The Press. — London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

ins , riition on the wa'ls of Cie house where the slaughter t o ok place after tlaveloc s's vet , ry. ft nee I not be said that nu atrocities ur mas ace• a had taken place at Cawn pore at the time and up to the date of Wheeler's evacua tion, and the da.es prove the tabehoo 1 of the inscription, which is intended to convey the impression that it was written by one of the women who were in the place. lam therefore inclined to think that the inscription on the walls of the house where the subsequent slaughter occurred was an imposition also, inasmuch as it was not seen by any of those who first examined every inch of the walls ; and it is scarcely pos , ,ible that any woman in such a scene of massacre could have calmly traced with firm hand the words which fur the first time were visible upon the walls long after Havelock's advance. A remarkable document from a Mahomedan subadar of the native police, and professing to give go account of the causes of the mutiny, has been published this week. The paper is translated from the native ordoo by Capt. Rattray, chief of the Sikh police battalion. The writer traces the first symptoms of revolt as far back as 1833, when certain sepoy regiments were sent into Cabal, where the climate was so sever? that the men were not only compelled to leave of their daily ablutions, but to wear sheepskin coats, by each of which acts they lost caste. The consequence was that when they returned to Hindostan none of their fellow soldiers would consort with them. The writer gives in detail the difficulties attendant on the caste scruples of the Hindoo soldiery ; and in the end it comes to this, that "one Hindoo won't eat from the hand of another unless they happen to be brothers or cousins." Nor is it to be supposed that this is mere theory. It is the practical, every day operation of high-caste principles. 1-I,dajut Ali then details the different orders of the army which from time to time have encroached note or less upon the scruples of caste, end in the end gave rise to the belief that it was the wish of Government to do away with all caste—such as com pelling all prisoners to mess together in gaol, on which account each prisoner and his relatives be came " disaffected "; the compelling all new recruits to serve wherever they should be required : When the old sepoys heard of this order they were much frightened and displeased. " lip to this day those men who went to Affghanistan have not been readmitted theireaste; how are we to know where the English may not force as to go? They will be crderiug us next to go to London." And lastly the orders for the Sikhs and Mahome dans to cut off their beards, an act the most repug nant to the feelings of the natives. The missionaries, in their impressive preachings afzainst the shutting up of wom3n, the circum cision of children, ttc., caused " great fear " in the minds of all: They said among themselves, " If the Government insists upon our acting up to these orders, what next shall we nut he compelled to do against our customs and religion?" To talk over this matter many persons of both religioxs auentbled in Calcutta. The missionaries of the 31ofussil also spoke to the same effect to the villagers, so that all, more or less, became alarmed for their religion and displeased with the Government, for they thought the inksionaries dared not give such orders without the con sent of the Government. The annexation of Oude, in addition to these Imaginary grievances, " caused universal dissatisfac tion throughout the army, and from that time it de termined upon mutinying." There wanted but one spark to set the train on fire, and that was afforded by the introduction of the new rifle with the gieased cartridge:— A Kalassie from Fort William went to the sepeys who were on duty at the fort, and told them that the cartridges of the new rifle were made up with the fit of cows arid pig., and that if they bit these cartridges they would lose all caste. On bearing this great suspicion seized their hearts; the Brahmins especially objected to touch these cartridges. but were told that the Government would force them. When they saw the cartridges they said, "if we touch these cartridges we shall lose caste ; so how caa we put our teeth in them?" About this time the men at Dnm•Bum wrate letters to all the other regiments in the service. From reading these letters the whole army were induced to believe that the time was come when the Go veruunent intended to for,.e them all to Christianity. All this was told me by the regiments at Dinapore. The general spread of the mutinous spirit he attributes in some degree to the commanding officers themselves : Many commanding officers to my knowledge reported their regim en t s a ll r i g h t, w h en t h ey k new t h at t h ere were discontent and bad feeling in the ranks, and, to my belief, fur the sake of the name of their respective regiments, concealed the real state of their regiments until at length the sepoys took to murdering their racers. After summing up the se remits, and casually noticing the evils of promotion by seniority and not by merit among the native off.cerg, H edajut Ali recommends in future a correction of these abuses, a native army of mixed caste, and declares his opinion of the men of Hindostan to be as foilows I beg to state that in my opinion the natives of . Hin dostan are only tittel fir militia or police, for this s mile THE PRESS, APRIL 3, 1858. reamon—that they are averse to serve in any other country than their own, fur the aovernment must be well aware that no regiment has ever gone on board ship without showing more or less discontent. TRIAL OF THE KING OF DELHI. THE trial of the King is not yet concluded, as was erroneously stated in the last mail. By the latest dates it bad lasted fourteen days, and was still pro ceeding. A correspondent observes: — It is a strange business. The King, seated nn a camp bed, listens to the most damning evidence without attention, but wakes occasionally into tierce excitement as a favourite approaches. I inclose a most singular and somewhat unexpected piece of evidence given by a Chris tian half-caste woman. It is fatal, and the trial, wretchedly reported, certainly proves three things : First. The revolt was instigated by the Shah of Persia, who promised money and troops. His proclamation to that effect was posted over the Mosque gate, and was taken down by order of Theophilus Metcalfe, who moreover was warned by John Everett, a Christian Rissildar, very popu lar with the natives, that he had been warned to fly, as the Persians were coming, and that the Mussulmans were exceedingly excited. Sir Tbeophilus thought the matter one of no importance. Second. A paper was produced addressed to Mr. Colvin by Mahomed Dervish, revealing the whole plot six weeks before it broke out. Mr. Colvin treated the warning as unimportant, and never even reported it to Government. Third. The murders of the Europeans in Delhi were committed by order of the King. in the presence of the Royal Family, and by means of the Khassburdars, his special personal guard. Among European witnesses was one Mrs. Aldwell, a resident at Delhi, who with her children escaped miraculously from the massacre in the palace. They were actually prisoners in the palace, but having herself donned Mussulman costume, and having taught her children to repeat the Kulman, or confession of faith, they were put aside as Mahomedans. Her evidence was extremely interesting. " The first news of the mutiny that I received," she said," was from my syce, who between eight and nine o'clock in the mornin g brought me intelligence that the troops at Meerut had mutinied, and were coming from Meerut, and were murdering all the Europeans they came across. He advised me to enter my carriage, and get out of the place as quickly as I could " : Soon after Mr. Nowlan, our next door neighbon:, came in and confirmed the tale. My husband and Mr. Now lan went to the sepoy guard of the garrison hospital, which was near our house, and asked them if they would assist us in case of any attack. They replied, " Mind your own business, and leave us to mind ours." At this time none of the mutineers had arrived from Meerut, and so could have held no communication with these men. Mr. Nowlen and my husband, after consulting together, determined to make a stand in our Louse, in case we should be attacked, as it was the larger end welt defensible of the two. They proceeded to arm them selves and barricade the house. Several of our friends and their families took refuge in our house. We num bered in all about thirty souls, as far as I can judge. Soon after this I saw several troopers rding on the river bank under our house. They fired without effect at some people who were on the roof of our house. I saw the mutineers cross the bridge from Meerut. I should say there were more cavalry than infantry. After some time had elapsed, a Mahomedan dyer of the town rushed into our compound, nearly frantic, with a tulwar drawn in his hand, and covered with blood. He was repenting the Kalman, or profession of f.-ith, and saying that they were going to kill all the infidels. Mr. Nowlan ahot him dead. After this Mrs. Aldwell with her three children, dis guised as Mahomedans,left the house for that of the King's grandson, Mirza Abdoolah We remained with him till eight o'clock '.n the evening, anti then went to his mother-in-law. I left what property I had with me (about 201)r5.) in his hands, as he said lie would take care of it for me, as it would be safe with him. The next morning I sent for my property. I re ceived answer that Mira Abdoolah had nothing belonging to me. Be added that I had better leave his family, or he would send and have me and my children killed as infidels. She next took refuga in her tailor's Ivalse, but hearing that there were several Europeans in the palace, whom the Kind kept in confinement, but with the promise of their lives being safe, she deter mined the following day to go and join them : Accordingly in the evening (this was Wednesday, May 1 ttli ), my tailor and a trooper 01. the 3rd Cavalry, who owed him solve obligation, escorted us thither. As soon as we arrived at the Lahore Gate we were stopped, searched, and male prisoners of. We were taken before Mizra Mogul. He ordered us into confinement with the rest of the prisoners. We were about. fifty in one dark filthy room ; there were no windows, and only one door. The aepoys and crowd had free access there. They used to insult the Europeans. We were obliged to shut the door in self defence, and then we bad no aperture for light or air. The Ehassourdars ihiahed to kill nal at once, but the sepoya would not let them. On Thursday morning a sepoy informed us that they meant to mine the place and blow us up. They used often to frighten us by such stories. On Friday a servant of the King's asked one of the ls•tiea how the English would treat them if :bey regained Delhi. She replied, " As you have treated my husband and children." On Saturday morning all except myself and children and an old Mussulman, who was imprisoned with us, were taken 7 819 out and murdered. I and my children were believed to be natives. Before I came into the palace, I had learned sod taught my children to repeat the Maloonedan profession of filth. I had also had a petition written iu Hit lostanee, addressed to the King, styling myself a Cashtneeee, and asking for his protection. This was taken from me by the guard at the Lahore Gate, and hence my disguise sue. ceededcompletely. The Mussulmans used to eat with us; and our food was given us separately from the Christians. The prisoners were taken out by the Khassburdars ; they ordered the Christians out, and said to us, " You Mussub mans are to remain apart." Upon this other ladies and children began crying. swing they were going to be kille I. They were, however, reassured by the men, who swore their most sacred oaths, that the King merely wished to put them in a better residence. They were taken out, and a rope put round the whole of them. They were taken to the tank in the court, and murdered there. The Khassburdars alone took part in the murder. They boasted of it as a privilege. It is reckoned by Mussulmans that to kill an infidel is to insure themselves a place in Paradise. After the massacre two guns were tired in token of rejoicing. As soon as the massacre was over Mrs. Aldwell and her children were liberated, but arrested immediately afterwards on a suspicion of being Christians in disguise ; their capture was reported to Mirza Mogul, and they ran an imminent ribk : Mirza Mogul ordered as to be executed. However, the 38th Sepoys would not allow this, and hid us in Captain Douglas's quarters. We escaped from this the day after the defeat at the Hindun river. We hid ourselves in the city, ar.d passed as natives. After the defeat at the Hindun Hindoos upbraided the Mussulmans with want of courage, and with having deceived them by false hopes. The sepoys were all desponding and downhearted. The Hindoos said that if they thought their lives would be spared they would return to the British. They expressed doubts as to whether Gcvernment had really intended to interfere with their caste. The Mussulmans were most titter against the infidel English. I heard Mahornedan women teaching their children to pray for the destruction of the English and to execute them. As soon as the troops arrived in the palace the Hindoos induced the King to give an order that no cows or bullocks were to be killed in the city. 1 believe this order was strictly observed. There was a disturbance expected during the Buckra Fed, when the Mussulmans usually kill an ox. They avoided the difficulty by omitting the ceremony. I made my escape from the city on the 9th of September, and remained in disguise till the British retook the place, when I returned. N.B.—Mr. Aldwell eseapd to Meerut safely, and has rejoined his wife in Delhi. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. A supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday, published on Wednesday, contain.; a number of despatches relating to events which, owing to a variety of causes, have hitherto been reported only imperfectly. The four first of these rslate to the REPULSE OF THE ENEMY FROM ALUMfIAGH. Major-General Sir James Outram, whose de spatches are preceded by one from the Assistant- Adjutant-General of the Army, by which the corn mandet-in•chief communicates his opinion that Outram's dispositions " appear to have been made with such forethought as enabled him to inflict con siderable loss on the rebels, without unnecessarily exposing his own troops," writes to the Cl.ief of the Staff Camp, Alumbagh, Jan. 12, 185 M. About sunrise this morning large masses of the enemy were seen on my left front, and they gradually spread round the whole front and flanks of the position, ex tending from opposite to our left rear outpost to near Jellalabad, on our right, a distance of at least six miles, and amounting, at the lowest estimation, to 30,000 men. As soon as their movements were decidedly in advance, the brigades—the tight mustering 713, and the left 733 Europeans, and LOU men of the Regiment of Feroze pore —were formed in tront of their Aiwa. The enemy first advanced upon illy left front and flank, covered by a large body of skirmishers, on which I detached two regiments of the left brigade to support the outposts, and extended in skirmishing order on their flanks, whilst the 3rd Regiment was held in reserve. At the same time Major Olpherts, with four horse battery guns, supported by a detachment of the military train, was dirwed to check the enemy on my Iv ft rear where their cavalry showed in the greatest strength The volunteer and native cavalry were drawn up to pro. tect the rear of the camp, which at this time appeared to be threatened. The right brigade remained on its ground. The attack was feeble, but was three times renewed after each defeat, which was easily effected by means of our superior artillery fire. General Outram, alter detailing the varied movements of the troops under his command during tbe day, concludes as follows : By four o'clock p.m. the whole of the enemy had dis appeared, and retired to the city, or to their original positions in the gardens and villeges in our front. Nothing could exceed the eagerness of the troops to come in contact with tbe rebels, nor their disappointment at their precipitate flight to the cover of their works the moment the guns opened and our line of skirmishers advanced. The artillery made excellent practice on the muses of the enemy, in reply to the tire from their batteries, which was maintained on our outposts and Alumbagh with little intermission. J )