The Press. — London, England, 1857-10-31 00:00:00

who held a public execution of all the Christians in the place. Many officers who were sent off unhurt by their sepoys, fell into the hands of villagers, who murdered them at once, or took them to their headmen or zemindars, by whose orders they were murdered. And the concealed arms that have suddenly been brought up ! The Ranee of Jhansi dug up from beneath the fort twenty heavy guns which had been buried under ground for better conceal ment, and a large force of her own is suddenly assembled, well eptipped with firearms and ammunition. It was the same with the Nana Sahib, whose few miserable rabble (always, on account of their arms and accoutrements, the source of amusement to every Englishman who saw them) suddenly turn out a numerous and well-armed force in every respect. It was the same with Koer Singh's forca in Shaliabad. Some inkling of how these firearms were obtained may be gathered from the enormous pur chases of firearms during the last two years from T. E. Thomson and Company, the Calcutta branch of a large Wolverhampton house in the hardware trade. During last year the indents made on the Wolverhampton house, chiefly under orders from natives, were so large that they refused to send them out, telling the Calcutta branch that the latter must have over-estimated the demand. A native - - shop in the same line, in Calcutta, made enormous sales during the last year and the early part of this year. In fact, I believe it has been the same with all the gun shops here. The conspirators knew very well that the large arsenals in India could he in the hands of the sepoya at any moment, but they wanted arms for their own re tai tiers. Again, as to the general character of the conspiracy. In nearly all the revolted districts the former (native) officers of Government are still continued in the same employment under their new masters, especially the revenue officers, which shows that they, too, must have been in the con spiracy. Time is fast revealing how wide spread that conspiracy has been, and how far wrong we all were who at first thought, as it i 3 the end and aim of this Govern ment and all connected with it to make people think, that this rebellion was a mere Repo) , revolt. But there is another diffic - ulty which has arisen, and which, if not immediately guarded against, will be fraught with most disastrous consequences. The European troops are impatient to avenge the foul murder of the wives of the soldiers, and have begun to become unruly. One of the Company's officers ventured to scold some of her Majesty's soldiers, and in a moment they had their muskets ready, and would have shot him had not one of their own officers quickly interceded. This shows the spirit that prevails in Queen's corps against Company's officers; and I am afraid that the soldiers will give us much trouble.—Daily News. The following are extracts from a letter to a gentle man in Glasgow, from his brother:— Umballali, August 28, !857.—The whole of Oude is in the hands of the mutineers ; but whenever our reinforce. ments arrive, wo will take summary vengeance upon them. If the Sikhs—our old enemies—had not proved our friends, not a single European in the N.W. provinces of India would have lived to tell the tale. Consider the native troops here in the N.W. provinces amounted, I believe, to 150,000 well armed, well•trained soldiers. The force of British troops might number 4,000 or at the utmost 5,000 men. The Sikhs, fortunately, hate the " Poorbeits," or Indian sepoys, more than they hate us, so they have taken our part, and under ourcommand are working havoc among the enemy. The Affghans and wild border tribes also, against whom we have always had to fight, along our frontiers, and whom we have been accustomed to shoot, hang, and destroy for constant robbery and murder, are now becoming useful to us. We have raised regiments of them, and with English officers the tide of their vengeance is turned against the " Poorbeits." A regiment of these wild borderers passed here a day or two ego. AR they marched down the wall I went out to see them. There were 700 of them in all sorts of dresses, but the majority almost naked, with only a kumerbund or cloth round the loins. They were all armed with musket and bayonet, and many with frightful.looking crooked knives besides. Their commanding officer, Captain Green, rode on his horse in front. All the it regular regiment officers are picked men—good soldiers, and of a tall commanding appearance. Such a one is Captain Green. He was here during the day, and told me he had been obliged to pistol some of his men on the way down for looting (robbing) on the road. These are the men required to command irregulars—perfect dare-devils, without too tender sensi bilities--for the men they command are the wildest and most ferocious savages that the interior of Asia produces. To see them marching on was a curious sight—the wild beastlike appearance of the mass, the stare of curiosity at everything, and the apparent strength and agility which every one possessed. These are men wlri will fight like perfect fiends ; but the momer.t the enemy is defeated they rush on for loot (or plunder), so that it is impossible to follow up a conquered foe with them—they are only useful for destroying enemies, as they kill and plunder every one they can lay hands on. They fight for plunder only, and for that they will dare anything. Another tribe of borderers who have been the salvation of Upper India in taking our part are the Ghoorkas. We have had them often here passing on to " the seat of the corner.stono of wisdom " —the great King of Dellit's city—the doomed pandemo nium. They are very little men, about four feet ten inches or five feet. They aro very active, anti their thirst for blood is something fearful. They are brave as lions ; and their officers have all to he picked also. They act some thing like what we have heard the Highlanders did in the &ye of Montrose or Prince Charlie. Each man, besides his musket and bayonet, has a weapon something like a bowie knife. When the charge is sounded, they rush fortvard, fire their muskets and throw them down, out with their knives, and work the most fearful havoc. These knives are called " kookrtios," and the sight of one makes a Ruidoo or Mussuloaa4 shudder, Nothing will stop the THE PRESS, OCTOBER 31, 1857. carnage when the Ghoorka is fairly loose, and each victim he kills, he sucks the blood from his knife! When once Delhi is taken the carnage will be horrible; but the time for mercy is past, and there is nothing left but indignation and revenge. - The sufferings of Mrs. Leeson, who escaped from Delhi, were very severe : I have told you in former letters of some of the horrors perpetrated by the mutineers. We ourselves, when out on duty among the villagers, have found a lady's shoe with a foot in it; but their horrible atrocities were carried to such an extent as to baffle all description. A poor woman, a Mrs. Leeson, managed to escape into our camp a few days ago. She hed been concealed by a wild, untutored Atfghan within the city, and managed to escape to our camp. She had seen her husband killed before her face. [The revolting description which follows we cannot insert. It is enough to know that this poor woman's husband, children, and aunt were put to death in a manner the most frightful and inhuman that can possibly be con ceived.] The poor woman, knowing that her turn came next, fainted with horror. At that moment a fearful excitement in the street attracted the attention of the incarnate fiends. It proved to be a clergyman's daughter, a girl of great beauty, who had come out from England only a few months before. Her name was Miss J—. She had been stripped naked in the streets beaten with sticks and bamboos, as the poor creature, quite mad, rushed along the street. She was shortly afterwards —with savage intent but merciful result—cut down with a sword. Well, during the time this scene attracted the attention of and afforded amusement to Mrs. Leeson's Persecutors, this Affghan removed her and covered her with a cloth. He afterwards kept her concealed in some house, and to show his ignorance of English taste, he fed the poor woman on sugar and sweetmeats. He also found some English bottles somewhere, and knowing them to be foreign, or " blattee," as the natives call things English, he came to his charge with great joy, thinking now it would be all right and all her wants supplied. The bottles proved to be one of Epsom salts and another of magnesia, and the poor fellow could not possibly be made to understand how it was that the " mem sahib," or English lady, would not eat what he knew for a fact to be " blattee." He received a reward of 100 rupees from Brigadier Nicholson for thus assisting the poor woman to escape. He has also received a pardon, for he has been recognised as a notorious border freebooter, but is still detained in easy confinement as a dangerous character. The following vividly descriptive letter is from an officer serving in the Delhi army : Camp before Delhi, Aug. 23. My dear Father,—Since last I wrote to you I have bad such hard work and such exposure as I never had before in my long life, but, thank Heaven, here I am safe and sound and back again in camp. Hodson was sent out with his new regiment, and a squadron of the Guides, 101 strong, under me, to watch a large party of the enemy who had gone into the Rhotuck district. Our force was in all about 350 cavalry—all, except the Guides, belonging to Hodson's own corps. The officers were Hodson, com manding, Ward, Wise, M'Dowell, Hugh, and myself. The first day we marched to a place called Khurkonda ; but such a march ! We had to go through water for miles up to the horses' girths. We took Khurkonda by surprise, and Hodson immediately placed men over the gates, and we went in. Shot one scoundrel instanter, cut down another, and took a reasaldar (native officer) and some sowars (troopers) prisoners, and came to a house occupied by some more, who would not let us in at all ; at last we rushed in, and found the rascals had taken to the upper story, and still kept us at bay. There was only one door and a kirkee (window). I shoved in my head through the door, with a pistol in my hand, and got a clip over my turban for my pains ; my pistol missed tire at the man's breast ( you must send me a revolver), so I got nut of that as fast as I could, anti then tried the kirkee with the other barrel and very necrly got another cut. We tried every means to get in, but could not, so we fired the house, anti out they rushed a mtv.lc among us. The first fellow went at Hugh (the writer's brother), who wounded him, but somehow or other h r slipped, and fell on his back. I saw him fall, and, thinking be was hurt, rushed to the rescue. A Guide got a chop at the fellow, and I gave him such a swinging backhander that he fell dead. I then went at another fellow rushing by my left, and sent my sword through him, like butter, and bagged him. I then looked round, anti saw a sword come crash upon the shoulders of a poor little boy ; oh, such a cut, and up went the sword again, and the next moment the boy would have been in eternity, but I ran forward and covered him with my sword and saved him. During this it was over with seven men. Ward had shot one with his revolver, and the other four were cut down at once. Hugh I tound was all right, only a slight cut just above the wrist. Having polished off these fellows, we held an impromptu court martial on those we had taken, and shot them all —mur derers every one, who were justly rewarded for their deeds. Next day we continued our march, and got to Rhotuck on the 17th of August, where some sowars and the people of the town turned out against us, but fled like sheep before the Guides, led by Hugh and myself ; but we managed to cut up thirteen of them. Next morning we were sur prised to find a party of sowars galloping down upon us, so plucky—but we sent them galloping back, so funky ! We then formed up. and the enemy came within :100 yards of us, but a few Minh', rifle balls sent them off. They then tried to come upon our flank, but we would not admit of that at any price. At last, as the ground was unfa vourable for cavalry, we retired and brought them out in the open, when we charged and they bolted. I got a cropper over a hedge and ditch in which my horse had fallen, tut pinked myself up and continued the pursuit, and soon caught up a couple of Bowan; one fellow fared 1057 at me, but missed me, and off they both bolted. I put my spurs into Cavalier's sides and quickly overtook the rear most man, and equally quickly polished him off. I then went after the other and caught him up, when he had the impertinence to try and frighten me by presenting his matchlock at me, but this was too good. seeing that he had just fired it at me. I rode at him and gave him a cut on the neck, which he did not like at all, and he struck me over the shoulders with his matchlock barrel, which returned by a second cut, which dropped my fine fellow from his saddle ; but he was not done for yet, and I turned my horse and rode at him ; he came at me in a furious rage and made a terrific cut at my leg, which I guarded, and as cool as a cucumber, and in the most scientific manner, returned " point one." And now can you fancy the trick he played me? lie actually seized my sword in his hand, and before I could get it out cut me over the head ; but, as that was ensconced in a basket helmet en veloped in a most voluminous Guide pugree (turban ), the blow did not Lake effect. I was not going to give him another chance, and drove my horse right at hint and sent my sword into him as fur as I could ; the consequence was that he had not room for a cut at me, but hit and wounded my gallant little horse on the cheek. One of the Guides then came up and he was soon disposed of, but fighting to the last. I have the lellow's mare in my possession. Hugh led the other troop of the Guides, and shot two fellows with his revolver, but his mare got a bullet in her cheat in the charge. After knocking about for a few more days in the neighbourhood of Rhotuck, we returned to camp yesterday. We have about 6,000 first rate infantry iu camp, and a lot of cavalry, and when the siege train cornea we may set to work and do something against Delhi, but General Wilson is very cautious, and will not hazard any thing. I must now refer you to the newspapers for more general and public news. OPINION UPON INDIA. SirFnEnEnte SIIITH, M.P., who was entertained by his constituents at Chatham on Wednesday evening, said : Because the city of Delhi was rescued from the hands of the mutineers they must not therefore conclude that the mutiny was at an end, for the capture of Delhi was only one part of the war, and with a population of 180,000,000 it was impossible to say that the whole of India might not be turned against us, seeing that the natives of that country were essentially a warlike people. tinder all circumstances, and whatever might be the cost, our power in India must be maintained. Our empire in India must be held with a strong hand, because it added a glory to England. No doubt there were many persons who were anxious that in our punishment of the mutineers we should be merciful—and he prayed God we might, but at the same time it was nurbounden duty to execige justice. Nut only must we punish perfidy and fiendish atrocity, but at the same time we must let it be plain to the whole of Asia that England must be treated with the respect she de. served, and that her sons and daughters, wherever they went, must be respexted likewise. Mr. R. M. tlimiEs, M.P., at Pontefract, on Wed nesday, thought we had not much to congratulate ourselves upon in the fall of Delhi : The struggle in India was not to be measured by ordi nary rules, for it was a singular and unprecedented one. It would be an almost unparalleled triumph for a hand ful of Englishmen to storm a great city in which the representatives of the Great Mogul made their last stand —armed with a power which of themselves they could never have accumulated, but with which we, in our ne gligence, supplied them. This would, indeed, have been an almost unparalleled triumph, but they mast remember that the foemen were not worthy of their steel. Had it been the princes of India, who had risen because we wished to deprive them of their ancestral rights—had it been the peasantry of India, who had risen because they considered our taxation oppressively large, and were unable to comprehend the great benefits or general justice of our rule—in either case, there would have been something to say for the fee. But what was the case'? Were our enemies not men whom we had armed—for whose wel fare we had felt the most tender rega-d—for whose pre judices we had shown the utmost deference—and whose feelings we heel respected to a',degree never heard of before? That was the army which had risen against us—not in fair fight, but with brutal treachery, and with circum stances the most lustful, dastardly, and atrocious. It was because this foe was not worthy of our steel that we could not rejoice in this Delhi triumph. With respect to the future government of India, Mr Monckton Milnes expressed himself rather vaguely? " He desired that India should be governed by Inert exp. rienced in Indian affairs," and generally he ap proved the conduct of the East India Company. Mr. WOOD, M.P., sail he could not agree with his colleague He did not think it would be right to continue the East India Company's governing powers; the country should be under the control of the English Government. There were many shortcomings in the East India Com pany—they had not discharged their duty as Christians, and when he heard of a soldier in the Indian army being disgraced because he had become a Christian, he could not but think that the Company were deserving of much blame. To do really good, India must be Anglicised— we must have Englishmen spread over every part of that empire, showing the Hindoos, by example, waat our Christian energies could do. Comparatively, nothing had been done in India during the hundred years it had been in oar possession. The whole country should be thoroughly open to commerce, and commercial agents should be located in every district; we should then soon