The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-12 00:00:00

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

" It is really instructive, and would be amusing, were it not so
terrible, to read, by the light of the present flame, the despatch
of the Court of Directors on the assumption of the Government
of Oude. How meekly they put on greatness) The acquisition
of a kingdom costs them exactly 11. e tinges of print •little more,
allowing for the difference of type, than the extent of this notice
It was but last December that the annexation was announced
in the following remarkable words :—' An expanse of territory,
embracing an area of nearly 25,000 square miles, and containing
5,00u,0uu inhabitants, has passed from its native prince to the
Queen of England, without the expenditure of a drop of blood,
and almost without a murmur. The peaceable manner in
which this great change has been accomplished, and the tran-
quillity which hail since prevailed it. all farts of the country, are
circumstances which could not fail to excite in us the liveliest
emotions of thankfulness and pleasure Again, from the
considerations of humanity suggested by such a result, we
regard it as an additional ind conclusive evident* of the fact,
that an attachment to the old Government of Oude existed
among the people of this country.' A few short months have
passed since these egregious lines were penned, and of all that
great province so peaceably acquired, not one foot remsina to
us. except the ground on which General Havelock may be en-
camped, and the fort of Lucknow, in defence of which our ablest
Indian auminietrator has met Lis death, and a sore-straitened
handful of Europeans are desperately selling their liver."—
A amen m.

dented power. It will be read with interest and Serious
thoughtfulness by every one anxious to ascertain the causes of
the fearful rebellion which now rages against the rule of the
East Indian Government."—Morning
"' The Spoliation of Oude' is the title of a hook published by
Mr. Taylor, of Chancerylane, and in the book we have a con-
secutive history of Oude, with a full account of the way by
which the annexation was effected. It is written by so.ne able
pen, and is so well printed that we should take it to be an
historical defence presented to the British public by the autho-
rity of the Ou.ie party in England. We can only say that, for
the honour of our own nation, we feel shame that ever such a
volume could have beau written with any show of ti uth."—
Morning Star.
" The author of 'Dacoitee in Exceisie has given a compen-
dious history of the whole of the Oude question ; and, although
the language employed is sometimes strong, and toe denuncia-
tions fierce, few who read it will think them too strong or
fierce for the atrocities to which they are applied."—Sunday
Times.

We have here • plain statement of facts. They affect our
honour, and must command a calm inquiry, as the reader who
follows the story of the spoliation of (Jude from the above be.
ginninge to the imprisonment of the king, will see. Let us add,
in parting from the book before us, we thank the author thereof,
for a graphic, graceful, and manly assertion of wrongs done in
the name of England, by a rapacious set of traders, to whom we
have wrongfully unmated our fame and our empire in the Emit."
—Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper. . . .

"The work of which the above is the title is an octavovolume
of two hundred and fourteen pages, in which is set forth the
case of the King 01 (Jude. This has been drawn up with great
clearness and ability; embodied in it is a statement of the rules
of international law as applicable to the ease, in the shape of en
opinion by the eminent civilian Dr. Travers Twigs; and the
whole exhibits the iniquity of the annexation in the clearest
possible light. Crimes of this kind, whether perpetrated by
nations or by individuals, seldom pass long unpunished ; and in
the present state of India we are reaping the bitter fruits of •
policy which common sense as well as common justice had
condemned."—The Press.
"This work is well timed, as setting forth in the plainest pos.
Bible form the whole story of the manner in which °tide and its
sovereigns have been first lubricated. and then finally 'mel-
lowed at one meal by that all-devouring boa-constrictor, the
Honourable East India Company."—Morning Chronicle.
This is throughout a heavy and welhaustained charge
against the East India Company, as to their modes of acquiring
territory. and the system or governing the native tribes of the
vast empire over which they Lave so long ruled with unprece-
London : J. R. TAYLOR, 6.1, Chancery Lane; SIMPKIN, NIARSHALL,and CO., 4, Stationers
Ball Court ; and all Booksellers.

" It'is clear that the natives feel and resent the usurpation of
all Indian authority, the deposition of their princes, the absorp-
tion of kingdom atter kingdom by the white invaders. The
annexation ot Oude has, probably. exploded the materials of dis-
content long gathering—it was the spark which set fire to the
train long prepared, Whether Persian or Russian instigation
were applied is not made out—but it was hardly wanted. Could
all this be unknown to our Government? Could the Indian
authorities see nothing of it? The blindness of false security
was never more completely exemplified. If empires are
governed' with' very little wisdom,' as Chancellor Oxenstiern
declared, we should like to know 'with how much less' they may
be lost."—Kent Herald.

"' Dacoitee in Excelsis' is a work which has appeared at a
most seasonable juncture. Our conduct with regard to Oude
must be reconsidered. In the book now under notice, and
which we earnestly recommend to the impartial consideration of
the reader. the case against the East India Company is put in
the strongest light."—Weekly Record.