The Press. — London, England, 1857-07-25 00:00:00

720 charger, a very fine animal, dropped dead directly he had brought his master into safety. The colonel had an awfully narrow escape ; his horse swerved right round at the start, anti we thought it was all over with him. The horse received one ball in the forehead, another in the neck, aml his knee was grazed by a third, but he brought the colonel in safe, and is still alive. The Yakeel of ono of the Rajpootana States writes : For the past two days there has been a commotion in the city, and events have transpired disastrous to the British rule such as never before occurred. The city has been pillaged, and every one is in danger of his life. Thou sands of people with drawn swords are going about the streets. In the general pillage the bankers and other wealthy merchants' houses especially have been entirely sacked. Yesterday morning, about seven o'clock, some regular cavalry arriving from Meerut seized the bridge on the Jutnna, killed the tollkeeper, and robbed the till. Leaving a gnarl' at the bridge they proceeded to the Salempore Chowkee, where there was an English gentleman, killed him, and set fire to his house. Then, going under the Delhi king's palace outside the city wall, they made pro. peseta to the King. The King told them that that was no place for them, hut to go into the city. Having entered the Calcutta gate, it was closed. At this time Mr. Simon Fraser, the commissioner, and the magistrate, were in office. Hearing the tumult they ascended to the top of the river gate of the city, and perceived that troops were coming up along the Meerut road ; mounting a buggy they drove to the city gate, leading to the palace. Finding it closed they dismontred, and getting the wicket of the gate opened to them they proceeded on foot into the citadel. The native r , overnor of the citadel ( Killedar) entered after them, and killed them while ascending the steps of the officers' quarters. (Probably of Captain Douglas. com• mending - Palace Guards.) Thus much the crowd wit nessed. The mutineers were preceded on their first arrival by ten or twelve troopers, who, on entering the Ilajghat gate of the city, asure,l everybody that they had come, not to trouble or injure the city people in any way, but only to kill the Eutopean gentlemen, of whom they had resolved to leave none alive. On this news reaching the ears of the gentlemen they left their respective offices and tied. The mutineers killed all they could catch. Some got hidden among the houses. The greater part rushed to the maga- zine and closed the gate. About three in the afternoon the gentlemen fired • shell from the magazine, which killed and wounded a vast number of the crowd. The report shook the houses as if a magazine had exploded. About ten at night two (mittens) troops of artillery arrived from Meerut and entered the city, and fired a royal salute of tveenty.one guns. Afterwards the troopers proceeding to the military cantonment (about a mile and • half outside the city ), killed a great number of the officers, and their wives and children, and set tire to the houses. All the vagabonds of tile city have joined the mutineers and are ravaging the city. The next day, about three in the afternoon, the empire was proclaimed under the King of Delhi, and the Imperial flag hoisted at the Kotwalee (chief police station). The King's chief police officer arrived with him all the mutineers, horse and foot, and killed all the rest of the Europeans they met or found. Then guns were tired as a salute. The old chief of police fled. The macebearers stood aloof. Thousands of rupees' worth of things were pillaged till twelve o'clock in the night. . . There is now no ruler in the city and no order. Every one has to defend his house. An attack was made on the house of the great banker, Mutignee Ram, but he hal assembled so many defenders that after much fighting the attack was unsuccessful. Other bankers (names men tioned) were pillaged. The Delhi Hank was entirely nillsged. In short, within these two days hundreds of thousands of rupees' worth of property has been destroyed and stolen. No our can venture out of his house. The King's officers have the control. The mutineers roam about the city, sacking it on every aide. The post is stopped. The electric telegraph wires have been cut. New is closed on all sides. There is not a European face to be seen. The following is a letter written by an officer at Karnali', dated the 14th of May, 1857, and gives a terrible picture of the sufferings to which our poor country men and women were exposed : I have, by tha blessing of Go,I, escaped from Delhi unscathed, along with Fanny, and my dear little boy is eaft. (so I learn) at Meerut, along with some friends. I will just give you as short a description as I can of our sufferings and of the dangers we had to encounter. Yun must know that at Delhi there was nothing but native tJoops—viz., three regiments of infantry and a troop of native artillery. At Meerut (distance from Delhi about thirty two miles) the Ard Native Light Cavalry mutinied, and ninety odd men were sentenced to certain terms of imprisonment. About two hundred of the remainder, along with the llth Native Infantry, ruAled to the gaol and liberated the pnaouers, and, after murdering several of the Europeans and setting tire to the houses in cantonments, cut the electric tel, graph wire, and went as fa24t as possible to Delhi, where they arrived about set en a.m, the following morning without our having heart anything of their coming. As soon as possible the troips were ordered down to the city with some guns, our regiment being left to gnard cam tonmenta. Immediately the 54th Native Infantry arrive,' in the city the men all joined the mutinous cavalry, an d cot up a the otheers, with the exception of two or three, who managed to escape; the artillery also turned the guns against ns. Nearly all the 71th Native Infantry followed their example, and many of the ottleers of that corps were THE PRESS, JULY 26,1857. also murdered. A regular slaughter of all Europeans was then commenced in the city —men, women, and children all shared the same fate. As I told you in my last, 1 had been ill in bed for a long time, and was to have left for England on the 15th, but God willed it otherwise. Seeing how things were turning, ill as I was, I could not remain quiet, and forthwith volunteered my services to the bri gadier, which he accepted with thanks. I joined the troops, but after a long time it was agreed that we should retire, as all hope of holding Delhi was gone. Our regiment then refused to act, and most of the officers tied to Kur neat, Meerut, Ste., but I, along with a new others, agreed to stay with the troops as long as possible. I ,placed my little boy in charge of some friends, who took him away in their carriage in safety to Meerut. I then placed Fanny and our doctor's wife in • buggy, and directed them to go as quickly as possible to Kurnaul. Our doctor, who was severely wounded, accompanied them in his gharrie, but unfortunately they were all robbed on the road, and everything taken from them, their gharrie and buggy being broken to pieces and the horses stolen. More about them after. After seeing them off I hastened to our quarter guard, where I rallied the men of my own corn panics, Nos. 3 and 5, and they promised to stand by me. I proposed to the commanding officer to call them toge- ther, but he would not permit me to do so. Of course, with this order I could do nothing. By degrees I and Ensign were left to ourselves in the quarter guard, when we agreed tokether to ride away with our colours to a place of security. The sepoys, however, refused to allow us to take them. then left tue alone and has not since been heard of. Last of all, I persuaded the sepoys to let me take the regimental colour, and I took it outside, but on calling for my groom I found he had bolted with my horse. You may imagine my horror at this. I went back into the quarter guard and replaced the colour, not on again coming out a trooper dismounted and took a deliberate shot at me, but, missing his aim, I walked up to him and blew his brains out. Another man was then taking aim at me when he was bayoneted by a sepoy of my company. The tiring then became general, and I was compelled to run the gauntlet across the parade ground, and escaped unhurt miraculously, three bullets having passed through my hat, and one through the skirt of my coat. The whole of the houses in cantonments were burnt. Having gone as far as my weak state of health would permit, and being exhausted, I took refuge in a garden under some bushes. About half an hour after a band of robbers, looking nut for plunder, detected me, robbed me of my rings, tic., and only left me my flannel waistcoat and socks. They then tore off the sleeve of my shirt, and with it attempted to strangle me. Imagine the intense agony I must have been in ! They left me for dead, as I had become senseless. About one hour after I came to. and managed to stagger on about a mile without shoes, where I secreted myself in a hut until daybreak, when I resumed my dreary journey, and, after travelling about twelve miles, the latter part of which was in the broiling sun, without anything on my heal, arrived at Aleepore. I managed to beg a little water, some bread, and a few old native clothes to cover my nakedness, but was refused shelter. Again I went on and on through the ploughed fields, barefooted, fearing to keep the road, on account of the robbers, and, after being turned from several villages, came to a village where the heal man, much against the wishes of his labourers, offered to secrete me. This offer I ac cepted, and I remained with him far five days, although once the sirdars came there and wished to murder me, but, seeing my helpless state and how ill I was, they re frained from doing sn and went away ; and a second time T was forced to flee to the fields and hide myself, as about fifty of the mutinous sepoys came and searched the village for Europeans, but, after lying the whole day in the sun, my generous friend the reminder came and fetched me. On the morning of the sixth day a man came in and gave me such information that I was confi dent that Fanny, the poor doctor, and his wife were within six or seven miles off. I at once determined at all hazards to go in search of them, and at once started off. I once more gained the high road, and, after making inquiries, found that those I was seeking for had been travelling on foot at night, and were about ten miles ahead of me. With my feet swollen and in blisters I journeyed on, and at last, to my extreme joy, overtook them. After having been several times stripped and searched by the robbers, they had been taken care of by a Ranee Mangle Dabee for two days. They, poor helpless creatures, like myself, had been robbed of all they possessed, the ladies, with the exception of a petticoat and shift, and the poor wounded doctor had his clothes left him, as the blood had so saturated them that they were deemed useless to them. The ladies also had eine rienced the most distressing, and horrible insults. At the same place we alAo met Major Patterson, who had had two very severe blows on the head with a bludgeon. On the evening of the same day we resumed our march, but as poor Wc.od was so weak we only managed to accomplish about three miles, whets we put up inavillage for the night. The villagers treated us very kindly, gave us quantities of milk, bread, and dhal, and chirpss to lie on. As soon as the moon rose and we had had about four hours' sleep we went on our road ; hut this time we were more fortunate, as some men offered to carry the doctor in a bed. By this means we got on more quickly, and by the evening we had walked about twenty miles, and put up in a village where the people were very kind indeed, and in the morning cot, ducted us safely on homes, mules, and donkeys to a place called Lnrsowlee, 'shunt thirty miles from Kurnaal. Here was a pollee station. end we immediately sent on a men on horseback to Kurnaul to send us a carriage and cavalry escort, which was immediately done; and I think God we arrived here safe ou the night of the I.oth. A sERIF.S of extracts from Sir Charles Napier's memoirs, bearing upon the condition and prospects of the Indian army, were published yesterday by the Times. We select a few of the most forcible, as exhibiting in the strongest light the foresight of the old general and the folly of the East Indian Govern ment : THE INDIAN AIUIY. The general framework of this army is bad. The offi cers appear better staff-officers than ours, but as real mental officers worse. There is nothing I can remedy as a major general ; plenty that should be quickly arranged were 1 Commander•in•Chief. People here are fnll of the superiority of Europeans, which as regards the soldiers is perhaps true. I have not seen the others fight. But the mistake is this. The former European officer was the enterprising, hard-headed, daring fellow who taught and formed the sepoy—the Clivea, Laurences, Bustle, &c. The present European is a youngster who makes curry, drinks champagne, and avoids the sun ; in ten or twelve years, if he has brains and health, he acquires some knowledge and is put on the staff ; thus the regiments are constantly commanded by lieutenants. At this moment a troop of bore artillery bete is commanded by a cadet of fifteen, who came out with me, and whom I puzzled by asking him what the dispart of a gun was ! While this deterioration of the European goer on the native officer seems to acquire a higher grade in general estimation, because from want of European officers the young and ignorant command nominally, while the natives, ever at their posts, are the real officers rind very good ones too ! There is a great cry for more regimental officers, because the few there are have more work than they like ; but no one seems to foresee that your young inexperienced wild cadet will some day find the Indian army taken out of his hands by the Soubadars, who are men of high caste and very daring. Many have got orders of merit for noble actions. The Soubadara are steady, respectful, thoughtful, stern looking men, very zealous and very military, the sole instructors of all our soldiers. 1301.110 E OF ALI. THE EVIL. The greatest evil is the army doing the civil work, while an immense civil army does nothing but plunder the land ; it ruins the regular army, and so places everything in danger ; our army is deteriorating while the natives are improving! A few years ago there was not a firearm in India that had not a matchlock; the other day in the Kohat defile we did not take one ! All were flintlocks, and the native princes now shoot with detonatcre. These are seemingly small matters, hut signs of the times. INDIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM. The Indian system seems to be the crushing of the native plebeian and supporting the aristocrat, who reason and Toots tell us is oar deadly enemy. He must always be, for we step into his place ; he descends in the scale of society, and we stand on hi 3 head. The Tyot is ruined by 118, though willing to be our friend. Yet he is the mats to whom we must trust for keeping India, and the only one wbo can take it from us if we ill use him, for he ►hen joins his hated natural chief. The final result of our Indian conquests no man can predict ; but if we take the people by the hand we may count on ruling India for Ages. Justice, rigid justice, even severe justice., will work miracles—it has its basis in the de sire of man for protection against cruelty, and cannot be shaken. India is safe if so ruled. Ilut such deeds are done as makes me wonder that we hold it a year EUROPEAN OFFICERS AND SEPOYS. Experience tells us that young men naturally are glad to avoid the details of • company which they do not understand and see shifted about from one to another. The native officer is ready to take those letails in hi; hands, and this recent desertion is a decided result, the like of which will on a larger scale again happen. The European officer is loved by the sepoy, for he his honour• able and just generally ; he is the man to lead him in battle, and therefore the man to keep him in discipline—he is capable of making the Indian army march t u Moscow, but he must have fair play. Courage, zeal, ability, and a white face lie has; but he must also have experience, which can only be given by keeping hint with his reaiment, not by giving charge of two companies to an ensign who was the month before in vulgar fractions at Addiscombe. That youth may lead them in a storm, but he cannot cam. mend them in a battle ; much less in ti gay cantonment with women, balls, and races • saying nothing of beer, which I dare not now speak of. I have in some remarks on mili• tary law, and their new article of war sent to me for my opinion, told them all this. I said give ten captains, it not give five, but call them grand division captains, and let them have the divisions, that the sepoy may have a captain to look up to, and be protected by a man who has taught him to be a soldier—not by a bey whom he has taught. My opinion will be disregarded and I will give no more, but the present system will have a bad result some fine day as sure as God made Moses; and the Court of Directors will sell the grandest empire the world ever saw. to give large salaries to civil servants and refuse captains for sepoya—this is their economy. PREDICTION OF NCTINY IN THE INDIAN ARMY. Old Indians *ay, " There is nn re,pect for you in India without magnificence and show." A greater fallacy does not exist. Trumpery and humbng are our enemies in India, as they were and aro the enemies of the Barbaric Princes. Such folly ruined them and will ruin us, for if we continue to imitate the Eastern style our officers will deteriorate, and the native officers will take the empire from us. A radical reform of the Indian army and an increase of European officers is absolutely necessary. Some years hence, for they will not increase the officers, my words will prove prophetic. The sepoy now has no European officer to loot to—no captain I mean ; he is devoted to us as yet, but we take no pains to preserve his attachment. It is no concern of mine, T shall be de id before whit I foresee will take place, but it will take place. I would give this opinion in writing if it wasald do the Company any good; but it will not, for everything I say