The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-12 00:00:00

PESHAWUR.

Lieutenant. Colonel Edwardes, C. 8., writing from
June 21 to July 0, expresses opinions upon our posi-
tion which are worthy of attention. One thing is
remarkable. He appears to place unbounded re-
liance upon the native troops of a district which
hitherto has always proved " an incessant anxiety."
Is it only the stimulus of plunder which has so sud-
denly changed refractory chiefs and a dangerous
people into the most faithful of allies ?
As yet we have made no impression on Delhi. Gene.
ral Reed's, or rather General Barnard's, force was too
weak to besiege Delhi, and has had to stop and wait for
reinforcements just as General Whish had at 1110016 in.
The rebel. far exceed him in numbers and in guns. The
numbers are of little consequence, for disorganised frag-
ments of rebel regiments never can contend successfully
with the serried battalions of a well-appointed army led
by English officers; but it is a serious matter to have 150
pieces of artillery (taken nut of our own magazine)
playing upon our camp. Engagements take place every
two or three days, and we are easily victorious in the
open field. The enemy loses hundreds in every skirmish,
and the heaps of dead are replundered by our soldiers of
all the plunder they had secreted round their waists.
We lose very few men or officers; but we don't get into
Delhi, and the delay damages our reputation and en-
courages the belief, artfully disseminated by the Brah-
mins and Moollabs, that " all prophecies agree that the
English rule is now to end!" So the deluded people rise
here and there, and add to the anarchy and confusion. We
trust that 20,000 soldiers are now embarking from England,
but they cannot reach till September, and you may judge
what has to be endured and done during the intervening
months. There never was anything a hundredth part so
serious in India before. This post, so far from being more
arduous in intim. will be more secure. Events here have
taken a wonderful turn. During peace Peshawur was an
incessant anxiety. Now it is the strongest point in India.
We have struck two great blows—we have disarmed our

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own troops, and raised levies of all the people of the coun-
try. The troops are confounded ; they calculated on being
backed by the people. The people are delighted, and a
better feeling has sprung up between them and us in
this enlistment than has ever been obtained before. I

SB7

have also called on my old country, the Deragat, and it is
quite delightful to see how the call is answered. Two
thousand horsemen, formerly in my army at Mooltan, are
now moving on different points, according to order, to help
us in this difficulty, and every post brings me remonstrances
from chiefs as to why they have been forgotten. What fault
have they committed that they are not aent for? This is
really gratifying. It is the heart of a people. It does one
good all through. The l'eshawurees had often heard that
had been grateful in setting rewards for my followers after
the Mooltan war; but they were not prepared to see such a
demonstration from the other end of the Soolimanee Moun-
tains. It excites their better feelings, and will do them
good to. All yesterday I was busy in fitting out 700 horse
and foot levies (Mooltanee ) to reinforce Nicholson at
Jullundur. How all the liberality shown to these Moo'.
taneesafter the war of 1418-9 is now repaid, in the alacrity
with which they rush to our side again to help us ! They
are now invaluable, and so glad to see me again ; it is quite
a pleasure in the midst of this howling wilderness.

That our great safety rests upon the incapacity of
the rebels to take advantage of the situation, there
can be little doubt. " Indeed," writes the ltev. II .
S. Polehampton from Lucknow, May 12,

If there were anything like union among the natives
and a clever man at their head, all that we could do pro-
bably would not prevent our all being cut off to a man, and
the English would have to reconquer the country. Things
throughout India never looked so serious. It may all
come to an end soon, and the country be more tranquil
than ever, or we may all be murdered in a week. I
think it will be the former. Whatever happens cannot be
without the will of God, and " heaven," as the old sailor
said, "is as near us here as at home." To show yon how
serious people in authority think the state of affairs, the
other day, after the mutiny in the 7th Irregulars had been
put down, I said laughingly to Sir Henry Lawrence, " Why,
Sir Henry, you may have some work cut out for you now
before you go home." He said, very gravely, " I can
assure you it is no laughing matter." I heard Colonel
Inglis say the same thing to a man who was inclined to be
too jocular yesterday.