The Press.
London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

TRIAL OF THE KING OF DELHI.

THE trial of the King is not yet concluded, as was
erroneously stated in the last mail. By the latest
dates it bad lasted fourteen days, and was still pro-
ceeding. A correspondent observes:—
It is a strange business. The King, seated nn a camp
bed, listens to the most damning evidence without
attention, but wakes occasionally into tierce excitement
as a favourite approaches. I inclose a most singular and
somewhat unexpected piece of evidence given by a Chris-
tian half-caste woman. It is fatal, and the trial, wretchedly
reported, certainly proves three things :
First. The revolt was instigated by the Shah of Persia,
who promised money and troops. His proclamation to
that effect was posted over the Mosque gate, and was taken
down by order of Theophilus Metcalfe, who moreover was
warned by John Everett, a Christian Rissildar, very popu-
lar with the natives, that he had been warned to fly, as the
Persians were coming, and that the Mussulmans were
exceedingly excited. Sir Tbeophilus thought the matter
one of no importance.
Second. A paper was produced addressed to Mr. Colvin
by Mahomed Dervish, revealing the whole plot six weeks
before it broke out. Mr. Colvin treated the warning as
unimportant, and never even reported it to Government.
Third. The murders of the Europeans in Delhi were
committed by order of the King. in the presence of the
Royal Family, and by means of the Khassburdars, his
special personal guard.

Among European witnesses was one Mrs. Aldwell,
a resident at Delhi, who with her children escaped
miraculously from the massacre in the palace. They
were actually prisoners in the palace, but having herself
donned Mussulman costume, and having taught her
children to repeat the Kulman, or confession of
faith, they were put aside as Mahomedans. Her
evidence was extremely interesting. " The first news
of the mutiny that I received," she said," was from my
syce, who between eight and nine o'clock in the
morning brought me intelligence that the troops at
Meerut had mutinied, and were coming from Meerut,
and were murdering all the Europeans they came
across. He advised me to enter my carriage, and
get out of the place as quickly as I could " :
Soon after Mr. Nowlan, our next door neighbon:, came
in and confirmed the tale. My husband and Mr. Now-
lan went to the sepoy guard of the garrison hospital,
which was near our house, and asked them if they would
assist us in case of any attack. They replied, " Mind
your own business, and leave us to mind ours." At this
time none of the mutineers had arrived from Meerut,
and so could have held no communication with these
men. Mr. Nowlen and my husband, after consulting
together, determined to make a stand in our Louse, in
case we should be attacked, as it was the larger end welt
defensible of the two. They proceeded to arm them-
selves and barricade the house. Several of our friends
and their families took refuge in our house. We num-
bered in all about thirty souls, as far as I can judge.
Soon after this I saw several troopers rding on the river
bank under our house. They fired without effect at some
people who were on the roof of our house. I saw the
mutineers cross the bridge from Meerut. I should say
there were more cavalry than infantry. After some time
had elapsed, a Mahomedan dyer of the town rushed into
our compound, nearly frantic, with a tulwar drawn in his
hand, and covered with blood. He was repenting the
Kalman, or profession of f.-ith, and saying that they were
going to kill all the infidels. Mr. Nowlan ahot him dead.
After this Mrs. Aldwell with her three children, dis-
guised as Mahomedans,left the house for that of the
King's grandson, Mirza Abdoolah

We remained with him till eight o'clock '.n the evening,
anti then went to his mother-in-law. I left what property
I had with me (about 201)r5.) in his hands, as he said lie
would take care of it for me, as it would be safe with
him. The next morning I sent for my property. I re-
ceived answer that Mira Abdoolah had nothing belonging
to me. Be added that I had better leave his family, or
he would send and have me and my children killed as
infidels.

She next took refuga in her tailor's Ivalse, but
hearing that there were several Europeans in the
palace, whom the Kind kept in confinement, but
with the promise of their lives being safe, she deter-
mined the following day to go and join them :
Accordingly in the evening (this was Wednesday, May
1 ttli ), my tailor and a trooper 01. the 3rd Cavalry, who
owed him solve obligation, escorted us thither. As soon
as we arrived at the Lahore Gate we were stopped, searched,
and male prisoners of. We were taken before Mizra
Mogul. He ordered us into confinement with the rest of
the prisoners. We were about. fifty in one dark filthy room ;
there were no windows, and only one door. The aepoys
and crowd had free access there. They used to insult the
Europeans. We were obliged to shut the door in self-
defence, and then we bad no aperture for light or air. The
Ehassourdars ihiahed to kill nal at once, but the sepoya
would not let them. On Thursday morning a sepoy
informed us that they meant to mine the place and blow us
up. They used often to frighten us by such stories. On
Friday a servant of the King's asked one of the ls•tiea how
the English would treat them if :bey regained Delhi. She
replied, " As you have treated my husband and children."
On Saturday morning all except myself and children and
an old Mussulman, who was imprisoned with us, were taken

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819

out and murdered. I and my children were believed to be
natives. Before I came into the palace, I had learned sod
taught my children to repeat the Maloonedan profession
of filth. I had also had a petition written iu Hit lostanee,
addressed to the King, styling myself a Cashtneeee, and
asking for his protection. This was taken from me by the
guard at the Lahore Gate, and hence my disguise sue.
ceededcompletely. The Mussulmans used to eat with us;
and our food was given us separately from the Christians.
The prisoners were taken out by the Khassburdars ; they
ordered the Christians out, and said to us, " You Mussub
mans are to remain apart." Upon this other ladies and
children began crying. swing they were going to be kille I.
They were, however, reassured by the men, who swore their
most sacred oaths, that the King merely wished to put them
in a better residence. They were taken out, and a rope put
round the whole of them. They were taken to the tank in
the court, and murdered there. The Khassburdars alone
took part in the murder. They boasted of it as a privilege.
It is reckoned by Mussulmans that to kill an infidel is to
insure themselves a place in Paradise. After the massacre
two guns were tired in token of rejoicing.
As soon as the massacre was over Mrs. Aldwell and
her children were liberated, but arrested immediately
afterwards on a suspicion of being Christians in
disguise ; their capture was reported to Mirza Mogul,
and they ran an imminent ribk :
Mirza Mogul ordered as to be executed. However, the
38th Sepoys would not allow this, and hid us in Captain
Douglas's quarters. We escaped from this the day after
the defeat at the Hindun river. We hid ourselves in the
city, ar.d passed as natives. After the defeat at the
Hindun Hindoos upbraided the Mussulmans with
want of courage, and with having deceived them by false
hopes. The sepoys were all desponding and downhearted.
The Hindoos said that if they thought their lives would be
spared they would return to the British. They expressed
doubts as to whether Gcvernment had really intended to
interfere with their caste. The Mussulmans were most
titter against the infidel English. I heard Mahornedan
women teaching their children to pray for the destruction
of the English and to execute them. As soon as the
troops arrived in the palace the Hindoos induced the
King to give an order that no cows or bullocks were to be
killed in the city. 1 believe this order was strictly
observed. There was a disturbance expected during the
Buckra Fed, when the Mussulmans usually kill an ox.
They avoided the difficulty by omitting the ceremony. I
made my escape from the city on the 9th of September,
and remained in disguise till the British retook the place,
when I returned.

N.B.—Mr. Aldwell eseapd to Meerut safely, and
has rejoined his wife in Delhi.