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SAXONY.-In Saxony also, the refusal of the Government to acknowledge the Frankfort Constitution was followed by a serious insurrection. On the 28th of May, as the attitude of the Chambers was hostile to the Ministry, they were dissolved-a step which excited much discontent. A few days afterwards municipal deputations from Dresden and Leipsic waited upon the King, and called upon him to recognize the Constitution promulgated by promulgated by the Frankfort Assembly. The King answered in the negative, and on the 3rd of June an insurrection commenced at Dresden, where the populace erected barricades in the streets, and several collisions with the military took place. Next day the King and his Ministers retired with difficulty under a strong escort of troops to Königstein, and the insurgents immediately proclaimed a Provisional Government, at the head of which

were placed Tzschirner, Heubner, and Todt. A Commander-in-Chief of the insurgents was also appointed. An armistice was agreed on, during which the Communal Guard were admitted to a joint occupation of the arsenal: but nothing resulted from the negotiations. The joint occupation of the arsenal was therefore terminated, the troops resumed exclusive possession, and the contest recommenced. On the 5th, the King published a proclamation protesting against the establishment of a Provisional Government; and the troops made energetic and combined movements, which placed a large portion of the barricaded districts in their possession. A regiment of Prussian troops also arrived from Berlin, and obstinate conflicts took place in the streets. The military were, however, successful, and on the morning of the 7th the revolt was finally crushed.

CHAPTER XIV.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.-Order in Council making the Cape a Penal Station Dissatisfaction of the Inhabitants-Resolutions passed at a public Meeting at Cape Town-Arrival of the Neptune Convict ShipCommunications between the Governor and the Colonists-System of passive Resistance adopted by the latter-"Stoppage of the Supplies" -Despatch from Earl Grey-Withdrawal of the Order in Council. INDIA. Continuation of the Narrative of the Siege of Mooltan-Capture of the Town-Bombardment of the Citadel-Surrender of Moolraj -The British Troops march to join the Army of the Punjab-Sir John Thackwell crosses the Chenab-Cannonade between the British and Sikh Artillery-Retreat of the Sikhs-Lord Gough crosses the Chenab Attock taken by the Enemy-Movements of Lord Gough and Battle of Chilianwallah-State of public Opinion in England with respect to the Tactics of Lord Gough-Sir Charles Napier sent out as Commander-in-Chief-The Sikhs retreat in the direction of Wuzeerabad Junction between Chuttur Singh and Shere SinghDecisive Victory of Goojerat-Pursuit of the flying Sikhs by General Gilbert-Surrender of the whole Sikh Army to the British-General Gilbert pursues the Affghans, who escape through the Khyber Pass to Cabul-Proclamation of the Governor-General annexing the Punjab to the British Dominions-Trial of Moolraj by a special Military Commission-His Sentence.

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NAPE OF GOOD HOPE.In consequence of a plan formed by Earl Grey, the Colonial Minister, to distribute the better class of convicts amongst various settlements of the British Crown, for the double purpose of reforming the convicts and supplying the colonists with labourers, an Order in Council was issued on the 4th of September, 1848, in which, amongst other places, the Cape of Good Hope was named as one of the stations where convicts under the new system were to be received. When the news of this reached the Cape, the inhabitants loudly ex

pressed their dissatisfaction, and the strongest feeling was displayed against what was considered an attempt to degrade a free colony into a penal settlement.

On the 4th of July a public meeting was held at Cape Town, at which the following resolutions, amongst others, were unanimously passed:

"1. That the introduction of criminals under sentence of transportation, exile, or banishment. from the United Kingdom, or any other quarter, is injurious and degrading to this colony, and ought to be resisted.

"2. That the British Government [2 B 2]

has no right to degrade into a penal settlement the Cape of Good Hope, which became a portion of the British Empire by capitulation and cession from a friendly Power, and not by planting or conquest-with its rights and privileges as a free and not a penal settlement solemnly guaranteed; and that all attempts so to injure and degrade it are unjust and tyrannical, and may be constitutionally resisted by the inhabitants as British subjects.

"3. That the insertion of the Cape of Good Hope in the Orders in Council of September 4, 1848, as a place to which convicts may be conveyed, simply by an order from one of the Principal Secretaries of State, in opposition to the petitions, remonstrances, and protests of the inhabitants, presented to Her Majesty and both Houses of Parliament, is subversive of the rights and privileges of this community.

"4. That the conduct of Earl Grey, in first directing the Governor to ascertain the opinions and wishes of the people on this vital question, and then acting in defiance of their unanimous decision, is an exaggeration of insult added to injury towards an unoffending community, which proves him to be unworthy to retain any place in the Government of a free people.

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5. That the conduct of the Governor Sir Harry Smith, in refusing to take upon himself the responsibility of suspending this injurious and degrading measure, 'when he found the universal dissatisfaction which the proposal excited at the Cape, supported by arguments of a weighty nature,'

as all Governors of distant possessions are expected to act in emergencies, and as Sir Charles Fitzroy and Sir William Denison did last

year in the two penal settlements of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, for which they immediately received the entire approbation of Her Majesty's Government, and his determination to carry out the measure in violation of a pledge to the contrary given to the people in the name of Her Majesty's Government, and in contempt of an opposition on the part of an injured and insulted people such as never was before equalled in any part of the British Empire, being absolutely universal,-prove that the Government of this colony, as at present administered, is despotic, wholly at variance with the just and inalienable rights of British subjects, disgraceful to Her Majesty's Crown as a constitutional Sovereign, and perilous to the honour, safety, and happiness of the country.

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6. That it is the right and duty of the inhabitants of this colony, individually and collectively, in their private and public capacities, to oppose the execution of this injurious, degrading, unconstitutional, despotic, and dangerous measure, by all constitutional means; and that one of the most effectual means will be to sign and rigidly adhere to the following pledge:-We, the undersigned, colonists and inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope, hereby solemnly declare and pledge our faith to each other, that we will not employ, or knowingly admit into our establishments or houses, work with or for, or associate with, any convicted felon or felons sent to this colony under sentence of transportation; and that we will discountenance and drop connection with any person who may assist in landing, supporting, or employing such convicted felons.'

"7. That a petition be presented to the Queen, praying that the Orders in Council of the 4th of September, 1848, in which this colony is named as a place to which convicts may be transported, be revoked, and that Her Majesty may refuse her consent to any proposal that may be made by her Ministers to insert the Cape at any future time among the places to which convicts or persons under sentence of exile or banishment may be conveyed; and that Her Majesty may be pleased to order the removal of such convicts as may have been conveyed to the Cape under the authority of the said Orders in Council."

From this time until the arrival of the first convict-ship, the utmost excitement prevailed in the colony, and various angry remonstrances passed between the inhabitants and the Governor, Sir Harry Smith, who professed his intention to abide by and act upon the instructions which he received from the Colonial Minister in England.

Such being the state of public feeling at Cape Town, the Neptune convict-ship arrived in Simon's Bay with a cargo of felons from Bermuda on the evening of the 19th of September. Next morning the event was made known, according to a prearranged scheme, by striking the gong of the Town-hall and tolling all the church-bells at halfminute time. The Commissioners of the Municipality immediately met, and addressed the Governor Sir Harry Smith in the following

terms:

"The Neptune, with her cargo of convicted felons, having arrived in Simon's Bay, the Commissioners and Ward-masters for the Municipality of Cape Town, now in the Town-hall assembled, once more

address your Excellency, praying, as the people have determined that the convicts must not, cannot, and shall not be landed or kept in any of the ports of this colony, and as the Board rely upon your Excellency's often-expressed desire to promote the well-being of the colonists-that the Neptune may be ordered, after victualling, to leave our shores; thus to remove the cause of anxiety now prevailing, and to obviate the evil consequences which may result therefrom, and for which your Excellency would be held responsible. And as the people are anxiously waiting for a decision, your Excellency is respectfully requested to communicate the same as early as possible."

The Governor's answer, through his private secretary, was as follows:

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"His Excellency has already apprized you, and all interested in its subject, that it is his intention, in the exercise of the discretion which his Excellency finds, as he anticipated, is by law reposed in him, not to relieve the SurgeonSuperintendent of his charge of the Neptune, pending the receipt of the replies to the several despatches upon the subject which have been addressed to the Secretary of State, and which may reasonably be expected in a month or six weeks. In the mean time, the Neptune will ride at anchor in Simon's Bay, as in the case of any other ship. His Excellency desires me to express his deep regret at the tone and style of your communication; which circumstances may in some degree excuse, but which they certainly do not justify."

A public meeting was then held in the open air, and Mr. Ebden read a letter to the Governor, which the Committee of Observation "

had prepared and proposed to send to him. It contained the following passage:

The inhabitants feel compelled, by a sense of duty to themselves, their children, their friends, and their country, and fully justified in the sight of God and man, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges as British subjects, to put into immediate operation those means of self-protection which are expressed in the document called the " Pledge,' which had been signed, as your Excellency knows, by all ranks and classes of Her Majesty's loyal sub. jects in this colony; one of which is, that they will drop connection with any person who may assist in supporting convicted felons.'

This letter was approved of and adopted by the meeting, which exhibited the utmost enthusiasm in its support of the proposed measures of the Committee.

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A system of resistance now commenced, which the law was inadequate to reach, and which could hardly fail of being successful. It consisted in a total and absolute stoppage of supplies " to the army, the navy, and all Government establishments, and very soon the Governor was compelled to bake bread in his own house. The convicts were however not disembarked, as Sir Harry Smith, who seems in his difficult position to have been sincerely desirous of acting rightly, waited for further instructions from England. In the mean time he published a despatch from Lord Grey, dated July 18, in which that Minister said:

"1. I have much satisfaction in acquainting you that Parliament has, on the recommendation of Her Majesty's Government, granted a sum of money, in order to enable

the Government to send free emigrants to those colonies which receive convicts from this country. The intention of Her Majesty's Government is to send, as nearly as they may find practicable, a number of free persons equal to that of the male convicts received in each colony which co-operates with this country in carrying into effect this important part of penal discipline.

"2. I trust that in this measure the Legislature and the inhabitants of the colony may recognise the earnest desire which Her Majesty's Government entertain to conciliate their willing assent to the policy which has been adopted on this subject. I am quite sensible that without the co-operation of the colonists the system of convict discipline which has now been adopted, however promising it may be in other respects, can hardly be expected to succeed.

On the other hand, with that co-operation, I hope that it may at once furnish each colony receiving convicts with useful labour, and materially conduce to the reform of the prisoners who are removed thither; while the numbers sent being moderate, and the convicts being placed under judicious management, no perceptible injury may accrue to the moral tone of the community. It is needless to say that this last and most important result may be expected to be greatly promoted by the provision now made for introducing simultaneously with the prisoners an equal number of persons who have never been convicted of any offence against the laws of the country.

"3. Part of the vote will be expended in sending out the wives and families of the convicts; a measure which appears at all times

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