The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-29 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 29,1857.

to state the fact, anti to give the following as Sir C.
Napier's reply :
Simla, Nov. 5, 1850.

I approve much your report on the state of defences in
Kumaon, and though Jung Bahadoor has told my wife in
London that he loves me more than any man living, still
as lovers sometimes quarrel, I should like to be prepared'
for him, and your suggestion shall be pressed on the
attention of Government. _ _

What you say about the deficiency and freqnent change
of officers with the reserve companies of artillery is but
too true. I did intend, had I been able, to reform the
whole system; but I am of uo use—no more power have
than a lance corporal. I believe, however, I have succeeded
in moving the head-quarters of your regiment into these
provinces, either to lielhi or Meerut. Delhi is the station
where I should desire to see European battalions cautoned ;
but many say it is unhealthy.
Men from all parts of Asia meet in Delhi, and some
day or other much mischief will be hatched within those
city walls, and no European troops at hind. We shall see.
1 have no confidence in the allegiance of your• high-caste
mercenaries. I have seen a "sweeper " show more bravery
in battle than a Brahmin and a high•named Mussulman.
A high•easte man cannot be attached to a Christian Go-
vernment.

But to return to the artillery. I think very highly of
your officers generally, but especially of the young officers.
When I have found fault I have invariably traced it to the
" system," and I have vainly represented this.
There are many errors of system which a commander.
in-chief sees, but cannot change.
The Governor General takes two•thirds of the power
which a commander in-chief ought to exercise, and the
military board take the rest !
I cannot change the character of this army, which is bad
and faulty as regards system of discipline, and therefore
resign.
Many of the old officers of infantry have been habituated
to a bad system, and get into a routine of neglect from
which the devil himself would not drive them. Look at the
nightly guards in the Bengal army—the sentries are alone,
and all the rest go to bed I
The whole Bombay army does not present such an
anomaly, and it arises from the " system " being bad.
Still there are several very excellent disciplinarians in
the Bengal army—men who take a line for themselves.
Look at Gilbert, at Wheeler,• at Huish, ani a score of
others.

fn the regiment of artillery J myself know at least a
dozen first•rate officers.

The Bengal army has no want of good officers, but it
has want of ■ better system of discipline ; and as I
cannot introduce one, coupled with other causes, I have
resigned.
Lord Ellenborough wisely abolished Lord Auckland's
injudicious system of " politicals." Young officers com-
manding old ones, and war carried on without any plan !
A happy-go•lucky mode, which ended in Cabul, and the
seine system revised by Lord ll— ; but pray understand
that in condemning the system of the Bengal army I
always as) this, that the artillery I believe to be, at this
moment, the first in the world.

With respect to the next intelligence from India,
we may state that a man of war steamer is lying at
Alexandria in order to convey at once to Cagliari any
despatch which may arrive at Suez. It is said that
a plan has been submitted to the Board of Control
and the India•house kr establishing a postal com-
munication with India via Asiatic Turkey. It is cal-
culated that by making arrangements with the Arab
chiefs a mail could be brought to Constantii:ople in
al,ont fourteen days, whence its principal contents
could instantly be despatched in a telegraphic
message to London by the British Ambassador. As
intellig?nce from India cannot at present reach
England in less than from twenty-six to twenty eight
days, about ten days or a fortnight would thus be
saved. The assumption is that from Kurrachee to
Bussorah, at the head of the Per-ian Gulf, the time
orcupied by steamer would be four days, and that
thence the mail could be transmitted by the Arabs to
Seleucia, on the Mediterranean, in four days, from
which port it would be carried by steamer to Con-
stantinople in five days. Another route, which would
probably take a day longer, would be from Bussorah
to Beyrout, and thence to Constantinople ; and a
third plan is open—namely, an uninterrupted land
despatch from Bussorah to Constantinople. Accord
mg to some authorities the latter would be the
quickest, and might be accomplished so that, in-
cluding the steam transit from Kurrachee to Bus-
sorah, the entire route should be traversed in twelve
days. This possibility, however, is questioned,
although iti confirmation of it the fact is quoted that
the news of the fall of Acre was brought by an
Englishman from Constantinople to Bagdad in six
days.

The new commander at Delhi, Major• General
Thomas Reed, C. 8., who succeeded to the command
of the troops before Delhi on the death of General
Barnard, is an otrwer of experience, and has seen
much service. Be entered the army in 1813, and
was present at the battle of Waterloo. Since he has
commanded a division of the Bengal army he has
participated in several important engagements. In
184 d Major• General Reed commanded a brigade of

• Tao pilaw getteral lately 41 at Cawnpore.