The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-07-10 00:00:00

TAE INDIAN ARMY.

(Continued from our Paper of yesterday.)

In 178 e, the Mathews was one of three Ben.
gil corps who mutinied, wider an apprehension of
being embarked for foreign service ; and though
the conduct of these corps* was remarkable for the
total absence of that spirit of general insubordina-
tion and disposition outrage by which mutinies
of soldiery are usually marked, they were in the en-
suing year broken, and drafted into some other bat-
talions. " Thus fell the Mathews" (hays Captain
William.) ; ".a corps snore highly spoken of dur-
ing the twenty-six years it existed, than any batta-
lion in the service; and at this day (he adds), if you
meet any of the old fellows who once belonged to
it, awl HA them what corps they came from, they
will erect their heads and say, Mathews ka pultan,'
or Mathews' battalion."

The present second battalion of the 12th regi-
ment appears, from Captain Williaans's account,
to have been raised some months before the Ma-
thews. He indeed culls it the first-raised baits-
boo. This corps war at the battle of Plessey. It
was named by the sepoys the Lal Pesltan, or the
Red t Battalion, and afterwards Gunn:, front the
name of one of its first captains. It wad associated
with the Mathems in all its early service, particu-
larly at Masulipatam, Gheretty, &c. ; but in 1764
it mutinied, 4111 the pretext of some promises which
were made to it having been broken. Having no
apparent ohject, it was easily reduced to obedi-
ence; hut Major Munro (afterwards Sir Hector
Munro), who then commanded the army, thought
severe example necessary, and twenty-eight of
the most guilty were tried by a drum-head court-
martial and sentenced to death. Eight of these
wete directed to be immediately Mown away from
the guns of the force then at Choprah. As they
were nu the point of executing the sentence, three
grenadiers, who happened to lee amongst them,
slept forth and claimed the privilege of being
blown away from the right hand guns. " They
lia,l always fought 011 the right (they said), and
they hoped they would be permitted to die at that
post of honour." Their request was granted, and
they were the first executed. " I ant sure (says
Captain Williams, who diet, belonged to the Royal
Marines employed in Bengal, sod who was an eye-
witness of this remarkable scene) that there was
not a dry eye among the Marines, although they
It ail been long accustomed to hard service, mid two
of them bad actually been in the execution party
which shot Admiral Byng in the year 1757."
In the native infantry of Bengal the Htiadoos are
in the full proportion of three-fourths to the Ma-
limuedans. They consist chiefly of Rejponts, who
are a distinguished race among the Klsiteree
or military tribe. We may judge of the size of
these men when we are told that the standard be-
low which nu recruit is taken is live feet six inches.
The great proportion of the grenadiers arc six feet
and upwards. 'the Rajpoot is bons a soldier.
The mother speaks of nothing to her infant but
deeds of arms, and every sentiment and action of
the future man is marked by the first impressions
that lie has received. If he tills the ground (which
is the common occupation of this class), his sword
and shield are placed near the furrow, and moved
as his labour advances. The frame tithe Rajpoot
is almost always improved (even if his pursuits are
those of civil life) by martial exercises. He is
from habit temperate in his diet, of • generous,
though warns temper, and of good moral conduct.
He is, when well treated, obedient, zealous, tend
faithful. Neither the Hitidoo nor the Mahotnedan
soldier of India can be termed revengeful, though
both ore prone to extreme tinletice in points