The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-20 00:00:00

INDIA.

By the arrival of the Overland Mail we have
received our private correspondence and files of
papers from Bombay to the 23d of May.

The following is the letter of the Tunes Bombay
correspondent :

"BOMBAY, MAY 23,

" The murmurs of a portion of the European
troops of the old Company against the transfer of
their services to the Crown, in the manner in which
it has been effected, have been louder and longer,
and uttered in more quarters than one might have
expected from the petty nature of the arguments on
which they ground their complaints. Not only at
Meerut, but also at Allahabad and at Gwalior, a mu-
tinous spirit has been exhibited by a portion, of the
European troops of the late Company's army; and
though no overt act has yet been done by that
branch of the European troops which belongs to
this Presidency, it is generally beliei-ed that they
share the discontent of their brethren in arms Rn
the Bengal side. There are as yet no rumours of
sympathy on the part of the Madras European
forces. Lord Clyde appears to have acted with
promptitude and discretion. Immediately on hear-
ing of the disaffection at Meerut, he left Simla for
Meerut, and, having reached Kussowlee on his
way thither, he issued an order directing a special
court of inquiry to be convened for investigating the
complaints of the men. At Kussowlee he received
a telegram, stating that his presence was no longer
required, and, accordingly, he retraced his steps,
Colonel Johnson, Acting Adjutant-General of Ar-
tillery, shortly afterwards started from Meerut for
Calcutta, to consult the Governor-General. Some
of the Queen's troops, and among them a troop of
the Royal Artillery, are said to sympathise with
the malcontents. Government has thought fit to
put forth an official statement of the Meerut affair.
It has also officially contradicted the rumour re-
specting the sentiments of the Royal Artillery. I
send you a copy of these

" It is stated in the communication from Mee-
rut, published in the Englishman newspaper of this
date, that the men of the troop of Royal Artillery
at that station sympathise with the mutineers.
" The Government have late and certain infor-
mation that this statement is absolutely false.'
" The following is the official account of the
Meerut affair referred to above :
" Private communications received from Meerut
and published in the Calcutta newspapers, being
calculated to give the public erroneous and exag-
gerated views of what has occurred at that station
with respect to the discontent of the men of the late
East India Company's force at their transfer to t
he
service of the Crown, the following summary of .
intelligence, which has reached the Government,
s
published for general information.f:—
ha
been
Drivomisiethh,einGfeenrmereadl
Offi"CerAcommemssaangdeionfg the 11r2Icielenrustt"
mlleeerytinagnsd
lately held in the
the Government thaßt
emnuotailnAoursti
that at parade on that morning the old soldiers of
the army responded to the appeal of the General
and the Commandant of
their readiness to serve without stipulation, while
the behaviour of the whole was perfectly respect-
ful. The message further stated that the discon-
tented men had been relieved from duty, and pre-
cautions taken to secure the guns, without, how-
ever, removing them from the Artillery.
This contradicts the private statement pub-
lished that " the guns of the Bengal Artillery were
removed ;" while of the statement that theyalso
6 ,t
gave up their muskets and side arms," no informa-
tion has been received.

" The tone of the messages transmitted from
Meerut induces the Government to believe that
the alleged declaration of her Majesty's 75th
Regiment is utterly false, but it is the anxious
desire of Government that no collision shall be
brought about, and it is the belief of Government
that no exertion •f force will be requisite to put
down the demonstration of misguided feeling,
mainly exhibited among the younger portion of
the soldiery.
" A Court of I•quiry has been ordered at Meerut
by the Commander-in-Chief, before which the men
will have an opportunity of stating their grievances
in a soldier•like manner. That there has been ex-
tensive combination among the late Company's
troops at different stations appears to be established,
but there is no indication of violence at Meerut.
The latest accounts received, dated from the 4th to
Bth inst., represent that matters are quiet,
" At Allahabad there was a show of violence
among the young cavalry on the evening of
the 6th inst., and several shots were fired in the air;
but the men were quieted by the efforts of their
officers, and a message of the 9th inst. informs the
Government that the men remain quiet in their
barracks, but declare that they will not work till
the question is decided.
" Ni information has been received regarding
the feeling of the troops at Delhi, but the Govern-