The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-25 00:00:00

NMI THE PRESS, DECEMBER 25, 1858. now entered was one of the wildest in Central India—a hilly tract throughout, eomrrising within its limits the eastern portion of the Vindbya and Mahatleo mountains, and inhabited by that primitive race the Goonds, who are supposed to be the aborigines of Hindostan, whose lan guage is unlike that c•f any other in Hindostan, and whose habits are so far removed from civilization that they live in a state of complete natlity. It was at Sohagpore that the first intimation was received that one of the rebel chiefs, at least, desired to surrender. That chief, however, was not Tenths Topee, but the Nawab of Banda. A servant of his was arrested at the Post•otfioe in the act of despatch ing two letters from his master,—one addressed to Sir Robert Hamilton, another to Captain Kerr. In the latter the Nawab declared that he had all along been a prisoner, which was not true, for it was very well known that he commanded Linda's horse—and that he desired to surrender if be were sure of protection. The servant seemed to have had instructions, if caught, to corroborate this tale ; for he stated on examination that the .Naweb was watched night and day, was mich broken in health and spirits, and had been a prisoner to the Rao ever since Sir Hugh Rose's advance on Calpee. I t was ascer tained from the same source that the force under the three cniefa still amounted to 2200 infantry, all mounted on tattoos, and 1,800 cavalry—the Oth, Bth Bengal and Gwalior Irregular Cavalry. That the Rao, who usually rides on an elephant preceded by a band of country music, nominally held supreme command, 'rantia 'rupee being only coin• manderin•chief. That the Banda Nawab had left all his jewels behind him, but that his wives and family were with the reaels. That these, however, carried all their wealth with them, and were covered with jewels. As to the condition of the force it was described as very low, the horses and elephant , : being much beaten, the men wearied and dispirited, and Tantia comparatively without authority. It was further stated that the sepoys, in their disheartened state, regretted what they called the good old times—laid the mutiny on their officers' shoulders, and cursed them as the cause of their present altered circumstances. Tantia, it seems, reached the Nerbudda on the 30th of October, crossed it on the 31st, halted the next day, and having won ihe Rajsh of Futtehpore to his side, occupied that place On the night of the 2nd. The news of Kerr's advance on Bhilsa was the sole cause of his retreat from that place, which, bat for this, would infallibly have been plundered. Sohagpore was saved in a similar manner by the advance from Hosuugabad. On the 2nd November Kerr advanced from Sohagpore, ten miles to Hutwas, having a slight skirmish as he did so with a small body of irregular horse in red coats. The rebels it ere still at Futtehpore, a large town situated at the foot of a low range of hills, backed by the Putchmnrree mountains, which are some forty miles deep and quite unsuited for cavalry. In front of the town stretched a thick rocky jungle, about two and a half miles in depth, the town itself being intersected with numerous deep ravines. Against such a position it was vain to hope that 3)0 horse could do anything, and far the wisest course was to wait for the arrival of Michel, who was advancing from Bhopal, having left that place ou the Ist, and expecting to be at the Nerbudda on the tlth. Kerr's impatience under these circumstances may be easily conceived. was deceived, for he was met at Sindwarra and turned from thence by a detachment from Nagpore. He, therefore, had no other course open to him than to take a sonth•westerly direction, and proceed by way of Mooltai to Baitool. In order to prevent him from making any further way in that direction towards the rich cotton districts westward, General Michel, who reached Hosungabad on Bth November, with Lockhart's, De Saba's, and the Rajpootana brigades, at once despatched Brigadier Parkes, with a force of cavalry and artillery, to Baitool. General Michel himself, with the 17th Lancers, a squadron of the Bth Hussars, all available artillery, and Kerr, with the Mahratta Horse, proceeded, though somewhat later (9th November), to Baitool, leaving some Bombay Artillery and the 72nd Highlanders at Hosungabad, and posting a squadron of the Bth Hussars, 13th Native Infantry, and Bombay Horse Battery, at Hurtle, and a wing of the 2n: Bombay Light Cavalry at Sohagpore to watch the fords of the Nerbudda. Tantia Topee had no intention, however, as it afterwards appeared, of retracing his steps to the Saris Ghent. lie wont to Mooltai and plundered it, crossed General Michel's line of march between Baitool and Hosungabad, and making a ten days' march through the mountains in five days, along the northern face of the Satpoora Hills, reached Peepleeode, within forty miles of Asst ghur, on the 18th of November. Colonel Becher and Captain Buckle followed on his track as rapidly as they could. Having burnt and plundered Peepleeode, he took a northerly direction on the 17th to Kundwa, and on the 18th to Churam, evidently in• tendingto attempt once more the passage of the Nerbudda, at some of the fords in the neighbourhood of Mundlaiair. Had not most energetic measures been taken to line the frontiers of Ksndeish with considerable reinforcements Tantia Topee might have found no obstacle to a passage of the Taptee and an irruption into the Bheel districts. He was deterred, however, from this, possibly in part by the precipitous nature of the defiles leading front the Satpooras to the banks of the Taptee, and in a greater measure, perhaps, by the knowledge of the preparations made to receive him. The concentration of troops at Kamptee and Ootnrawuttee had driven him south-west from Sindwarra ; a similar concentration atfAhmednuggrir and Ajunta pre vented him from crossing the Taptee. Sir Hugh Rose left Mahabuleshwur for Ahmednuggnr, where he was joined by additional artillery, part of the 18th Royal Irish, and the whole of the 3rd Dragoons, from Poona, whilst a strong field force, under Colonel Tapp, C. 8., consisting of a squadron of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, the head quarters and 300 men of the Poona Irregular Horse, the 4th Troop Horse Artillery, and two companies of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, together with the 23rd Regiment of Native Light Infantry, proceeded at once towards Ajunts. From Menlo= at the same time the 23rd Native Infantry and 18th Royal Irish were sent on to Burhampore, and her Majesty's •57th were ordered from Bombay to Malligaum. Colonell Tapp's column reached Ajunts on the 22nd, and Sir Hugh Rose arrived at Malligaum on the same day. Measures have thus been taken to stop the mouths of all the passes leading through the Satpooras southwards. General Michel has fallen back on Nlhow, and hating recruited his strength there, will be able to keep the course of the Nerbadds. At all events, if be cannot prevent Tantia Topee from again crossing to the northern back of that stream, he ought successfully to close against him the passes of the Vindhya range. Although our movements have not the celerity which characterizes those of the rebels, and we are always beaten in a stern-chase, the forces at our disposal cannot but finally overcome all the difficulties in their way. The present opportunity, at all events, is the best we have yet had for inclosing Tantia Topee in a net without issue ; and if we do not make good use of it we shall not have so favourable an occasion again. As it is the Nawab of Banda has already seen the uselessness of further resistance, and has given himself op to our officers. Gladstone would communicate to her Majesty ute Queen the wishes of the lonians. It was believed, however, that once in the Putchmurrees, the rebels must be lost if the Nagpore, Jubbulpore, Nur singpore, and Baitool forces were moved to a common centre; provisions would utterly fail and the rebels must be captured. Without such a combination difficulties of nu ordinary kind might be anticipated, for the rajahs having joined 'ramie might afford him all that he required, whilst our force would have to push its way into &country the peasantry of which were disinclined to give informa tion and were completely unfriendly. Hopes were, how ever, entertained that the Goond population might be raised against them by prospects of plunder, especially as a party of ten determined shikarrees declared themselves confident of successfully assailing Tautia Topee in sotue narrow defiles through which troops could only pass in single file. They were accordingly sent out to do what they could in those passes. Ou the ;30 of November the Southern Mabratta Horse advanced to Futtehpore, which Tantia Topee had abandoned, and encamped under the very trees whose foliage had shaded Tantia Topee and his confederates but ihe lay before. The rajahs came in and tried to explain their conduct, and several sepoys who were captured were taken and executed. From Futtehpore Kerr had no hope of being able to advance alone, except as far as Kopourkaria, a villaga on the plain, distant about four miles from a stream which rises in the hills and flows to the Nerbudds. This Kerr did on the morning of the 4th. Meauwhile preparations were made for a combined movement from Nagpore, Ellichpore, and °tilt r places between those two points. A brigade of Madras infantry, artillery, and cavalry was at Katnptee on the 6th of No vember, whilst Brigadier Hill's force, ordered from An rungsbad to concentrate at Oomrawuttee, and rally the detachments from Mominahatl, Hingolee, and Elliclipore, began to move on the ith of November. AUSTRALIA. The Australian mails ar r i ve d by the Niagar a a t Southampton on Sunday. Tho passengers by the Niagara were the first persons who travelled all the way by rail between Suez and Alexandria, the Egyp. tian railroad having been finished just before they arrived at Suez. On some parts of the journey by rail the passengers travelled at the rate of forty miles an hour. One of the most difficult and important railways in the world, and which has been some years forming, is now completed, and the short route to India, China, Japan, and Australia can now be traversed by railway and steam packet throughout. Accounts brought by the Niagara from New Zealand are encouraging. The colony is prosperous. The gold fields there are steadily i n . creasing in value. The comet first became generally visible at Melbourne on October 11. The hope entertained by Kerr, that the Goonds would rise, and that Tenths Topee would fail to penetrate the defiles of the Putchmurree Hills, was not realized. Tantia Topee suoceeded in surmounting all ditticithies, and in advancing in a direction south•west from Kopoorkaria to Sindworra, a city situated on an elevated tableland, for a bug t me celebrated as enjoying the most salubrious and iuvig rating climate in India, and for that reason pro bably not tinknown to some of our readers. There is every reason to believe that the Rajah of Sindwarra was induced to give assistance to Tantia Topee, and that he thus secured all supplies of provisions he required. Kerr, who reached Kopoorkaria on the 4th November, was, as we anticipated, unable to follow the rebels through the Patch muerte Hills, on imprint of the danger to be anticipated fro•n a march throngh paths covered with jungle, and 'o g i pAssee practicable only to single SI, s of horsemen. Bat it Tantia Topee on his part conceived it possible to penetrate into the Nsgpore territories by Sindwarra, he also TANTIA T ATE, OR NANA SAHIB. An officer in command of a cavalry regiment, who is in full pursuit of Tantia Topee, and has been within four miles of him, expresses his full conviction that Tends Topee is no other than Nana Sahib him self. The rumours of the Nana's immediate appear ance were, it seems, universal just before Tantia Topee's crossing the Nerbudda, and the prisoners and deserters, of whom the officer in question had spoken with several, he being v.n excellent vernacular scholar, are, he says, unanimous on the point that it is Nana Sahib who is dodging our columns in Cen tral India under the name of Tantia Topee. THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. The Englishman says:—" We have heard on good authori►y that it is the intension of the Lieutenant- Governor of Bengal to retire on the lat. ot' May next, when he will have completed the period, live years, a►lotted to Lientenant•Governors. We have not as yet beard who is to succeed him." PENSIONS TO WIDOWS. Under instructions from the Court of Directors, it has been notified by the Supreme Government that pensions granted to widows of officers from the Compassionate Fund, are to cease on re marriage. THE lONIAN ISLANDS. MR. GLADSTONE'S MIS.4ION. A few days ago Mr. Gladstone weut to the southern lonian islands and to Greece. Shortly before his departure there was a demonstration at Sta. Maura in favour of an annexation with Greece. The Mu nicipal Council of Zante has addressed a memorial to Mr. Gladstone, in which it is said that the best thing England can do to improve the political position of the lonian Ides is to consent to their being united to the kingdom of Greece. The Muni cipal Council further expressed a hope that Mr. dourt afar I asilion. THE CouRT has returned from Osborne to Windsor, where her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and the junior branches of the Royal Family, are all in the enjoyment of good health. H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF \VALES has returned from the Continent, and is at present at Windsor. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER and Mrs. Disraeli returned to town on Monday from a visit to the Earl and Countess of Derby, at Knowsley-hal!, and on Tuesday morning left Grosvenor•gate, for Torquay. THE RIGHT HoN. J. W. HENLEY returned to town on Tuesday from Brighton. Volitlcal. MR. BRIGHT ON PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. ON Tuesday evening, a meeting was held at Glasgow to hear an address from Mr. Bright, M.P., on the subject of Parliamentary Reform. The hall in which the address was delivered was completely filled, there being about 2,7(X) persons present. Tae chair was taken by Mr. Walter Buchanan, M.P., and among those on the platform were Mr. Daigleish, M.P., Mr, H. C. Ewing, M.P., Professor Nichol, etc. After a few introductory remarks from the Chairman, Mr. BRIGHT rose, amidst loud cheers, to address the meeting. He said he was there to consider, along with the citizens of Glasgow, s great question of constitutional reform. The illustrious foun ler of Pennsylvania had given his definition of a free country; that is a free country where the laws rule, and where the people had a share in the making of the laws. We were now in a different position on this question to what we were when he (Mr. Bright) was in Glasgow before. No one now rises to oppose parliamentary reform. But he (Mr. Bright) was accused of repeating again and again the same facts and the same numbers in illustration of his view 3 Ott the subject of parliamentary reform. Bnt how could it be otherwise ? We have at least 6,000,000 of grown men in this kingdom, and not more than 1,000,000 have votes. These facts he was bound to repeat and reiterate until he had roused public opinion and wrought a change. As a machine for carrying on the legislation of the country it would, perhaps, be impossible to construct a more clumsy one than the British Parliament. Mr. Bright de scribed at great length the numerical disproportion which exists in the representation and constituencies of England. The House of Commons, he said, was a convenient club, a kind of lounge; it did not re spond with any heartiness or willingness to the aspt• rations of the people for better government. The two cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow had a taxable property, taking schedules A and B, to the amount of 7,800,0001., and there were 101 boroughs in Eng• land and Ireland with a taxable property of 7,434,01)01., but the two Scotch cities only returned four members, whilst the 10l boroughs returned 126 members. Now this would show whether property was properly represented. Re was accused of always dwelling upon mere numbers and ignoring property. Whether we took numbers or wealth, the great populations were most inadequately represented. He had been told that the sentiments which he had expressed at Birmingham, and which caused such a howl from the press, both Tory and Liberal, had been much moderated at Manchester. and almost abandoned at Edinburgh. Now he denisd slt)gother that he had abandoned one single opinion which he had first promulgated at Birmingham. What was the change which he proposed? S'mply this, that the franchise should be lowered from what it, is now, and that votes should be given to all who are rated to the poor. He