Deccan Prize-Money. MR. EDITOR,—In your valuable Journal for March you did me the favour to insert a few lines respecting the non-payment of the Deccan prizemoney. To whatever cause the delay is owing, it is justly due to the public that it should be explained. The most anxious expectation has been entertained for the last six months that the distribution would have been made, in pursuance of the order of the 20th of October last, and in accordance with the answer given by Mr Arbuthnot in the House of Commons. I cannot doubt that if a proper representation was made on the subject, by those more immediately interested, to the Lords of the Treasury, it would be the means of producing an early performance of the order that has been issued, or the assignment of an adequate reason for the postponement. By throwing out this hint, you will confer a great obligation on every one concerned. Yours, &c. AN OFFICER. London, 15th May 1831. A Point of Etiquette. DEAR MR. EDITOR,-I appeal to your sensibility and justice, to put the newspaper people right, in their reports of court-days; for this is the order in which these stupid men marshal the gentlemen officers. 1 Admirals. 2 Generals. 3 Colonels. 4 Majors. 5 Commanders. 7 Lieutenants. Now, dear Sir, as they put all the Post-Captains on No. 6, pray how is Mrs. Grundy to know the respective ranks of their ladies and the wives of ensigns of the militia, or volunteers? who you know, dear Sir, are all called CAPTAINS. A POST-CAPTAIN'S WIFE. Trafalgar-Place, Devonport. We have also observed that, of late, Naval and Military Officers have been hustled from their former station in the aforesaid lists, and placed below the mob of "Messieurs." Is this a sign of the Times?-ED. Remarks on the Proposition for a United Service Medical Society. MR. EDITOR,-I was much gratified on perusing in your last Number, the proposals for the establishment of a United Service Medical Society, conceiving that were such an institution formed, great benefits would take place from the constant interchange of opinion that would necessarily arise in the discussions of the cause and treatment of various diseases, particularly those of foreign climates, respecting which, I am sorry to say, very few young medical officers on their leaving England have any acquaintance, and this defect of professional knowledge is only felt at the time it is required. Now, a great improvement in this respect would take place from their being able to obtain the advantages arising from the experience of their seniors, who have spent, in all probability, a long series of years in practically acquiring this information. But I would take the liberty of suggesting to the promoters of this measure, the propriety of admitting as members, the medical officers of merchant-vessels, for example, those of the East and West India Companies, South Sea Vessels, Hudson's Bay Company, the Greenland and Davis's Straits Vessels engaged in the Whale Fishery. Most of these gentlemen being employed for many months in the year, and several for three or four years in a single voyage, must be men of practical information, which, if but concentrated under the same roof, would speedily lead to the improvement of the healing art. By your inserting this in the next number of your valuable Journal, you will oblige, Your obedient servant, H. W. DUDHURST, Surgeon, Lecturer on Human and Comparative Anatomy. May 5th, 1831. Addresses and Orders on the occasion of the 16th Regiment MR. EDITOR,-As all records of the good conduct and discipline of our regiments on foreign stations should possess an interest with the service generally, and be recorded to the credit of the particular corps, perhaps you will have the kindness to insert the following addresses to Colonel Ximenes, on the 16th Regiment's leaving the island of Ceylon, with his replies, and the accompanying General Order issued on the occasion, in an early number of your professional Journal; by doing which, you will much oblige A FRIEND TO THE CORPS. "To Colonel Ximenes, Commanding H. M.'s 16th Regiment, and Commandant of Point de Galle. "SIR,-We, the undersigned Burgher inhabitants of Galle, respectfully beg leave to present this our humble address to you, on your approaching departure for Calcutta, expressing our heartfelt thanks for the kind protection we have gladly experienced since your arrival in this place as Commandant of the garrison, for a period upwards of two years, during which time we have, to our great satisfaction and comfort, lived in profound peace and harmony, without meeting with the most distant interruption from any one individual of the corps you have the honour to command; owing to the strict observance of discipline you have happily established in the regiment, which we heartily hope they will always continue to evince proofs of their exemplary conduct to your approbation. "We cannot conclude this our imperfect address without most sincerely assuring you that we unfeignedly regret your departure and that of the regiment, as we are perfectly aware that they cannot be easily equalled; and we beg that our warmest thanks be given to the officers and men of the regiment. Wishing you and Mrs. Ximenes and family health and prosperity for a series of years, and that your present voyage be attended with every happiness and a speedy passage to your destined port, is the earnest prayer of, "Sir, your most humble and very obliged servants." (Here follow forty signatures.) "To the Burgher Inhabitants of Point de Galle. "The address which you have been good enough to present to me, on the occasion of the approaching departure of the 16th regiment for Bengal, affords me the highest gratification. "I derive peculiar satisfaction from the encomium which you have bestowed on the regularity and good behaviour of the corps which I have the honour to command; a tribute of applause, the value of which is much enhanced in my estimation, by the great respectability of conduct and character which distinguishes the individuals from whom it proceeds. "The officers of the regiment unite with me and Mrs. Ximenes in returning our best thanks for your obliging address, and we bid you farewell, with the most sincere good wishes for your happiness and prosperity. (Signed) "D. XIMENES, Colonel and Commandant. "Point de Galle, Nov. 17th, 1828." "The Address of the undersigned Dutch Inhabitants of Galle. "To Colonel Ximenes, H. M.'s 16th Regiment, Commanding Galle. "SIR,-Allow us the liberty we take in expressing to you our deep regret at your approaching departure. The exemplary manner in which you have exercised the duties of your high station as commandant of this town, calls forth the universal acknowledgment of the community, and we, as a part of it, beg to assure you of the general satisfaction it has yielded; and we beg to add, that while we contemplate you in your private character, the whole tenour of it was such as to have left in our hearts indelible impressions of your worthiness, and has raised in our minds an esteem for your person, which it will be long ere it be effaced. "We avail ourselves of this opportunity to wish you and family health and every happiness, and that you may speedily and safely reach your destined place, is the sincere prayer of those who have the honour of calling themselves, "Sir, your most obedient and very humble servants, (Here follow thirty-six signatures.) "Galle, 14th Nov. 1828." REPLY. "The tribute of respect and esteem which I have just had the gratification of receiving from so large and respectable a portion of the Dutch community of Galle, has afforded me such pleasure as I find it difficult to express. "I feel truly happy, that my humble endeavours, in my situation as Commandant of this garrison, to ensure the peace and comfort of its inhabitants, have met with success; and I trust they will believe, that in whatever part of the world I may chance to be thrown in future, it will be a source of extreme satisfaction to me, to hear of the happiness and prosperity of themselves and families. (Signed) "D. XIMENES, Colonel and Commandant. "Point de Galle, Nov. 15th, 1828." 66 GENERAL ORDERS. "Head-Quarters, Colombo, 22nd Nov. 1828. "No. 1. The Lieutenant-General cannot allow the 16th Regiment to leave the island, without an expression of his high approbation of their conduct and discipline during the period of nearly nine years that they have been stationed in it under its zealous and able Commanding-officer, Colonel Ximenes, aided and supported by so excellent a corps of officers, and with so much esprit de corps pervading all ranks. The Lieutenant-General feels confident that the 16th will continue to maintain the high reputation which it is so justly entitled to. T. B. GASCOYNE, D. C. C. G. Quere respecting the First Naval Engagement in the French War of 1744. MR. EDITOR.—I have heard it stated, that the first sea engagement in the French war of 1744, was fought by Capt. John Emerton, in command of one of the Honourable South Sea Company's ships, and that, after an action of some hours' duration, the enemy was beat off with great loss; if you, or any of your naval correspondents, can give any information on the subject with respect to ships' names, number of guns, men, loss, or other particulars, it would afford much satisfaction to a member of the family, and confer a particular obligation on, Mr. Editor, March 16th, 1831. Your humble servant, Murder of Captain Logan 57th Regiment, by the Natives of New South Wales. MR. EDITOR,-The accompanying documents, relating to the melancholy death of Captain Logan, of the 57th Regiment, recently murdered by the Natives of New South Wales, having just reached this country, I beg to put them into your hands for insertion in the United Service Journal. Your obedient servant, 27th May, 1831. T. W. Moreton Bay, 8th November, 1830. SIR,-I have the honour to communicate to you the painful and distressing intelligence of the death of Captain Logan, who was surprised and killed by the Blacks, while on a journey of discovery, about three weeks since. As the only remaining 57th Officer now at Moreton Bay, I thought it my duty to communicate to you at length the following melancholy particulars of the last days of a much-lamented friend and officer of the regiment. Captain Logan's object on the late journey was, to lay down correctly on his chart the windings of the river betwen the Pine Ridge, Lockyer's Creek, and the Brisbane Mountain, and to ascertain more correctly the course and termination of a creek striking out of the main river at the foot of the Bris bane Mountain, in a North Easterly direction, and afterwards, (if he met with no obstacles,) to proceed to the Pumice Stone River, and the Glasshouses, and from thence back to the Settlement. On Saturday 9th of October, he left this place, and reached the Lime-stone station the same night, distant overland twenty-five miles. The next day (Sunday the 10th) they all set out upon their journey. The party consisted of Captain Logan, Private Collison, 57th regiment, his servant, five prisoners, (all good Bushmen) with two pack-bullocks. They travelled fourteen miles this day, in a North Westerly direction, and encamped on the Lime-stone side of the river. Two or three Blacks were seen near the camp place at night. On Monday, the 11th, at seven in the morning, the party left their encampment, which was near the river, but they had to proceed four miles further up before they could ford it. On approaching the river bank at the fording place, the Blacks assembled in great numbers, upwards of 200, and covered the hill close to where they had to pass, which was on the Lime-stone side of the river, and at this place they began to show a hostile feeling, by throwing and rolling down large stones on the party on passing, but no spears were thrown. At this time Captain Logan was in advance, and finding he could not proceed, on account of the Natives, he was obliged to fall back, and wait the coming up of the party. Collison, his servant, seeing what was going forward, fired a shot over their heads to frighten them: this for a time had the effect, and they kept more aloof, but while the party were in the act of fording the river, the Blacks closed on them again; he fired another shot while in the river, which again had the effect of keeping them off. The Natives appeared to know Captain Logan, for as soon as he had crossed, they repeatedly called out "Commidy Water," intimating thereby, it is supposed, he should go back over the water. They followed at a distance all this day, hiding themselves occasionally behind trees, and in the long grass. The party then proceeded on to the place where his own horse was lost, on the former journey, and encamped about ten miles to the Northward of Lockyer's Creek, about half-way between that and Mount Irwin; here the tent was pitched for three days and two nights. On the Tuesday and Wednesday, the 12th and 13th, no Blacks seen, and nothing of any consequence occurred during this time; the men were distributed in twos in search of the lost horse, and Captain Logan was alone exploring in a North-easterly direction from the Brisbane Mountain. On the morning of Thursday the 14th the tent was struck, and all went on towards the Junction, and encamped about half a mile from it. No Blacks seen, and nothing particular occurred this day. The next day, (Friday,) was employed in traversing a newly-discovered Creek. On Saturday, the 16th, Captain Logan left the party early in the morning on horseback, to explore the new Creek; he was alone on this duty all the day, and in traversing the first, he discovered a second Creek; this perplexed and retarded him for a time, and it was late when he returned from the examination of both. On Sunday, the 17th, Captain Logan said he had accomplished all that he could accomplish at this time, and by his directions, about seven o'clock this morning, they all commenced their return-journey back to the Lime-stone station. At eight he left the party, and went away alone, after having previously told Collison to make the nearest way for the junction of the river, and that he should find the party somewhere about that spot. He fell in with them betwixt twelve and one o'clock, much sooner than was expected, and remained with them about two hours, travelling in company. No Blacks had then been seen; and on crossing the river a track was perceived, which resembled that of a bullock or horse: he then told Collison to go on and pitch the tent on the side of a creek, at a spot where they had encamped twelve months before. Captain Logan then, for the last time, parted with them to trace the horse or bullock track, which led him away in the direction of Mount Irwin; at which place he had been desirous of getting some basaltic formations. Collison and the party reached the tent-spot, and encamped about four o'clock this afternoon (Sunday,) on the ground previously pointed out by Captain Logan: soon afterwards, the men thought they heard him " cooey;" they answered him, and then waited about half-an-hour, when they thought they heard him "cooey" again: he was again answered, and four or five shots were fired at intervals during the evening, and the men fancied they heard him "cooey" in reply two or three times between the shots, but he did not return. The next morning early, (Monday, the 18th,) two men were sent down the creek to search, because it was known he must cross the creek on returning home; the men saw the track of his horse in the direction of the Lime-stone. It was then taken for granted he had gone a-head, towards the above place, after missing the party. The tent was then struck, and all pursued their journey back. On this day, Monday, about twelve o'clock, fifty or sixty Blacks made their appearance with spears, shields, and waddies. They hovered about the party shouting, getting behind trees, and endeavouring to close upon the party undiscovered. No shots were fired: they continued their course, and, in an hour or two after the Blacks went off towards Mount Irwin, which was the direction Captain Logan had taken the preceding evening. Nothing more occurred this day; and the party reached safely the same fording-place they had crossed on the Monday before. The encampment this night was chosen on the Pineridge side of the river, thinking some signs of Captain Logan's track might be found on that side; but nothing was seen. The men then marked the trees, and made marks in the sand at the crossing place, to attract his notice (if he had not already passed,) that he might find and know the party had gone a-head. The men walked one by one after the bullocks, to make their track more distinct: this encampment was left on Tuesday morning, and nothing occurred between this place and the Lime-stone Station, which the party reached on Wednesday afternoon. Not finding Captain Logan at the above station as was expected, Collison, four prisoners, and private Hardacre, 57th regiment, started the next morning on a second journey to search for him. The party had light baggage, and travelled between thirty and forty miles this day (Thursday 21st), and about five o'clock in the evening, they arrived at the camp, where Captain Logan's horse was lost on the former journey. The first thing seen on reaching the ground, was the saddle laying beside a tree, with the stirrup-leathers cut asunder, evidently by a stone tomahawk, and the stirrup-irons gone. The saddle was about thirty yards from the remains of a fire; and it appeared to have been taken there by the Blacks, for the purpose of cutting it on a fallen tree. A space had been eaten round where the horse had been tethered-and there were marks where Captain Logan had taken the horse to water. It also appeared that he had roasted some chesnuts at this fire: the remains of the roasted chesnuts lay about the stump of a tree that had been burning; and it was at this place the Blacks must have surprised him, for his foot-marks were very distinct, with long strides, where he had rushed from the fire to his horse. A further search was then made, to see if any signs of struggling or violence could be found; but nothing of the sort appearing, it was then evident he must have jumped on his horse bare-backed, and made his escape: the party then returned to the Lime-stone Station, without having seen a Black on the whole journey. Being disappointed a second time in not finding him there, another party went out, consisting of five soldiers of the 57th and twelve prisoners, to traverse the country all about the junction. The second day, (Tuesday,) after leaving the Limestone Station, they fell in with another traversing party under the direction of Doctor Cooper. Both parties united and travelled together. On Wednesday they reached the place where the saddle was found: Collison, two prisoners, and one soldier, then separated from the rest, and on searching about this part they found a place where the Blacks had resorted to, but there had been no camp: it was on this plain that the back part of Capt. Logan's waistcoat was found covered with blood: part of his compass was also found, as well as some leaves of his note-book. Nothing ^ else being discovered at this spot, they returned back to the remainder of |