The Press.
London, England, 1857-11-14 00:00:00

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STAMPED ....SIXPENCE.
UNSTAMPED..FIVEPENCE.

serviceaunayailable for a long time to come.
What the lciavoc made among the private sol-
diers haibeen, we learn from the numberless
letters that have appeared 'in our columns or
in those of •our contemporaries, and which
have been forwarded from our several camps.
In one of these it was stated that a few weeks
of service only, under HAVELOCK, sufficed to
reduce a body of 300 Highlanders to 100 effec-
tive men. and a complete regiment the
Madras Fusileirs—to a couple of companies
of the usual strength. Nor were the hard-
ships that had tthus reduced them caused
by the necessity of the ease alone. Defective
hospital and commissariat and transport
arrangements had had their share in pro-
ducing this effect. But if this be so when the
wants of so small a body only have to be pro-
vided for, what may we not expect when the
full force of Europeans that we have sent to
India has to take the field?

The truth is, disguise it as they may, the
Ministry are simply going on the system of
from hand to mouth. At first they told us
that the matter was insignificant, notwith-
standing the statements which the Earl of
ELLENBOROUGH and Mr. DISRAELI. made.
Then, when that absurdity was seen through,
and troops were sent out, we were told, with
equal gravity. that the affair would be over in
a month. Still, as the rebellion gained ground,
their affected confidence grew with it, and
every trifling success was magnified into a
final blow to it, or, as they were pleased to call
it, a breaking of the rebellion's neck. If
words could do this it no doubt would have
been done long since ; but there is some differ-
ence between talking and writing claptrap
and putting down such a rebellion as now
rages in Hindostan. Did no worse result
arise from this than a mere deception of the
public at home, it might matter little what they
thought or said. But a rebellion the longer it
remains unquelled extends the more its
ravages, till what was at one time controllable
by those who understand such matters ceases
to be controllable by any man on earth. That
the rebellion in India is beginning now to
assume such proportions as these no one who
really comprehends the question can for a
moment doubt. Notwithstanding the capture
of Delhi, our position is now very much worse
than it was in July last. We have shown
what we can do, but we have proved how
comparatively circumscribed are our means of
action, let us exert ourselves as we will. We
have shown that we can take any fortified
position the rebeLs may occupy ; but we have
also exhibited to them at what a cost of time,
and men. and money alone this can be done.
We have taught them precisely the measure
of our strength ; and be that what it may, it
has not operated to deter others from follow-
ing the example that the original rebels set.
In July, again, we had as much money and
credit as we required for the
we are forced

expenditure
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crushed e'
but, if so, ii

present Gov,
mistakes. S T

out of mil

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highly taxed
be finally -

we required for the campaign; now
forced to limit ourselves to such
re as the wants of the present mo-
Lsis may enable us to ; • • a . tch in
in home. That e • i h'. ;,A lik be
!ventually, we of t.,. ~:, "7, a
it will not be b t ; 4 lir
li
overnment, but ‘, -: '' -; +e*
[England, that uliu, o ger*
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any perils, will, pis - , . 1 _ ~ ...
-iumphanr out ; 131 ,
tion's prowess • .-:;111 ..*.441,..,
ed than ours wiritil:;'; •4. ..1•1
accomplished; . lit rt,lf ir,, •