COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.
The accounts by the Overland Mail speak of
tranquillity as prevalent throughout India. That the day of
general prayer and fasting on account of the war had
been strictly observed by all classes and denominations
of the native population, is a circumstance highly
gratifying. In a notification to this effect, published in the
Bombay Government Gazette, Lord Elphinstone says:
"The circumstance of large and influential bodies of the
native community responding to the invitation of the
most noble the Governor-General in Council, and coming
forward voluntarily to observe a day of prayer for the
success of the British arms and the restoration of peace,
must be in the highest degree gratifying to all who are
friendly to the British government and favourable to
the cause which it has espoused. The Governor in
Council will not fail to bring this honourable fact to the
notice of the higher authorities both in India and in
England."

The telegraph is now in course of extension to
Rangoon, and the military stations in Burmah.
Calcutta is already in communication with Agra.
Lahore, Delhi, Cawnpore, Meerut, Benares, Bombay,
and Poonah.

The intelligence from the West Indies relates chiefly
to the cholera. In Barbadoes the disease is stated to be
considerably on the decrease. Less favourable accounts,
however, come from Grenada, where the epidemic is
now raging with a fatality almost as great as that which
has been devastating Barbadoes. Up to the 4th of
August the deaths amounted to 3000, or very nearly the
one-tenth part of the entire population, and this within
a period of forty-four days. Letters from St. Vincent,
dated August 10th, say:—"We are surrounded with
cholera: it is committing sad ravages in St. Lucia."
Accounts have been received of the destruction of a
large portion of the town of Belize, Honduras, by fire.
Property to the value of between £90,000 and £100,000,
has been totally destroyed.

There are dates from Quebec to the 9th inst. The
parliament of Canada had commenced its session a few
days before, and the result was the defeat of the Hincks
ministry. They were defeated by an adverse majority
of two on the speakership; and two or three divisions
went badly against them on an election case, in which
there was an irregular return. They therefore sent in
their resignations before the question of parties was tried
on the address. Sir Allan M'Nab has been sent for by
the governor to form a new ministry. The wheat
harvest in Upper Canada is large, but continued dry
weather has injured other crops. Sir Edmund Head
was daily expected to take the place of Lord Elgin, who
will return home.

There are news from Melbourne to the 3rd of July.
Sir Charles Hotham, the new governor of Victoria, had
arrived at Melbourne, and his arrival had given great
satisfaction to the colonists. On the 1st, Sir Charles
received a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce,
partly empowered to congratulate him, and partly to
impress upon him the necessity of improving the port
and harbour and the internal communications of the
colony. On the same day, Sir Charles held his first
levee, and the town observed a holiday on the occasion.

NARRATIVE OF FOREIGN EVENTS.

The latest intelligence respecting the War in the East
announces the landing of the greatest portion of the
allied English, French, and Turkish troops on the coast
of the Crimea. These troops, consisting of 24,000
English, 22,000 French, and 8000 Turks, sailed from
Varna on the 5th instant; and arrived at the place of
disembarcation, near the Old Fort, in lat. 45°, at break
of day on the 14th, and before night succeeded in landing
nearly all their infantry and part of their artillery.
On the 15th the swell on the shore considerably impeded
operations, but some progress was made, through the
exertions of the fleet, under the immediate command of
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons. The surf continued
on the 16th, but, nevertheless, the disembarcation of the
horses and baggage was proceeding with the utmost
rapidity. "Old Fort" is about 30 miles north of
Sebastopol, and nearly 20 miles south of Eupatoria. The
preparations for the voyage had been made with
consummate ability. In Baltschik Bay the British
transports and steamers, to the number of upwards of 100
large vessels, exclusive of the fleet, lay in five lines
corresponding to the five divisions of the army. Each
of the steamers took two transports in tow; the infantry
were principally embarked on the steam vessels; the
artillery filled 32 transports; and the rest conveyed the
stores of the army. In this order the flotilla proceeded
from Baltschik, coasting along the Bulgarian shore till
it reached the place of rendezvous at Fidonisi, the Isle
of Serpents. From this spot to Cape Tarkan, the
extreme western promontory of the Crimea, the distance
is about 150 miles due east, so that in twenty-four hours
from the time of sailing the fleet must have been within
sight of the enemy's coast, and after making Cape
Tarkan, it would run down the shore in smooth water
till it entered Kalamita Bay, the wind being in the
north, as it constantly is in the Black Sea during
summer. This judicious mode of directing the expedition,
reduced the passage from land to land to the
narrowest compass. The empty transports were sent
back for 14,000 French who had been left at Varna,
and for the British heavy cavalry; and the troops who
had landed proceeded on their march to Sebastopol. On
the eve of the embarkation at Varna, a series of instructions
to the troops were issued by Lord Raglan. They
were partly applicable to a contingency which did not
take place, a resistance to the landing, yet they are of
great and permanent interest, from their great ability and
the careful provision made for every emergency. The
following are extracts from them:—

"INSTRUCTIONS.—I. The invasion of the Crimea having
been determined upon, the troops will embark in such
ships as shall be provided for their conveyance, which
will rendezvous at Baldjik, and proceed with the
combined fleets to their destination.—2. In an operation of
so much difficulty it is essential that the arrangements
made should be attentively considered and thoroughly
understood by the officers who are responsible for their
execution, and should be strictly carried out without
any alteration or the exercise of discretion by any
subordinate officer. Otherwise confusion would ensue,
and the worst consequences might be apprehended.—3.
When the troops are directed to land they are to enter
the boats in the order in which they stand in the ranks.
—4. They are to sit or stand, according as they may be
desired, and when once placed are to remain perfectly
still, as well as silent.—5. They are to take their
knapsacks with them, but not on them, and on leaving the
boats they will either put them on, or place them on the
beach in the order in which they stand, according as
they may be directed.—6. The blanket will, in the first
instance, be left on board, folded and labelled with the