The Press. — London, England, 1858-05-08 00:00:00

- r 450 He believed more would bo gained by making eleo • tions perfectly free. The bill was then read a second time, and, after some further business, the house adjourned at twenty minutes past eleven o'clock. INDIA. THE BOMBAY MAIL. The following despatch was received at the India, house on the 30th ult. : JHANSI. The two brigades forming Sir H. Rose's force combined before Jhansi on the 27th of March. The rebels, about 12,010 t.trong, including 1,500 sepoys, retired (to) ti.e fart, and then an investment was rutde, and the siege commenced on March the 28th. On the Ist of April a very strong force under Tantea Togee, a relative of the Nana, attempted to relieve Jhansi. Without abandoning the investment, Sir H. Rose attacked the relieving army, and gainel a glorious victory, taking 18 guns, several elephants, and all the camp equipage. On the 4th of April, after a severe struggle, in which our loss was severe, the town was stormed and taken, and on the lith of April the fort was occupied. The Ranee fled towards Jaloun with a few attendants, but the cavalry were in hot pursuit. The enemy lost 3,000 men in the battle of the Ist and in the assault of the 4th. Our loss was not yet fully reported, hat the following officers are among the killed and wounded : Kilied.—Lieutenant Colonel Tintlull (?), commanding Artillery ; Lieutenant Meiklejohn, Lieutenant Dick, Bom bay Engineers ; Lieutenant Park, 24ili Regiment ; Dr. Stack, her Majesty's 86th Regiment; Captain Sinclair, 3rd Hylerahad Contingent. Wounded.—M.ijor Ricard (?), Lieutenant Fox, Lieu tenants Dartnell, H. Oiroyd (?), Prendergast, Dardy, and Clery ; Dr. Cruickshank. • RAJPOOTANA. The rebels made a desperate attack to take the Palace of the P.ajah of Kutah, on March 25, by escalade, but were repulsed with great loss. On the 39th Cienerel Roberts carried the position of the rebels by assault, and occupied the tux!' of Kotah. The rebels fled, and a great slaughter occurred in the pursuit. All their guns, with the exception of two, have been taken. Our loss was about twenty-five killed and wounded ; among the latter two officers, Lieutenant Cameron, her Majesty's 72nd Highlanders, and Lieutenant Hancock, Bombay Engineers. GOOJERAT. Some di-t irbances have occurred in tho Guicowar's district of Okarnamlal, and the small island of Beyt hes been occupied by the rebels ; an unsuccessful attempt was made to dislodge them on the 3rd of April; six were friths l, 28 wounded ; among the latter Captain Bacley (?), Royal Artillery, and twa outer officers not named. Intent- Once has siuce been received of the evacuation of the island by the rebels. 3IYHEE CAUNTA. The Thakoor of the petty State of Moon Betts (?) him gone into rebellion—a ttet whiell may eati-ia wish mass ment in Guzerat, while the important measure of disarm ing the population is to progress. KOLAPORE. The brother of the liejah --- hitiiieen arrested on sus picion of conspiring aqiiinst the British Government, and is now on his way to Bombay. SOUTHERN MAHE:Jan COUN fRY. The insurgent. Dessayees, after committing many ont rages, have been driven into the Goa territory. From the Baymara disti lets a reward of 10,001 rupees has been offered for the apprehension of each of the three Dessnyees. The following intelligence is of a stiltseqw-nt date to Mr. Secretary Edmonstone's message of April 1 : Bundelcund Tanten Tope, while commanding tl.•e force sent to relieve Jhansi, 14 reported to have been killed in a battle on April 1 at. C ilpee is tilled with rebels, fu gitives, and a great panic prevails. Mahomed, now a principal adherent of the Nana, has fled to the Maharajah of Gwahor for protection. CAWNPORE. A strong column proceeded fr nu Cawnpore on the 4th of April into Oude to attack Kurroh. A detachment from Colonel Maxwell's force made a de monstration at the Ru:neerpul Ghat on the 4th of April to draw out the enemy's strength. it is believed they have only three guns. FUTTIGHUR. The rebels are crossing at the. Biehumere Ghat, some way between Furracksbad and Sliumihabad. Kullida Khan is reported to have joined them. ROHILCUND. The rebels who had threatoued Nynee Tel ara reported to have failen back. Bombay Castle, 9th April. From EL L. ANDEnsost, Secretary to Government. Make, 29th April. V. G. ISIONTANARO. We select the following from tho letters of the Times correspondent : INCIDENTS OF THE STORMING OF LU(KNOW. A. universal gilding of comic?s, furniture, and everything that would bear the process seemed the prevailing taste THE PRESS, MAY 8, 1858. in the Royal Court. From every ceiling hung glass chandeliers of every age, form, colour, and design. As to the furniture, in many instances it looked like collections from the lumber.rooms of all the old Palaces in Eutope— Louis Quatorze clocks and cabinets, Renaissance mirrors and chairs, buhl-worked ebony chests, marqueterie tables, solid lumpy old German state chairs, gilt all over; but these were relieved by the richest csrpets, by sumptuous divans, by cushions covered with golden embroidery, by rich screens of Cashmere shawls, and by tableeovers pon derous with pearls and gold. In some of the rooms there were a few good pictures, said to be by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Lawrence, Zoffany, and Beechey, but I did not see any traces of Sir Joshua on the walls when 1 entered, and there wan only one picture which looked at all like a Lawrence. There iv , re numerous portraits of the present 'and former Kings of Oude, and oil copies of the portraits of Governors-General, of Wellington, Nelson, George IV., and Bonaparte, many Chinese drawings, French crayons, and English engravings of all sorts, even those from Williamson's " Wild Sports of the East," an old and almost forgotten book on tiger hunting, in gorgeous frames, but the hand of the spoiler was heavy among them all. Those hung out of the reach of the musket swck and bayonet were scarcely safe from a bullet or the leg of a table. Down came chandeliers in a tinkling, clattering rain of glass—crash! crash! crash! door and window, and mirror and pendule ! Sikh and soldier were revelling in destruction, and delirious with plunder and mischief. Those who could not get in at once to carry on the work searched the corridors, battered off the noses, legs, and arms of the statues in the gardens, or, diving into cellars, either made their fortunes by the discovery of unsuspected treasure, or lost their lives at the hands of concealed fanatics. Two men of the 90th were in before us, and, assisted later by some of the 38th, we saw them appropriate money's worth enough to make them independent for life. The rooms off this nook had been used as stores by the King or some wealthy member of bis household, and each moment these men went in only to emerge with a richer trophy. In one box they found diamond bracelets, emeralds, rubies, pearls, and opals, all so large and bright and badly set, that we believed at the time they were glass. In another was a pair of gold mounted and jewelled duel ling pistols, of English make, and the hill, stating that his Majesty the King of Oude owed the maker 2 1 301.; then out they came with bundles of swords, gold•mounted and jewelled, which they at once knocked to pieces for the sake of the mountings, leaving the blades behind them. Next came out a huge chymical laboratory, then a gold saddlecloth, studded with pearls ; then gold•handled titling canes; then cups of agate and jade, grld•moounted and jewelled ; then—but I must really stop this broker's inven tory. The happy possessors of these riches were quite mad with excitement. "Is this gold, sir?" "Is that a diamond ?" "Is your honour Shure that's raal goold ?" " la this string of little white stones (pearls) worth any thing, gintlemen ?" It was a great drawback to have a conscience under such cir'umstances—a greater not to have a penny in one's pocket, for in this country no one except an old stager on the look-out for loot carries a f trthing about him, and, as one of the soldiers observed, "These here concerns only carries on ready-money trans. actions!" He was an experienced operator, that gentle man. If a native soldier came in and walked off with anything which he found in a dark corner out pounced our friend upon him, rifle in hand, " Leave that there, I tell you. I put that there myself!" and there was some• thing in his eye which explained his meaning so clearly that the article was at once abandoned, and if found to be valuable was retained; if not, was " made a present of." Close to us were large boxes of japanned work containing literally thousands of cups and vessels of jade, cf crystal, and of chins, which the soldiers were listlessly throwing on the ground and breaking into atoms. Had the enemy made a strong attack on us at that moment not one-half of our troops could have been collected to repel it. RESCUE CF MRS. ORR AND MISS JACKSON. It was subsequent to this soteoess that Captain M'Neil, of the Bengal Artillery, attached to the Ghourkes, and Lieutenant Bogle, of the same force, succeeded in saving Mrs Orr and Miss Jackson, who have been so long in captivity. As these officers were exploring the deserted streets in front of the Ghootica advanced posts they en countered a native, who said he was one of Sir J. Outram's employes, and implored their protection for his house and property. In the course of his appeal he mentioned inci dentally that he knew where the English ladies were confined, and offered to point out the place. Almost im• mediately afterwards another native appeared and presented two note=—one from Mrs. Orr, the other from Miss Jackson, imploring immediate succour, as their enemies were making search for them. The officers returned to the nearest Ghoorka post, and called for volunteers ; forty or fifty of these hardy, dirty, and loot-loving Calmneks stepped forth, and, with the native at their head as a guide, the party at a rapid rate started off on their errand of deliverance. They proceeded for more than half a mile through the silent, tortuous streets, expecting to receive a volley at every turn. when they came to a house apparently shut up and abandoned. " This is the house," said the guide. At the noise of their footsteps the owuer—Meer Wajeell Ali, Darog t of the Court—made his appearance, and began to stipulate for his property. but Captain M'Neil demanded the immediate production of the ladies, and, finding that he was resolute, the Damp led him to an obscure apart ment, where were two ladies in Oriental costume in a dark corner. At the sound of the voice,—" Are, you the English ladies, and do you wish to leave this place ? " those whom he addressed were not able to reply to the officer from excessive joy, and for a moment or two they were overwhelmed with thankfulness and emotion. But there was no time to he lost. The Moulvie and his followers were known to be searching for them. The ladies, clad as they were, descended to the street, and were about to be placed on the officers' horses, when a palan quin caught the eye of Captain M`Neil in the ccurt of the house. Just as the ladies were getting into it a few budmashes, with drawn swords, sallied out from an adjoining house to attack them, but a shot from a revolver and the bayonets of the Ghot , rkas soon d . sposed of their resistance, and six o. the D u r u g a ' s retainers being lm . pressed as palanquin bearers, th e p arty and a portion of the escort moved back as rapidly as possible t o t h e Ghoorka post, and the poor ladies were placed io safety. At the same time some other Christians, Eurasians and descendants of Europeans, were saved by the guarct of Lieutenant Bogle, and were delivered out of the hands of their enemies. It is but just to say, however, that, although the native Christian community was so large as to form a gunj or quarter of its own, containing perhaps 300 persons, there is no reason to believe that the sepoys persecuted or murdered them. Most of them fearing ill treatment, concealed themselves. THE BEGUMS. it may be imagined what a state of terror the Begun and their attendants were in when our men entered. They expected death every instant, and their agonies of fear were increased by the knowledge of the fact that some armed sepoys were shut up in a room close at band, and one shot might seal their fate. Huddled together amid the sinolc!., they could scarcely be calmed by the assurances of the officers, who at once took measures to remove them to a place of safety. As they were going out one of the ladies pointed out to Captain Hope Johnstone a box which he had just taken from the floor and laid upon the table. She told him it contained jewels to the value of ten Lica of rupees, or 100,0001. He at once placed sentries at the doors, end gave orders that no one should enter. Having, with the aid of his brother officers, taken the 'Ales out of danger, he retired to the Zenana. It was blazing from end to end. The sentries only escaped by clambering up to the roof, from which they were with difficulty saved. The jewels were gone. Had Captain Johnstone taken them they would have been his, for the Kaiserbagh on this day was given up to plunder, and what each wan could get became his property. I visited two little parties of prisoners to-day, and the effect produced on me was very different indeed. First, in company with Captain Hertert Bruce, the chief of the Secret intelligence Department at head-quarters, I went to the Martiniere to see the Begums and their ladies and slaves, who are placed there, for their own sake, under a guard of native soldiers. In one of the ground Moors, in a large but dirty apartment, without door or window as far as I could see, were lodged the late inmates of the lign rious Zenana of the Kaiserbagh. There were three groups of women sitting on the floor, wrapped in white cotton robes not over clean. Those near the door were servants or waiting women, all of remarkable ugliness, and among them was running about a little bit of bronze—a prince of Oude, in perfect indifference to what passed around him, and to the absence of clothing. Near the wall on oar left were slave girls of the elder of the Bigums, who had just learnt that there was no recognition of slavery by British law, martial or civil, and who were anxious to go away us soon as they could. They were for the most part young and lean, and two had such pretensions to beauty as fine eyes and hair and beautiful teeth can give. The Beguins, two in number, sat at the end of the room—one with ber head veiled, who never stirred or spoke while we were in the room, the other old and slightly crusted with dirt, who got on her legs and spoke incessantly. These poor ladies —bythe-by, they had no very aristocratic air or bearing, except perfect composure—ire not prisoners. They may go away when and where they please, but they do not ult• derstand this perfect liberty; they rely, however, on gaol Sir James Outran), and all the Begums' fear is that their slaves will go away. They have been informed that Go vernment can do nothing fur them, end if they had shown pity for our women and children we might feel pity for their miserable condition. They do nut appear to com plain, however, but accept their sitattion with true Oriental fatalism. The guards are placed over them merely to secure them from impertinent curiosity. They are free, but they do not comprehend what freedom means ; to them it is misery. Captain Bruce will, no doubt, do all lie can to carry out Sir James °again's views, and the duet Commissioner is one of the moat charitable of wen, even to his enemies. Later in the day I was introduced to Mr:. Orr and Miss Jackson, of whose preservation I wrote ) nu an an account in a former letter. They are euiliforteely lodged in a house near Banks's bungalow, but they evince in countenance and a painful tar of suffering the effects of their long captivity. Their lives were spared , indeed, bat they were watched night and ;lay by armed guards, who did not hesitate to use gross and insulting language towards them, and whose constant delight it was to tell them of the outrages and mast-acres which were taking place all over India during the time of our troubles Their lives were pre• served by the fidelity of the Daroga, or by his desire to secure his personal safety in case the lirit:sli became ma= - tern of the city. Dv otter day, before they were comeale in his house, they lived in expectation of death. FATAL EXPLOSION. - - - _ A deploraole accident, the first serious one of the many which have occurred from explosions of pow ler, of w;iic!i the city is full, occurred to-daY. By Sir James Outrito d orders several thousand pounds of powder , • few packe in tin cases, the rest in skins, were carried 0 a deep well In carts, for the purpose of being thrown to the banal. As the first case was thrown down a rush o f fire opened from the well; the cases in the first cart blew up , and the explosion, leaping from cart to cart, burnt all the men , engaged in the Operation. Captain Eliot Brownlnw,l3.ba and Captain Clarke, It E., 14 or 10 European Sapper% and 30 Sikhs were carried to the hospital tents 4.4,1%11;111y burnt, and several Sikhs were kille 1 on the spot. An engagement has taken place between Brigadier Campbell's Horse and a body of fanatics, in which Captain Wale lost his life : al