The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-08 00:00:00

THE MASSACRE AT CAWNPORE,

The following affecting letters were received from
a lady at Cawnpore, and will be interesting as con-
taining the latest news up to the time of their
entering Sir Hugh Wheeler's intrenchment :
Cawnpore, May 27.
Dearest is not yet the mail day, nor will be
for some days, bat I am induced to write while the dak
is open to Calcutta, and we are still able to communi-
cate, lest fresh difficulties should encompass us, and you
should be left without a notion of the events of these
days. It is a sad history. We are living in awful rea-
lities, and we cannot see the end of them. We were
apparently safe and quiet here till the 21st, when the
2nd Cavalry began to show symptoms of uneasiness, and
intelligence was given that a rising of the native troops
was in
_contemplation that night. Mr. the
magistrate and collector, brought his wife and children
in to us in the afternoon, and we agreed all to remain
together. -Up to this time no suspicion having been
entertained of the troops' loyalty, no preparations for
defence had been made. Now, however, all were astir.
The General (Sir Hugh Wheeler) telegraphed to Luck-
now for succour, the European barrack at the depot was
assigned as a rendezvous, and some families went there
for safety. We, however, determined to remain at our
house until further alarm were given ; but Colonel E--
said he would go and sleep in the midst of his men, to
show that he had confidence in them ; so we had only
Mr. H-- to stay with us. Presently, about eleven
o'clock at night, he was called away to make some ar-
rangement, so that we thought it scarcely right to re-
main here alone. Accordingly we took our little un-
conscious children out of their beds, and with the ayabs
off we set in the carriage to the European barracks.
There we found a number of refugees, in a state of great
alarm of course, but for the most part composed and
resigned. It was a night of fearful suspense, yet it
passed away without any disturbance, and I had the
happiness of seeing my husband in the morning alive and
well, and we went back to our house for the day. The
danger had been imminent, but the posting of six guns in
front of our barracks, the state of preparation we were get-
ting into, and the move of the officers (at least of two) to
sleep among their men, seemed to have checked the
ardour of the mutinously disposed, and they put
off, without abandoning, their evil design. The next
day (Friday) was one full of agony and dread ; and the
night was more than poor human nature, unassisted,
could endure. When my husband left me that night to
go to his pest I never expected to see him alive again,
for some of his men had been overheard wildly talking
of mutiny and murder, and had made a proposal to de-
stroy their officers. Colonel E-- himself had fully
wade up his mind that a death-stroke would be given,
yet he flinched not an instant in the performance of his
duty, lam happy to say. We were preserved for that
night again. I could scarcely believe that my husband's
voice sounded outside the tent (for we had now arranged
for a tent jest outside the barrack for ourselves). After
that miserable night, the Saturday following seemed like
heaven, for we went to our house and spent the day
quietly there—at least with such quietness as was possi-
ble with the most terrible rumours coming in throughout
the day, and reviving all our ss.ddest apprehensions. Of
course we returned to the depot at night, and for the
first time since our move exhausted nature would be at-
tended to, and I fell asleep for some hours, and for a
time shut oat all the horrid realities of our situation.
All Sunday was pretty quiet. The Earl came off that
day and the next, when it was expected that an outbreak
would occur. -It did not so, however, and on Monday

morning our minds were somewhat reassured by all the
Musulmano of the let Regiment coming is a body
according to custom to salaam to Colonel E-- after
their prayers, and they expressed their intentions of
fidelity, &0., all of which are very well, but not to be
depended on now-a-days. We returned to those melan-
choly night quarters ;oh ! such a scene. Men, officers,
women, and children, beds and chairs, all mingled to-
gether inside and outside the barrack ; some talking or
even laughing, some very frightened, some defiant,
others despairing. Three guns in front of our position
and three behind, and a trench in course of forma-
tion all round. Such sickening sights these for peace-
ful women, and the miserable reflection that all this
ghastly show is caused not by open foes, but by the
treachery of those we have fed and pampered and
honoured and trusted in for so many years. Oh I I can-
not dwell upon the harrowing thoughts. I must pass on
to events. News came in of the 9th Native Infantry
having turned, Allyghur and its treasury falling into
their hands, I.4y.poorie still held against the rebels by
the collector and his police, but Etawah gone, and the
insurgents on their way here. Now we believe our crisis
had arrived. The appearance of successful insurgents
amongst the regiments would be the signal to rise, and
all we c)uld really depend upon for defence were our
position behind our guns and the help of about 150 Eu-
ropean ad. liars, 40 railway people and merchants, and a
few stragglers. There are two regiments of Oude Irrt-
gulars, bat I am not inclined to pat faith in them. There
are also some Mahrattas with the Rajah of Bithoor who
have come to our assistance, but I can scarcely feel a
comfort at their presence either. The night passed off
quietly, however, and the insurgents have not yet ar•
rived. We are in our house. About 45 more Euro-
peans are expected to-day and two guns, with seven
European artillerymen. A regiment of European in-
fantry is to come up with all speed from Calcutta, but
some time must elapse ere it can arrive. The general is
busy now, and he spiked the guns he could not use yes-
terday, and laid a train for blowing up the magazine,
should an outbreak occur. We are getting provisions
into our position, and making preparations in the event
of being shut up there altogether. The news from Delhi
makes us very anxious, for any disaster there will be
fatal to us here, and India must for a time at least be
lost. I need not dilate upon this terrible state of
things ; it tells its own tale too truly. The spirit of re-
volt pervades the Bengal army, and it remains to be seen
whether we are strong enough to put it down, or whe-
ther we must succumb to the storm. Oar only chance
here is to keep things quiet until reinforcements can ar-
rive. I cannot conceal from myself that my husband is
likely to be the first to fall. He says if his regiment
mutinies, it may walk over his body, but he will never
leave it.

For ourselves I need only say, that even should our
position be strong enough to hold out, there is the dread-
ful exposure io the beat of May and June, together with
the privations and confinement of besieged sufferers,ito
render it very unlikely that we can survive the disasters
which may fall upon us any day, any hour. lam
going to despatch this to Calcutta to be sent through
our agents then), that you may know our situation. My
dear little child is looking ♦ery delicate ; my prayer is
that she may be spared much suffering. The bitterness
of death has been tasted by us many, many times daring
the last fortnight, and should the reality come, I hope
we may find strength to meet it with a truly Christian
courage. It is not hard to die oneself, bat to see a dear
child suffer and perish, that is the hard, the bitter
trial, and the cup which I must drink, should God not
deem it fit that it should pass from me. My com-
panion, Mrs. H---, is delightful ; poor young thing,
she has such a gentle spirit, so unmurmuring, so desirous
to meet the trial rightly, so unselfish and sweet in every
way. Her husband is an excellent man, and of course
very much exposed to danger, almost as much as mine.
She has two children, and we feel that our duty to our
little ones demands that we would exert ourselves to
keep up health and spirits as mush as possible. There
is a reverse to this sad picture. Delhi may be retake❑
in a short time. Aid may come to us, and all may
subside into tranquillity once more. Let us hope for
the best, do our duty, and trust in God above all
things. Could Ibe spared I will write to you by the
latest date. As long as we can live in our house during
the day we suffer but little comparatively, but we may
be shut up at any time. We must not give way to des-
pondency, for at the worst we know that we are in
God's hands, and he does not for an instant for:Wee
us. He will be with us in the valley of the shadow
of death also, and we need fear no evil. God bless yoU.

Cawnpere, June 1.
"For the char.ce of this reaching you, I send a few
lines via Bombay that you may have tke latest news of
us. The revolt has spread since I wrote last. Etawah,
Aliygher, and Muttra and Bolandshar have all been
plundered, and yesterday came news of a serious erneute
at Lucknow—the worst thing that could have
happened for us, as it seems almost impossible
that disturbances so near should not create a com-
motion amongst the troops here. The Commander-in-
Chief has disappointed all expectation ; his delays
may lose India. It was essential that a blow should
be struck at Delhi on the instant. There be is awaiting
the arrival of a battering train from Pniloor, and does
not expect to be before Delhi till the 9th. Scarcely
anything short of a miracle can keep people quiet for so
many days, and the insurgents are meanwhile strengthen-
in, themselves and collecting in large numbers, and of
'course gaining conadence from our lamentable weakness.
We want a Napier now, not a cautious calculating
speculator. It is very sad, tut we cannot do anything
Our weak position here, with a mere handful of Euro.
peans, places us in very great danger, and daily and
hourly we are looking for dieaqer?. It is supposed
that the commandants here have sho ;in wonderful tact,
and that their measure of bolcly facing the danger, by
goingu_ out to Sleep amonet their men has had a wonder
1 effect in restraining them..But' everybody knows
that this cannot last.
the whole of the three regiments of infantry and one of
mpaaoyus position
fob net
hwsaahtcermri efiycwede a;
husbandr
and
nedn
Itrr
runs
entrenched, ; andweitvhen if we keep our
sixt guns, officer,:
Pisk than any
to conceal from
of the whole force.
" Europeans are almost daily arriving from Calcutta
but in small numbers-20 and 30 at a time. We haw:
now about 300, I believe. Every day that we escape
free of disturbance adds to oar strength, and giies
better chance for our lives. Property is not to be
thought of, as conflagrations always accompany the out-
senhgaoerctdec attempt
spark
may
set