The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-15 00:00:00

The amnesty will, probably, give them the •courage

INDIA AND CHINA.

By the arrival of the Calcutta mail we (Times)
have received our private correspondence and files
of papers from Calcutta to the 9th of Nov., and from
Hong Kong to the 29th of Oct. The following is
the letter of our Calcutta correspondent :
" NOVEMBER 10.
" The Proclamation was published all over India
on the same day, the Ist of Nov. It has therefore
been for a week in your readers' hands, and I need
therefore say nothing of its terms. On this side of
India it has been received with unmixed and cor-
dial approval. The press is for once unanimous in
its praise, and I have not yet heard a single dis-
tinct or intelligible attempt at criticism. Even' the
paragraph about Christianity, the point on Which
the greatest diversity of feeling exists, has been ac-
cepted as a fair and satisfactory solution of the
question. Her Majesty, while pledging herself to
toleration, still expresses her belief in a faith which
is regarded in India, as the Established Church used
to be in Ireland, as a standard of supremacy as well
as a means of salvation. I question whether politi-
cians at home yet understand how intense is this
feeling among large classes of Europeans in India.
A very large majority, particularly of officials, who
will bear anything else from England, carry out
any line of policy, or obey any orders, will not bear
the slightest hint of what they deem an ' anti-
Christian' policy. A direct order, for instance, to
abstain from contributing to missionary funds
would produce a direct refusal to obey, and, if ne-
cessary, resignation from scores of the best officers
in her Majesty's service. For the rest, the different
parties write in praise of the proclamation. All,
whether opposed to amnesties or not, allow that a
wide amnesty was the fitting commencement of a
new reign. On the only point of dispute—annexa-
tion—there is no bitter controversy. The anti-
annexationists are delighted with a paragraph
which they consider a pledge against further ac-
quisitions, while the annexationists declare it is not
half so strong as the parliamentary resolution of
1813, and that neither pledges nor 'resolutions will
stop a tidal wave. Native opinion is, if possible,
still more strongly pronounced. The natives in Cal-
cutta, and in all stations from which we have yei
heard, illuminated with the greatest good will, and
in Calcutta at least without the slightest official
pressure. One native editqr (the Probhakur) places
at the head of his paper, in addition to the English
and Hindoo dates, the day of the Victorian era ;'
and the Queen's name, which admits in Bengalee
of the equivoque it would convey in Latin, is the
basis of dozens of complimentary puns. On the 3d
inst. a meeting of the inhabitants of Calcutta was
called to consider a loyal address to her Majesty,
and the following speech by a native merchant
sufficiently conveys the native feeling :
"" BABOO ItAMGOPAL GROSE said,—Gentlemen,
since I came into the room I have been requested to
second the resolution which you have just heard
read. I consider it a privilege and an honour to
have been requested to do so. I feel that lam
somewhat in a false position, inasmuch as I see
around me many of higher rank and of greater in-
fluence among my countrymen, who would have
more worthily and ably represented the native com-
munity on this important occasion than I can pre-
tend to do. But at the same time, my intercourse
in life has been so much with Englishmen, and I
know so much of the vast resources, the great
power, and the great goodness of the English
people, that I do not think myself altogether in-
competent to offer an opinion on those points.
(Cheers.) If I had power and influence I would
proclaim through the length and breadth of this
land—from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin-L-from
Bermapootra to the Bay of Cambay—that never
were the natives more grievously mistaken than
they have been in adopting the notion foisted upon
them by designing and ambitious men that
their religion was at stake,—for that notion I be-
lieve to have been at the root of the late rebellion.
(Cheers.) They do not understand the English cha-
racter—(hear, hear)—they do not understand the
generosity, the benevolence of the governing power
—the even-handed justice with which that Power
is willing and anxious always to do that which is
right between man and man, without any reference
whatever to the fact whether the men belong to the
governing or to the governed class. (Cheers.) If
all this were known, where would be rebellion in
this land ? Certainly there would have been no
such outbreak as that which recently shook the'
foundations of this empire. The only remedy is
education. (Hear, hear.) Nothing has distressed
me more, among the late acts of Government, than
the positive prohibition against incurring any ex-
pense on the score of education. (Hear.) Lord
Wm. Bentinck, a name which must ever be remem-
bered with reverence, in reply to the address which
was presented to him on the occasion of his de-
parture from India, said, after enumerating all the
evils, all the oppressions, all the grievances under
which India labours, that the first remedy was edu-
cation—that the second remedy was education—
and that the third remedy was education. (Cheers.)
But to come round to the point. I have read the
Proclamation of her Majesty with great pleasure—
with awakened feeling—with tears when I came to
- the last paragraph. (Cheers.) A nobler production
it has not been my lot ever to have met with in my
life. The justest, the broadest principles are enu-
merated therein. Humanity, mercy, justice, breathe
through every line, and we ought all to welcome it
with the highest hope and the liveliest gratitude.
(Cheers.) Depend upon it, when our Sovereign
Queen tells us,—" In your prosperity is our
strength, in your contentment our security, and in
your gratitude our best reward," the future of
India is full of encouragement and hope to her
children. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) 'What could
have been nobler or more beautiful, what could
have better dignified even the tongue of a Queen,
than language such as that ? Let us kneel down
before her with every feeling of loyalty ; let
• us welcome the new reign with the warmest senti-
ment of gratitude—the deepest feeling of devotion.'
" Genuineness of Asiatic feeling is always a pro-
blem, but I have little doubt it is in this instance
tolerably sincere. The people understand an Em-
press,' and did not understand the Company.
Moreover, they have a very decided notion that the
Queen has hung the Company for offences "which
must have been great," and that fact gives them
hope of future justice. Lastly—l am speaking of
the masses, and repeating actual opinions uttered
in my hearing—they think her Majesty inconceiv-
ably, and I am afraid a little ridiculously, honest
for accepting her predecessor's debts. Immediately
after the proclamation appeared a gazette extraor-
dinary announcing a change in the form of the pro-
missory note, which completed native satisfaction.
" The effect of the amnesty will not be known just
yet, and it is useless to predict. The prevalent idea,
however, is that it will be accepted by all except a
few leaders too deeply compromised to believe that
it is offered in good faith. How far they will be
able to influence their followers remains to be seen.
As yet no surrenders have been 'reported, and the
columns are advancing. Brigadier Troup, with a
brigade from Rohilcund, is nearly at Seetapore,
which he is to occupy. Sir H. Grant is moving,
but with a heavy baggage train, upon Salone. The
• rebels, beaten in little skirmishes, but not as yet in
any great engagement, are preparing for flight, or
flying, across the Gogra, and my next letter will, I
hope, announce the final advance of Brigadier
Row-
croft, who,
moving from south-east to north-cast
beyond the Gogra, will drive the rebels into the
trap prepared for their extinction. Throughout
Oude they appear to have lost heart, and scarcely
wait to be attacked. They are brave enough—some
.of them, at least—but, like tome European troops,
need hope to make them fight well, and they shrink
with something almost of cowardice from the immea-
surable superiority of the Enfield. That weapon
has been worth an army. The bare fact that its
range is three times that of Brow" Bess has given
the Sepoys a sense of hopelessness which usually is
produced only by actual defeat.
"In Central India, Tantia Topee, still alive and
unsubdued, is reported to be moving towards the
Deccan, whither, according to our spies, he is
always going the moment they lose the trace. A
number of the servants of his ally, the Navvab of
Banda, recently gave themselves up at Saugor, and
• gave a 'curious account of his position. They say
he has plenty of treasure, which is true, and 15,000
regular soldiers, which is false. He has, however,
no guns and no ammunition, except a few rounds
in the Sepoys' pouches, and he has issued an order
to his men not to fight if they can avoid it. The
fugitives are cumbered with women, and perfectly
aware that escape is hopeless, and that they have
only to keep on marching till they die or starve.

to disperse.
" In Shahabad, also, the rebels are in full i flight.
It is quite useless repeating the incorrect, t.r half-
correct reports of skirmishes which reach u s here ;
but the general result is sufficiently inteLligiblc.
The rebels have been driven out of Shaha:bad to-
wards the Rhotas hills. They have lost, chiefly,
from the terrible rapidity with which they
were pursued by Sir Henry Havelock, upwards of
1,000 men, and are not only quarrelling, but fight-
ing among themselves. By the last official ac-
counts Hurkissen Singh had been killed, and Umur
Singh, the only leader of any real importance from
his feudal authority, had fled. The remainder will,
it is believed, try to reach Oude in twos and threes.
Messrs. Burn and Co., the railway contractors,
have engaged to cut down the Jugdespore jungle,
23 miles long by three broad, and have corn menced
the task. On entering it it was discovered that
the rebels, with an imbecility they do no t often
display, had thrown up an earthen entrenchment
some six miles round, which, when buil% they
had neither numbers to garrison nor hearts to stand
by. The jungle was their true defence, and the
axes of the railway men will soon clear thait away.
I scarcely think Umur Singh will return, and the
campaign in Behar may be considered over.
" It is believed that a decree will be issued dis-
arming Behar, as Mr. Montgomery is disarming
Oude. I told you in my last letter he ha deter-
mined to carry out this policy at once an id effec-
tually, and the annexed proclamation is stern
enough :
" THE OUDE PROCLAMATION'.
" By direction of the Right Hon. the Governor-
General of India, the Chief Commissioner ,of Oude
hereby calls upon all Talookdars, Zemind ars, in-
habitants and residents in Oude of every gr ade and
class, with the exceptions herein enumerated, to
deliver up to the servants of Government, at the
nearest police station, within one month fr om the
date of this Proclamation, all cannon, f trearms,
swords, bows, arrows, spears, or other descriptions
of weapons whatever ; also all gunpowder, shot,
shell, sulphur, saltpetre, and munitions of war of
every kind.
" 2. Failing in obedience to this order, whoso-
ever, after the period of one month from this date,
shall be convicted of wearing or possessing any of
the weapons or warlike stores abovem-entioned,
shall be subjected to the penalty of fine of 5,000r5.,
and of imprisonment for one year with flogging ;
and, if a landholder, of the confiscation of his lands.
" 3. In case of the discovery of concealed arms
the owner of which cannot be traced, the like
penalties shall be inflicted upon the Talookdar or
landholder of the place, or on the village commu-
nity where they may be discovered.
4. Further, it is notified that if any Talookdar
or other inhabitant of Oude, after the issue of an
order for the dismantling of his fort, shall in any
way attempt to reconstruct the fortification, or
shall have in his possession, or shall make prepara-
tion for casting or collecting, any cannon, muni-
tions of war, his talooqua or lands shall be liable to
be confiscated, in addition to such other punish-
ments as may be awarded.
6,65. Any person giving information which may
lead to the discovery of concealed weapons, gun-
powder, or munitions of war, shall be entitled to a
moiety of the fine, or, if no fine be imposed, to a
reward.
" 6. Deputy Commissioners, or other officers in
charge of districts, will be hereafter authorised to
grant, under certain rules, licenses duly signed and
sealed, to carry and possess or make and sell gun-
powder and warlike weapons to parties of approved
character.
" 7. Such licenses shall confer no right to make,
sell, or possess cannon of any description, or ammu-
nition for cannon.
" 'B. Any infringement of the license will be
punished by the penalties above specified.
" 9. The classes exempted from the penalties of
this proclamation are European British subjects,
British soldiers while present with their regiments
or on service, and Government officials employed on
civil duties.

" F. D. FORSYTH,
" Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, Oude.,
Nothing short of the most determined severity will
induce the nobles to surrender their cannon, and
cannon are wholly useless except for rebellion.
There is more to be said for the swords while our
police is so corrupt, and in practice I suspect the
edict will only be enforced vigorously against fire-
arms.. Swords do not matter much against the
Enfield.
" The telegraph from Gallo to Madras, through
the submarine cable across the Straits of Manaar,
is now open to the public. A bit of the coast line
between Madras and Calcutta is still imperfect, the
bamboo posts put up in extreme haste and for a
special purpose having rotted away. The overland
mail of the Bth of October was, however, signalled
from Galle to Calcutta, via Bombay, in 24 hours.
The line from Kurraehee to Bombay is also com-
plete, and there is not now an important city in
India from which intelligence cannot be flashed to
Calcutta in 12 hours. If you remember that India
is as large as Europe, Russia included ; that the
LI entire country is within the range of the tornados ;
1 that our lines are all above ground ; that we have
just regained the North-West ; and that the first
idea of a mutineer is to cut the wire which conveys
the lightning mail,' you will_ appreciate the
energy and services of the department. All is now
ready for the Red Sea Telegraph, which is watched
with'extreme interest, notwithstanding a very ge-
neral though vague notion that. it will prove an
infernal nuisance.' Indian merchants are too spe-
culative altogether to oppreciate certainty, while
Indian statesmen abominate the idea of being pup-
pets pulled by a wire.
" Mr. Halliday, the Lieut.-Governor of Bengal,
has sent in his resignation from the Ist of May next,
and it is reported that Mr. J. P. Grant has been
informed that he will be appointed to the vacancy.
Calculations of this kind six months in advance are
not, however, of much value. The only thing cer-
ain in the matter is that Mr. Halliday has re-

signed.
" The Parliamentary return of our revenue has
been, of course, for months in your hands. I may
notice, however, that it bears out the desponding
conclusion I reported to you three months ago. The
deficit for 1857-58 is stated there at £9,500,000.
That of 1858.59 will be larger ; for, though the
million and a quarter stolen by the mutineers will
not recur, there is a huge addendum to be made in
the shape of the cost of levies. Add the value of
Government property destroyed which must be re-
placed, the claims for compensation, and the cost of
refilling the arsenals, and you have a loss at least
of £25,000,000 sterling in the two years. There is
then the old deficit of 1857, £900,000 and the cost
of 45 additional regiments of Europeans. No mode
of calculation will reduce the deficit below
£5,500,000 a year, to be met out of a revenue as yet
unelastic. This, and not reorganization, will be
the primary difficulty for Lord Stanley to meet,
and if he succeeds without crippling our military
strength—that is, without perilling the empire—he
will have well earned'the right to be considered
the first of modern Indian statesmen. On this side
of India he is already trusted as no President since
Dundas has been."

THE OPERATIONS IN OUDE.
(From the Times' Special Correspondent.)
Head-quarters Camp, near Pertabghur, Nov. 2.
The Commands-in-Chief took the field this
morning very early indeed. 'While the fireworks
were lighting up the Ganges and flashing far
through the troubled night of Oude on the Ist of
November, Lord Clyde, escaping as soon as he
could from the unreal cannonade, Roman candles,
fireballs, and the devices of Oriental pyrotechnists, -
was preparing for his morning's march.
It was 2 o'clock on this morning when Lord Clyde,
General Mansfield, Colonel Metcalfe, Colonel Mac-
pherson, Major Turner, Major Crealock, Captain
Alison, and Captain Dormer left their quarters and
proceeded to the bridge of boats across the Ganges,
about five miles from Allahabad, at a place called
Papamow. Here an escort of the Carabineers was
waiting to receive his Excellency. The bridge is
very wide and well built, and must be several hun-
dred yards in length. It was lighted up by rude
lamps, which cast a yellow light over the flow
f the Ganges, " rolling rapidly." Not a sound
broke the silence, except the gurgling of the waters
as they struggled against the floating barrier, and
rushed away in angry swirls from the contest, ex-
cept the challenges of the native sentries, and th•
tramp of the cavalry. Soon the party were in the
hostile province, and at a smart gallop, through
clouds of dust, not vi§ible, but palpable, rode across