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

INDIA.

THE BOMBAY MAIL - ADVANCE OF
SIR COLIN CAMPBELL.

THE following telegram was received yesterday at
the East India House. For the latest Indian intel-
ligence, we must refer our readers to the " Post-
script ":
TO SIR JAMES MELVILL, EAST INDIA HOUSE.
ALEXANDRIA, December 5, 1857.
Intelligence from Bombay to the 17th of November:—
Sir Cohn Campbell reached Cawnpore on the 4th of No-
vember, crossed the Ganges on the 9th, en route to Luck-
now, with 5,000 men of all arms.

General Windham commands the reserve at Cawnpore.

Colonel Greathed's column arrived at Cawnpore on the
f 26th of October, and proceeded, on the 31st, under com-
mand of Brigadier Grant, being reinforced by 5,000
strong, with a large supply of provisions, to Alumbagh,
where it awaits the arrival of the commander-in•chief.
The l)inapore mutineers were driven from a strong
position at Binder, near Futtehpnre, by a detachment of
nearly 500 men under Colonel Powell, 53rd Foot ; two
gins captured, but with severe loss. Colonel Powell

The accounts from Saugor anti Jubbulpore unsatisfac-
tory. Major Erskine has earnestly demanded assistance.
Brigadier Stuart's column, on its route to Mhow, has been
directed to proceed thither.
The contingent at Mahedpore mutinied on the Bth of
November, ar.tl killed two of their officers; but a telegra-
phic despatch, just received, states they were attacked
by the Mhow field force, and routed, with loss of all
their guns.

Mhow And Indore all quiet.
No further outbreaks in Raipontana, but the Rewah
Thakoor and Jodhporu mutineers are still in force.
A reinforcement of 500 Infantry has proceeded from
Guzerat to aid General Lawrence.

All quiet in Bombay, with the exception of the Bheels
in Khandeish, which are being put down.

The Genghis Khan arrived at Bombay with a detach-
ment of 3rd Dragoons and N6th Foot.

MI quiet in &Mae and Punjaub, as also in the Nizam's
country.

Dates from Calcutta direct to the 9th of November;
nothing of importance. H. JOHNSON.
Trieste, December 11, 9.13 a.m.

RAVEN.

An unexpected mail received this week from Cal-
cutta brought intelligence, up to November Ist, of
one week later date to that previously received. The
following official message, received at the East
India House at the same period as the mail itself,
explained to a certain extent the position of affairs
up to the !Um. October:—

CALCUTTA, Oct. 31.

T,UCKNOW.

Communications still difficult, and no certain intelli-
gence from Lucknow of later date than the 21st. of October
received in this office.

On that date food was running short, and it would seem
that the gun-bullocks were being slaughtered.
Rut relief was approaching. Colonel Greathed's column,
after reoccupying Mynpooree, putting the Rajah to flight,
and recovering much property and two and a half lace of
treasure, reached Cawnpore on the 26th.
For some time past troops have been leaving this daily
for the same destination, and the commander-in•chief
started on the 27th.

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 12, 1857.

The Gwalior mutineers left Gwalior on tae 15th and
16th, with siege-train, field guns, and much ammunition,
and have been heard of thirtyisix miles from Gwalior.

Major Burton, the Political Agent at Harrowtee, has
been foully murdered, with his two sons, by the itaj
troops. the Rajah is sail not to have been concerned
in the act.

Jodhpore mutineers have gone to wards the Sambhur
Lake, and the Indore mutineers, who were defeated at
Agra on the 10th, have fled to Ilajpootana.
G. F. EDMONSTONE,

Secretary to the Government of India.

From the correspcudence received by the Cai-
cutta mail, and which dates one day later, Nov. 1,
than the official intelligence, we gather that great
alarm existed at Calcutta for the fate of Havelock
and Outram, and the garrison at Lucknow.
" Never," writes one correspondent, was our posi-
tion there more critical :"

It now appears that although General Havelock suc-
ceeded in relieving the garrison at Lucknow, it was at an
enormous sacrifice of life, 26 officers and 200 men being,
killed, and 39 officers and 700 men wounded. Still he
succeeded, and earned the credit of saving our country.
men and women from death. No sooner, however, was
their safety apparently secured than he was himself be
sieged. Ho is now occuping the position so long held by
our garrison, but of his whole force there are barely 700
fit fur duty, while the attacking force numbers thousands,
and is daily being reinforced by the baffled garrison of
Delhi. These latter, although worsted in every encounter
with our troops, are creeping gradually into Dude, deter-
mined to make their last and fiercest stand in the land of
their birth.

" So completely is the force there beleaguered,"
writes another correspondent, " that the old device of
inclosing letters in a quill has been of necessity
abandoned. The only message received for weeks
was written on a piece of paper three inches square,
and concealed by a device it may be prudent as yet
to keep private." The few facts so reported are
somewhat discouraging. That Sir James Outram's
force has been terribly reduced is allowed on all
sides. The Time 4 correspondent writes, that when
Havelock relieved the Residency on' sth September,
he did it at a frightful cost of life
This feat was accomplished by pressing on through
gardens, small bazaars, knots of houses, and other inclosed
places. The enemy fought as Asiatics always do fight be-
hind stone walls. The bullets literally rained upon the
advancing force, and that single movement cost 400 men;
10 officers of the 90th were killed or placed hors do combat,
and almost all the superior officers of the sth Fusiliers. I
have heard many of the names, bat refrain from exciting the
regret of their friends at home till further information can
be obtained. There had been some hard fighting before
the relieving force reached the inclosures, and the total
number of soldiers killed or disabled cannot be fixed at less
than 700. The force therefore, even after its junction with
the garrison already iu the Residency, cannot be more than
1,4(K) strung, and this small party must be embarrassed by
the erica of sick and wounded, women and children, to a
number in excess of its own. There are besides some 800
men at the Alumbagh, with a great array of camp followers,
but they are believed to be wiihout the means of communi-
cating with the Residency. Since this time we know little
positively, and that little is obtained solely from native
gossip. The rumours, however, all point to one fact,—
that General Outram, during the second week in October,
attacked some large building, probably one of the palaces,
and was driven back with further loss of life. I have neon
one letter in which the writer, himself in Oude, states this
as a fact, but I warn you that this and all other accounts
must be received with caution till confirmed. It is nearly
certain that there are 70,300 men, sepoys and armed re-
tainers, around and in Lucknow.

This, there is no concealing it, is a very hazardous
state of things, and, to add to the dangers of the
garrison, they are threatened with want of provision.
It is certain that Outrarn and Havelock's force, in
light marching order, took into Lucknow nut more
than a few days' provision. The stock of the gar
rison then was almost exhausted, and the result we
learn from the telegraphic despatch above, which states
that on 21st October they were slaughtering the gun-
bulloaks, and that their provisions could not last
longer than the 10th of November.
Under these circumstances the question arises,
what are the prospects of their relief? It is out of
the question that, encumbered with such a body of
sick and wounded, and in the face of an enemy so
numerous, any attempt to cut their way out would
be made by the garrison. They must be relieved;
and so urgent was the necessity of the case that Sir
Cohn Campbell had left Calcutta on 27th October in
the greatest haste for Cawnpore, in order to put
himself at the head of such a torte as he can
gather together, and advance at once to the relief of
Lucknow. Sir Colin, it appears, arrived at Cawn-
pore on 4th November. Of the position of affairs
at Cawnpore, the Daily News correspondent
writes :

Colonel Greathed's column, which was especially strong
in cavalry, after all but destroying the Indore and Nee-
much rebels at Agra, had marched on to Cawnpore. It
arrived at the latter station on the morning of the 2fith,
and expected to march into Oude the next day, taking
with theta yhe :3111 Fusiliers suit other detaohtuonts

which were daily arriving there. Intelligence, however,
reached Government that the Gwalior mutineers, no
longer restrained by the Maharajah, were at Calpee, and
were marching with all haste on Cawnpore, taking a
siege•train with them. This intelligence apparently
decided the movements of the commander-in-chief. lie
seat orders, it is believed, to Colonel Greathed to remain
at Cawnpore, await his arrival there, and act if neces.
anry against the Gwalior rebels. He himself started the
following evening (the 27th) in a dak carriage, and has
before this in all probability reached Benares. General
Garrett has been left to act for him during his absence
in the way of despatching regiments up country, pro-
vidiug employment for the many officers of the Cora-
pany's army who arrive in this country and find them-
selves without regiments.

The column is at the outside not more than 1,500
strong, and it would appear to be no longer under
command of Colonel Greathed, for a despatch re-
ceived from iNlynpooree, October 20th, titates as
follows :
FROM COLONEL WILSON TO TILE CHIEF OF THE STAFF.

Camp, Rlynpooree Cantonments, Oct. 20.
The moveable column now commanded by Brigadier
Hope Grant marched twenty-four miles into this place
yesterday, and reoccupied it without opposition. The
Rajah fled a few hours before our arrival, leaving behind
him a good deal of property, a brass 0-pounder, several
small native guns, and about 14,0001 b. of gunpowder, to-
gether with two Inca, 200,000 rupees, the trrasure left here
when the outbreak first took place. We march on
Hewer to-morrow, and if all goes well undertake to reach
Cawnpore by the 28th instant. A body of mutineers with
eight guns were reported to have taken up a position at
Hewer, but are now said to have fled. The Gwalior troops
are believed to be making for Jhansi, and a large number
of Delhi fugitive mutineers were at Meermum, the force
between this and Cawnpore a few days ago being doubtful
whether to march into Oude or to make fur Banda and
that neighbourhood.

In addition to this column from Delhi, some 3,000
men were collected at Cawnpore, and at the head
of these Sir Colin advanced to the relief of
Lucknow on the 9th November. As to any
other forces arriving to Sir Colin's assistance,
we need simply ask at what rate are reinforce-
ments arriving at Calcutta, and at what rate are
they being forwarded up country? Since the
last dates there have arrived at Calcutta, on the 23rd
Oct., the screw steamer Sidney, from Woolwich, 14th
August, with 287 men, Royal Artillery ; on the 25th,
the Bucephalus, from London, Ist July, with 221
men of the 35th Regiment; and the Areta, from
London, 18th June, with 214 men ; on the 29th, the
Ulysses, from Portsmouth, 11th July, with 260 meu
of the 88th; on the 30th, the Surrey, with 369 men
of the 88th ; and the Australian screw steamer, with
304 men of the 42nd. In all 1,655 men in one
week. These troops are being transported up
country "gradually," writes the Times correspondent ;
at the rate of" about 100 men a day," writes the Daily
News correspondent ; "as fast as carriage can be
secured for them," says the Bengal Hurkaru.
Perhaps if we take an average of about 500 men a
week, or 2,000 a month, we shall not be far wrong,
assuming a well organised land transport to be in
existence. Whether the land transport is in that
condition or not., we can judge from the Times cor-
respondent, who writes :

One Transit Company has agreed to take fifty a day
in catriages. Hundreds of carts are constructed (?), and
all along the Trunk Road, Bengal may be said to be in
requisition. Porters and carts are impressed everywhere,
to the extreme anger of the landhohlerii, who would see
the empire perish sooner than lose a penny a year.

It does not appear quite clear from this that trans-
port so obtained can be relied on for continuous
application ; but assuming that it be, and also that
the most rapid rate of conveyance (thirty miles a
day) be kept up, reinforcements cannot reach Cawn-
pore, 050 miles from Calcutta, under a month.
The position of affairs, then, at Lucknow
may be briefly summed up. Outram and Have-
lock, straitened for provisions, reduced in force, and
encumbered with sick and wounded and women
and children, are shut up in the Residency, sur-
rounded by 70,000 fanatics thirsting for their blood;
Sir Colin Campbell attempts their relief at the head
of, it is reported, 5,000 men. Time whole point turns
of course upon whether that force will be sufficient
to effect Havelock's relief.

With respect to the rest of India, the intelligence
is not very clear. In Bengal, writes the Times corre-
spondent, the insurrection is "dying out;' and the
revenue is being paid. On the other hand, we find
the Gwalior rebels in full march from Calpee for
Cawnpore, and the Delhi forces flocking into Oude.
We are still gaining successes, writes the Hurkura,
over the rebels, who are still showing every de-
termination not to be subdued if they can help it :
As we told our readers on the 22nd inst., the rebellion is
by no means put down, neither are the rebels showing the
smallest signs of being disheartened. They are still
threatening our forces at all the principal points in Bengal
and the north-west. In the other Presidencies, as in the
Punjaub. there is but little disturbance of the outward
tranquillity whioh has generally prevailed, though in Botu.
bay some traitors have been discovered among the impel's,
and some severe executions have been the result,

Officers known to have been ki'led at Luck-
now under Outram and Havelock :—General Neill;
Lieutenant-Colonel Bazeloy, Bengal Artillery; Major
G. L. Cooper, ditto; Lieutenant Webster, 7sth ;
Lieutenant Bateman, (filth ; Major Simmons, sth ;
Lieutenant ILaig, ditto ; Captain Johnson, ditto ;
Lieutenant Carter, ditto ; Lieutenant Maybury, 81th ;
Lieutenoat Warren, Irregular Cavalry; Brevet-
Major Perrin, 00th; Lieutenant Prsaton, 00th;
lieutenant Graham, 90th ; Lieutenant Nevin, 00th.
From Delhi we learn that the life of the King is to
be spared :

His life is to be spared, for the ollicer who arrested him,
in violation of orders, gave him a pledge to that effect.
The blunder is disastrous in the extreme. The hoary
scoundrel deliberately ordered the murder of forty-eight
English women and children, and his exemption from
punihhment will be interpreted by every native into fear.
They will only laugh at the story of the pledge as an in-
vention to conceal the inability of the Government to carry
out its will.—Tines cur.

It is related that one of his sons, on being led to
execution, cried out, " I die happy, since I have
defiled English women, and seen them walking
naked about the streets."
From Delhi we have little further news. Our
troops are complete masters of the town. Some
further incidents of the siege, however, have come
to light, and among them one, writes the Times
correspondent, " which has driven every European,
except the higher ofEcials, almost frantic. The
sepoys took all the wounded Europeans they could
catch during the siege, and burnt them alive. The
charred bodies, tied to stakes, were found by the
stcrmers, with the Queen's buttons still recognis•
able."

"Dear parents, believe me," writes a private soldier
in giving an account of the assault, " I have oft-
times almost given up the ghost to see my brave
comrades falling around me, and other regiments,
our supports, retire and leave our poor fellows dying
in the streets of the city ":
We of course lugged away as many as possible, but I
regret to say that we had to leave many a fine soldier to
the cursed Pandies' mercy, and that was to carry them off
and cut out tongue and eyes, and subject them to other
disgusting outrages, which I feel adhamed to mention.
The cannibals say they want revenge, and yet the cowardly
monsters will not stand to have a good tussle with the
bayonet. It they had resisted three days longer we never
should have got a chance of living in the Marble Palace,
for I must give them credit, they stood pretty middling
for seven days, but the miserable wretches have retired to
Muttra, fourteen days' march from Delhi.

The cry for " revenge" alluded to here is a curious
proof of the spirit animating the rebels. It serves
to explain the horrible tortures inflicted on our
wounded.

It appears to be prove(' that there was at least
one European at Delhi who lent aid to the muti.
neers

Many letters report the capture of an Englishman in the
dress of a native officer. He was a sergeant-major of the
24th Native Infantry, and formerly an artilleryman. He
rendered, it is said, important services to the besieged,
and was created a general of artillery. He has not, been
executed, and, despite appearances, I am indisposed to
credit the stories of his guilt. It seems incredible that a
European should have (deliberately aided the fiends who
were burning his wounded countrymen. I hope it will be
found that he was simply a man of weak nerves, unable to
face the dread of death by torture. It is in his favour,
also, that the Portuguese drummer. Antonio Seraphim,
who was kept to play to the general, and who escaped at a
very late period of the siege, does not accuse him, but
considers him rather a prisoner. Four Europeans at
Moradaba l turned Mussulmans to preserve their lives.
These five appear to be the only Christians about whose
conduct during the rebellion there is even a suspicion.
Nearly 6,000 of our countrymen were exposed to a danger
to which that of death is trivial. One may have yielded,
four more purchased life by a temporary apostasy, and that
all, while hundreds have met death or torture as calmly
as reward, fighting like Tucker after hope had gone, or,
like Mrs. lioyse, clinging to her husband's breast to shield
him from the balls. I question if, since the day when the
Christian persecutions ended, the world has seen such
another spectacle; and, remember, these are the men
whom England was accustomed to call dissolute, haughty
Angloandians, and to suspect of sanctioning torture. As
they are now so they were then.
An extract from a letter by a young officer of the
Ist Fusiliers, from Delhi, serves to show the good
feelings which pervaJed our army at the period of
assault :

Caslimere•gate, Delhi, Oct. 111._

You will have seen in the papers an account of the
assault of Delhi after a siege of three months and sixteen
days. The papers generally give a correct version of all
that happens, and now that all is over I cannot sit down
and enter into details of endless engagements and fights
with murderers and the blackest villains. Suffice it to
say, I have been in every light (some twentythree or
twenty-four) and in the assault, and through the merciful
goodness of the Almighty have come out unhurt. Four
different times I have baen struck, and ones blown up, but
each time escaped unhurt. The nights I have wi nessed
are beyond description--t thrill of horror comes over me
at the bare idea of them. The soldiers behaved moat
kink to the women and children; they were Dew patting