Prince who plots against him, and that he is determined to maintain the election of Prince Alexander, nor make the least change or excuse therein. M. Boutenief, the Russian Envoy, refuses to send so imperative a letter to his Sovereign. The Turk replies, he may send it or not: he has had his answer. And here the matter rests. It is gratifying to see Abdel Medjid show the spirit of his father Mahmood. But the spirit is dan gerous without, at least, the means of military success.-Examiner. SONNET. HERE let me sit, beneath this shady beach, Screen'd from the fervour of the noonday beam, Is the lov'd cradle of this throbbing heart, Who, in my home, beside my lowly hearth, A. T. Q. as contained in the papers laid before the house, should be conceded so far as they may be consistently with the welfare of the church, and the existence of subordination and good government; and when any measure for correcting the alleged abuses of patronage, and insuring the appointment and admission of ministers properly qualified, shall be constitutionally brought before the house, they will favorably entertain the same; that the demand of the church of Scotland, that patronage shall be abolished as a grievance, is unreasonable and unfounded; and that the demand to give to the church courts absolute authority in every case to define their own jurisdiction, without any power in the civil courts to interfere, is inconsistent with the permanent welfare of the church of Scotland, and ought not to be conceded.-The Earl of ABERDEEN opposed the resolutions, because he believed their adoption would aggravate the evils and difficulties with which parliament had to grapple in dealing with the subject. He believed there were few members of that house who were not prepared to resist the preposterous prétensions put forward by the church. He believed that church had done as much good with the least expense of any establishment of the kind in the world. With regard to the question of patronage, he admitted that it had been a long time exercised without any complaint or remonstrance, but for his part, he would prefer the abolition of patronage to the existence of the veto. When in Scotland he had heard the cry of "No corn laws," "No sliding scale," but he had heard no cry in favor of non-intrusion.Lord BROUGHAM thought those parties who had set at defiance the supreme courts of judicature in Scotland, and subsequently the decision of their lordships' house, were deserving of the strongest reprehension. He thought their first duty should be to purge themselves of the of fence they had committed, and then the house ought to take the subject into its consideration; but until that was done, he would recommend no concession whatever.-The Earl of HADDING- | sacred the principles now at issue, to adopt, but TON opposed the resolutions, as did also Lord to relinquish the benefits of the EstablishCOTTENHAM; and after a few words from Lord ment." CAMPBELL in reply, the resolutions were rejected without a division, and their lordships adjourned. Examiner. At a meeting of the friends of those professing attachment to the principles of Non-intru sion in the Church of Scotland, held in the Waterloo Rooms, Edinburgh, Dr. Chalmers expressed delight at the preparations which were making for the disruption all over the country. He was delighted to say there had been received in direct contributions to the central fund the sum of £40,000, and in this he kept out of view what he thought was the great sheet anchor of the free Presbyterian church-the associations which had begun to be formed in various parts of the country. If they went on as at present they would raise £150,000-a sum that would not only support the ejected ministers, but would extend the free Presbyterian church, and cause it to shoot ahead of all personal delicacies about the subsistence of ministers. He did not doubt that in a few years they would cover Scotland with churches and schools commensurate with its necessities. Ibid. The Non-intrusionists go forward with their preparatives for a new secession. The Special Commission met on Tuesday last week; when the Deputation to London presented their report. The Special Commission recorded a minute, approving of the report and the conduct of the Commission, and reasserting the reasonable nature of the Church's claims. The Church had always recognized the right of the State to fix the conditions of their connexion; she believed, however, that non-intrusion was a fundamental principle; and she had simply asked for an act of Parliament carrying out that principle and protecting her from the interference of the Civil Courts, except as to civil effects. The claim of the church had now been conclusively rejected by the State A public meeting was held next day in the Waterloo Rooms; at which Mr. Fox Maule, M. P., Mr. Campbell, M. P., Mr. Sheriff Monteath, Dr. Gordon, Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Candish, Dr. Cunningham, and other leaders of the party, In an energetic speech, he observed, that they were present. Mr. Maule was chosen to preside. had the final answer of Government on two points: Sir Robert Peel declared that he would not consent to the Church's claim, because if admitted on the North side of the Tweed it would spring up on the South; and Sir James Graham said, that he would not give that, without which the House of Commons could not change the law, the consent of the Crown. The time for there to associate himself with them in the advocacy had passed, and Mr. Maule came great cause of national liberty both civil and religious. The Rev. Dr. Candish, who spoke at some length, declared that nothing was left for them but earnest, vigorous, and systematic preparations for the institution of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland: whether with or without the Queen's Commission, they would have a free Assembly in May. "God grant, that immediately thereafter we may be able to show what the free Gospel is which a free Assembly are prepared to give forth. We shall, indeed, cultivate in our own districts; we shall have stated congregations, with stated elders and ministers; but we shall have our tours of preaching too--our visits to all corners of the land; and I believe that yet, by God's blessing on our free and faithful preachings, in the highways and hedges, in barns and stables, in saw-pits and tents, we shall yet regenerate Scotland, and have multitudes of those who are now perishing for lack of knowledge to listen to the glad tidings of salvation. Oh! this will be a blessed reward for all our agitation." The Reverend James M'Farlane, minister of Muiravonside, has withdrawn from the Convocation, because they refused to accept a settlement on the principle of the liberum arbitrium. The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Campbell of Monzie, Dr. Gordon, and Dr. Chalmers. They assembled again in the evening, the Lord Provost in the chair, and heard more "In these circumstances, the Special Com-speeches. Thanks were voted to Mr. Fox mission deem it incumbent upon them to an- Maule and their supporters in the House of nounce to the Church and country, as they now Commons. do with the utmost pain and sorrow, that the decisive rejection of the Church's claims by the Government and by Parliament appears to them conclusive of the present struggle, and that, in the judgment of the Commission, nothing remains but to make immediate preparation for the new state of things, which the Church must, as far as they can see, contemplate as inevitable. "It is true that the Special Commission have no power to bring the momentous question to a final close, but must report their proceedings BURIED VILLAGE.-The continental papers furto the General Assembly. They feel it, how-nish several heads of information interesting to ever, to be their duty, in so unprecedented a archæologists. The Armoricain gives the particrisis, and considering the urgent necessity of preparing for the event which must be anticipated as then likely to occur, to give forth now their deliberate judgment in regard to it, and to warn the Church and people of Scotland, that, so far as the Commission can see, no course will be left for the Assembly, or for those who holdculaneum.—Ibid culars of a remarkable discovery resulting from has been displaced on the coast at Crozon, and the recent gales. A complete mountain of sand the casualty has exposed to view the remains of a village, with its church and surrounding cemetery. The oldest inhabitant of the country retains no tradition which can have reference to this sea-Her |