The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-08-20

At Foo Choo, the supplies of tea were small,
and quotations were advancing.
Gen. Burnham and staff arrived at LONG
Kong on the 10th of June.
Lord Elgin was at Singapore.
The o. s. frigate San Jacinto remained at
Hong Kong.
THE NEWS FROM INDIA.
From the London Times, July %
The mail which left Bombay on the lst OF
this month, sixteen days after the previous depar-
ture, may be considered to report affairs as I'M
changed as they could be in that interval. The
mutiny had continued to spread in the Bengal
army, which was to be foreseen; but it had evi.
IDENTIFY not exceeded ita original bounds. Delhi
had not been captured but the insurgents had
betrayed the weakness of their position, by some
considerable sorties, and their own want OF
courage, discipline, or generalship, by being
beaten, with great slaughter. So far as regards
the besiegers and besieged, time would be IN
favor of the former, injurious as the example
would be in other parts of India. The peace
full and industrious population of Bengal proper
watch the struggle much as we do, only having
much more to lose, and much less to do. How
ever, as a measure of precaution, the native
regiments at Calcutta and Barrackpore had
been quietly disarmed. At Madras there was
bay was there the slightest sign of disaffection.
Nothing is reported of the Punjaub. Here,
then, it is evident that the mutiny is confined
to the northwest provinces, far in the interior,
and surrounded by circle of order and loyal
ty. On every side oar basis of operations is
undisturbed; and, at the very worst, it is now
little more than one of those local wars with q
State or Confederacy, such as we have had
dozen times over since the beginning of the
century. We have no wish whatever to make
the best of the news, but it certainly would cost
a little violence to torture more out of 1t. The
worst is told when it is stated that Delhi was
still in the hands of the insurgents. But when
we know that General Barnard had only three
or four thousand Europeans, while the insur-
gents were much more numerous, and, IN addi-
ton to fanatical population, better provided
with artillery and ammunition, we can make
allowance for the policy of not bringing the
struggle to an immediate issue within the ram
parts and streets of the city. Every week is
now adding to the European force at the dispo-
sal of the Commander-in Chief in Bengal, and
by this time he must have diverted consider
able part of the Chinese expedition to a more
urgent purpose. AS fast as reinforcemsnts ar
rive at Calcutta, and at the great cities on the
Ganges, the mutineers higher up will feel the
ground sinking under them, and the tolls draw
ing closer round their lair. Unable to make
an impression on any British encampment,
short of supplies, and waiting the slow onward
march of an irresistible foe, they will soon find
disunion and treachery in their own ranks, and
those who are still in a condition to make terms
for themselves will avoid the evil partnership
of men whose crimes are past forgiveness.
Those incurable though unsuccessful in
triguers, the Ex-King of Dude and his Minis
ter, had been detected in correspondence with
the mutineers, and put out of harms way in
Fort William. 1t will be remembered, that be-
fore the annexation of Dude, the weakness of
the royal family and its utter want Of princi-
pie had drawn it into the habit of intriguing
with one faction against another; and Mahom.
edans and Hindoos were destroying one another,
both with the royal warrant. These intrigues,
it was said in those days, necessarily ramifed
throughout all India, as there was hardly a regi-
ment in our service in which was not to be
found both Mahomedans and Hindoos with re-
lations and friends in the Kingdom of Dude,
and engaged in it's quarrels. 1t was not to be
expected that his ExMsjesty could keep long
out of his own element of faction. Whether
he had much hand in causing the mutiny, is of
little Importance; but 80 long as he was at
large, he probably had no more power in keep
ing clear of it, than the miserable puppet in the
palace of Delhi. However, he is now in good
hands and, as Government has proof of his
share in the conspiracy, the stoppage of his al
lowance will contribute to pay the costs of the
war. These measures-the disarming of the
natives, and the imprisonment Of the Ex-King
of Dude, show state of things rather new to
the quiet population of Calcutta. 1t had also
been considered necessary to pass an act pla
cling the press under license system. Of so
bare an announcement nothing can be said.
No doubt, the press must acknowledge "a state
of siege;" but India has not suffered hitherto
from too free discussion of political questions,
or too much knowledge of public affairs.
The news from China would be very import
ant, if any news could now be important which
did not bear directly on the great struggle going
on under the walls Of Delhi. But here, as in
India, the progress of affairs has been much
what night have been anticipated. The Chi
nese fight with increasing pertinacity and disci-
| pline, and show themselves not only better
soldiers than in the last war, but even more suc-
| cessful. In two engagements they have killed
and wounded, altogether, eighty-three of our
men. They have not, however, been able to
avert the total destruction of their fleet. Our
| 1otilla of gunboats, having done this service,
will now be able to visit all the river forts, and
| show themselves at Canton without Interrupt
ton. AS that city is thus actually in our power,
| there seems no substantial reason why the mere
proof of this should not obtain for us all the
objects of the expedition, without further blood.
shed or military operations.