The Press. — London, England, 1858-07-17 00:00:00

692 Ghaut, into the Etawah district. On the 9,5 th of May they proceeded through the Mynpooree district, towards Ally gunge, in the Fnttehghur district, plundering several towns en route. They were, however, repulsed from the Tahseel of Kainigunge, and then proceeded, via Kumpil, to the Ganges, which they crossed on the 29th of May. The whole of the Meerut Division remains perfectly tranquil. ROHILCUND DIVISION. Bijnour and Moorailabad quite tranquil, the former partially disarmed, the latter district still in charge of the Nawab of Rampore. The troops of this chief have defeated the rebels at Islamighur, and taken three out of their five gnns. Flaredly is also quiet, with the exception of the Pergunnah of l)owkashshee, which is still somewhat disturbed. All is quiet in the Kumaon division. IL BENGAL. PATNA DIVISION. Sir E. Lngard attacked the Jug lespore rebels on the 4th of June successfully, driving them nut of the jungle, killing 100 men and capturing two elephants. These rebels have since gone towards Ghszeeporc. CENTRAL INDIA. Gwalior.—The Maharajah of Gwalior is now a fugitive at Agra. The main body of the Calpee fugitives, with Tantia Tepee, the Ranee of Jhansi, and the Nawab of Banda, fled first to Indoorkee, where they were joined by Kooer IJowlut Siogh and Bahim Ali, with about 1,503 men and a few Bola guns ; the) then decided to march on Gwalior, which they did rapidly, so as to allow Scindia but little time for preparation. They reached Gwalior on the Ist of June ; their numbers are believed to have been about 5,t)00 infantry and $OO cavalry, with a few small guns. Scindia went out to the cantonments to oppose them with 1,000 cavalry, 2,000 infantry, and thirty guns. No sooner, however, had the action commenced than one of Scindia's cavalry regiments went over en masse to the enemy ; a large proportion of the rest of his army followed the example, and the remainder fled precipitately, with the exception of the Maharajah's body-guard, who fought most gallantly, and brought oft Scindia safely from the field, losing, however, 200 of their own number. The Maharajah, with his I)ewan, Dinker Row, and some thirty of his sirdars, fled, via Dholpore, to Agra, which he reached on the 2nd of June. The family of the Maharajah escaped to Nurwur, hut his palace is plundered, and the fort is said to be in the hands of the rebels. The bulk of the Calpee force has marched on Gwalior. Sir Hugh Rose will direct operations. Brigadier Smith's brigade will co-operate from Seepree, and a demonstration is to he made from Agra in the direction of Dholpore. The rebels are said to have proclaimed the Nana as Peishwa, and 'rantia Topee as chief underhini. The prisoners at Gwalior had been released. THE PUNJAUB. Thirteen commissioned and non-commissioned native officers of the 4th Native Infantry were blown away from guns at Jullundur on the Ist of 'lime by sentence of a military court. On the 2nd of June some mutineers Grossed the Esvee and, being joined by the Poorbeeah labourers on the canal, plundered the bazaar at Madho pore, burnt a European clerk, killed his wife and child, and wounded two other children. They were beaten off, and while recrossing the river a few were killed and a number drowned; 250 of these men have since been united by the Maharajah of Cashmere. G. F. EHMONSTONE, Secretary to the Government of India, with the Governor General. SUPPLEMENT TO MR. F.DMONSTONE'S TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE, DATED TIIE 10TII Or JUNE. BENGAL. The rebels from Jugdespore, under Umer Singh, have fled southwards, end are pursued by Brigadier Douglas. Tel Singh, the Rajah of Majanpore, surrendered himself on the 11th of June, and is now in custody. CENTRAL INDIA. GWALIOR. The force under Brigadier Showers, from Agra, ac co:npanied by his Highness Scindia, had arrived at Dholepore on the 12th of June, and would join the column from Calpee on the following day at Sassowlee. The brigadier from Jhansi would also concentrate at that point by the 17th of June, and a combined movement would then be made against Gwalior. Her Highness Balezahaee, with the family of Scindia, arrived in safety at Oojein from Gwalior. About 500 of her troops have since mutinied at Oojein and seized the magazine and ten guns. MUNDESORE. Apprehensions are entertained for the safety of Mnnde sore. Baba Aptia Scindia now has with him 2,000 armed man at that place ; his br,)ther has already joined the rebel standard at Gwalia. H. L. ANDERSON, Secretary to Government. Bombay Castle, June 19. TO J. D. DICKENSON, ESQ. INDTA•HOUSE, LONDON, FRO H. L. ANDERSON, ESQ BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. With the view of securing the north-eastern frontier of this Presidency from the inroad of rebels on their expul sion from Gwalior, the important positions of Mhow, Poonah, and Nusseerabad have been strengthened. A wing of her MO nty's 9 - 2nd Highlanders has been de spatched from Bombay by rail and bullock train to Mhow, and two more companies of Highlanders and some Artillery will follow. A company of European Infantry is posted at Indore, and reinforcements will be thrown forward from Mhow fur the protection of that capital. SOUTHERN MAHRATTA COUNTRY. The decisive bkm struck at Nurgoond Kopal has'over awed the disaffected in the Southern Mahratta country, and no further disturbances are anticipated in that quarter. The Chief of Nurgoond was, on conviction of rebellion, and thi murder of Mr. Mansion, executed at Belganm on the 12th of June. THE PRESS, JULY 17, 1858. NIZAM'S DOMINIONS. The 11441 d detachment from Poonah and Ahmeevinugger, under Major Cole (?), occupied Jaulnah on the 13th of June. No fresh excesses have been committed by the Arabs and Rohillas in the Aurnngabad district. H. L. ANDERSON, Secretary to Government. Bombay Castle, June 19. Malta, June 14, 8.15 a.m. A. MONTANA2O. The following telegram from Mr. Acting-Consul- General Green was received at the Foreign office on July 15, at 12.15 a.m. : ALEItNDRIA, Jaly 10. The steamer Ottawa brings Bombay dates to the 19th ult. On the Ist of June an engagement took place between the Calpee rebels and the troops of the Maharajah Soindia near Gwalior. The right and left divisions of Scindia's force gave way and joined the enemy. The centre, com• posed of the Maharajah's body-guard, fought well, but were beaten with a considerable loss of men. Scindia fled to Agra. Sir H. Hose reports, on the 4th of June from Calpee, that our Itroase (forces ?) are marching as fast as they can to Gwalior. In Rohilcund and the Doab all is quiet. Sir Colin Campbell was about to join the Governor- General at Allahabad ; in Behar the insurrection has been crashed, and Sir E. Lugard's force available for duty enhere (anywhere ?). The people at Lucknow begin to come in. Disarming proceeds quietly on both sides of India. The disarmed aepoy regiments in Bengal have been discharged in small parties. The Chief of Nurgoond has been hanged at Belgaum for the murder of Mr. Manson. This telegram arrived at Malta by the Euxine at 8 a.m. on the 14th of July. A. FANS HAWM, Vice• Admiral. The Times correspondent from the camp writes as follows : being now on the main road, and within the system of telegraphic communications, seems inclined to rest for some time at Futtelighur, not indeed inactively, for he is constantly occupied, but to arrange his plans for the ensuing months. The malcontents in Oude under their active leader, under Beni M adbo, Nirput Singh, and the Begun], must for the present be left till the cold weather comes. But it is to be hoped the rains will dissolve their gatherings ; the voice of the harvest will certainly exercise its influence, and when seed time comes many of these irregular levies will steal away to their villages to engage in agricultural pursuits, and many more would do so if they thought their lives were safe. These bodies are held together by fear of their own countrymen as well as bj the dread of the cord and the sabre, because at last the tide seems to be turning, or rather the dull stagnant waters of popular feeling—which lay inert and motionless while the contest went hard with us—seem as if they are beginning to flow with a lazy roll in our direction. The villagers in the l)oab recently had cut up small parties of the rebels, impelled thereto by hope of reward from us, the plunder of the dead, on whom they find small stores of rupees, and the desire of saving their villages tram outrage. Near Cawnpore they killed sevetal and took more prisoners of a body of Calpee rebels, and news has just reached us that a large party near Bewah received a defeat at the hands of the people of the district, who threw themselves into a little mud fort and best off their assailants with lofts. These are cheering instances of reviving belief in the power of our arms and the permanence of our rule, but as yet they are exceptional. The day before yesterday Hurdeo Bux (or Buccus) a great Oude Thakoor, who saved so many of our men, women, and children, came in to see Sir Colin Campbell, and to ask for assistance against the Moulvie, who had sent to him to demand immediate supplies of men, money, and stores, and to require his presence in his camp, threatening him with dreadful vengeance in the event of refusal. All Sir Colin could do, however, was, I fear, to give him fair words and promises, but it is believed that Hurdeo, who is of a high Hindoo family and of large pos sessions, will be able to defend himself should the Moulvie really attack him. We must not flatter ourselves that Hurdeo Buccus loves the Company or oar rule. It lies been said that he distinctly stated he was animated by no friendly feelings to either in his exertions to save the lives of our countrymen—on the contrary, he declared our rule was as bad as it mild be—but he knew one Englishman who had been just and generous in his district, who had stoo I between him and oppression, and for the sake of that man he had protected those of his race whom he could find in their hour of need. The fall of Calpee took place on the 9.3 rd, and a portion of the troops under Rose will now be available for Gwalior and for the reinforcement of posts and stations which have hitherto been feebly occupied. . . Brigadier-General Jones, who has shown so much activity and intelligence in the field, will, I regret to say, go back to the command of his 60th Rifles a simple colonel ; but it is certain that he cannot be long left in the pursuit of rich a crablike career, and that he will re ceive the reward he so well deserves on the score of his services. His column, however, will be reduced by the march of the 79th and filth Regiments to Futtehghur, where Brigadier M`Causland will take the command vacated by Sir Thomas Seaton in consequence of his appointment to the Shnhjehanpore force. The Moulvie is reported to have gone to Pallee, with the intention of attacking Jellalabad, which he had been solicited to do by the Patens of the neighbourhood. The fugitive rebels from Calpee, who were yesterday in the vicinity of Bewar, have fled towards the Ganges, and will probably cross near Kumpil. They have left the roads, and pass over the fields. The health of the troops at Lucknow is Indifferent. General Grant has marched with a force to Nawab gunge . in the llunnee-road, and there awaits the arrival of the Rajah of Kupertulls, with his contingent, wh o i, ex _ pected in a few lays. Ilia people will gerrison Poonah. The 53rd Foot, which had relieved the 34th in Grain's column, had sixty-four men ill from sunstroke, and Olphert's troop had fourteen sick from the same cause, and four deaths. The garrison column is in the neighbourhood of Luck now cantonments. The •2nd Dragoon Guards are reported sickly. Enclosed is an account of Mohnmdee. The 79th and Tombs's troop of Horse Artillery leave Shahjelianpore to. morrow, en route to this place. The Belooch Battalion and two guns form the garrison of Jellalabad. Sir E. Lugard, at Jugdespore, complains greatly of the severity of the heat and the number of sick, both officers and men. He has had a successful affair with the rebels; Captain or Lieutenant Dawson, of the Military Train, killed, end two or three casualties. The Doab is put into a state of momentary excitement and Denial insecurity owing to the influx of fugitives from Cal pee on the one side and Rohilcund on the other. Sir Hugh Rose is for the present at Calpee. The Calcutta correspondent says:— At Calpee it is believed Sir Hugh Rose, notwithstanding some calls on him mentioned below, will halt for some weeks. His Europeans must have rest, whatever the cense quences. Since the 10th of December they have marched. 500 miles, relieved Saugor, taken six fortresses, fought four pitched battles, and stormed one great fortified city. Though for the last few days a little healthier, disease has been fearfully busy with the Europeans, and had: the cam• paign lasted three weeks more the force must" have become totally disorganized. " I inclose my authority for an ex pression scarcely strong enough fot• the facts. The men have behaved splendidly, an 3 their commander has per severed wonderfully, but the heat is beyond endurance. I do not often write of the weather, but it is at this moment the most important element in the campaign. For 20 years no anch season has been known. The little rains fell a fortnight before their time, and then ceased ; and the land is one huge steam bath. At Calpee the thermometer in tents is 133 degrees ; in Jugdespore it is 130 degrees ; and in Lower Bengal, within the reach of the sea breeze, it is 126. In Calcutta, in a house hermetically sealed against the light, and with the punkah going, it stands steadily at 96 degrees. Sickness iv all but universal. The smallpox is bursting out here and there, half the European com munity have fevers, and a moiety of the other half only escape the curse by an infliction which, though not un healthy, is even more unendurable--innumerable boils. In Allaltatml, out of 1,600 Europeans not 900 are fit for duty, and the number of deaths from " apoplexy "—that is, sun stroke—exceeds the mortality from all other sources. In the midst of all this there are regiments in which the stock is maintained, and in which punkahs paid for by Govern ment are forbidden. This is a fact, and I inclose the name and address of a gentleman, who when this letter arrives will be in England, who can give evidence as to the tenacity with which some officers cling to European theories. The Duke of Cambridge should stop all thisby forbidding the stock in India at once,—its use is optional, I believe,—and compelling commanding officers to leave the punkahs alone. England will be not a little Indignant at the cost of life involved in all this—partly, doubtless, unavoidable, but partly the result of want of forethought. The Royal Artillery, for instance, are losing men at the rate of fourteen per cent. per annum exclusive of fighting casualties. Again, the men are now dressed in light coloured cotton cloth, capital stuff' to resist the climate ; bat their heads are still unprotected. They receive, it is true, a white cover for their caps, but it. is no protection, except so far as its colour is concerned. No planter or engineer who had to be put out in the sun would wear such a thing except over the " Rola topee," the only hat for this climate, which Sir C. Napier advocated till ho was sick, and which costs just six smts. I am diffuse on this point intentionally. Routine and the sun to gethet are beating us, and I was told this morning that with all the reinforcements and recruits sent out we can not muster even now 28,000 effective Europeans. By October a third of them will be off duty, for, though the solliera do not get apoplexy in barracks, they do get liver complaints and low debilitating fevers. It is quite clear from the prices at which the five-million loan was taken up that a vague distrust, an idea that we may one day lose India, influences English capitalists. They want four per cent. for subscriptions et 98, while they will give the British Government money at three. They appear to all men in India to forget two facts :- 1. Suppose the worst comes to the worst, and we are beaten in this revolt, what will he the result? that we must retreat upon Bengal Proper. That province, which 2C,000 Englishmen could hold against the world, produces 11,000.000 of the revenue. The claim of the debt holders is the first charge, and, as far as mere money goes, we should be positively in a better position than we are now—that iv, .we should have a larger surplus revenue. 2. Suppose we lost even Bengal Proper. So long as our ocean dominion is unquestioned we cannot lose the Presi dency towns. They could he held by our fleets if we had not a soldier alive. Well, the mere duties leviable in those towns on Indian produce and Indian imports would be three millions aterlirg, or three times the interest of the debt. That debt, nominally 50,000,000, is in reality only 30,000,000, and for this reason. We can lose India only by revolt. „We are not bound to psv either principal or interest to traitors, and of the total only three fifths are in European hands. For instance, Nana Sahib owned some twenty lacs (200,0001.). Principal and interest are alike forfeit, and the debt is de facto extinguished. That fact is one of some importance when the House of Commons con siders Jndian liabilities. L t