DARDANELLES

PASSAGE OF THE.—This was achieved by the British fleet under Sir John Duck worth, February 19th, 1807; but the admiral was obliged to repa them—which he did with great lo and immense damage to the fleet, March 2nd following. The castles of Sestos and Abydos hurled down rocks, each of many tons weight, upon the decks of the British ships. DART MOUTH.—Burnt by the French, in the reign of Richard I and Henry IV. Prince Maurice took it in 1643, but it was retaken by General Fairfax, by storm, A.D. 1646. DELHI.—Once the great capital of the Mogul empire. In 1738, when Nadir Shah invaded Hindostan, he entered Delhi, and 100,000 of the inhabitants were put to the sword. In 1803, the Mahrattas aided by the French, got po e ion of the place; but they were afterwards defeated by General Lake. This city has been the scene of much commotion in the course of its history. The following is a short account of the storming of Delhi, in the last great mutiny: “Until the latter end of August, the British troops before Delhi are rather to be considered as an army of observation, than as a besieging force. Their inferiority in numbers and artillery was barely counter-balanced by their superior discipline, courage and physical strength. These advantages enabled them, indeed, to maintain their ground, but not to a ume the offensive. Toward the close of August, however, a re-in for cement of European and Sikh troops, under Brigadier Nicholson, arrived from the Punjab, and, on the 25th of that month, the rebels were defeated at Nujuffghur, with great slaughter, and the lo of thirteen guns. A few days later a heavy siege-train was received from Ferozepore, and breaching batteries were constructed on the north side of the city. The siege may be said to have commenced on the 7th September, and by the evening of the 13th, the engineers reported two practicable breaches—one near the Cashmere, the other near the Water bastion. Arrangements were, therefore, at once made for an a ault, to take place at daybreak on the following morning. The first column, commanded by Brigadier Nicholson, advanced under a tremendous fire, and, applying their scaling-ladders, carried the Cashmere bastion, and established themselves in the main-guard. Almost simultaneously, the second column, under Brigadier Jones, stormed the Water bastion, and effected a junction with their comrades inside the walls. A third column, under Colonel Campbell, awaited the blowing open of the Cashmere gate to join the a ault. They had not long to wait. Lieutenants Salkeld and Home, of the engineers, accompanied by three sergeants carrying the powder-bags, walked up to the gateway in broad daylight, and, while exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, coolly fastened the bags to the iron spikes of the gate. In the performance of this heroic exploit, Lieutenant Salkeld was severely wounded, and two of the sergeants killed upon the spot; but the train was lighted, and the gate blown open with a tremendous crash. As the smoke cleared away, the storming party sprang through the ruins with a British cheer; and the three columns uniting, made themselves master of the whole line of works, from the Water bastion to the Cabul gate; and before nightfall were in po e ion of Skinner’s house, the Church, the College, and the adjacent grounds. This brilliant succe , however, was not achieved without great lo of life. Of the European soldiery, eight officers and 162 rank and file were killed, with 52 officers and 510 rank and file wounded; of the Sepoys, 413 were placed hors de combat , of whom 103 were slain outright. The total number of casualties thus amounted to 1145, or one-third of the entire a aulting force. Among the mortally wounded was Brigadier Nicholson, whose death was justly deplored as a national calamity. Simultaneously with these main attacks, a diversion was made by a fourth column, consisting of Sikhs, Ghoorkas, and Cash meri ans, on the suburbs of Kishengunge and Pahareepore. But, in spite of their most strenuous efforts, these troops failed to overcome the desperate resistance offered by the enemy, and, in the end, were compelled to retreat, though not ingloriously. The day following the a ault was consumed in shelling the palace, and in battering the magazine. A breach was effected, and, at daylight on the 16th, a storming party dashed forward with such impetuosity that the rebel artillerymen dropped their lighted port-fires and fled, leaving undischarged six guns of large calibre commanding the breach and loaded with grape. On the 17th, the British troops became masters of the Bank, formerly the palace of the Begum Sumroo, and shortly afterwards, of the Jumma Musjid, or principal mosque. Heavy guns were now brought to play upon the palace and the bridge of boats, and, by the evening of the 20th, the rebels entirely evacuated the city and its suburbs. Then was seen the extent of the damage sustained by the former capital of the Mogul dynasty. Whole streets had been laid in ruins; dead bodies tainted the air in all directions; the inhabitants, reduced to beggary, were crouching, terror-stricken, in obscure lurking-places. But the British soldier is merciful in victory, as he is irresistible in battle. To armed rebels, no mercy was shown; but women and children, and the defencele citizens, were spared and protected. The venerable descendant of Timour—venerable only by reason of his gray hairs and extreme old age—had fled, with his principal Begum, two sons, and a grandson, to the tomb of his ancestor, Hoomavoon, son of the mighty Baber. He was discovered and seized by captain Hodson, of the 2nd European Fusiliers. His own life, and that of his queen, were respected—but the princes were led out and shot, and their dead bodies publicly exposed at the kotwalee, or mayor’s court. General Wilson, whose health failed him in the hour of victory, now resigned the command to Brigadier Penny, C.B., a veteran of approved gallantry. Colonel Burn, whose father so gallantly defended Delhi against Jeswunt Rao Holkar, in 1803, was appointed military commandant within the city, and measures were succe fully taken to re-establish order, and to afford protection to well-disposed and peaceful citizens. Two movable columns, consisting each of 1600 infantry, 500 cavalry, three troops of horse artillery, and eighteen guns, were told off, and ordered to follow up the retreating enemy without delay. One of these, commanded by Colonel Greathed, of the 84th, came up with a rebel force strongly posted near Bolundshuhur, and, after a spirited engagement, utterly discomfited them with the lo of two guns, a vast quantity of ammunition, and 100 men.” DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO.—Founded by the Dutch but taken by the British, under Major General White, April 22nd, 1796. Restored in 1802. Again surrendered to the British, under General Grin field and Commodore Hood, September 20th, 1803. They are now British colonies.