Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-20 00:00:00

FURTHER MEASURES FOR INDIA.

So far as one can trust the accounts of an alien
race with whom our sympathies are almost as im-
perfect as our information has been. we are able to
arrive at something like a proximate idea of the
revolt in Bengal, both as to its character and
extension. The more the movement has developed
itself, the more it bears the aspect of being as it
has been called, a " a great Brahmin conspiracy'
of the Bengal army." It has probably not
been without allies among the Alussulmans, from
a sympathy with the Hindoo Natives against
the proselytism of Christian officers ; but the
more we see of the disaffected force, the larger ap•
pears the proportion of the Brahminical element,
and the more distinct the fact that the insurrection
has taken effect only in the army. This is re-
markable since the rajahs and zemindars, especially
in the outlying provinces, have not unfrequently
shown a disposition to contumacy against British
authority; and yet, with one or two exceptions
that scarcely merit atten:ion, they have not taken
this opportunity of throwing off their allegiance,
but rather the reverse. Even now that the
quondam conquerers appear as fugitives and out-
casts,rajahs and zemindars have acted as protectors
as if their natural shrewdness enabled them to
vie success of tue Brahminical rebellion: This
negative evidence is almost more important than
the positive evidence afforded by the address
from the inhabitants of Calcutta, " breathing the
utmost loyalty," and so forth. The insurrection,
then, is confined to the Bengal Presidency, and
within that presidency to the army; being insti-
gated principally by Brahminical ideas as hostile
to Christianity and proselytism. It is not impos-

sible that there may have been all kinds ot. in-
trigues among the disaffected ; but the incidents
which preceded the outbreak, the conduct of those
ringleaders who have been seized,and the behaviou
of the soldiers, all indicate that the mutinous de-

parture of the Brahmin soldiers from the British
flag is a species of protest against interference with
their religious usages; for if some have set out for
Delhi, others seem simply to have departed, dis-
persed. Even in these brief accounts we see many
confirmations of the belief which we have derived
from Anglo-Indians, that the Hindoo is a tract-
able animal when he is managed with intelligence,
intractable when his European managers are
negligent or indiscreet. We are not now trusting
to assurances—they are little worth. The last
mail but two was preceded by assurances
that the native regiments were loyal ; the
last mail but one, by assurances that the mutiny
would be confined to two regiments ; the last mail,
by assurances that the rebellious city of Delhi
would be captured. In confirmation it was
I observed that the public securities in the Indian
markets, and especially at Bombay, had not been
affected by the intelligence from the North ; we
now find something like a money market panic
at Bombay. Nor do we reter only to those
regiments which remain al, but we observe
how much the conduct of the men takes
its form and course from the conduct of their
suoeriors. Sir Henry Lawrence seems effectually
to have cut short the revolt in Lucknow by the
vigour and decision of his conduct, as other officers
have done in some other places. The distinction
between the individual regiments at Bengal are
confirmed by the still broader distinction between
the army of that presidency and the armies of
Madras and Bombay ; the men of the latter, espe
cially, having at some points of contact resisted
every te.nptation to mutiny or desert. Thus re-
viewed, we find the movement to be a revolt of
semi-barbarian sectaries against European mis-
management. A correspondent expresses it capi-
tally by saying that the men, who are half children
in understanding, are actuated by the same spirit
that animates schoolboys in a " barring out." The
more the character cf the outbreak is known, the
more clearly we perceive the nature and probable
extension of the measures, counteractive and pre-
ventive, for the future. The European forces
have to be increased in number. At the same '
time, we are justified by the opinion of many
Anglo-Indians, that a wasteful consumption of
European soldiers is not necessary, if the Euro-
peans be properly distributed among the Natives,
and if the natives be properly managed. The
sending out of 25,000 soldiers will not exhaust
the measures to be taken on this side. The rein-
forcement of the staff is equally necessary, and must
be equally prompt : and we must include the civil
as well as the military staff; for it is clear that a
great number of active, able, and intelligent
officials will be required to manage and protect
European interests in the disturbed provinces.. In
their working, however, all those measures threaten
to be slower than the march of events has been
hither. Even if Delhi be retaken, a considerable
time will be required to cure or cut out the dis-
eased portion of the Bengal army. The most
trying seasons of the year were coming on, and
we have yet to ascertain how far other regi-
ments may not have waited for that oppor-
tunity. Meanwhile, we foresee that we shall
be called upon to pay a heavy bill, although
we have no enlightenment as to the practical mea-
sures taken, or contemplated, to prevent the incur-
ring of such bills for the future. We shall not learn
much even about the next stage of action. Parlia-
ment will be dispersed for the recess. Our repre-
sentatives will leave Indian affairs at the mercy of
the mutineers, the Indian seasons, the Indian
system, and the executive in both countries, which
has been so far surprised. We are but at the
beeinning, of a course of expenditure which will
probably proceed at an accelerating rate
and on an enlarging scale. The truest
economy would consist in laying out the public
money effectually at the commencement. Some
part of the causes which have led to the present
state of affairs has been ascribed to the divided
authority, and the consequent weakening of admi-
nistration. Allusions have been made to differences
between the Governor-General and the late Corn-
mandelein-Chief, though we are assured by
Ministers in Parliament that they had not differed
more than gentlemen should. Whose counsel
prevailed—that of the civil governor, or that of the
military commander? What securities have been
taken that there shall be no obstructing or
enfeebling differences of counsel between the
Governor-General and the new commander whom
he has just appointed in Bengal ? What position
does the East India Company occupy in these
Councils ? How far will it retain a voice to assist
or to forbid .? These are questions which concern
the future as much as the present ; and in separat-
ing at so critical a period, Parliament might well
expect to have a distinct explanation.—Spectator.

REDUCTION IN THE BANK RATE OF
DISCOUNT.

There is nothing in the published state of the
bank accounts, which would appear to justify the
reduction which has been made by the bank in the
rate of discount, and looking to the acknowledged
nrudence and ability with which the affairs of the
bank have been conducted for a long time past,
it is fair to suppose that during the week the
bullion has considerably increased, while the
demand for accommodation has become less
urgent. The accounts published this day made
up to the eloEe of last week, as compared
with those of the preceding week, show an
increase of bullion to the amount only of 75,000/.,
while
.the reserve of notes shows a decrease of
421,560/. It is true that the amount advanced
upon private securities shows a decrease in the
week of no less than 2,860,0001., caused by the re-
payment of short loans made in anticipation of
the payment of the dividends. It is, therefore, a
fair inference that the condition of the bank was