The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-18 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 18, 1860.

LITERATURE.
Ths Mutinies in Bajpootona : losing s Pawing Na.
retina of the Mutiny at Nusserralied, with subs*,
pieni residence at Jodhpore, and Journey germs
the Desert to Sind. By ILTUDUS TROBILIi PRIMAL),
late of the Bengal Army. J. W. Parker.
Mr. Prichard, who had been thirteen years in the
service, held his commiesion in the 15th Native
Infantry, which was stationed in May, 1867, at
Nusseerabsd, where the regiment was a hundred
and fifty miles distant from any European troops,
when the Meerut and Delhi massacres occurred.
The personal experience of one whose situation thus
qualified him to judge of the original causes of the
Sepoy mutiny should give some value to the im-.1
prosaic= which that horrible affair has left upon)
his mind. The effect of it was that he "deter-
mined never to serve again with native soldiers is
any capacity whatever." He is disgusted with their
ingratitude, cowardice, and treachery, and he can
never trust them more. As for the greased cast-
ridges, he proves that no Sepoy was ever called
upon by authority to touch one at all, but the at-
tempt to obviate the existing suspicions on that
bead by introducing a new system of platoon emir-
cise, contrived so as to dispense with biting the
cartridge, tended unfortunately to confirm
the false alarm. lf there had been no
such pretended caste grievance, he thinks)
some other matter would have been made by de-
signing conspirators an instrument for kindling the
animosity, which was already smouldering in the
breasts of the Sepoys, into • destructive flame.
As between the native soldiery and their officer%
from whom, he testifies, they had always received
the kindest care and consideration, the innate vil-
lacy of the Sepoy appears to him to be most flagrant
But though it began as a military revolt, he says!
the outbreak speedily extended itself and changed
its character, until he calls it an Indian rebellion
against the British government. " The popule-
tiun of the country had no love for us. It
would have been strange if they had. What '
did they owe to net Nothing. The widely circu-
lated notion, that the natives had never beau happy
and contented till they came under British rule, will
never be entertained by any one who has seen them
in independent states under native rule." Mr.
Prichard, whose opinions we do nut undertake to
endorse, then refers to the "gross corruption and
venality" of the subordinate (native) officials in our
law courts, as a very positive and substantial cause
of this discontent. But in general, whilst recom-
mending various measures of reform, he thinks it
quite Utopian to expect that we can bold so many
' millions of aliens in subjection, through a great
part of Asia, by moral influence. To reduce
materially that overwhelming physical force,
by which alone we can retain the oountry,
is to invite rebellion. " We throw • tempting bait,
,—the bait of independence--before the =tine, 11
and when they attempt to take it we punish them,
and the land is deluged with blood ; with the blood
of our own countrymen and comitrywonien, and
with that of the natives themselves.' Though it,
is very painful to find • late servant of the Indian
government expressing these viewa, we are induced,
by the evident sinoerity of his convictions, to record
them here. His practical conclusions are that the
minimum strength of our European army in India
should be 76,000 or 80,000 men, with no large
native army ; that the Bengal Presidency should
be divided into three; that the aubninistration of
English civil magistrates should be made as personal
au d direct as it can possibly be ; and that
there should be • greater 'diversity of legislation for
the various provinces, races, and tribes of Hindoe-
tan, instead of aiming at uaiformity mil a cen-
tralised system of government. Be &Mrs the
universal applicability of any sort of popular edu-
cation such as au English government could bestow.
In spite of these discourageruents be observes that
the fetters are now riveted upon India more tightly
than they were before the late insurrection, and I
materially our position there is far stronger than
ever, so that with a disarmed population and plenty
of " British cannon," he sees no human probability
of our being drivel' out. And that is the best he
has to say.
These general reflections occupy but a small part
of Mr. Prichard's book, which is mainly filled with •
his narrative of " hairbreadth 'scopes from the immi-
nent deadly foe, and moving accidents by flood and
field." But the dreadful scenes of murder and re- j
tributiou that were enacted three years ago all over
the North-West Provinces of Hindostan have come
before us so often, and afford so distasteful a spec-
tacle, that we are unwilling to recite again any of
the details of his story. It was the same at Nus-
seerabad as elsewhere. On the 28th of May, when
their officers in cantonment suspected no berm, the
Sepoys of the 30th N.I. Regiment made a
rush at the guns, and got posseesion of
them ; the light company of the 15th having been
ordered out to suppress the mutiny of theircomredes,
refused to obey ; the English ladies, in the prospect
of a desperate struggle, were instantly sent off to a
neighbouring station ; the men, standing sullenly
on the ground, cut off several of their officers who
had attempted to recall them to duty ; the day
paned in tierce waiting, vain remonstrance, and
terrible preparations ; in the evening a band of
fakeers came in amongst the sepoys to stimulate ,
with intoxicating bliang, and with their fanatical
exhortations, the murderous fury of the men ; and
presently the hell-storm broke out in all its force ;
the surviving officers, several of them wounded,
were obliged to rids away, leaving their houses to
plunder and flame. None of the women, however,
suffered any ill-treatment. The incidents of their
flight, their refuge at A jmere and at Beeawr, and
the appearance of the Nusseerabad station itself,
when Mr. Prichard took the first opportunity of
returning to see what havoc the frantic insurgents
had made there, are very graphically described.
From the information which his friends, eye-wit-
-110148e• of the affair, have supplied, he also gives us
a detailed account of the mutinies of Neemuch and
Erinpoora, and of the attack on Mount Aboo, so
that the Rajpootana portion of this sad history is
here complete—that le, the history of the mutinies
and other commotion or crimes in the summer of
1857 ; for Mr. Prichard intends to relate, in a
second volume, the military operations which en-
sued, and the march of " the army of retribution."

THE NEW LIVERPOOL MUSIC:IIAM AIBRAar
NESTING OF woarawo KEN AND PRESENTATION
TO JUL BROWN.
A large and enthusiastic meeting of the working
chasm of As town of Liverpool ors held last aMht i* the
Amphitheatre; the MA7O6 (T. D. Andemon, pre.
adding: The following address, which accompanied • hand-
some Aver shield and clock, was presented by a deputation
of working men
" yaws snows, mu.
"lie,—Oa behalf d the working men of Liverpool we
rersoltally present for your acceptenoe—
Rliet—A silver shield, bearing upon it • view of that
=igof civilisation which you so generously purpose
over to your townsmen to-morrow.
"Ilsoond— We hand you • clock, which, while it &reel-
=the progress of tiros, will, we feel neared, never indl-
th* hour in which the name of William Brown will
apselu to be held in reverential estimation.
TWO emblems well
not, we trust, be estimated with
refstente to their intrinsic worth, but aa an indication of the
Crgsto which we feel you are so justly entitled. We
at the institution will metes upon the town all
= e intellectual and hmetienable eillenatarso which it has •
object to ware, and adze that you may be
sparerse ononpt us for tonwely years Kwitneas the fruits re-
spiting trim your ewe works.
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172/1W4661611-•-"Thi• 6766177 V 761616 smell
st basigetas adiseted by the roes of Diverpoo
was pressated to William Brown, . ma the a of
the timeline of the Free Library, as as eerneet= of
their saatiend and
Menaces
kappa
/a of ids esessalloent
Sift to Ise toms whke =lloe •
Mr. Omer; hem had sow 606141111:
mesterty presented to a" leaf nose thei I bed
mon • is
is
*swop emanating hem the
dams @Adman of yaw de-
in to avail yourestese dapporeusilles to improve and
saltiest* your Wade. . When we molder the sifeet fist
dhasisum=as 10.11617 mei we the Waif of
• acelearn and sea who bus ewes to
oe at the cerissowy of aloft* the Free Library and
Yossum, it is a mod aecrldns sign of the them. It
show the string Emirs Slew Lwe to promote, by WWI
promos, every mossere that will add to our happiness sad
our social position, which am grentlypremated by inaressed
knowledge. We will always fad in well chosen books
something that bears on or temesilve ppeannults in life,
which enables us, with advantage to emeelvea, our fami-
lies, mod our couatey, to tale a Meer position in the
social male, which adds to ass kspertmos and our nes-
Woes and also to the vales of our opinions. Every
reflecting man must be aware that when his conduct is
good we value and esteem him the moss wielded he has
cultivated his mind and ems impart esuopthiss to
us that is useful. Idleness is the pests* minfeetnie that
as betel say men. Our object in meeting ism_ kiw es possi-
ble to prevent this, to diffuse • taste forkaineresartelt7,._
1 and to put within the reach of every ore food at
the greatest value. The society of books never hods es
into the haunts of diseipation, but elevate* the Wad, and
occupies our leisure momenta to tho greatest
Libraries are competitors for customers with • •
moducted public-houses. Let us see whether we MUM
attract • good many of those who resort to such phoe to
SOT shop. We hope you will influence your fellow-workmen
to visit the library and museum. We promise tMs
=ta, well ventilated, comfortably well
di:mead handsomely furnished, and most
ad intellectual society, without cost.
silent friends, our books, there are worts that will
suit gamy taste and meet every sequimment.
' It is most gratifying to see the demand rely
ineremize fur those of a higher clam. We do not
I value a man in any rank of life fur the fineness of his coat,
but for his conduct and his desire to cultivate those
taken, as far as in his power, with which his Makes has
blessed him, and who contributes all he can to the emnfort
of his family and his friends, not forgetter's to give then
good moral instruction. Many of you will recollect the ig-
norance and wont of thought that prevailed amongst •
Whet
they of the working classes thirty or forty years ago. Whets
they had any dispute with their master about wages, r
anything else, they thoughtthey were revenging themselves
and punishing him by breaking and destroying his nem
forgetting that his capital and his works were the
Instruments with which they had to earn bread for them-
selves and their families. Par different is their ocean*
new. Education has made soh progress that they are steak
more istelligeut. They we that such suicidal oominet
would he as bad as the carpenter destroying the tools by
whieltlefiven It is now pretty well understood that
Wm mat wiritipreee our machinery the more we in-
crease our customers throughout the world, and the more
heads am wanted to make articles to inset the demand.
We do not give the pp at generation of workmen sufficient
credit for their in . They clearly see that accumu-
lated capital is necessary to give them regular employment,
and if by any means that increase of capital was prevented
they would be the vastest sufferers. Hence the Volun-
teer movement, now plug forward, is necessary to guard
spinet invasion, which would be most disastrous to both
master and men. It would be • very great utiefurtune if
these two parties were independent of- each other or of
other nations. It would be • very great grievance if I were
compelled to be independent of my bootunker ; and I think
ho would be as great a sufferer being without my custom.
Mutual dependence of man on man, and nation on nation,
L wisely ordainod by Providence. I wish we were more de-
pending on France, and France on us. Our mutual ma-
terial interests might have relieved us from the anxiety
we DOW feel as to their relative position and ours. Just
consider the effect of an invasion of our soil from any
quarter. None has more to fear from it than tin industrial
unisons, for our commerce would be paralysed, all our im-
provements suspended, and hundreds of thousands of work.
men thrown out of employment, without wages, which
the bread of their families sad themselves depends. I hope
the good sense of those whom I address, others, will
not leave the country subject to the caprice, whim, or am-
bition of soy man, but that they will volunteer their ser-
vices to prevent such a dreadful calamity as an invasion
would produce. Our library will inform you how despots
govern their people, and will beech us the blessing we
enjoy under • constitutional monarchy. If we are well
armed no one dare desecrate our soil by setting • hostile
foot on it. Knowledge is power, and the more we cultivate
our minds the better we ere prepared to meet any coatis-
gamy. If we guffaw! gumshoe to be brought under the
rule of any continents! despot, we would lose the freedom
of the pram our coassitediem out liberties, and our laws.
It rests with ourselves to protect and preserve those inesti-
mable advantages, and to matinee to be ruled by the great
comma of the netts' aid or wiriness and noble Queen.
Lord Bacesseen than spoke, highly eulogising the
character and senile see WI Mr. Brown's gift, which he
said wea vemasapled for wisdom and liberality. During his
smack Lard Brougham strongly denounced the vice of ie-
trs he said was the greatest curse to the
men of the country, bat which he believed was on
Th;=iine.

The Has A. EGERTON, M.P., delivered an address on
litaratare ; alter which Sir John Bowing and several other
pothers spelt% air J. E. Tensest being absent.