The Express.
London, England, 1858-12-06 00:00:00

LONDON. MONDAY, DSC. 6.

TPA expeeted military intelligence from India
has now arrived, and we have particulars of the
early movements of a eampaign which, after many
disappointments, we are encouraged to hope will
prove decisive for the pacification of India. The
saminet and lucid statement of our correspondent at
Bombay dispenses us from the task of tracing the
operations of the fortnight with minuteness. He
tells us that the chase is which oar troops have so
long been engaged in Central India is fast coming to
an end. The rabble army led by TANTIA Torn,
beaten twice within the fortnight, was rapidly
dwindling away, and it seemed probable that all
the adroitness of that clever man would not long
mince for his personal safety. "The Thanes fly
" from him," and the country people mire his fol-
lowers and deliver them up to the British. His re-
removal from the scene will in all probability ter-
asinate the rebellion in that part of India.
Lord CLTDE, we ere also informed, wee in motion
to execute his plane for the reduction of Oude.
Towards the end of Octob'•r he was advancing
on Bhuckerpyre, to attack Bevi MADBO, the
great Zemindar. Much importance is attached
to the destruction of this man's power, as it
is by fear of him that a large number of
the &minders in Oude are restrained from
making their peace with us. Berl MADBO
dimmer immediately of a force :of 11,000 infantry
and 1,300 cavalry, with ten field pieces, and like-
wise commands the support of FOOGIA.I litnno
NAZI3I, who has with him 8,000 infantry and 1,000
irregular horse. It is calculated that BENZ MADBO
would h►ve no difficulty in raising his force to
26,000 men should he think it advisably to defend
himself in his entrenched jungle at Bhunkerpors.
That position is one of great strength ; nevertheless
Lord CLr DE would doubtless be very glad to know
that the enemy meant steadfastly to defend it. The
danger is that the rebels will repeat the tactics they
practised at ltodamow,and leave our troops to wander
wearily after them through swamp, and jangles.
While the Commander-in-Chief advances on BENI
MADEIO'S fortified seat, the Fattyghur and Shahje-
hoopoes brigades of the army of Rolidennd move
eastward, the first clearing the country along the
left bank of the Oanges down to the Cawnpore and
Lucknow road, and the second sweeping the north-
eastern fact of Oude in the direction of Locknow. It
is hoped that by them movements the enemy may be
compelled to stand and fight, when the result of one
or two battles would doubtless decide the great body
of leadeenseas in our favour.

But this mail brings intelligence of more permanent
Interest than accounts of battles and campaigns : it
places us in possession of the Quitae's message to
the Princes, Chide, and People of India. Every
line and every word of her MAJVITT., Proclama-
tion will be closely scanned, but with very different
feelings, by millions in Asia and Europe. Its lan-
guage is dignified and firm—the calm language of
self-possessed authority. There is no introduction
of superfluous sentiment ; the Q1:flu( very properly
first sesames her power, sad isms her commands,
and afterwards vouchsafes declarations calculated
to assure her Eastern subjects of good goverment.
Probably that portion of the Proclamation whisk will
be most canvassed both in India and at home is that
in which the relation of the U RCN's Government
to the religions of India is mentioned. Her
MsrasTr ways :
" Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Chris-
" tinnily, and acknowledging with gratitude the
" solace of religion, we disclaim alike the right and
" the desire to impose our convictions on any of oar
" subjects. We declare it to be our royal will sad
pleasure that none be io anywise favoured, nose
" molested or disquieted, by reason of their religious
0 faith or observances, but that all shall alike enjoy
***equal and impartial protection of the law ; and
we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who
• may be in authority under as that they abstain
" from all interference with the religious belief or
" worship of any of our subjects, on pain of our
4 highest displeasure. And it is our further will
" that, so far as may be, our subjects, of whatever
" race or creed, be freely and impartially admitted to
" offices in our service, the duties of which they may
" be qualified, by their education, ability, and La-
" levity, duly to discharge."

These words wOl not satisfy these in this eountry
who have demanded that her MinsTr should not
11/11112DO the Government of India without insulting
the religious belief of her Eastern subjects ; bat they
constitute, on the one hand, a moat complete and
teeming profeence of the Christian faith, aeon the
oilier they guarantee the native population of India
against all present or future spiritual constraint.
India may now be said to pommel a charter of each
religious liberties as we in England have not enjoyed
for mach more than a generation.
The voluntary and general acoeptance by the
Qt:emn of the treaties made by the Company with
Native Prince., es well as the dieavowal of a desire
to extend our pelmet territorial poiesseione, closes
by anticipation an important source of disquietude,
without entangling the Goverument in engagement's
which might hereafter become etabarrasehig. The
siosranes giro to the satires of India that the sw
skin ►o edignistered with doe regard to their ancient
rights, images, and customs, ia, in effect, a preemie of
" a large messare of reform ;" the disregard of see►
eertoss ■nd Negri being, air an 'wiliest salve of

India showed in oar columns last Friday, one of the
principal grievances alleged against us ky the people.
The accession of the QUEEN is appropriately
marked by a sovereign act of clemency. Only these
who have taken part in the murder of British sub-
jects are excepted from the benefits of her MAretere's
grace ; for murderer' there can be no mercy. To
the leaders and instigators of revolt, and to those
who have sheltered murderers, life is all that can be
guaranteed; bat a promise is given that in their
punishment regard shall be had to the temptations
under which they have sinned. To all others
" unconditional pardon, amnesty, and oblivion of all
" offences against the (lune, her crown, and dig-
nity," are offered on their return to home and peace-
ful pursuits.
The Qcsitt's Proclamation was solemnly read at
IBombey, Calcutta, Allahabad, and Agra on the let
of November, bat we only have accounts of the event
from Bombay. There it had awakened a response
in the native community, and the first address which
a British monarch has yet received from the people
of Hindustan has jag reached England, signed by
about 3,000 Mindooe, Mahometsus, and Parsee'.
They express their firm assurance that " the great
" principles of moderation, impartiality, and justice,"
which they say characterise her Mornrre's Govern-
ment in all parts of her empire, will henceforth,
as ever, be scrupulously recognised, and they con-
nect with that conviction their hope that the
basis of her Ila.msre's rule in India may
become more and more secure. When the mutiny
broke oat there were persons of great position in
this country who told us that we were rebelled
spinet because we had been too moderate, too im-
partial, too just. But that fanatical cry has been
shamed into silence. It is because, notwithstanding
much that was mistaken and defective, those virtues
have in the main been displayed in our govern•
meat of India, that, except in Oude, Lord CLYDE,
Sir HEOU ROSE, and other commanders in India,
have had only to contend with a mutinous army, or
with tit:holiest chiefs, instead of an insurrectionary
people; and we trust in the firmness, not of this or
that Ministry, but of every English statesman who
Ilsay be in power, to resist all influences, from what-
ever quarter they may come, or by whatsoever
solemn pleas they may be urged, which may diminish
the confidence of the native population in those
essential qualities of a Government br which the
Bombay memorialists justly give us credit