On the 26th, news arrived from my dear children in Graham's Town, viz. A----, my eldest son, and G----, who, with her husband (Mr. D. Mahoney), were in the utmost anguish, his father and brother-in-law having been murdered under the following melancholy circumstances:--Mr. Mahoney, sen., had a fine farm near Graham's Town. His son-in-law, Mr. Henderson (a truly respectable young Scotchman, married to Mr. M.'s only daughter), had gone out with his wife and sweet family to spend the Christmas at the farm, and were to have been joined by my dear children and Mr. D. Mahoney. On the Monday preceding Christmas-day, Major O'Reilly advised Mr. M. sen., rather to bring his family into Graham's Town, as some cattle had been stolen, and the Caffres appeared in a disturbed state. He determined to follow this advice, and on Wednesday morning started for Graham's Town with his wife, their two grandchildren, Mr. Henderson, and a slave servant, Mr. M. sen. following the waggon himself on horseback. They had not gone more than a mile, when they were attacked by about twenty Caffres, who began stabbing poor Henderson: he had fifty assagais in his body! and the poor father shared the same fate. The old lady escaped with one child, and the slave woman with the other; and after wandering about, separately, thirty-one hours on foot, without food or water, having lost their way, they at length met at Graham's Town. This was only the beginning of sorrows; for every day's tidings are more dreadful. Graham's Town is totally surrounded, and every farm either destroyed or deserted. The most barbarous murders are continually committed. January 2nd. Our tidings are truly appalling. My poor children cannot come out to us. E---- is now near her confinement. Her dear little babe, with my son ----, are obliged to sleep in the church, or in flat-roofed houses near it, as they all concentrate, in order to be the better protected. All the men are under arms. This village has been stripped also. The few who remain are formed into patrols.