The Press. — London, England, 1858-01-02 00:00:00

INDIA. THE CALCUTTA MAIL. (From our own Correspondent.) POONAII, Dec. 1, 1857. THE rebellion, broken like an ulcer at Delhi, still spreads and lives, like the infla.nmation surrounding one, in the districts affected—principally, of course, in Oude. Our force, gloriously successful in the storm of the rebel stronghold, was too weak to reap the fruits of its valour, and the result is that Oude is deluged with the disatfoctel. It has been com puted that over 100,000 men are there in arms against us, and it is there the war will have to be waged against enemies that have been dislodged, rather than disheartened. After the fall of Delhi, events will lack interest, and the public mind suffer, I fear, a reaction ; but very much indeed is before us all to do, and perhaps to suffer. In this Presidency I think all goes fairly at present. Lord Elphinstone is warmly praised, by men of all opinions, for much personal courage and political promptness. It is, however, hinted that he leans too much to the dangerous virtue of clemency, and the recent commutation of sentence in the case of the mutinous sepoys gives colour to the report. During the Mohurrum, how ever, he drove without escort through the native bazaars, and his own guard is and has been a native one ; nor is it easy to overrate the effect of this confidence on the native mind. Impressionable themselves to a degree, they read no fear in the face of the Anglo-Indian, and infer his danger and anxiety ended. I question, in point of fact, whether the tragical course of the mutiny is canvassed with such excitement here as in England, or its ultimate issue so eagerly debated. This is partly because the distinction between the Presidencies is stronger and more definite than is imagined—partly, perhaps, from the diminished terrors of a peril that is present and face to face. The English succours are very tardy in their arrival at Bombay. All's well that ends well ; but immense responsibility attaches to the Minister who sent his rescues by so long a road. No o►►e has the right, at such a game at hazard, to stand to throw the "double nix," and it should form grave matter for question in Parliament. A company of Sappers, proceeded I think by two others, came with us, the overland passengers, without visible difficulty, across Egypt and the desert. They turn out on arrival to be precisely the troops that are least needed; but that is " selon regle." You will hear that the 10th Native Infantry is sent to Guzerat. This regiment furnished the havildar who was lately executed at Bombay, and is, I fear, infected. Major-General Wadding ton, an officer of unquestioned name, takes command of the Scinde division of the army, and, though in weakly health, embarked for Kurrachee at twelve hours' notice. The same promptitude is almost everywhere the rule. Sir Hugh Rose, for instance, commanding the " Nerbudda Field Force," goes up to take command, as a simple traveller, without a guard, and through a most disturbed country, to save the inestimable space of a few days. Altogether, the success of our arms has checked the barely rising flame of revolt o►► this side. A sign, however, of the times is to be found in the increase of local depredations, some authors of which, to the number of forty, have been lately captured by our energetic superintendent of police, Captain Arthur. It is at Lucknow that the game is playing now. We have ascertained the junction of the Com mander-in-Chief with the gallant Havelock and Outram. Successive messages have communicated the capture of Jellalabad, of the Dilkhoosha, and the Martiniere ; Outram and the relieving force thus cannonading the town from opposite points. With 5,0(X) men between the capital of Oude and Cawn pore, 2,000 of which are cavalry, with Captain Peel's heavy guns and bluejackets, and reinforcements vii Allahabad and Alumbagh arriving, as is said, 10() a day, a mistake or misfortune could hardly occur ; yet the rebels fight desperately, and swarm like locusts. All the women and children have been sent along the road to Cawnpore, and nothing pro mises to prevent a severe chastisement of the rebels in the nest of their treachery except that one but fatal cause, insufficiency of force. Here we hope fer the best; but we know that, though Calcutta is crowded with troops, Calcutta has very indifferent THE VIE S S, JANUARY 2, 1858. means at her disposal for their transport up the country. Nana Sahib (not Nina, gentlemen of England !) is out of money as well as luck ; he trusted his wealth, jewels, and loot, " on dit," with old Jaswnnt Singh, whose son and successor now denies the deposit. The consequence is a dissension, and great difficulty on Nana's part to keep the Mouldys, Feebles, Warts, and Bull-calfs of his followers in any decent order. Fresh confirmation of the devilish cruelty of the revolters come con stantly in ; among other horrors for the gobe mouches," is the description of a crushing machine, employed by the King of Delhi for the annihilation of the captured English, who were placed, it is said, upon a table of iron, while a pon derous frame of timber work, faced also with sheet iron, and loaded with granite-blocks, was let fall upon them. The flattened and bloodless mass is then related to have hung suspended from the palace walls in Delhi, till it wore the appearance of a dry and blackened cake. Far worse than this is true, so its veracity is a matter of huh moment — still the tale is currently believed. b Central India, believe me we have much to do —nay, it. is possible that the real battle for supre macy may be ultimately fought out there—a country admirably adapted for the native jungle fighting, and proportionately disadvantageous to the solid consistency of European troops. At present, Neemucb, which was invested, is relieved, and a signal punishment inflicted at Mundesore : of this achievement Brigadier Stewart and the Malwa Field Force are the heroes. lam glad to say that the 12th Native Infantry behaved admirably in this affair. Lieutenant Redmayne, of the 14th Light Dragoons, was unfortunately killed; 7 officers and 76 rank and file killed and wounded in it. The whole district is of course disturbed, and it will be strange if the 31st Bengal Native Infantry at Sangor (with the 66th at Nynee Tal, and the 73rd at Jalpigoree, the only re maining faithful regiments of the Bengal army) resists the malaria of revolt. Of the regiments men tioned in my parenthesis, one, the 66th, is a Gboorka force, Do that two Abdiels only remain of the seventy. four. Queueque tandem! The blue-jacket. could not wait for the regular fighting, but went out of their way, as you will hear, for a little " divarshion " of that nature, on their passage up. Sir Colin has "repressed their noble rage," not very profitably yielded to, I fear, on this occasion. The action took place at or near Futtelipore, the 53rd, 93rd, with Sappers and Miners and some of Captain Peel's tars, having attacked and routed the Banda rebels, numbering 3,00(). Three guns were captured; but among the first killed fell Colonel Powell, commanding the 53rd. From Madras there is little news, except what tells us of an attack made upon a town near Hyderabad (in the Nizam's dominions) by S(H) Rohillas— principally notable for the gallant defence of Govern ment treasure by two naicks, a havildur, and e;gh teen sepoys. _ _ The discursiveness of my letter fitly represents that stage of the suppression at which we ar6 arrived. The war is becoming a raid—the guerra is getting to be a guerilla. Let no ono think the work done, or half done. If England will yet hold her magnificent appanage, let her strenuously sup port her gallant sons in India, and jealously demand of her Ministers in England a patriotism above party, and a policy large, energetic, and immediate. INDIA-HOUSE DESPATCH. A telegraphic despatch received at the India•house gives an account of the operations at Lucknow. The despatch reads : The commander-in-chief crossed the river and entered Oude on the ilth inst. lie was reported from Cawnpore on the 12th to have reached Alumbagh, and to have opened communication with Sir James Outratn. Between the oth and 12th 1,300 troops of all arms crossed the river at Cawr.pore to join the commander-in-chief. On the 12th three companies of the 82nd marched for Alumbagh, anti on the following day three companies of the 13th, the military train, and Crawford's artillery were to move in the same direction. Further, it was intended send on Carthew's brigade of Madras sepoys, expected at Cawn pore, unless the Gwalior muttneers should crofts the Junius; the latter on the 12th instant numbered 3,000, or, by native accounts, 5,000 effective men, with eighty heavy and thirty field-guns. By the last telegram, dated 23rd, some portion of this force had crossed the Junin& and entered the Dual). Oa the 13th the commander-in-chief commenced operations by blowing up the Fort of Jhullawan, near Alumbagh ; on the 15th instant, be occupied Dilkhoosha Park and Mar tiniere, after a running tight of two hours ; in the evening the enemy again came forward, but were heavily repulsed, and the operation ended in our taking the post across the canal. Our losses small. Lieut. Mayne, Horse Artillery, and Lieut. Wheatcroft, Carbineers, killed. On the 160 t the commander-in-chief advanced across the canal in force ; on the 17th he attacked 'high, which was occupied after a severe struggle. The enemy suffered enormously, 1,500 dead bodies of sepoys having been en countered in one place only. The Nhah Iluozill was then cannonaded for three hours, and was carried at dusk, after one of the severest tights ever witnessed. On the 10th the Mess•house was carried by assault, after a heavy cannonade, and the troops then pushed on rapidly and seized the Motee Mahn before dark. Outram and Havelock camp out then and joined the commander-in-chief. The commander-in-chief was very slightly wounded, and of his staff Major Alison, severely; Captains Alison and the Hon. A. Anston, slightly. The following officers were killed :—Midshipman Damien, Naval Brigade ; Captain Headley, Royal Artillery; Captain 1)alzell, 93rd; Captain Lumaden, 30th N.T., doing duty with 93rd; and Lieut. Frankland, 2nd Puniaub Infantry. Twenty-seven other officers were wounded. The list goes by this mail. The commander•ln-chief reports that the garrison had been removed, and that he is engaged in conveying women and wounded to the rear. The city of Lucknow will be held in check by a strong moveable column, with field and heavy artillery, occupying a good military position outside the town. The Fort of Aim.- walles evacuated by the enemy, and razed to the ground by Colonel Southden, who intended returning instantly to the Jaunpore frontier, as it was still threatened by a large force from Oude. . Lieut. Osborne, political agent in Rewab, has been authorised to detach a force to suppress the insurrection in Bijerargoogurh, and to take the administration into his own hands. He reports that certain chiefs of Majher have broken out in rebellion at Rewah itself. The agent seems to be all right now. A body of mutineers reported on the 10th to have advanced from Ghorawal or Mirzapore dis trict, and so have crossed the lieglun into Rewah territory. The fort of Dhur occupied by our troops on the 13th, but the rebel garrison escaped. It is apprehended that the mutiny of the Kotah troops, and the disaffection among the feudatories of Meyor and Marnear may cause serious disorder in Rajpootana. The force there is very weak, and European troops are urgently called for. From other native States there is no new in telligence of an unfavourable nature. The following vessels have arrived since the despatch of the last mails: —Nov. 8, Barhani ; Nov. 13, Victoria and John Bell; Nov. 16, Octavia, Agamemnon, and Urwick Castle; Nov. 17, Greasy, and Champion I the Seas ; Nov. 19, James Baines ; Nov. 20, Hammond; Nov. 22, Chartage, and Sir Robert Sale; Nov. 23, Allenborough ; March 24, Calabar; Nov. 24, Monarch, Calabar, and Atliquir. G. F. EDHONSTONE, Secretary to the Government of India. The following is the intelligence from Oude sup plied by the Government of ludia t) the press at Calcutta : From Allahabad, Nov. 20, Friday, 12.10 p.m. FROM BRIGADIER CAMPBELL TO THE PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. Head-quarters, Secunderbagh, Lucknow, November 18, 1857.. _ _ On the 10th the commander•iu-ehief advanced across the canal straight on Secunderbagh, which was carried after a severe struggle ; the enemy suf faring enormously. These positions having been occupied, the Samuch was attacked with heavy artillery for three hours. It was carried at dusk, atter one of the severest fights ever witnessed. Early on the 17th, communications were opened to the left rear of the barracks, towards the canal. A cannonade having been kept up all the morning on the Mess-house, that very strong position was carried by assault at three p.m. The troops pushed rapidly on after carrying the Mess-house, and were able to seize the Motee Mahal before dark. Sir James Outram and Sir Henry Havelock then came out to meet the commander in•chief. The commander-in chiers wound is very slight, and does nut interfere with his duty. From Cawnpore, Nov. 14,8p.m. FROM GENERAL WINDIIAM TO TILE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. News from the commander•in-chiefs camp at Alum bawl, 0 a.m. of the 13th ; after several skirmishes in the day, ending in the capture of two guns, the tort of Jellala bad was taken and blown up. The commander-in-chief luta communicated with Sir James Outram. From Cawnpore, 16th Nor., 11 a.m. FROM CAPTAIN BRUCE, BY ORDER OF HIS EXCELLENCY TILE COMMANDER•IN-CHIEF, TO THE OOVERSOR-GENERAL. The commanderin-chief occupied the Dilkhoosha and the Martiniere after a running fight of two hours yester day at noon. ho enemy carne forward to attack at three p.m. After a struggle of an hour he was beaten back; re pulsed heavily. An advanced picket having cleared some villages across the canal, we took post there for the night. Our loss was very trilling—Lieutenant Mayne, Horse Artillery, Quartermaster-Generrl's Department, and Lieu tenant Wheatcroft, Carbineers, killed. From Alumbagh, November 17, 9 a.m. FROM MAJOR SIBLEY TO THE SECRETARY TO OOVERNMES The commander-in-chief in Lucknow ; heavy cannonade in the direction of the palaces. I)ilkhoosha and Nlartiniere occupied by our troops. FROM MATHERAN,FROII LORD ELPHINSTONE, TUESDAY DEC. 1, 1837, 9.35 A.M. The following message was received this morning from Lord Harris at Madras, dated Nov. 30:— Alma arrived yesterday from Calcutta. Severe fighting from 13th to 19th November. Sir Coliu Campbell had