The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-30 00:00:00

journal has been warned, much less suppressed, and
I enclose a copy of the Hindoo Patriot, a native
journal, whose railing against the English is not
even noticed. lam told, but Ido not personally
know, that the Christians of Krishnaghur recently
offered to supply coolies for the army, who are
much wanted. Their petition was rejected because
they applied not as subjects, but as Christians. I
enclose my authority for the story. No one here
believes that religion had anything to do with the
revolt, and this is perhaps the place to give you the
belief of the community on that point.
"The revolt is in their opinion a great Mussulman
conspiracy, organised by —(I give the name
privately). This individual, partly by working on
their religious feelings, partly by large bribes and
larger promises, secured the principal Mussulmans
of most regiments. They industriously spread Uri,
report that Lord Canning intended to convert the
Hindoos, and that the Enfield cartridges were in-
tended to break the caste, and so render further
measures easy. Having succeeded in obtaining
the support of the influential Hindoos, they pro-
ceeded to plan the massacre of the Europeans.
Every European in Bengal was to have perished
en the night of the centenary of Plassey. The pre-
parations were nearly complete, when Gen. Hewett's
blunders at Meerut saved the empire. But for tle
mutineers' success at Meerut not a European could
have survived to tell the tale. By the mercy of
God the telegraph was in existence, and in a few
hours the danger was understood from Peshawur
to Travancore. You know the rest, but I must
also record the universal belief that unless the ven-
geance of England is as mighty as the crime our
Sicilian vespers may yet be repeated.
" The Government, I believe, is still of opinion
that the movement has been a sudden and unintel-
ligible burst of fanaticism. In that case two cir-
cumstances remained unexplained. First, the
juncture of Mussulmans and Hindoos ; secondly,
that the native Christians, except at Delhi, have not
suffered. The people of Jaunpore, moreover, have
offered voluntarily to rebuild the mission church and
schools, and in no proclamation issued by natives is
there any mention whatever of the missionaries.
" No plan whatever has yet been announced here
for the reorganisation of the army. It is not be-
lieved, however, that Government will object to
the English' plan, or will attempt to rehabilitate
the Sepoy force. The great difficulty will be the
pressure of class interests upon Government, and
the existence of a desperate conflict of opinion
among its officers. The result will be inaction, un-
less orders are issued from England so clear as to
require obedience instead of discussion.
" At present public opinion is concentrated on
the question of vengeance. The following sentences
from the Friend of India are understood to repre-
sent the universal idea :
" 1. That in districts under martial law, and during
actual warfare, the loss of life and property should be
regulated by military necessities alone.
" '2. That every mutineer who has taken up arms or
quitted his ranks should die.
" 3. That every rebel who has taken up arms should

" 4. That in every village where a European has
been murdered, a telegraph out, or a dak stolen, a swift
tribunal should exercise summary justice.
" 5. That every village in which a European fegitive
has been insulted or refused aid should be heavily fined.'

"It is believed the Government measure will
fall short of this as regards the villagers, but not as
regards the mutineers. Thera is as yet no sign of
Lord Canning's intentions, but I do not believe that
upon this point he will be found wanting. It is,
however, impossible to tell, as the policy of Govern-
ment varies every week. The Disarming Act has
not been put in force. When it is, it is believed
that whole classes will be exempted from its opera-
tion. If they are the measure is nugatory. If any-
body can buy weapons except Europeans they will
soon be as common as at present. Who is to decide
how many revolvers a Bengalee Zemindar ought t.
have

" The greatest difficulty now pressing on Govern.
meat is the disposal of the disarmed mutineers.
There are more than 20,000 men in this position.
One party would put them to death as mutiueers ;
another, and a much larger one, would send them
to the Andaman Isles ; a third talks of disband-
ment ; a fourth;of reorganisation. The views of
Government are not known, but it is most impro-
bable that these men will ever again be trusted.
One or two regiments may, but the remainder must
at least be dismissed. At present they are draw-
ing pay for detaining European troops in inconve-
nient positions. This, however, is not the fault of
the Administration. Government cannot issue its
decree until the European troops have arrived.
" P.S.—Sumbhulpore has been seized by a man
named Sunder Shah, a released convict, with 1,000
ruffians, not Sepoys. It is this disorganisation
which is so dangerous, more so even than mutiny.
There is a report that the troops of the Rajah of
Travancore have shown symptoms of disaffection,
but it requires confirmation. The precise n umber
of men slain and wounded at Delhi stands as fol-
lows :—During the assault, 1,170 men, 66 officers ;
during the siege and assault, 4,000 men, 220 officers.
The original force was only 3,000 men and 160
officers, and the number of officers never reached
400. This statement will enable you to perceive
how necessary incessant reinforcements have be-
come.

OCT. 23.

The latest intelligence received confirms the state-
ments given above. The two divisions of the Luck-
now force have, it seems certain, effected a junction,
and General Outram has now therefore some 2,300
men with him in the Residency. This force is strong
enough to defy any native enemy, but it is doubtful
if it is sufficiently provisioned. A desperate attack
on the Queen's palace, headed by Outram himself,
seems to have been repulsed, and the British force
now remains for the moment inactive. Round
them lie immense bands of armed Sepoys and pea-
santry, numbering in the aggregate at least 40,000
men. With one exception, every landholder in
Southern 0 ude has declared against the British, not
from any dislike, for the same men saved British
officers ; but from a desire to share the spoils of a
failing dynasty. If General Outram has or can
obtain provisions he may hold out for any time ; if
not, he must cut his way to Cawnpore sword in
hand, with I fear frightful loss. Col. Greathed
has gone into Agra again. Thence he proceeds to
Mynpoorie, and so to Cawnpore. But he cannot
hope to reach Lucknow much before the end of
this month, and meanwhile men, soldiers esi e-
cially, must eat. There is no force to send to his
aid, except this column, and the whole question
turns on its arriving in time.

"The Rewah Rajah, it is reported, though still
faithful, has fled from his palace to some fort. The
political agent, Lieut. Osborne, is therefore left
alone. His position and conduct are an excellent
illustration of the scenes taking place all over India.
He is a young Madras officer, and till this outbreak
but little known to any one. He is now living in
Rewah in a tent, without a single companion, with-
out a friend within a hundred miles. lie is so ill with
liver complaint that he cannot lie down, taking rest
only in a chair. Ho has no guard, no soldiers, sen-
tries, or reliable servants. Every day and night
the soldiery surround his tent, threatening to put
him to death by torture. He admits their power,
but tells them he can take at least six lives before
he dies. And so, day by day, there he lives, sick
almost unto death, all alone, and with murderers
ail round, confident only that his duty is to remain at
his post, and that God is above him still. It is mot
such men as these that sepoys can subdue. So
magical, indeed, is the influence of character, that
to this nr.-ment Lieut. Osborne, the sole European
alive in Rewah, is felt by the natives to be at least
a match fer the regiment around him. To this
hour, therefore, they are willing, when not stopped
by force, to convey his messages and obey his com-
mands.

" Two more companies of the 82d Native In-
fantry have mutinied at Rampore Hat. Their
officers got away safely. The remaining compauiee
at Bowsea have demanded to be led agailidt the
rautMeers—a somewhat dangerous experiment.

BOMBAY.
"
" BONIB I Yov. 3.
If the events of the past fortnight, which I am
now about to narrate to you seem slight in interest
and importance by comparison with those which the