The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-29 00:00:00

caste, and the alleged attempt to proselytize, has
been issu sd by the Governor-General in Council :-
4, FORT WILLIAM HOME DEPARTMENT,
MAY 16.
" PROCLAMATION.

" The Governor• General of India in Council has
warned the army of Bengal that the tales by which the
men of certain regiments have been led to suspect that
offence to their religion or injury to their caste is medi-
tated by the Government of India are malicious false-
hoods.

"The Governor-General in Council has learnt that
this suspicion continues to be propagated by designing
and evilminded men, not only in the army, but among
other cla,:ses of the people.
" He knows that endeavours are made to persuadeHin•
doos and Mussulmans, soldiers and civil subjects, that
their religion is threatened secretly as well as openly
by the acts of the Government, and that the Government
in seeking in various to entrap them into a loss of caste
for purposes of its own.

" So-rae have been already deceived and led astray by
these talcs.

" Once more, then, the Governor-General in Council
warns all classes against the deceptions that are prac-
tised on them.

" The Government of India has invariably treated the
religious feelings of all its subjects with careful respect.
The Governor-General in Council has declared that it
wiil never cease to do so. He now repeats that decla-
ration, and he emphatically proclaims that the Govern-
ment of India entertains no desire to interfere with their
religion or caste, and that nothing has been or will be
done by the Government to affect the free exercise of the
observances of religion or caste by every class of the
people.
" The Government of India has never deceived its sub.
jects, therefore the Governor-General in Council now
calls upon them to refuse their belief to seditious lies.

" This notice is addressed to those who hitherto, by
habitual loyalty and orderly conduct, have shown their
attachment to the Government and a well-founded faith
in its protectio❑ and justice.
"The Governor-General in Council enjoins all such
persons to pause before they listen to false guides and
traitors who would lead them into danger and disgrace.
"By order of the Governor-General of India in
Council,
" CECIL BEADON,
Secretary to the Government of India."

We add the following summary from the Bom-
bay Times:—
Our readers will probably recollect that our last ad-
vices stated that a troop of the 31 Cavalry at Meerut
being ordered on parade to load and discharge the cart-
ridges supplied by the Government, under distinct assur-
ance that no such material had been used in their manu-
facture as the men seemed to suspect, only five men out
of 90 obeyed. The 85 men who refused were at once
ordered to their lines, and a court-martial being assem-
bled to try them resulted in their being severally liens
tenced to a term of imprisonment varying from 5 to 10
years. On Saturday, the 9th inst., a brigade parade was
assembled at the station, and the prisoners were ironed
on the parade ground in presence of the troops, and
marched off to the gaol. No suspicion seems to have
been excited for one moment that a rescue would be at-
tempted, but towards the evening of Sunday, the 10th,
while Meerut was wearing the quiet, dull aspect of an
Indian station on the Sabbath-day, a sudden and furious
rise was made by the regiment, in which, by evident pre-
concertion, they were joined by the bazaar and towns-
people, and by the two native infantry regiments—the
11th and 20tb, also cantoned in the place. They at
once liberated their comrades in the gaol, and 1,200
other prisoners, and now commenced their bloody work.
Meerut is one of the largest stations in India, and before
the European part of the force, consisting of her Ma-
jesty's 6th Dragoon Guards, the 60th Rifles, and the Ar-
tillery could be assembled half the station was in flames,
and the terrified women and children of our soldiers were
in the hands of the savage and infuriated crew, who
murdered them under circumstances of unheard barba-
rity. Each officer as he rushed from his bungalow, to
call back the men, to their allegiance, was shot down,
and ere the European force could reach the lines the
bloody work was pretty well completed. At the second
volley of the 60th Rifles the mutineers and the whole
crew ran, and were followed some miles out of Meerut
by the Dragoons, who sabred a considerable number ;
but by some lamentable oversight the pursuit was now
discontinued, and to this we owe a repetition of the
dreadful tragedy at Delhi which had just been enacted
at Meerut. The mutineers reached that city early on
Monday morning, and were immediately joined by the
three native regiments stationed there—the 38th, 54th,
and 74th Naive Infantry, and by the Artillery, who seem,
however, to have done so most unwillingly. Daring the
Monday all the Europeans of the place, except a few
ladies and gentlemen, who rode for their lives to the
neighbouring stations, seem to have been butchered ;
but, as the place remains in the hands of
mutineer; we may hope that others, of whose fate we
have no certain news, have also escaped. The powder
magazine fell into their hands, but a gallant young hero,
Lieut. G. D. Willoughby, of the Artillery, is said to
have blown up the other magazines, himself perishing
with them.
The mutineers at once set up a king in the person of
the son of the late Mogul Emperor, and we have no cer-
tain news of what has transpired since.
The most active measures are of course being taken to
suppress this revolt, and it is satisfactory to know from
latest intelligeece that the garrison at Agra and of the
neighbouring stations remain staunch. Tne Commander-
in-Chief is moving down from Umballa with a strong
European force, while a cordon of troops of the G-walior,
Bhurtpore, and Putteeatlsb contingents is being drawn
round Delhi to prevent the escape of the mutineers, who
will doubtless meet with a speedy and righteous retribu-
tion. The conduct of some of the native regiments
stands out in most pleasing contrast with that of these
scoundrels. Nowhere in India does finer material for
an army exist than in Bengal, and it has been the vicious
system of pampering and coaxing alene that has led to
these lamentable issues.
An outbreak has 'also occurred at Ferozopore, but we
are ignorant as yet of the particulars. It bad, however,
been suppressed.
Seven companies of the 24th Regiment Native Infan-
try wive disbanded at Barrackpore on the 7th instant.
It will doubtlm S 3 be remembered that it was a sepoy of
this regiment who having armed himself with a loaded
mu-ket on the 29th of March advanced upon the parade-
ground in front Of his lines, and having called upon the
men to mutiny attacked and wounded Lieutenant and
Adjutant Baugh and the Sergeant- slajor of his regimes t.
The man was tried, condemned, and hung; and the
Jemadar who was in command of the quarter guard
on the occasion, and forbade any of the guard going
to the rescue of the adjutant, paid the penalty of his
crime also, by the same ignominious death. During
the hand to hand conflict that took place hundreds
of sepoys in undress and others in uniforM looked
passively on, while some took part in the struggle,
and attacked the officers with the buttends of their mus-
kets. It was not found possible to identify these men,
and the Governor in Council determines to disband the
whole regiment, with the the exception of the three com-
panies who were not present at the station. The order
was carried out as above st;..ted on the 7th inst., the men
maintainfs, the most mutinous and insolent behaviour on
the cccasion. It is generally felt that these measures
are not sharp enough, and that to crush the disaffection
which has shown itself very severe remedies must be re-
sorted to. Thus in the short space of one month have
the following regiments disappeared from the ranks of
the Bengal army, either by disbandment or by having
openly arrayed themselves against the Government.
MUTINIED AT MEERUT.
The 3d Regiment of Light Cavalry.
The 11th Regiment of Native Infantry.
The 20th Regiment of Native Infantry.
The Sappers and Miners.
MUTINIED AT DELHI.
_ _ _

The 30th Regiment of Native Infantry.
The 54th Regiment of Native Infantry.
The 74th Regiment of Native Infantry.
A Native Battery of Artillery.
DISBANDED AT BABRACKPORE.

The 19th Regiment of Native Infantry.
The 34th Regiment of Native Infantry (7 companies).
These regiments represent a force of nearly 8,000 men.
If we have painful prOof that disaffection and hatred
of our rule are widely spread in some quarters, we are
not without evidence that in others a loyal and intense
abhorrence is felt of the treasonable and murderous out-
breaks we have recorded. The young Maharajah Sindia
of Gwalior no sooner heard of the rising at Delhi than he
hastened, with every expression of friendship, to place
the whole of his contingent at the disposal of the Lieut.-
Governor of Agra. As a compliment to the Prince, the
services of his Highness's Body Guard, consisting of
horse artiliery and cavalry, with a detail of infantry,
were accepted, the political agent and the brigadier
commanding the contingent having previously inspected
them on parade at the express solicitation of the Prince.
The men of this force are a soldierlike body of fellows.
They are of the same caste as the Maharajah, many of
them being members of his family; and their assistance,
if required, will be loyally given. It is said further that
the King of Delhi sent a deputation of the revolted ca-
valry to the Rajah ofJhind, asking his assistance against
the English. The Rajah was on the parade ground with
Lis troops at the time, and immediately ordered his sol-
diers to ent down every man of the messengers. The
Rajah of Bhnrtpore came forward also at once with the
offer of his regiment, and there is no reason whatever to
d iubt the perfect good faith with which these men have
acted. The Rajah of Putteeallah had intercepted and sent
to the commissioner of his district many seditious let-
ten which had found their way into his territories ; and
so far as we can yet see the districts of the north-west
neither desired nor were prepared for the success of the
mutineers at Delhi, but hold their bloody outrages in
detestation. Perhaps one of the strongest proofs we
could have that the disaffection is confined to the ranks
of the pampered traitors who have been allowed 84 -long
to wear the uniform of the British soldier is tc be found
in the fact that the very prisoners who were liberated at
Meerut have reported themselves to the varirus police
thanadars of their districts, stating their willingness sit
once to return to gaol when the Sirkar galls for them.
Many have already given themselves up, and it is sup.
posed that not less than 75 per cent, of the 7:nole would
yield themselves if called upon to do so.
The fact is the Bengal army is t
_tais sole focus of the
mutiny, and its state is a disgrai-
Q
of that Presidency. Over eto the administration
table issue been urged
ad Over again has the inevi-
to-day in the crisis -
apon the Government, and we are
The first in,-
- of its eventuation.
immediate
..,asure called for in our circumstances is an
our j,„ and considerable accession to the strength of
uropean army in India. A. dozen or 20 regiments
,
-could at once be despatched from England, and part, if
possible, by the overland route. The second measure should
be the immediate appointment of a commission to inquire
into the state of the Bengal army, Thin commission