Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-28
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

The following editorial artc!e Houl tue boHuou
Daily News gives the most comprehensive view OF
the Bengal mu,iny that we have any where met
with
Have our readers attempted to form to themselves
any thing like exact notion OF what Is ny
the words "nu,iny of the Bengal army we Tear
NOT: and we will try 20 he p them TO form one.
British India has superficial extent OF upwards
Of 700 600 square miles, with Il population OF ABOUT
l3O 0O0 The native States ADJOINING 10 or sur
rounded by the British territory may have superb
cia extent Of nearly 500 UOU square miles, with pop
ulation which falls little short OF 2UO, OC0 OOO With
the exception of Burmah aud Nepar ard one or two
petty governments all these States have entered INTO
treaties with the British Government by which they
have renowned the right of self-defence aud the
RICH: Of maintaining diplomatic relations with each
other. But none Of them are forbidden aud some OF
them are required 10 MAINTAIN each separate militia
nv force. The aggregate military forces OF the native
princes are little short OF lOh 900 men-an amount
exceeding by about lUG 000 the numerical strength Of
the Auglo Indian amy
OF the 700,OOO square miles which we nave taken
az the approximave superficial! extent OF British In
dia about 1876 600 are incuded in the Presidency o.
Madras and 10000 in the Presidency Of BON bay
the remaining IL OG0 subject either mediatey or
Immediately, to the Presidency OF Bengal. And this
immense extent of country is Inhabited ny popuia-
tion amounting to nearly S0,O0O0O0.
OF this territory our two most recent acquisitions
the Punjaub and the kingdom OF Oude-forn part
number of small native Ststesare ehcidces within
IL.
southern frontier. The protected native States OF
Sciudah and Hckar are contiguous to its southern
frou,er. Benares, the great central OF Brahminicai
organ;z alton and influence, is situated In nearly the
centre of this territory which canains also LUCKNOW
and Delhi, which, with Hyderabad in the Deccau,
may now be considered as forming the three prnci-
pal centres Of Mahommetan influence aud agitation.
Now, throughout this iinmence territory almost
every regiment of the Bengal army either is in open
mutiny or viewed with suspicion. Some regiments
have been disbanded; some have been dsarmed -
The soldiers of the dsbanded regiments have return
ed mutnous and malcontent to their homss, or are
strsggng in bands throughout the country. The
soldiers Of the disarmed regiments are aroned and
rritated have des ,rted, otilels remain mood.
ly at their stations. Though several regiments re
main apparently faithful, it must be kept in mind
that among the mutneers are the neu OF several regl
ments which for time made most specous demon.
stratieus of Loyalty. At Delhi and several other
places the mutineers are waging open war against
the Anglo Indian Government.
We hear it repeated on all sides that the insurrec.
ton ia confined exclusively to the army. Let us
not deceive ourselves by phrases. Tbs army IN
India is not merely a body organized for defence
against foreign aggression. II is the main, almost
the sole instrument OF Internal civil government
Almost all the duties of a police-such the sup
preston Of robbers and the execution Of ths DEGREES
of the courts Of iustice-devolve upon the soldery
When is moved from one part OF the country
TO another it ia under escort OF soldiers; when the
civil officers travel it ia with military guard. When
we saw that the Bengal army is nearly, if not entirely
dssov ed, we say that the ustrunentality by which
the civil Government carries out its behes,s is de-
stroyed that all civil authority throughout The Bengal
presidency and its depeu depcies il paralyz I'd.
This is rot all. The Bengal army, with the excep-
ton of few regiments of Ghoorkas and Slkhs, is
recruited from the Eindoo and Nussuman popula-
ton. The Mussulmah. muster strongest III the ca
yalry the Hudoos in the infantry. The uiGdoos arc
almost exclusively Rsipoots or Brahm;ns. large
proportion both OF the Mussunans and HiudoOs have
been recruited in Dude, the Sovereign Of which has
recently been deposed. The native soldiers are
almost the only class OF natives who are animated by
q sense of political Importance. Even the Sepoys OF
the foot regiments placed by their moderate pay,
10 a state of eh leucs IA comPar.d with the great
mass Of the village populai ion. Inc soldiers OF the
irregular corps may be regarded almost as KIND OF
minor gentry Nov, these nen have annual fur
loughs of considerable length. during which they
visit their respective homes and play the part of men
of Importance among the villagers. There are also,
scattered throughout the country, old soldiers living
in retirement We know, from recent events, that,
by means Of letters and messengers, the soldiers OF
the different regiments keep up an active corre'pon-
deuce with each CHER ia it nc. possible that they
may also ksep up correspondence with non military
frieudsl This European population IN India is small
fraction. Few Europeans possess more than IN i'm
perfect conversational acquaintance with the native
languages. Difference of social habits and modes OF
thought p-ecludes in the rule hsbits Of intimacy be-
tween Europeans and natives. The native soldier is
identified with the native population. willis his Eng.
sh masters are many alien diyccta menbra tossed
helplessly on ito tumultuoua waves.
II ia obvious from these considerations ths the mu
tiny in the Bengal army has social and civil import
far beyond what could possibly attach to the mutiny
OF an English army at home. Let us ask ourselves
moreover, while speak Of dsa.ction rs confined
10 the ranks Of the native army. who vouches for the
LOYALTY of the ennumerabe native officials attached to
the various administrations aud courts OF Justice IN the
Moussl The mutny in the army has 80 engrossed the
attention of all Europeans in India that no one has
thought il worth his while to send us WORD now .he
as,ko Hann
present crisis 1t ia not "Young Bengal that we are
apprehensive of The DISCLAIMERS in that native press
whose ferocty has frightened tho Legislative Council
of India into its silly offensive, and useless press II
csusing act, are small knot Of young men IN whom
half European education has excited fantastical
admiration Of old Indian usages, akin to the MEDIEVAL
folles Of English Puseyites aud Scotch Celtic socetrs
They have no influence the general feeling OF III
ola. The great bulk of tue natives listen TO them
Dame Glendenning did to Sir Pierce Shaiton But the
native lawyers and interpreters and axgatherers
very diferent-a more practical, influential, and un
scrupulous GLASS ofmen.
Our object i'll these remarks Is to point out how all
civil authority may be, and likely has been par
alyzed by the military mutiny in Bengal
THE MASSACRE IN DELHI.
The FIgSpIsH BRUTALITY OF THE MrriSErRs.-
We take the following from the commercial letter of
Messrs. Mackay u Co., dated Calcutta 18th of June:
The past fortnight has been one of alarm. ankle.
ty, aud almost toHl CESSATION OF business. Jlu2ens
armng for the protection OF their families, and
men and children hockng on board ship for safety
during the night so wide spread hss been the terror
caused by the mutny of the Sepoys and by ths abo.
minably revolving atrocities committed upon tbs
Christian inhabitants, 70 sudden and terrible when
ever they have had the opportunity. Death 10 thu
victims has been welcomed releasing them from tor
lures far more appalling.
"Imsgine the fa;he: Of family bound hand and
foot compelled to witness the dishonor OF his wife by
we are afraid 10 gay how many OF these endsh crew
and then when the poor creature was almost dead
from the eff ct OF their brGsl assault, they cut her
across the abdomen and drew forth tho unborn babe,
dashed against the ground: and then hung the life
less remaius around the neck Of the msnacled and
distracted father tho villains, still. thinking something
wanting 10 aggrava:e bis feelings of horror and dis
may, severed the head from the body of the mother,
and bound this alec round his neck.
"But not yet satisfied with their dreadful work,
they se1 ed the poor mans two remaining children,
infants of three aud four years DID, killed them cut
of their heads, aud strung them lao around his neck
haunting bm With all the obscene language the na-
tive dialect 30 readily furnishes until they thought he
was diving; and, when fearing they might lose the
last opportunity Of torturing the mar, dagger was
plugged into his heart and be died. with the head. Of
all those he held most dear this earth resting f-
lessy upon his breast. We have related but one in
stance amongst the many that have coms to our
knowledge; whereas almost every act Of these vii.
lsips has been marked by something equally horr
ble"
break at this particular period: The ,nutiny
amongst the Sepoy troops has become all but gene
raj aud il is believed by ali who are not Interested III
hiding from the public the real state OF affairs, that
the whole OF native army, regular ana irregular
are at this moment, with some few eScePtlons IN
state OF open or passive muDy, ready 10 oreak OUT
AT any moment. The mutlneers at the several sta'
siors from Delhi downwasds to Calcutts, nave deem