Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-08-07
From the Boston Journal.
The Mutiny in British India.

From the complexion of these accounts
# is not a matter of surprise that serious
alarm is felt in England at the gloomy
state of affairs. British supremacy In
India is in danger, and although little
apprehension is felt of its overthrow, yet
the condition of affairs is such as to ex-
cite the most anxious solicitude. The
native nopulation of British India num-
hers over one hundred and sixty millions.
Il has never been the policy of the East
India Company to encourage the settle
ment of Europeans, and most of those
who are now inhabitants of the territory |
are connected directly or indirectly with |
the company. The number of Europe
ans in the territory is believed not to ex-
coed sixty thousand. What could this
little handful do in the face of q general
rising of the natives To make the
matter worse, four-ffths of the army are
natives. The army numbered in 1852,
289,529 men, all but about $4,000 OF
whom were Sepoys. A writer in Hdr-
per'S says:
"These Sepoys-as is known-are
native of India. The idea of making
the natives the instruments of their own
subiugation originated with Give he
first enrolled the people of the Carnatic
into Sepoy regiments and by degrees
the scheme was adopted throughout In
dia. The present Sepoys are part Hin
docs and part Mohammedans; they num-
Der nearly 100000, and are differed by
t about 1900 European officers. Besides
5 these, the government of India usually
borrows' from the government OF Great
e Britain a standing army of about 10000
e men, (of whom large portion has late
: ly been drafted away for service in
a China.) As a general rule the Sepoys
), are faithful soldiers. At the terrible con-
j flict between Hindoos and Mohammedans
# at Benares, some thirty years ago, they
II rose superior to religious prejudices, and
h could not have acted more impartially
It had they been Christians. They have
a, mutinied from time to time, as at Vellore
al when Tippoo Saib's sons were near them
ct and at Hyderabad, and Bangalore; bu
If it is now generally admitted that on thes
E. occasions the fault lay with their officer
- rather than with them. In battle, Sc
of long as they are led by their own officers
to they are brave and firm but Sir ChaE
ut, Napier used to say that he could Away
DIS tell when European officer had falle
G. by the wavering of his Sepoys. The
W pay is so small that to save anything OF
to of ii is impossible nor can they by an
to chance obtain promotion from the rank
of After twenty-one years service, they al
N allowed to retire with a trifing pensio
his and their uniform. 1t is understood tn;
ID no compulsion is used to enlist men
he which may or may not be the case"
The potentate who has been proclaim
9Th ed King of Delhi by the insurgents,
in it is said, against his will, is descenda
of the Great Mogul, and is one of IL
art numerous princes whose titles have be-
arm extinguished, and who have become Il
vas pensioners of the East India Compan
ar He receives $250,000 a year and has
der fine palace at Delhi. With this he kee
has harem of (it is said) five thousal
wn. women, and no end of attendants of
and kinds. The Company find that it pa
'om to give these unfortunate creatures mon
- enough to engulf themselves in the
ON diligence of debasing sensuality.
IS of In the course of debate in Parl
.rge ment on Monday, the 18th of July,
,orn the critical condition of affairs in Ind
.ins, the Earl of Peterborough, speaking fir,
ave personal observation and knowledge
con- the difficulties which government wol
has have to encounter before the insurr
avy ton was quelled, stated some pertin
ring facts. He attributed the mutiny t.
.aw- continuance of Encouragement and n
conduct; and with regard to the futu
said !:
WV 1t becomes us, then, to look forwt
o'0 and consider, from the facts we have
.. fore us, what is likely to be our post
=, in India on the first of November,
time when our troops will arrive,
when, after the rains, it will be impossi
to move. l have endeavored, my lo
=, to form an opinion on that subject.
assume that we take Delhi; ASST
) or Il.
that our troops continue to hold De
80, Meerut, and the neighboring static
= o. - but know the locality. No Europ
= regiments are ever stationed there
account of the sickness which preva
and at the end Of the rains even the
tive regiments have from two-third
IL. e. Al.