The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-01-05 00:00:00

"111.""P 411°.--=

THE RELIEF OF LIICENOW.

The Bombay Gazette gives the following interesting
particulars relative to this great blow which has been
struck at the rebellion in India :

Perhaps it may help to give the reader a somewhat
definite idea of the position and operations of our forces
at Lucknow if we describe the locality with reference to
the map of Delhi, with which every one is now familiar,
and to which that of Lucknow exhibits some points of
resemblance. As Delhi is bounded on one side by the
Jumua, so Lucknow is bounded by the Goomtee; and
the wall of Delhi is represented sufficiently for the pur-
pose by a canal which skirts the opposite side of Luck-
now. The Palace at Delhi and the fort of Selimghur
are in the position of the Residency and the Muchee
Bawan at Lucknow. In that division of Lucknow
which is represented at Delhi by that which lies between
the Palace and the Jumna Musjid on one side, and the
Delhi, Turcomant and Ajmere gates on the other, are a
number of extensive buildings, occupying probably large
walled enclosures,—the Secunderbagli, Motee Mahal,
the barracks, mess-house, &o. Opposite these, on the
outer side of the canal, are the Dilkhoosha Park and
Palace, and La Martini6re, • large school for Christian
children, maintained on funds bequeathed by General
Claude Martin. This school is situate at the junction of
the canal abovementioned with the Goomtee, and the
Dilkhooshs adjoins it. The Alumbagh, so often men-
tioned lately, stands in relation to Lucknow topographi-
cally much as the Flagstaff Tower does to Delhi, and
about two miles from the bridge over the canal which
leads into the city, and which at Delhi would be the
Cashmere-gate. The Residency lies due north from the
Alurnbagh, and the positions which we have mentioned
are to the eastward of the Residency, occupying a
suburban district between the Goomtee and the canal,
about two miles in length, and varying in breadth from
s mile to a mile and a half. Secunderbagh is the furthest
and most eastward end from the Residency. Then come
the barracks and mess-house, and then the Motes Mahal
(Pearl Palace), which is close upon the bank of the
Goomtee, and a few hundred yards from the Residency.
"Sir Cohn Campbell arrived at Cawnpore on the 3rd
ult. On the 9th he crossed the Ganges, and joined
Brigadier Grant's column at Nawabgunge, a few miles
short of Lucknow. On the 10th or 11th the force
reached the Alumbagh, and on the 13th it made a de-
tour to capture the fort of Jellalbad, to the right of the
road, which was promptly taken and destroyed. On
the 15th by another detour to the right, driving the
enemy before him, Sir Colin obtained possession of the
Dilkhoosha park and the Martiniere School outside the
city, and of the canal which bounds it on the side
towards Cawnpore. Thence on the 16th he advanced
across the canal direct upon Secunderbagh, probably
a large garden strongly walled in the city, which was
carried after • severe struggle, in which the enemy suf-
fered immensely. This position having been oecupied,
the barracks were attacked with heavy artillery for
three hours, and were carried at dusk (the 16th), after
one of the severest fights ever witnessed. Early on the
17th communications were opened to the left rear of the
barracks towards the canal. A cannonade was kept up
all the morning on the mess-house, and that very strong
position was carried by assault at three p.m. The troops
pushed rapidly on after carrying the mess-house, and
was able to seize the Motes Mahal before dark. Sir
James Outram and Sir Henry Havelock then came out
to meet the Commander-in-Chief. We have as yet no
details of subsequent operations, but we know that on
the 20th a great part of the place was in the hands of
our troops, and that it had been found practicable to
send the women and children away to Cawnpore.
'The lose on our side in these operations must have
been considerable
..• . . .

" Including the garrison of the Alumbsigh, the Com-
mender-in-Chief would have with him about 8,000 men,
which the junction of those in Lucknow would increase
to about B,ooo—a very respectable force as things go,
and capable of dealing easily, acoording to Indian calcu-
lations, with at least 50,000 mutineers and rebels.
This force was accompanied by • powerful artillery, in-
cluding 11 heavy guns, smile of them worked by the
seamen of the Navel Briede. Sir Colin Campbell ap-
pears duly to have appreciated his own strength in this
arm, and to have resolved to turn it to the best account
in making way for his infantry.
" We have other victories to announce besides these
at Lacknow. On the 18th ult. • force from Delhi,
under Colonel Gerrard, attacked the mutineers of the
Joudpore Legion, reinforced by refugees and rebels to
about 5,000 men, with nine guns, at Narnool, about 80
miles south-west of Delhi, and completely defeated
them, capturing all their guns. Our loss was 15 killed
and 45 wounded. Among the former, we are sorry to
say, was Colonel Gerrard, the only officer who fell.
"On the 21st ult. the Mundesore rebels, who had
besieged Neemuch for • fortnight, attempted to take
the place by escalade. They were repulsed with heavy
loss, and immediately raised the siege.
" Our loss during the fortnight was two officers
slightly wounded and four Sepoys wounded. The 12th
Bombay Native Infantry, which formed the principal
part of the garrison, is reported to have behaved
very nobly.
"The attempt of the rebels at Neemuch, by escalade,
was probably urged by the knowledge that the Mhow
column, now known as the Nerbudda Field Force, under
Brigadier Stuart, was approaching their own head-
quarters. On the same day, the 21st ult., it encamped
near Mundesore, and was attacked by the insurgents
there, whom it defeated and drove off. On the 22nd
and 23rd there was fighting in various positions taken up
by our troops about Mundesore, and the end was that
the enemy evacuated the place and fled. Our lose is
said to be not heavy, considering the work done ; but,
as our &neonate are as yet only telegraphic, we have no
particulars."

THE QUICKEST DESPATCH OF THE INDIA MAIL.—
The Calcutta portion of the India mails, consisting of
42 boxes, left Paris on Thuiedity morning at 6.10, and
arrived at Boulogne by special train at 11.25. The
boxes were embarked in ten minutes on board the mail
packet Prince Frederick William. The vessel ran to
Dover in one hour and 38 minutes, the shortest time in
which the passage hiui ever been made. The mails were
at the railway station within 12 minutes, and the South-
Eastern special train started at 1.26, and came up to
London in one hour and 38 minutes, arriving at London-
bridge at three o'clock :
Speed per
Miles. hour. Railways, Sui.
Paris to Boulogne 169 32. 2 Northern of France.
Boulogne to Dover 30 18.37 Mail-packet.
Dover to London 88 56. 2 South-Eastern.
Thus the Calcutta mail was conveyed from Paris to
London, including all stoppages and time occupied in
embarking and landing, and conveyance to and from
steam-boat and railway, in 8 bourn and 50 minutes. By
this special arrangement on the part of the General
Poet-office, the Loudon letters were sent out for delivery
before 6 o'clock, and all correspondence for the country
was despatched by evening mail trains.

THE CURER Or CASTE EN INDIA,-Of the 100,000,000
whom we govern in India, tLiare oertainly are not 10
who could comprehend the pouibility of • man concern-
ing himself for the good of the country at large, or ex-
tending his regards beyond the circle of his kindred or
friends. And yet, after all, the ingratitude and the
cruelties which horrify humanity and put the cannibal
to shame, are plants of Oriental growth, and which
have always flourished in the East. The natives treat
each other jut as they have treated the English who
have recently fallen into their hands. They have no
idea of captivity, tulles *emaciated with torture or exter-
mination. To burn or punch out the eyes, or burn the
bowels out, are matter, of every day occurrence, from
the earliest periods of their history down to the present

0/11116141

time. The interposition of the British Government Is
being perpetually called upon to shield the native sub.
ject from the inflictions of his sovereign or chief. We
have had within the pest five years before an memoriam
from Baroda, from Kattiewar, from Ajmer*, 'Botch.
and other plasm in Bajpootetia, all to the seine effect;
and if monstrous tyranny fall short of bodily torture or
capital infliction it was to the British Government that
even this inuoh of mercy was to be ascribed. The
eyes of Europe have now for the lira time been opened
to the oondition of India and the character of its people;
and such thing' as those that until now have been of
constant occurrence meet never again be suffered to
appear. A stern. iron despotism never stooping from
its dignity or flinching from it. duty, mud take the
place of that goodustured and well-intentioned combini.
tion of oomproinises, coercions, checks, and tempo&
sings hitherto looked upon as the inasturpieoes of an
Eastern administration. Biooking no resistance on the
part of those we rule, it will be the first duty of the
rulers to provoke none; and exulting propriety in
others, to show an example of unbending rectitude In
ourselves, The time will come, but not now, when
public employment And emoluments may be reopened to
the native ; when it does arrive, the first test of his
deserving the countenance of the eiviliaed is the rerun•
elation of the badges of barbarism. There can here-
after be no communication betwixt light and darkness,
and he who claims the privilege of being pided by
" native custom" must renounce the hope of European
countenance or sympethy. The Bengal mutineer; have
done nothing niore than indulge in the customs of their
caste and country, and nothing beyond what way Banc.
tioned by °neon% and by °recd. With men who think
such things permissible did opportunity occur we oat;
have no interoommunion whatever. From the perfect
facility with which infanticide, suttee, slavery, and
thuggee—all great institutions of the country—kayo
been put down, we have no doubt whatever that half
the other privileges and usages we (oar to meddle with
would vanish were we only bold enough to face the.n.
The use of greased cartridges and the readiness with
which all castes travel together by rail, add to our con•
viction§ on these subject*. A caste man and a native
custom man—adverse as both must needs be to progress
and to the advancement of the great huinan fanilly—are
the enemies of the commonwealth, and ought to be
made to contribute many times more to its government
than thou who are It, friends. Were the highly
orthodox triplo•tazod, struck from Oho list of justloos
and of Government•house visitors, and leisured that
public employment was not to be looked for by them,
we should find caste vanish like smoke; the Brahmins
most probably discovering, as in the case of suttee, that
the Vedas and Shuteye were never in reality meant to
have been interpreted As they have hitherto been.

Ti STUDY Or THE INDIAN LANGIJAOII.—It Ought
to be, and no dould it will be, one of the first things-for
Parliament to declare that a study of the native dialect
shall be obligatory on every candidate for the Indian
civil and military services Italian will no longer have
the same importance as Ilindoetenee, law will no longer
carry five times as many marks as Sanscrit, in the exe-
minations for India. But it will also be the duty of
Government to provide the candidates with the iseans
of learning Indian languages in this country, by *MAD-
liehing an Oriental College. It is a mistake to itnagine
that the Oriental languages can be better learnt in Cal-
cutta than in London. The elements of grammar and a
knowledge of •the literature can be acquired infinitely
better from European teachers, and it is only after this
solid foundation has been laid that actual intercourse and
conversation with natives can be of any practical use.
What is wanted is a staff of professors, together with
sotne native assistant,. There should be professors for
!dimwit, Arabic, and Persian, capable of teaching the
grammars and of lecturing on the literature, the law,
and religion of the Hindoos and the Mshomedans. For
practical purposes they should be assisted by learned
natives. The lectures of the professors and the lessons
of the teachers should be open to all the candidates for
the civil and military services of India ; and no candi-
date should be allowed to proceed to India without har-
ing satisfied the examiners that he had acquired that
knowledge of Oriental languages and literature, which.
by dint of study, can be acquired by everybody, and
without which the officer, as well as the civilian, with
all his knowledge of Greek, Latin, Italian, lam, and
political economy, will prove himself helpless, useless,
and dangerous at every critical emergency. A man need
not have been in India to see that in order to govern •
people, and to gain the confidence and goodwill of •
conquered race, it is necessary to know their language.
At the late meeting in Willis's Rooms on the missions in
India, Sir W. P. Wood gave utterance to the same con.
viction. " Much might be done," he said, "by bring-
ing the English and native minds as much as possible in
contact. This was comparatively easy, for the Govern.
merit might require that no native should take an office
unless he could speak the English tongue, and that no
Englishman in turn should be placed in a position of
authority unless he was well acquainted with the native
languages. Great good must undoubtedly arise from
such a regulation."

LIEUTENANT SALKELD.

The Hon, and Rev. S. G. Osborne writes to the Times
se follows :

I trust you will permit me to occupy a small space in
your columns in connexion with that part of the history
of the war in India in which poor Salkeld's name has
become so honourably conspicuous.
The simple narrative of that deed of true heroism by
which, at the Gate of Delhi, he met his death, carried
with it a proof of what he was as a soldier. No act
could have called for greater devotion to duty, or
required in its performance greater combination of
English pluck, as found in the young, with a
coolness of execution worthy of the most tried of
veterans.

This young officer has not more distinguished himself
in his profession by his devotion to his oountry's service
of his life than he stands distinguished in the memory
of those who knew him for his virtues as a son and
brother. _ .

His father, a clergyman in Dorsetehire, by • reverse
of fortune some years since, was with • large family re-
duced, I may say, to utter poverty. This, his soldier
son, supported out of his own professional income one of
his brothers at school, helping a sister obliged to earn
her own bread as a governess, to put another brother to
school. Just before his death he had saved a sum of
£l,OOO, which was in the Bank at Delhi, and was there-
fore lost to him, and, more than this, it was lost to the
honourable purpose to which, as a son and brother, he
had devoted it. In his native county, as your adver-
tising columns of last week will have informed you, it
was determined to erect a monument to his memory by
subscription. Cadetships have been given to two of his
young brothers, it is now wisely resolved that while the
memorial which is to hand down his mune to posterity
in connexion with his glorious death shall be all that is
necessary for the purpose, every farthing collected
beyond the sum necessary for this shall be expended
as he would have desired, for the good of these his young
brothers. _ .

The expense of the proper outfit, &c., is heavy,—not
so heavy, I trust, but that local sympathy might in the
end meet it ;still, I and others feel that this is • ease in
which we are justified in inviting any who may be dis-
posed so to do to aid in the work.
Punch—first in his particular line of fun, but ever
ready to be among the foremost to point where modest
want needs the aid it will never beg—has told of the
calling of poor Salkeld's sister. She, I believe, would
be the last of that valuable but tried sisterhood to which
she belongs to dream of asking for aught she cannot
earn. Still, Sir, let the benevolent not for one moment
doubt but that in helping those she with her poor bro-
ther spared not themselves to help, they will lighten
many an hour of that life which, I fear, must for a long
time yet be one the future of which will have its own
clouds._ .

I will only now add my firm conviction, from my own
knowledge of the parties who have this good work in
hand, that every farthing intrusted to them will be
wisely and economically expended.