The Express.
London, England, 1849-03-05 00:00:00

CALCUTTA.

The following is from a correspondent M this
capital:
CALCUTTA, JAN. 20, 1849.
I am induced to address you on the subject',
of the fear and agitation into which the European in-
habitants of Calcutta are now in from the dread of a
visit from the Nepaulese, and if they really are intent
on sacking Calcutta or the provinces, there is posi-
tively no available force to oppose to them. The
Nepaulese are said to be 60,000 strong, well armed
and equipped, and are now close to, or probably while
I write this, have already crossed, our frontier. Oar
native population in this city is 600,000, to a man
ready to raise their hands against us to free their
country. What think you of our rulers leaving the
rich metropolis of India literally unprotected ? So
great is the want of troops here, that the authorities
have interdicted the embarkstien of the invalids for
England. On the morning of the 10th inst , the
Tenasserim steamer was despatched hence to Madras
for troops, to bring up as great a number as the vessel
could possibly convey, and in light marching order :
her return may be expected in three days from this.
I regret to say that it is a well-known fact that a
great number of Sikhs and other spies are in Calcutta
even now, and that large quantities of arms and am-
munition have been secretly conveyed from here for the
use of the enemy. Within the last three weeks Mr.
M'Cann, the superintendent of police, and a party of
his men, seized in two native vessels, a few miles above
Calcutta, fourteen pieces of artillery, seven in each
boat, carefully concealed and covered with grain. By
whom these guns were shipped remains a mystery.
The government are on the qui rive, and are taking
every precaution. That they are in pose, mien of in-
formation of serious import there is no question ; but
everything is done to allay the fears of the timid.
The government have had a party at work
for several days past dismounting the whole
of the artillery and mortars taken from the Sikhs in
the last war. These guns, since their arrival here,
have been lying in the Ordnance-yard, not one hun-
dred yards from the riverside, and adjoining the high
road, without a guard or sentry over them, and the
pieces placed in a position to be readily and easily
carried eff, without the least fear of interruption.
If the Goorka chief be disposed to violate our ter-
ritory he will find a hearty welcomu from the natives,
and but few troops to oppose him or his troops in
their march here ; and we may awake ere long with
the enemy knocking at the very gates of Fort Wil-
liam; but I do not think that the wily chief will
venture down here. I see nothing to prevent his
marching into and ravaging Tirhoot, Puraneah, or even
Die spore (all fertile sugar-gro wing d ist ricts), and here
he can march backwards and forwards and sack these
districts as he pleases, and return to his hill-fastnesses
before we could catch him. _

It is a fact that nowhere from Dinapore to Puranesh,
and from thence to Assam (travelling N. and E.), and
from Dinapore, southwards, to Calcutta, and thence
eastward, is there a regiment of infantry that could
be spared to strengthen any field force that might be
required, nor have we the immediate means of fording
the nucleus of any such force.
The troops at Dinapore (abaut 3,000) must stacd
fast to keep Nepaul in check. The troops at Barrack-
pore and Dum Dam (say .5,000) are required to pro-
tect Calcutta and garrison Fort William, and in
which at this instant there are only 300 men.
The troops at Bernhampore (say 1,000) cannot move,
and are no more than sufficient for local duties. The
Bhaulgulpore Hill Rangers, reduced from twelve com-
panies to six—lees than 600 men in all, more than
half of whom are away on treasure parties and other
detached duty. The Hauzareebaugh men do not
exceed 1,000 or 1,050, including guns and the Ras-
serah cavalry.
Atg Segawlie the 4th Irregular Cavalry does not
exceed 600. At or near Benares you cannot master
2,600, including the artillery. At Gotuckpore, in-
cluding the regiments of native infantry, artillery,
and irregular cavalry, about 1,500 more. At Mires-
pore and Jaunpore about 800, Sheckawattee batta-
lion ; and at Allshabad about 1,000 men, including all
larms and recruits, but none of all these can move
'from their posts.
The most unprotected parts in case of irruption of
the Nepaulese would be Tirhoot and Puraneah, where
there are a few detached Bhaulgulpore hill-rangers.
These ought to be immediately strengthened by rais-
ing the corps to its old complement of 12 companies ;
but, better still, make a brigade of it, which would be
easily done, and with a few more officers it would
protect the frontiers of Tirhoot and Parauesh, and,
not to be forgotten, Darjeeling also, the pewee leading
to which are easily guarded if they are forthcoming.
But better still, in addition, raise a local corps in
Tirhoot, and another in Puraneah, to be officered and
partially manned by planters and their assistants,
with an adjutant and a few sergeants from the Igoe.
Most of the planters' coolies would make good eoldlere,
and, with aid from the Bhaulgulpore corps, in the way
of havildars and naiks, would soon be very efficient
militia. There are several retired officers and soldiers
at Darjeeling, who could immediate* raise and drill
five or six ammonia, which, with the convalescent
depot there, and the local corps of sapper and miners,
would be a sufficient defence for the dation, if sup-
ported by Paranesh and Bhaulgulpore, in case of emer-
gency. I do not think that there is any absolute
necessity for all this at present, but, as a measure of
precaution, I think the government ought to be pre-
pared to protect the districts now at the mercy of the
"Nepaul hunting party."
Undoubtedly to invade the East India Company's
territories would eventually be the ruin of the amid
power in Newel ; for who can doubt what the ulti-
mate result would be ? But is it right that we should
tempt a barbarous power to invade our territories by
leaving several hundred miles of frontier wholly un-
defended, and resting its safety on the good faith of
Nepaul. I am quite certain that Tirhoot, Farewell,
and Darjeeling, and perhaps linngpoor, and Dina-

pure too (if required) would come forward and very
soon ra'se sufficient local corps; if the government,
only expressed its wish to that effect, and lent its aid.
I can answer for one of these districts and think I
might safely do so for all of them.