afford consolation and assistance, but in vain; the wound was mortal, allowing time only for the expres sion of a desire to be buried beside his countrymen, at the burial-place of the British residency. This, it is added in a native letter, detailing the anecdote, was accordingly effected. Holkar's loss is about one thousand.

As this severe conflict took place within a short distance from the city, in sight even from some of its lofty houses, the general consternation and affright is not easily conceived. All business was of course at a stand; and even the holy ceremonies incident to the day (it being the height of the Dewally) were interrupted and suspended. His highness the peishwa had a short time before been in Scindeah's camp, and on learning the fate of the army, immediately quitted the city, and proceeded to Singhur, a hill-fort in its neighbourhood, attended by the minister Ballajee Kooujur, and others of his court. A detachment of Scindeah's army forthwith quitted the city also; the licentious followers of both plundering partially the quarters of the city immediately in their way; as, however, their depredations were transient, no benefit could accrue from also burning the town, and it therefore escaped.

Several letters from Poonah men⚫ tion among the chiefs killed on Scindeah's side, Baba Rao Angria, but it is reported in Bombay, and we believe truly, that he made his escape with only five attendant horsemen, and is arrived at Coolaba in our neighbourhood.

Scindeah's chief commanders were his father-in-law, Sakharam (or Surjajec) Ghautkey, Sadasew Malhar, Gopal Rao Baho, and Jumaul Khan Puttan; the latter

was killed, as was also Bajy Rao Pattunker.

The city is completely in the possession of Holkar's troops; he in person continues a few coss to the eastward of Jejury; he is levying heavy contributions on the city, which superadded to those lately exacted by the peishwa, as noticed in our last gazette, induce extreme agitation and distress. It is said that Holkar demands two kroor, but it is not credible that the city, exhausted as it has been, can by any means bear such a pressure.

It is not probable that during such times of distress and dismay, that very accurate accounts will be forwarded by the natives, from which, however, most of our statement is here given. They proceed to relate that Holkar, immediately after his victory, issued orders, and took measures for the quiet and security of the city, appearing concerned and surprised that his highness the peishwa should have withdrawn, and publicly signified his intention of immediately replacing him in the rajah, with Emrut Rac, his highness's brother by adoption, as his minister. The present minister, Ballajee Coonjur, Holkar accuses as the cause of the recent troubles in the empire.

We have just heard that the peishwa has quitted Singhur (or Sewgur) the fort to which he first resorted, and is journeying towards Mhar, a fort in the Konkan, not far distant from Bancoot.

Emrut Rao, with a small force, is in the neighbourhood of Juneer, a city and fort, two day's journey northward of Poonah; the peishwa's younger brother, Cuimmajee Appa, accompanies his highness. A de'tachment of Scindeah's horse and foot, of some strength, is at Bur †D 4 hanpoor;

hanpoor; major Pohlman commands the latter.

Scindeah himself is at Ougien with a large force, but under the pecuniary difficulties that he labours, it is not easy to foresee how he can readily find resources to restore his long-possessed influence in the Decan, now so severely, and for the first time, seriously checked.

Loss of the ships Intrepid and Comet. Nov. 23d. The arrival of his Majesty's ship Arrogant, without having received any tidings of either of these cruizers, has most lamentably decided the question, and left us to deplore, in this melancholy catastrophe, the premature fate of captain George Roper, a most worthy and truly valuable officer, and the still more premature loss of a number of young gentlemen, whose rising merits held forth the most promising assurances of their proving, had their lives been spared to them, an honour to their profession.

The late Sir William Syer. We, the mayor and aldermen of the third term of 1802, at this our first meeting since the death of sir William Syer, late president of this court, should not be doing justice to our own feelings, nor to the virtues and talent of the deceased, if we failed to record our sincere regret for his loss, and our profound sense of his extraordinary merits as a man and a judge.

It peculiarly belongs to us in this place, to make mention of his services in the latter light; and certainly, if patient investigation, and an anxious desire to decide in every case consistently with justice; if acuteness in discerning the truth, and steadiness in pursuing it, are

features which exalt the judicial character, few have ever laid greater claims to those pre-eminent qualities than the distinguished magistrate who is now no more.

The difficulties incident to the establishment of a new court, and the introduction of new forms of practice, were surmounted by a persevering spirit solicitous only for the public good: and while suitors of every description relied with confidence on his impartial judg ment, little was left for his associates on the bench, but to admire the wisdom, and concur in the rectitude of his decrees.

Possessed of such qualifications for his exalted and important station, we should have thought ourselves deficient in respect and duty, if we had suffered this our first sederunt since his death to pass, without entering a solemn notice of that melancholy event on the public records of the court.

Splendid Fétes.

The British society of Bombay gave a superb entertainment to Abdul Latiff Khan and the members of the Persian embassy, in token of the happy cordiality which subsisted between these illustrious strangers and the British inhabitants of this island. The theatre was the place chosen for the enter tainment. A large space of ground was enclosed to the front of it, where the supper tables were laid out. The enclosure was divided into arches, which were illuminated by small lamps, and at the entrance stood two pillars in a pyramidical form, covered also with small and variegated lamps, which had a very beautiful effect. On the top of the theatre a well-executed transpareucy of the Persian arms was exhibited; and at the opposite end,

within

chief officers of Mahmood Shah, king of Cabul, are now engaged in warfare with the Putans of the Guilchee nation, or tribe, near the river Atuk.

Mohunlal represented to his majesty, that uhkbars now arrived from the Dakan, convey informa tion the very reverse of the news he has hitherto read to his majesty, respecting the war between the Holkars and Maharaja Scindeah Bubadoor. The latest papers state, that Juswunt Rao Holkar, having obtained a complete victory over Maharaja's army, had invested Poonah, and surrounded Maharaja Streemunt Bahadoor himself, and that the war is now more likely than ever to continue between the belligerent powers for a long period of time.

Nov. 15th. It is supposed that Juswunt Rao Holkar has proceeded to Poonah, with a large division of his army, consisting chiefly of Putans, who have plundered Streemunt, and occasioned great consternation in that ill-fated city. It is confidently reported also, that Holkar, flushed with success, is now determined to assume the supreme authority of that government into his own hands.

Nov. 16th. Maharaja Scindeah Bahadoor, on receiving the disa greeable intelligence of the unexpected defeat which his army received from the Holkars, has written from Oujein to general Perron, to the following purport:

"Juswunt Rao Holkar has taken possession of Poonah, and greatly harassed that city, and his highness the peishwa; I am therefore obliged to march towards Poonah to oppose the Holkars, and immediately on the receipt of this letter you will hasten your march with all the troops under your command to

meet me at that place. Our cR« deavours must be strenuously exerted to baffle the Holkars in all their hostile designs, and to secure the country from their infamous depredations now and hereafter. It will be necessary to use every means within our power to crush and overwhelm them at once, that they may never again have sufficient ability to do us similar mischief."

Nov. 21st. Mr. Drudgeon mentioned to his majesty, that Juswunt Rao Holkar has taken upon himself the entire management of the Poonah government. Shah Nuwaz Khan produced uhkbars which state, that two battalions of sepoys, and nearly 30,000 horse, belonging to Maharaja Scindeah and Maharaja Streemunt Bahadoor, fell in the late action. Juswunt Rao Holkar, having placed the son of Khooddoo Rao Mulhar, deceased, on the guddee, or chair of state, at Poonah, offered him in due form the usual presents.

Nov. 26. General Perron has directed colonel Bourkuin towards Poonah from Jendh, where he has of late resided with rajah Bhag Singh, in order to negotiate matters of considerable importance with the sieks; the colonel accordingly is preparing to march with all expedition, agreeably to the general's commands. Rajah Umbajee, with all his forces, and the battalions of Begum Sumroo, as also 50 or 60,000 cavalry, belonging to Raghojee Bhonsla, the rajah of Nagpoor, are all now encamped at Kos, and will soon join Scindeah near Poonah. General Perron will also march in a day or two, with the whole of the regular troops under his com mand.

Nov. 27th. Shah Nuwaz Khan represents, that Maharaja Stree unt Bahadoor is encamped at

Kokan,

Kokan, with 30 or 40,000 troops, to secure himself from any attempt that the Holkars may make against him. Maharaja Scindeah Bahadoor has dispatched 30 or 40,000 cavalry to the Dakan, who are now at Poonah. Rajah Umbajee Scindeah, the forces of Raghoje Bhonsla of Nagpoor, the European troops, and many chiefs of the Dakan, have actually marched towards Poonah, from their respec

tive countries and cantonments, with a determination to conquer or die under the peishwa's banners.

Great disturbances has been excited in the sick's dominions. A war has now broke out between Mahmood Shah and the Ghilchee Putans. Two dustu, or brigades of the royal army are encamped on one side of the river Atuk, and the sieks on the other side, with hostile intentions against each other.

Holkar and Scindeah, near
Jejuree.

Extract of a Letter from Poonah, dated the 10th of November, 1802.

"I shall endeavour to give you the best account in my power of the late action between Holkar and Scindeah's troops, principally from my own observation, and the rest from enquiries and intelligence I have collected from different officers commanding corps.

"Scindeah's forces in this quarter, with the few troops belonging to the peishwa, were posted on the old encampment, formerly occupied by the brigades, and on the morning of the action consisted of 4 battalions of Sutherland's brigade, commanded by captain Dawes, men, 3,000 7 ditto of Ambajee's, commanded by a Musselman,

in some measure by the city of Poonah.

Holkar, who had formed a junction with Futty Sing Munyer, a short time after the defeat by the latter, by the peishwa's army under the command of the Jerry Punt, near the town of Baramutty, moved forward with his whole force to Jejury, where, after spending a few days in the performance of religious ceremonies at a very ancient place of worship among the Hindus, he determined to bring his enemy to an engagement, and accordingly gave orders for marching against the united forces of his opponents. His army being at this time assembled, was immense, and was com posed as follows:

4 battalions under the command of colonel Sutherland, men, 5,000 5 ditto ditto of major Vickars, 4 ditto of major Armstrong, late

4,500

4,000

4 ditto of the peishwa's, badly paid and appointed, commanded by natives

in Scindeah's service

2,600

2,500

3 dittó, under natives,

2,300

Cavalry mustered by Scindeah's

Shermeth Khaun's infantry,

1,500

Meer Khaun's ditto,

600

Peishwa's cavalry,

6,000

Irregulars, mostly Rohillas,

6,000

Total 84,000

Cavalry, at a very moderate statement,

125,000

with about 80 pieces of cannon well

"Total 144,000