The Express.
London, England, 1857-10-01 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

INDIA AND CHINA.

We have this morning received our usual advice.
in anticipation of the Overland Mail from Calcutta,
Madras, and Hong Kong. The dates are Calcutta,
August 23 ; Madras, August 29 ; and Hong Kong,
Angut 10.

The following is from the summary of the Bengal
HoirLarm (Calcutta) of Aug. 23:
Ws have had no great massacres or gross blunders
to record during the past fortnight, which has been
principally distinguished by minor mutinies and
minor mistakes.

The mutinies are still developing, and the in-
surrection is taking a consistent form. To judge by
present appearances, there will soon be scarcely a
regiment or a distriat, that has ant
tufretion, in Bengal- or the Nollilightt
There was a lull of several days soon after the de-
parture of the last mail, during which things seemed
at their worst, for all communication with the North
West and Bombay was completely cut off, and the
rebellion showed the most unmistakeable signs of
narrowing its circle round Calcutta. Since
then a change for the better has taken place.
The communication has been restored, and
the news obtained by this means turns out to be far
more favourable than most persons had expected.
Reinforcements had arrived at Delhi, and the be-
siegers were making more impression upon the place
than they had ever done before, were in better spirits,
and had the fullest confidence in their speedy and
triumphant success. The besieged were in a wretched
condition, and it is said had offered terms
of capitulation, which had been refused, not
because they were unsatisfactory, but because no
terms at all could be accepted. After the many
false reports which been circulated upon the
subject, we can scarcely expect our readers
to share our confidence when we once more express
our belief that Delhi will have fallen long before
this sheet is in their hands. But such is now the
general impression, and it is justified by the strongest
facts. The beseiged it is known are nearly without
ammunition, having for some time past been firing
pieces of telegraph wire and kunkur from their
muskets, and they are besides being fast decimated
by famine and disease.

The news from Agra is equally satisfactory. After
the tattle, which we recorded in our last "Overland
Summary," the Fort, where the garrison and
inhabitants had t►ken refuge, has not been
threatened, though all the houses in cantonments
and the civil lines have been destroyed by the
budmashes (i.e., blackguards) of the city, and the
3,000 prisoners, whom, in spite of warnings which
they have received for years past, the government
insisted upon keeping in the heart of the station.
The value of the property thus destroyed is immense,
for the merchants were prosperous, and their large
shops abounded with the most costly articles of nos.
verity or luxury, obtained from home at great expense,
and for the loss of which they, as well as the other
sufferers, need not and of course do not expect to
obtain one sixpence of compensation. The books of
the Agra Bank are supposed to be destroyed, a cir-
camstance which was deeply lamented by those
who were indebted to that institution, as the loss
would have prevented them from liquidating the
claims against them. The spirits of these persons (a
numerous class) have, however, risen again upon
hearing that a duplicate of all the accounts is kept
in Calcutta (which we believe to be the case) so that
they will be after all spared the pain of occasioning
any loss to the Book. It is scarcely fair to throw
blame upon any precautionary measures which
have had the effect of 'poring human life, but
It is the opinion of many persons in Agra, well
qualified to judge, that it was a mistake to aban-
don cantonments (except as far as the non-com-
batants were concerned) and that the station might
have been sm cessfully held and saved from de-
struction, which was brought upon it, not by the
mutineers, but by the unarmed prisoners and the
rabble of the place.
Our troops still hold Cawnpore and Allahabad,
but General Havelock has been unsuccessful in the
relief of Luck now. After displaying great
activity, and fighting more battles than were ever
fought before in so short a time, he has fallen back
upon Cawnpore, with a force, it is fesred, consider-
ably weakened, but which has for all that done
wonders. It is believed, however, that though
unable to relieve Lucknow, his presence in its neigh-
bourhood enabled the beseiged to establish a com-
munication with the outside, and to obtain sup-
plies, which will enable them to hold oat for
some time longer than they could otherwise have
done. What is to be the next plan for the relief we
are not aware, but it is said that Sir James Outram
is to perform the work by operations from another
direction. The greatest anxiety is naturally felt for
the safety of Lucknow, and there are not wanting
suspicions that it has already fallen. But these can-
not be traced to to any justifiable source, and we
should be sorry to encourage them without good cause,
especially as a catastrophe at Lucknow similar to
that of Cawnporc would be far more horrible, be-
cause the garrison is larger, and the number of ladies
and children far more extensive. Up to the present
time, we repeat, there is no ground for apprehension
upon this score.
We have said that there hsa been no great blunder
committed during the fortnight, but our readers
must not suppose therefore that no great harm is
being done. The policy which was inaugurated by
the appointment of Mr. John Peter Grant as Ob-
structor-General of the military operations, has been
developed by the employment of one Amer Ali as his
subordinate, with the powers of a covenanted magis-
trate and a salary of 1,300 rupees per month. This is
being followed up by other native appointments,
upon a similar principle, which have excited the
deepest disgust among all classes of Europeans, the
only supporters of the policy being a few members
of the civil service who have unfortunately got pos-
session of the car of the Governor-General, and seem

to have besides taken a hard hold of his lordship's
understanding.
The most cheering event of the fortnight is the
arrival of S.• Colin Campbell and his appointment
from home u Commander•in-Chief. The quali-
fications of Sir Patrick Grant for the post
are undoubted ; but while rejoicing that the
progress of liberal views had permitted the
chief command to be held by a Company's officer,
the community here forgot that this very cir-
cumstance would deprive Sir Patrick of all power
'to set with effect. Sir Patrick Grant, had he been