The Press.
London, England, 1858-12-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 18, 1858.

1230

tion and large trees were cleared away, stagnant
waters drained, and ruins removed, while large airy
barracks were erected for the garrison, there would
be no greater amount of sickness than anywhere else.
It must be remembered that these torts ate not to be
armed like European fortresses, but are merely in.
tended to protect the arsenals, and perhaps cover the
camp when the European troops take the field,
which they should be always ready to do on the
shortest notice.

A native army, in my opinion, must also be main-
tained—partly to do duty in parts of the country
which would be very injurious to European consti-
tutions, to act as local pol►ce, escorts, &c., and also
to keep in employment many restless characters who
would otherwise be in rebellion ; but these troops
should merely be auxiliaries to the European army,
be armed in an inferior manner, and so recruited
from various tribes and nationalities as to dec:ease
the chance of a combination like that in the late
Bengal army. The regular native cavalry should, I
think, be replaced by irregular corps, partly on the
model of the Sinde Horse ; the regiments raised in
the south could occupy the Puojaub, whilst the
Sikhs and Punjabies would be sent to Lower Bengal,
the Deccan, Mysore, &c. The artillery I have
already supposed will be exclusively worked by Euro.
peans, but to each battery and arsenal should be
attached a certain number of half-castes or Anglo-
Indians, Africans, &c. The next point to be consi-
dered is the military organization of the British non-
military residents at the Presidencies and principal
stations. I must again repeat that, however dis-
tasteful and inconvenient it may be, all European
and half-caste residents, with the exception of the
clergy, should be imperatively obliged to be members
of an armed militia—the arms to be kept in a con-
venient and secure ralling.point, which could also
afford temporary protection to the women and chil-
dren ; this militia to be called out regularly, and no
excuse for non-attendance to be admitted, but to be
heavily fined. It is a duty which every person owes
to his family or countrymen, and should be looked
on as sacred.

Although it is necessary that several considerable
European camps should exist in various parts of
India, sanitariums for the soldiers and their families,
and, if possible, military colonies, must also be
formed on a large scale on the most elevated moue- '
tainous parts of India. In the south of the penin-
sula, the Neilglierries or Blue Mountains hold out
a prospect of success for the site of a colony. Far-
ther north, not far from the large camp of Poona,
the Mahbalishwa hills offer a favourable spot for a
sanitarium. In the north, the Himalaya mountains
have a climate superior to Europe, and might support
a race of hardy mountaineers trained to military
service. One of the first points to be attended to
must he the means of access to these colonies. Good
and secure roads should be constructed, and, if
proper care and attention is bestowed on these colo-
nies, there is no reason why they may not in time
succeed. The supply of many European articles
would demand the attention of the authorities at
home. But it would, perhaps, be found best to com-
mence on a small scale. Two or three villages of
100 families each, fixed within five or six miles ot
each other—to consist, in the first place, ot moun-
taineers accustomed to attend to sheep and cattle,
and to cut wood, with a small proportion of me•
chanics, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, and brick-
layers ; each village to be recruited as much as pos-
sible from one country, say, Welsh English from the
Lake district, Scotch Highlanders, and Protestant
Swiss ; the land should always be held on the condi-
tion of military service ; each grown up colonist to
be married, and to receive certain stores for the
maintenance of his family; a military governor,
clergyman, schoolmaster, and doctor, all married,
should be appointed by Government ; hut, previous
to emigrating, these new communities should undergo
a certain training at depots established in Great
Britain, if possible among their native hills. Great
care must be taken in the selection of the first colo-
nists; a certain number of backwoodsmen from
Canada would be of the greatest use. The timber
cut in the Himalayas and (huts could be floated
down to tha sea for ship-building; sawmills would,
therefore, be required from home.
We will now return to the requirements of the
army. These may be classed under two heads—
first, the stores required for immediate use by regi-
ments, corps, and divisions; second, those to remain
in the arsenals or in depot as a reserve. With re-
gard to the first. class, the greater portion will have
to pass through the principal arsenals, though por-
tions may be sent direct to other departments of the
army, and even to head-quarters of regiments.
For the—

I. ARTILLERY.—FieId horse artillery ; horse field
batteries ; camel and elephant batteries ; mountain
trains; battering trains (often kept in arsenals) ;
garrisons and forts ; powder works and manufac-
tory of percussion caps ; gun•carriage departments ;
foundries for brass guns (iron guns and mortars not
made in India).

11. Aassm,s.—Arms for Infantry—Rifle Regi-
ments ; Line Regiments. Arms for Cavalry.—Light
Dragoons ; Lancers ; Irregulars. Engineers
Sappers and Miners; Pontoon trains and military
bridges; intrenching tools for mining ; surveying
instruments. Ammunition for Small Arms—Packed
percussion caps ; musket and pistol flints ; gunpowder
in barrels. Reserve of iron guns, howitzers, mortars
and bedß, garrison carriages, brass guns, and
howitzers ; iron shot, shell, grape, spherical case.
Gun-carriages; platforms; spring snd ammunition
carts ; iron ; lead ; paper fur cartridges ; woollen
serge for gun•cartridges ; rope ; twine ; canvas ;
battens ; flags ; fuzes ; rockets ; copper ; instru•
ments and books. For the supply of camp equipage,
tents, fuel (coal), tar, harness, and saddlery; tools
of all kinds for repairs.
111. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S DLPARTMENT.—
Survey instruments ; drawing materials ; maps and
books.

IV. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.— General, military,
regimental, and civil hospitals ; medicines ; instru-
ments ; books ; clothing ; medical comforts.
V. ARMY CLOTHING.-Supply of cloth, shoes, caps,
helmets, and articles for uniforms; knapsacks;
bedding ; blankets.
VI. COMMISSARIAT.—SappIy of provision, weighing
machines, kc.; wine, beer, and spirits; cooperage;
transport of hospitals, military stores, camp equipage,
and tents ; supply of veterinary instruments and
medicines.

VII. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.--SUpply
of military libraries ;regimental schools; transmission
of orders by telegraph ; military chaplains, books, &c.

VIII. JUDGE ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.—
Military prisons ; books and stationery.
IX. NAVAL DEPARTMENT.—WiII be placed under a
naval officer who will assist the inspector of military
stores and attend to requisitions sent home by the
dockyards; master attendants; superintendent of
the Indian navy and pilot services; also for the
service of lighthouses.
In the foregoing only an outline of the principal
sources of demand for stores has been attempted, as
it would be useless to give a long list of articles.
But though, a. 4 I have said, we must be content to
hold India by the sword, still it is our duty to try all
we can to improve the state of the country and
render the inhabitants content and prosperous.
Railroads will, there is no doubt, do much good,
but the inland navigation of rivers, roads, bridges,
dr.c., must also be attended to ; and as the require-
ments of the civil branches of the service are also
supplied through the Inspector-General of Military
Stores, the probable sources of demand must be
casually alluded to. They are, for the three mints,
with machinery, essay instruments, lac.; repair and
construction of bridges, terries, blinders or landing
piers ; transport of the mail and Yost office, with
electric telegraphs and instruments ; maintenance
and construction of publio buildings, hydraulic
works, and for irrigation ; engines, Scc., protection
against fire ; civil hospitals and public health ;
astronomical department ; inland river navigation
and supply of fuel ; supply of stationery to various
departments ; prisons and lunatic asylums, schools
and colleges ; supply of specimens of improved
agricultural implements, machinery, and horticultural
plants and products.
The advantage of attending to the last named
source of demand has, I believe, been scarcely
acknowledged. A few specimens may have been
sent out, but to make them of general use museums
should be established in some of the principal cities,
which should be open free of all charge to every-
body. In these museums not only should specimens
he exhibited, with a full account of the manner of
working and expense, 'out also working models with
figures of native workmen in every stage of the
required process ; for it must be remembered that
the natives of India are to a great degree like
children, and require a clear and tangible explana-
tion of everything. Some of the most useful im-
provements which might be introduced in this way
are :—Culture and manufacture of sugar, cotton,
indigo, and silk, coffee, and in places even tea;
mills for grinding, sawing, and extracting oil ; brick
and tile making ; premiums should be given to she
best and cheapest imitator.

But in all intercourse between the British Govern-
ment or their officers, civil or military, and the
natives, while complete toleration in religious
matters should be allowed, still the distinctions of
caste must never again be recognized. Every employ.
ment to which natives are eligible should be open
to all castes and religions; none should have
exclusive privileges or respect shown to them. The
llher or Parrish families should not, as now, be
obliged to live outside the village walls, nor should
tanks or wells (unless private property) be appro-
priated by particular castes to the exclusion of others.
The sale of butcher's meat should also be legal, but
in this case animals should only be killed in proper
slaughterhouses, so se not to hurt the religious pre-
judices of any one.

from
__________,_._
The tenure of estates and land in India is open to
great improvement. I think that all land and houses
should gradually be made freehold and allowed to he
sold or transmitted by will ; the present title deeds
might be called in, and new ones granted, dating
the present period. When India has passed under the
Royal Government, this, with titles of nobility (not
conferring political power), would greatly attach the
natives to our rule and prevent treason.
In these reflections it may be considered that I
have been led away from the subject first started—
viz., the supply of military and other stores for India,
but in estimating the probable demands on any de.
partment it is first necessary to examine the sources
of demand, and also the state, present and future, of
the country to be supplied. H.C.

jortigit 6,orrEspontatt.

PARIS, Thuriday.

POLITICAL matters are not important this week. The
fears of a war between France and Austria have
subsided, and it is even said is diplomatic circles
that the ill will which has for some time past pre-
vailed between the two powers is likely to give way
to friendly feeling. This is probable, if it be true,
as the German journals tell us, that, by the inter
vention of the King of Saxony, a rapprochement is
in course of being accomplished between Austria
and Russia. I say it is probable, because nothing
would be more impolitic on the part of the Emperor
of the French than to continue bickering with Aus
tria, when Russia is her friend, and England is her
fnend, and Prussia, in imitation of those two powers,
is certain to become co. The fears of a collision
between Austria and Sardinia have also ceased, the
latter power, in reply to the European Cabinets,
having given the assurance that it has no intention
of bringing one on, and the former thinking, of
course, that "there is nothing like peace." As to
the "free immigration " question, about which some
of your contemporaries have lately made erroneous
statements, I learn that the Emperor of the French
has given a positive assurance to the English
Government that, even if the special commission now
sitting in Paris to inquire into the matter should
pronounce in favour of a continuance of immigration,
he will declare against it; and his Majesty's voice
you know is potential. The alleged detention of a
French " immigrant " ship on the coast of Africa by
English cruisers, and her forced disembarkation of a
cargo of" free immigrants," is not confirmed ; at all
events it is quite certain that if any such event has
taken place the French Government will not make
any fuss about it.
Strange to say, this removal of political disquietude
abroad has not made things look more cheerful at
home. The Bourse, which in this country is con-
sidered a thermometer of the public sentiment, con-
tinues in a state of profound depression ; trade is not
prosperous, as is proved by a decline in the exports
and imports, and in the discount of bills by the
Bank of France ; and agriculture complains that the
prices it receives for its produce are scarcely
remunerative. Ytt a great abundance of unemployed
money notoriously exists, and the Minister of Finance
has just published a report to the Emperor which, if
its statements be true, shows that the public finances
are magnificently prosperous.
The Montalembert affair has ceased to excite any
interest whatsoever, and when it comes next week.
before the Imperial Court on appeal it will, I fancy, it
no unexpected incident should arise, be considered a
bore.
The state of Paris and the provinces is one of pro•
found tranquillity—almost of lethargy ; and the
lucubrations of the journals are milder, more insig-
nificant, and more stupid than ever. Yet a species
of vague distrast exists amongst high and low ; and
though no one can exactly account for it, no one can
shake it off.
The Grand Duke Constantine of Russia having
taken the command of a Russian squadron in the
Mediterranean, and having occasion to touch at
Toulon and Marseilles with his ships, will come op
to Paris to pay a flying visit to the Emperor and Eru-
press. The presence of his Imperial Highness
twice in this capital within the space of two years
testifies that the relations between France and
Russia have increased in cordiality : but the time
has gone by when intimacy between those two powers
was regarded as a portent of rupture between them
and others. It is even said by some persons that
the Russian Prince would not have paid a second
visit to their Imperial Majesties it he had not bad
occasion to pass through Paris on his way to St.
Petersburg, where the Dowager Emprese, Ins mother,
has been taken seriously, and and some accounts
even say dangerously, ill. As to the Emperor 0f
Russia, his visit to Paris in the spring, which was