Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-08-05

The Mutiny in India---Dr. Duff's Account
The last accounts from India represent thai
the rebellion of the native troops had nearly
been suppressed, but still feeling of great I'M
easiness prevailed in regard to the final result
The rebels had been defeated outside of Delhi
but remained in possession of the city. The
British are reported to have lost 10000 men on
of an army of native and foreign soldiers no
much exceeding 10000. Sir Colin Campbell
has left England at twenty -four hours notice, to
take command of the army in India; fourteen
thousand troops were to start Immediately ant
others to follow, besides the renforcements OF
the way from Bombay, Madras and Ceylon.-
The following letter from the distinguished Mis-
sionary, DR.. Duff, written in the midst of the a
larm, will be read with interest. 1t is dated
Calcutta, May 26:
At Barrackpore and Burhampore, about II and
200miles respectively north of Calcutta, the spir
it ofmutiny widely exhibited itself There have
been one or two executions in consequence; while
1900 men have been disbanded in disgrace
These, as might have been expected, have ia
ken themselves to robbery and plumber; only
this morning the news has reached us that
Rangegunge, the important station OF our fur
thest railway terminus, had been attacked and
plundered by them. The universal feeling is
that such desperadoes have been far too lenient
ly dealt with, and that such mistaken leniency
now recoils upon us in plumber and bloodshed.
1t is now certain that we narrowly escaped O
general massacre in Calcutta itself. There was
deep laid plot or conspiracy--for which some
have undergone the penalty OF death to seize Oh
Fort William, and massacre all the Europeans,
&c. The night chosen for the desperate attempt
was that on which the Marahajah Of Gwalior,
when here, had invited the whole European
community to an exhibition of fireworks across
the river, at the Botanic Gardens. On that e.
vening, however, as if by gracious inGerposi-
ton of Providence, we were visited with aheavy
storm of thunder, lightning and rain; so that the
grand exhibition of Maharajah had to be post
poned. The European officers, therefore, had
not left the fort and the object of the conspira-
tors being thus defeated was soon afterwards
brought to light to the horror Of all, and the a.
bounding thankfulness of such as acknowledge
the loving. Kindness of the Lord.
In Dude, what threatened to be q formidable
and disastrous mutiny was lately put down only
by the prompt, decisive6nd energetic measures
Of the Chief Commission /, Sir Henry Lawrence
-one of the bravest soldiers and most philan7
thropic gentlemen in India.
From all the chief stations in the northwest,
intelligence of a mutinous spirit manifesting it.
self in divers ways, has been dropping in upon
us for severals weeks past.
But at this moment all interest is absorbed
by the two most prominent cases, at MeerUt and
Delhi at the former place cavalry regiment
openly mutinied ;some seventy OF eighty OF the
ringleaders were tried and sentenced to many
years Imprisonment, with hard work in irons
But the whole station has been kept in state OF
fearful anxiety and suspense-the bungalows
or houses of Europeans being, in spite OF every
precaution, almost every night set on fire, and
t he European officers of the cavalry regiments
being killed.
Moreover, two troops of the said regiment
started off for Delhi, distant about forty-tive
miles. On their way they reused the whole
populace by their Vaccinations and lies /; so that
all order and law being in allegiance, that dis
trict is now q scene OF indscriminate plumber.
But WHAT'S most dismal of all, these mutnous
troops, on reaching Delhi, in which were three
by all the native troops; the fort, in consequence,
with its arsenal, ammunition and treasury, was
seized. and is now in the hands of the rebels;
nearly the whole European community, civil
and military-mel, women and children-have
been cruelty massacred, and to crown all, the
heir apparent of the titular Emperor of Delhi,
lineal successor of tho great Mogu has been pro-
claimed by the triumphant mutineers as Empe-
ror of India. Such an event--one half so disas-
trous-has not yet occurred in the history
British India. The great bulk of the popula-
ton of Delhi is Mohammedan- ia
natical, and VIGOROUSLY hostile to our govern
ment. Delhi has great name over all India,
as having been one of the greatest of the impe-
rial cities of the Mogul sovereigns. At present
I cannot dwell on the subject. 1t is only this
day that the last and most fatal part of the in
telligence has reached Calcutta. 1t looks like
a summons to clothe ourselves in sackcloth.-
Some must mourn over friends already gone
and others over friends in imminent danger.
Nearly halt the native army is in state OF
secret or open mutiny, and the other half known
to be dsafected But this is not all-the pop
ulace generally is known to be more or less dis
affected. You see, them how very serious is
the crisis. Nothing, nothing but some gracious
and signal interposition of the God of Provi-
dence seems competent now to save our empire
in India. And if there be general rising-as
any day may be-the probability is, that not a
European life will anywhere escape the univer-
sal and indiscriminate massacre. But my own
hope is in the God of Providence. have Sc
cret, confident persuasion that, though this cri-
sis has been permitted to humble and warn US,
our work in India has not yet been accomplish
ed and that, until it be accomplished, our tenure
of empire, however brittle, is secure.
Already it is known that the Mohammedans
have had several night meetings, and when the
proclamation of the newly mutineer-installed
Emperor of Delhi comes to be generally known,
no one can calculate the result. But as l said,
our trust is in the Lord. Aud never before did
realize as now the liberality and sweetness of
the Psalnist's assurance-"I laid me down and
slept; awaked, for the Lord sustained me. I
will not be afraid Of ten thousands ofpeople that
have set themselves against me round about
Arise, o my Lord save me, Omy God" Our
son Alexander, poor fellow, is at Meerut-the
very centre and focus of mutiny-and where al
ready Europeans have been massacred, though
no names have yet reached US. You may, there
fore, imagine in what horrible state of suspense
and anxiety Mrs. Duff and myself now are. May
the Lord have mercy on him and us!
BAD News FOR THE LADIEs.-The Providence
Journal announces that there is panic in the
kid glove market and that the ladies are in
danger of having "nothing to wear'' in that line.
The Chinese war brings another distress upon
our fair friends. Grape shawls are exported on
ly from Canton, which is half destroyed and its
trade entirely cut off, The Journal says:
Now Grape shawls, we believe, are not much
worn at present. But as soon as they become
scarce, they will necessarily become fashionable.
Such is the law of nature. And it becomes real
ly impossible to get them if there are mono in