American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-09-18
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN INDIA.

that country
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN INDIA.
From the London Times.
The following is an extract from a
private letter:
CALCUTTA, July 4.
GLOW to describe all the enormities
that have taken place throughout Bri-
fish India, know not. The overland
newspapers will be full enough of news,
but deal that appears in correspond
ents' letters i'll the Calcutta daily nows.
papers will not be found in the overland
papers, and deal moro that we hear
of by private letters, that do not find
publication, as being too hcart-rending
and shocking to put into print. No
savagcs in tho Pacific Ocean could be
capable of doing what these scoundrel
mutlneers have been guilty of. Wo.
men and children slaughtered and
mangled in q most cruel manner:
young girls of II, IS and 1G years
OF age violated by mutinecrs, cxhaus-
ted to death, their breasts and limbs
cut off, and parish dogs fed with the
flesh Of their victims, cut from their
boncs-thesc acts arc among numer-
Gus others that we learn by private
communicatons-thc victims Englisht,
women and young ladies, so:nc only
lately returned from England, thus
treated before tho eyes Of their pa
rents.
"Take retrospective view of af-
fairs generally, and think it pretty
apparent that Russia was originally at
the bottom of all that India is suffer
ing. When we were at war with Rus.
STA, to check her designs upon Tur-
key, she was very Industrious in col
Letting a large force on the Caspian
and borders of Persia. She has been
all influential at the Persian Court for
years, and made catspaw of Persia,
by instigating her against Herat, offer
ing to support her against Dost Ma
homed of Ahghanistan. There was
very little fighting at Herat; it was
all blind to deepen designs. Russ ia
would have joined her forces to Per-
sia-AHghanistan would have coaIes-
ced--and British India been invaded.
1t was so planned that the Sepoy
troops of India should mutiny about
the same time. Matters changed by
our conclusion Of peace with Russia
and sending n force up the Persian
Gulf. The Persian ambassador, from
ConstantinopIe, who went to Paris,
found that France and England were
united, Ito his regret, no doubt, and
made virtue of necessity. The Shah
Of Persia, however, did not seem to
relish it; though he was getting the
worst of it from our troops, yet his
general kept publishing lies of victo'
r!cs over us to keep up the spirits Of
the rascals round him,
"There have been for long time
incendiartcs all over India, and secret
understandings with the King Of Del
hi to encourage the mutiny. The King
Of Dude and his ministers we're too
glad to have an opportunity Of doing
what he considered so advantageous
for himself at such time to back Dude
and heartily joined to assist his core.
ligionists, the Nahomedans of Persia,
Delhi, &C.; but our peace with Russia
changed the intentions Of our willy
neighbors, and left the mutineers of
India to fight out their own battle
"Look back at the position Russia
assumed, how she held on at Kars
when Persia contemplated attacking
Bagdad. Government may have seen
through these plots, but it seems were
blind to what was going on in the CEN
tire of their Indian territories.
Gas to the matter Of the creased
cartridges and other stuff, it was mere
ly caught up to inhame the minds of
the Sepoys--both Mahomcdans and
lllndoos-a mere preteXt.-Caste
must be done away with. Govern
mcnt should have plain code Of laws
for all its subjects, without reference
to their caste, and let them know that
they may worship the Almighty as
they please, either standing on their
heads or their heels"