The Express.
London, England, 1857-09-02 00:00:00

MENT OF INDIA.

[" One who hu served under Sir Charles Napier"
has sketched with a graphic pen the leading characters of
the local government of India, in a pamphlet entitled "The
Mutiny of the Bengal Army," published by Messrs•
Bosworth and Harrison, from which we recently extracted
a description of the internal economy of the Bengal army.
We will not vouch for the strict accuracy of every trait; but
we can vouch for the general fidelity of more than one of the
sketches, which we here subjoin.]

Lord Dalhousie left India in March, 1866. It
might have been supposed that the feelings of the native
Indian community would have been relieved sensibly by his
atoroce. And so, undoubtedly, they were for the moment.
Bet it was soon found that, although he himself had quitted
the country, he had left his counsellors and satellites behind
him. It is a matter of necessity for • newly-arrived
Governor-General, ignorant of the machinery and working of
the Indian Government, to continue in office, for a time at
twat, the oficisle whom he may Ind installed in the eeeend
departments. Lord Canning has therefore been compelled,
since his arrival, to work with Lord Dalhousie's bole. He
has sines, it is reported, found out their utter ineffkiency.
As it is important for the right understanding of my narra-
tive that the characters and habits of thought of them men
should be known and appreciated, I do not think I can do
bets* than premed in this place a sketch of each individual
.aiwitur et govartmat, for the benefit of the reader.
011IARACTESS OF TEE MENEFEE or THE OOVERNNENT
OF INDIA ON LORD CANNINO.6 Artstivat.—The Supreme
Council of lades Is orespoled of lour members, in concert
with whom the Governor General administers the affairs of
the country. At the thee of Lord Canning's sairomption of
Mos these members came red of Mr. Doeln and Mr. .1. P.
Great, members of the civil meek*; General Low, of the
Madras army; god Mr. Peacock, of the English bar.
There ware four reerstarbe to government Mr. Luahington
for the Fistagial, Mr. Hendon for the Home, Colonel Birch
kw the Military end Mr. Edruonstone for the Foreign Ge-
=t. It will suffice for the purposes of my narrative to
the members of Council and the Military and Home
Bserstuir.

Mr. Dom N.—Mr. Dorm WY a man who, inn 1•41600 of 33
years, had never been 50 miles out of Calcutta in the direr.
ties of the interior ; he waa, therefore, practically ignorant
of the manners, end memo, and peculiar requirements of
the people of India. For all proeneal purposes, those 33
mars might as well, or MY with mote advantage, have bees
spent in England. He was verging upon 60 year. deg%
and in all hie habits was a very sybarite. Hie experienMeof
ruling had been principally confined to the finan.el depart.
meat ; but even there his budgets bore a stronger mem-
Mance in their results to those of Sir Charles Wood, than to
the more perfect calculations of Sir R. Peel or Mr. Gladstone.
In 1854, during Lord Dalhouaie's absence in the Neelithery
biller, he had temporarily assumed the presidency of the
council. His tenure of that otfioe wan chiefly remarkable be
the outbreak of the Smiled rebellion, and for the weak and
inefficient mammas pursued to check it. He was indolent,
void of energy, deficient in mental culture and ability, said
certainly in no other country but India, and in no other
service but the civil servie, would have attained any but the
most aaburdissie position.

Kr. J. P.OKANT.—Mr. Greet wen a very dig cat cheese-
ter. In the pints of lite, active, energetic. and peemeed of
a °Main amount arability, he might, had he beet trained in
any ether school, have done good *melee on the occurrence
eta crisis. Unfortunately, he laboured under a complete
of the habits and customs of the natives of tipper
lidcrialccustomed during his service, to deal only with
Heogeleent, he had imbibed the extraordinary 'lotion that
they were • type of the Hindoetaner generally. His vanity
wee so peat, that he would not stoop to demand infitrtuatiost
ems tope practical men of his own service. With the
anpreitione manner which Is eo often the accom-
paniment of • condned undenranding he pooh-
pettl'd every suggestion which waa at variance with his set-
tied ideas. Of the repels be had no knowledge whatever,
sitheep with respect to them he was always ready hinder a
atroa. Of onlitt men in general he had a jealous
which prompted him on every occasion to oppose any
*roar sogystits• offered by a member of that prufemiun.
• wen an Mete at Intrigue, .thd bring pommel of a {tree-
tkal knowledge of revenue matters, a plausible manner, as
emy album and considerable influence at the India-house,
he had pined • met in council at an earlier age than wee
. As a practical man he had &Mare been a Laura
It wee advice, given because Mr. Halliday proposed AB
opposite plan, which delayed for seven or eight maths the
proclamatem of martial law in the Sontbal districts; and
it will be aeon that on the °mambo of the mutiny at Barrack-
pow hie menielous inflnenee was always °tweed to those
prosper men motatues on the execution of which the
safety ef the empire depended. whicht are attribumble
bo the evil melon at the school in be was traiuntl, s
diegoeitien notemilly haughty and supereilime. Had he
envy been a Milieu, bad he been trained to depend on his
sun szertions from the moment of his entrance into lite, his
career weak' ham been more useful to him country and more
honourable to hiumetf.

General Low.—Cisearel Low wee the only really practice'
member of the council. Unfortunately he was the oldest,
end ago and climate had already begun to tell upon his
nerves Neverthelem, he was the only man from whom the
Governor-General received any reel mei/dance. He knew, at
all events, that there ought to be no trifling with motley, and
be dvi.ed accordingly. It ie to he lamented that he was
wanting in the eloquence or power of language neremary to
support his view.. Ito could record a minute, but could not
woke a •peecb. And it thus hammed that he yrs. unable
to defend meesume of the propriety of which be was con-
viinced, against the legal subtleties sometimes brought to bear
on them by hi. mileages.

Mr. PIACOCK.—Mr. Peacock wee the law member of mai-
d], and as such was not expected to be stole to deal with
purely military questions. When such matte's were debated
be generally vacillated between Mr. Grant end Gamma Low,
ineliuityt oftimer to the civilian. His intentions were &lava
purr. and when convinced of the just if. of a canoe no 'paled
pleading would alter his vote. Unfortunately, his unac-
quaintence with aubliers prevented him from comprehending
the dangers I unchecked mutiny, and he was found, on 'rink
Ignorant of the proper moment to disregard rule and to resort
to urgent measures.

Colonel Btu(' If . —The secretary to the government of India
in the military deportment was a man in every way un-
suited for hie potation. Placed early in his career in the de-
partment of the Judge-Advocate-General, his confined under-
standing was exerted in mastering the quirks and quibbles
of the law. His intellect being essentially shallow, he was
unable to take • broad view of any question; but he
would argue for hours, and catmint all his ingenuity in com-
bating wipe petty detail. When Sir Charles Napier amumed
the command of the Indian Army, Col. Birch was J u4g.•
Advocate. Ile was rather afraid of Sir Charles's downright
character, and at their lint interview exerted all his powers to
please him. No amount of special pleding, however, would
gn down with the great conqueror of 8,1
...•. .. • .

Sir Charlev'm 6sd opinion ;roe, however, of this 'terrine to
Colonel Birch, that it obtained for hint Lewd Dalbousie'•
petronage. That noblemen, eager to show his spite towards
Sir C. Napier, took the oppetunity of the first truancy to
&went Colonel Serb rectetary to the government of India
in the military department; than plating him, de pen, at
the head of the army to India—giving Mtn a ponition. indeed,
exactly anologone to that of the Minister of War in Frsnec.
A worse appoinnuent could out have been made. Colonel
Bleb yes aroutlallya ayeophant, always reedy to give up
Ms own °pink& If by so doin • he could curry favour with
Ida superior. He bed tried this but with Sir C. Napier, but
Sr Charles Send hint out, and out only felt but showed
contempt towards hint in consequence he found it an
snider task to ingratiate himself with Lord Dalhousie and Ida
. _ .

Dart be was Mao aa ignoramus. Ile knew nothing of the
Bengal Army. Many years had elapsed since ho had even
spoken to • savoy. He was ignorant of the composition of
the army, as well as of it. wants; whilst his previous train-
ing had SO unfitted Mm for his post that he mold not cern
write an order without making It unintelligible by 'emissive
quibbling.
. .

Mr. Bas nom.—Of Mr. Hendon, the Home Secretary, it li
will auffine to any that his peat idea of policy, the one scheme
which be kept constantly before him, we. " India tor the
Civil Service." He looked, in fact, upon the country se the
property of the member. of the service, and he legialatod
accordingly. Indigo planters, menlanta, in fact all Ellr,
piens who were not cleans!, or eobliers, were diaeouraged by
Lim. He hated independent Englishmen; he hated the per,
twiny/ its motto wee "India for the English." He hated
every one and every thing which interfered with his grand
ides, and he never last an opportunity of .bowing that haired.
Under hi. rule, India would have remained in our hands
what It hae been foe the last hundred years. Its resources
issiald never have been developed it wuuld have continued
Angst like a burden on England; but ea • compensating,
It would have produced annually • certain sung of mosey
as salaries for the family clique ebo governed the country.
Mr. Beadon had ow recommendation. If be was narrow-
minded and tumeropolout, he was honest. lie could not
" smile and mile, and Le a •illain." He spoke his thoughts
freely and honestly, and people whilst they hated could not
help !tweeting him- -a sentiment never entertained towards
Lis oullesgue in the military department.
" '

Lord CANSl2.O.—Such Wen the men by about Lord
Canning was surrounded on the outbreak of the toutiny. If
they were, as • body, vain. ignorant, and incompetent, truth
scalpels not to record that they could not hate found •
salter soil on stitch to exercise their talents thou that isi-
kolled in the imbue of the Governor-General. !few •

mow ez;ellent dwponition, but weak sad vacillating le a
ewe scarcely to be imagined. It was hie pest mislietene
lobs the env of an illustrious, moo. Quelities wee therefore
'spend from him which be oortoialy did not inherit from
Ids rim His abilities were ereatially mediocre, and, ides