FEB. 2. Robert Henderson, Calcutta.-8. Robert, Batavia; Burley, Bombay.— From the Downs.-JAN. 29. Mauritius, China; Winifred, Calcutta; Bland, Mauritius.-31. Achilles, St. Helena; Mary, Calcutta. FEB. 4. Norfolk, Algoa Bay; Inchinnan, Bombay.-5. Mary Ann, Cape and Madras.-6. Helvellyn, Singapore; Avoca, Singapore.-7. Seringapatam, Ceylon; Bussorak Merchant, N. S. Wales.-10. Swiftsure, Mauritius.-11. Lady Rowena, Calcutta; Helen Stewart, China; Briton, Mauritius.-12. Madura, and Hyderabad, Aden.-14. Orator, Bengal.-15. Anna Robertson, Madras.— 16. Madagascar, Madras and Bengal; Eliza Scott, St. Helena; Vespasian,. Manilla.-19. Berkshire, Bombay.-22. Ganges, N. S. Wales. From Portsmouth.-FEB. 4. Prima Donna, Swan River.-7. Caroline, Mauritius and Ceylon.-8. William Shand, China.-14. William Hyde, Hobart Town; H. M. S. Lily, Coast of Africa.-18. Ann, Madras and China.-19. Conreed, Cape. From Plymouth.-FEB. 15. Himalaya, Cape. From Deal.-FEB. 7. Cowslip, Mauritius. From Shields.-FEB. 9. Borneo, India. From Kingstown.-FEB. 15. Elizabeth Henry, Hobart Town. From the Clyde.-JAN. 25. Levant, Bombay; Mary Anne, Singapore; Mary Eliza, Madras.-12. Duchess of Argyll, Bombay. INCIDENTS. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, DEC. 13.-The Wm. Metcalfe, Calcutta to London, arrived at the Cape, lost foremast, maintop-gallant mast, &c., during a heavy gale, and had seven men killed. MADRAS, DEC 18.-The Lord Eldon, Worsell, was totally lost at Madras, on this date, during a violent gale. CHINA, OCT. 25.—The Harriet (English brig) was wrecked at the mouth of the Yang tsze Keang; the loss of property is estimated at 100,000 dollars. FALMOUTH, FEB 8.-The Arab, Sumner, from Bengal, on entering the har bour, grounded off St. Mawes Castle, but came off after, without apparent damage. PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 7.-The Courier, Whitley, London to the Cape, put in with stern stove, and mainsail split, having been in contact off Beachy Head with a ship, name unknown. BLACKWALL, FEB. 10.-The Henry, Finlayson, for Ceylon and Moulmein, took fire in the river, is completely gutted, and is scuttled in Blackwall reach. PASSENGERS. Per Tagus (steamer), to Malta and grave, Outram, Mackay, Carstairs, Brett; Rev. Mr. Dredge; Captains Alexandria.-Mesdames ColeLaing and Graves; Lieut. Aplin; Ensigns Ord and Gardener; Messrs. Gifford, Colegrave, Russell, Kersham, Renlock, Miles, Shackelton, Richards, Ryan, Heatley, Stillman, Thomas, Creagh, Ord, and Douglas. Per steamer Oriental, from Southampton. and England, and three children; Gen. Vern, Capt. Agnew, Mr. Armstrong, Per Prima Donna, to Cape of Good Hope and Swan River.-Mr. and Mrs. Bland; Mr. and Mrs. Brough and infant; Dr. and Mrs. Hinds; Miss Sampson, Mr. S. P. Phillips. Per Ann, for Madras.-Mrs. Gen. Fraser; the Misses Frazer, M. Frazer, and H. Frazer; Capt. Stevenson (to Madras); Drs. O'Brien and Dacre; Messes. Lewin, Anderson, and Mc Donald. Per Symmetry, for Mauritius, &c.-Lieut. col. Sweating, R.A.; and Mr. Scott. For Colombo.-Mr. Thomson; Lieuts. Tulk and Hill, of Ceylon Rifles; Dr. Murray, staff surgeon; and Mr. Sablonadierre. A Mail will be made up in London, for Bombay, via Southampton, at 8 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd, and via Marseilles on the evening of the 7th March, if not postponed; a Mail will also be made up for Calcutta vid Southampton on the 20th, and vid Marseilles on the 24th, OVERLAND MAILS from INDIA, 1844-45. Date of leaving Per Steamer to Suez, Arrived in London .... Daysfrom Bombay. 38 Feb. 14........(per Oriental) 44 † Per steamer Hindostan, HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL REVIEW. NO. XVIII. THE two mails of the past month (which bring Indian intelligence down to the 8th February from Calcutta, and to the 15th from Madras) have contributed little to our previous stock of information respecting the state of the Punjab, or the proceedings in the Southern Mahratta country,-the most important topics of Indian politics at present. Fuller and more exact details are, indeed, furnished of the revolution in the Sikh state, which enable us to form better notions of its character, objects, and probable consequences. Notwithstanding that the elements of disorder, which were scarcely slumbering at Lahore, boded but a short life to the illcompacted authority of the late minister, Heera Sing, the suddenness of his downfal seems to have occasioned some surprise. The insubordination of the army, and the measures necessary to overcome it, might have been expected to be the immediate cause of the event; but it would appear that the discontent of the troops was one of the means employed for the overthrow of the minister, rather than the primary source of the occurrences which led to it. The Delhi Gazette,* which has been usually well-informed respecting Punjabi politics, has traced the rise and progress of the revolution. Jowahir Sing, the maternal uncle of the maharajah,-a restless, intriguing man, jealous of the power of the minister, and desirous of exalting himself by means of his sister, the raní mother,―obtained from Heera Sing, who seems to have been justly distrustful of him, a jaghire, upon which he was desired to reside. This, however, did not suit his purposes, and he returned to Lahore, where his intrigues, in conjunction with those of his sister, alarmed the young vizier, who took measures to check them. In November last, Jowahir Sing retired to Umritsur. Here he could mature his schemes against the minister with more security, and, though repeatedly summoned to Lahore, he delayed his appearance there until he had secretly secured a sufficient number of partisans to accomplish his ends. The minister had resolved upon putting Jowahir Sing to death, as well as the raní, his confederate; but when the former arrived at Lahore (in the beginning of December), Heera Sing found that the army had been gained over to the cause of his rival. His adviser, the Pundit Jella,—a man who had rendered ⚫ January 22nd. Asiat.Journ.N.S.VOL.IV.No.24. 4 B himself obnoxious to all parties, except the minister, over whom he exercised an extraordinary influence,-suggested the strong and decisive step of dethroning the reigning prince, and substituting the son of the late Shere Sing; other accounts say, another son of old Runjeet, whose progeny, so scanty during his life that he doubted whether he had a son, has, since his decease, developed the property of the celebrated dragon's teeth. This scheme, however, was devised too late; the sirdars of the council, as well as the army, had been successfully dealt with by the raní,-so great is female influence in some parts of India. A consultation took place, at which deputies from the army assisted,-for this custom, analogous to that which existed in Cromwell's army, seems to be one of their republican traits still existing amongst the Sikhs; these military advisers renounced allegiance to the minister, and declared they would recognize no other authority than that of the raní and such minister as she should appoint. The raní, in order to precipitate matters, announced that, unless Heera Sing retired from office, she would leave Lahore, with her son, the young maharajah. The crisis now approached. On the 19th December, the minister issued an order that Jowahir Sing should be placed under restraint in his own house, and he proposed to seize him, by means of his hill-men from Jumboo, as soon as the gates were closed, and the Summun-boorj was surrounded by a party. This was no sooner known than the troops assembled, and the seizure of Jowahir Sing was too perilous an act to be attempted. Next morning, when the gates were opened, the ministers summoned the officers of the army, and addressed them to this effect:-That he had been appointed to the Sikh Khalsa by the will of the troops; that the raní had expressed her determination to resist his wishes; that he was now ready, if the officers desired it, to transfer the authority with which they had intrusted him to any person whom they might deem fitter for the office, and was ready to accept an inferior employment, if he could thereby render a service to the state. This speech, which was well calculated to work upon the persons he addressed, appears to have produced some effect. The officers consulted, and desired time to give their answer. They proceeded to the raní, who effectually removed the impression which the minister's address had made upon them, by telling them that the treasury had been exhausted by Heera, and promising large rewards for their co-operation in removing a wicked minister, who was oppressing both them and the people. On the 21st the troops collected, and |