"Her Majesty's Government have not abandoned the hope that peace may be re-established, for they are unwilling to believe, that any insurmountable obstacle can exist to carrying out the declared objects of Russia, in a manner compatible with the dignity and the independence of the Porte; and it would, therefore, have been a matter of sincere satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government that the combined fleets should have re⚫mained at anchor in the Bosphorus while negotiations were pending. But this has been rendered impossible by the attack on the Turkish squadron at Sinope. The intentions of the English and French Governments, which were long since announced to the Porte, must be firmly and faithfully executed. For this purpose, although with no hostile design against Russia, it is essential that the combined fleets should have the command of the Black Sea; and the necessary instructions have accordingly been addressed to the Ambassadors and Admirals of England and France. "In making known to Count Nesselrode that such instructions have been sent, you will govern yourself by the language of this despatch, and you will inform His Excellency that, in order to prevent the recurrence of disasters such as that at Sinope, the combined fleets will require, and, if necessary, compel Russian shipsof-war to return to Sebastopol, or the nearest port; and it is considered that the Turkish fleet should undertake no aggressive operations by sea, so long as matters remain in their present state."

The result, therefore, was, that so far from the Black Sea continuing to be what it was often called, "a Russian lake," not a

single Russian man of-war was to be allowed to navigate it, and the fleets of England and France kept undisturbed possession of its wa

ters.

Before quitting the subject of the Russo-Turkish war, we must briefly advert to the military operations which took place this year, on the Asiatic frontier of the two Empires, where the contest was maintained with doubtful success on both sides.

The mountainous range of the Caucasus runs in a south-easterly direction across the provinces which lie between the Euxine and Caspian Seas. To the north of this range lies the mighty empire of Russia; but she possesses on the south the province of Georgia, which she acquired in 1798. The intermediate region of Circassia and Daghestan is inhabited by brave and hardy mountaineers, whom Russia has in vain attempted to subdue, and who, under the command of a native chief, named Schamyl, have carried on for twenty years a war of independence, with marvellous success against the whole power of Russia. The conduct of the war had for some time past been entrusted to Prince Woronzow, who occupied Georgia with an army of about 25,000

men.

Three roads connect the Transcaucasian provinces of Russia with the rest of the empire; the first winds along the coast of the Black Sea by Anapa, Ghelendjik, and Souchoum Kaleh, till it enters Imeritia and reaches the valley of the Kour, in which Teflis lies. The second follows the shore of the Caspian to Derbend, known as the Iron Gates, an extensive fortified position on the coast,

which was captured by Peter the Great when he first turned his arms against Persia. The third road passes from Mosdok to Teflis by the valley of the Terek and the fortress of Duriel, through one of the most formidable passes in the world.

When war between Russia and Turkey this year was declared, the Ottoman Porte transported large military stores from Constantinople to Trebizond, on the south eastern coast of the Black Sea, and troops were pushed on to the river Phasis, where they captured the Russian fort of St. Nicholas, near Batoum, on the south-east coast of the Black Sea. The left wing of the Turkish army, which was under the command of Selem Bey, occupied the district of Bajazid to the south of Mount Ararat. Prince Woronzow intended, at the commencement of hostilities, to cross the Turkish frontier, and march against Erzeroum, which is the capital of a Pachalic of the same name, and also of Armenia, but an attack of illness prevented him from

directing the movements of the Russian army, which seems, however, to have advanced in the direction he proposed. A partial success was achieved by the Turks, near Bajazid, where their irregular troops engaged a Russian regiment, and remained masters of the field.

On the north and east of that position the Turks were also victorious in several engagements, and their great object was, if possible, to capture the strong fortress of Akhalsikh, which was ceded to the Russians at the close of the war of 1828-9, by the treaty of Adrianople, and which defends the line of the river Kour, and is the key of the Russian frontier at the extreme south-east of that empire. At one time intelligence reached the west of Europe, that this important fortress had fallen, but the rumour proved to be unfounded, and up to the close of the year it was still in the hands of the Russians, whose loss in Asia was limited to that of the fort of St. Nicholas, a small and insignificant outpost.

ral Cathcart, in which he said, after some preliminary remarks on the submission of the Gaikas,"Now therefore I do hereby proclaim, declare, and make known, that, considering that Her Majesty's authority has been vindicated, and that sufficient punishment has been inflicted, and with a view to the re-establishment of peace and good order, I hereby extend the Royal mercy and pardon to the said chief Sandilli and the Gaika people.

"And I further proclaim, declare, and make known, that, although the said chief and chieftains and the Gaika people cannot be allowed to return to the Amatolas and their other former lands, which have all been forfeited to the Crown, are now in possession of Her Majesty's troops, and will be reserved as Crown lands, to be disposed of according to Her Majesty's pleasure, they will nevertheless be permitted, under the responsibility of their hereditary chief Sandilli, to live in peace in another portion of British Caffraria further removed from the colonial frontierthat is to say, the country between the Kei and the great north road leading to the Windvogelberg, and bounded on the north by the Thomas River, and the south by the country of the chief Umhala, on the following conditions:

"1. That the chief Sandilli, in token of submission, shall deliver up one hundred guns, in addition to the arms stolen by the Caffre police, and become responsible for the good conduct of the Gaika tribe.

2. That the chief Sandilli and all the people under him shall in all things remain true and faithful in their allegiance to the Queen, and obedient to Her Majesty's commands, conveyed through the

Governor and the chief Commissioner, Colonel Maclean, or his deputies, as heretofore.

"3. That each minor chief lately in rebellion, before he be permitted to reside in British Caffraria, shall deliver up, in token of his submission, his own arms, and bind himself to obey Her Majesty's commands, conveyed as aforesaid, under the responsibility and control of the said chief Sandilli, failing which, he will continue to be held to be an outlaw, and dealt with accordingly.

"4. That the said chief Sandilli shall make an allotment of land to each of the said minor chiefs, his dependents, who may have returned to their allegiance, within the country hereby allotted to him, wherein they shall dwell under his responsibility for their true and loyal conduct in future.

5. That the said chief Sandilli shall also be held responsible for the security of the great high road, and the property of travellers frequenting it, in the same manner as Pato and Siwani are bound to protect the high roads which pass through their country.

"Be it, however, hereby made known, that this general pardon will not extend beyond British Caffraria; and that any Caffre chief, or others, who may enter and be apprehended within the colony will, notwithstanding this pardon, be amenable to justice, according to colonial law, for any crimes they may have committed within the said colony; and, if found trespassing within the Amatolas, they will be dealt with by summary justice under martial law.

66

And, lastly, I do hereby proclaim, declare, and make known, that no Hottentot will be allowed to settle within the country hereby

When a chief errs, he is punished and forgiven. This young man (Sandilli) erred, and has been punished, and is now forgiven, but the country you have given him is too small. Toise, who formerly occupied it, had but a small tribe. Sandilli has a large one, which will not find room there."

The Governor. "These are things you should have thought of before you went to war. I know that Toise has but a small tribe, and that it never half filled the country allotted him."

Macomo." We look to you to speak for us, and to represent our case to the Queen. We are her subjects. When settled in the

country allotted us, Kreili, Umhala, and Toise will affect to be satisfied, but will regard us as intruders, and this will cause constant heartburnings between us."

The Governor." I will send your words to the Queen, but I will give you no hope of ever again occupying the Amatolas, as when you were there you were constantly plotting mischief, and cannot be trusted there again."

This ended the conference, and peace was now fully restored. The result to the Gaika tribe was, that it was compelled to retire 200 miles to the north of its former frontier, and the Kei and Orange Rivers became the undisputed boundaries of British Caffraria to the north and east. How long the lesson thus taught to the savage chieftains driven beyond the line of demarcation will be remembered, remains to be seen. We have little hope that a treaty will be respected by them if they can cherish the slightest hope of violating it with advantage to themselves, and it will be a prudent course not to allow them to be tempted by settlers taking up their abode with flocks and herds in the vicinity of the boundary line; for if this is done, we may be sure that predatory attacks will be renewed which will involve us in another unsatisfactory and inglorious contest with half-naked barbarians.

The Constitution granted to the Colony of Cape Town was officially promulgated on the 1st of July, and this event gave the utmost satisfaction to the inhabitants.