The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-15


caused the arrest Of his sccussr, the Rsjsh
Nundcomer, on e charge Of forgery, tried him
before q jury of Englishmen, and hung him,
amid the tears and lamentations Of his coun.
rymen.
The fall of Tippoo saib, in l7s2, placed an.
| other large kingdom at the disposal of the then
Governor, the late Duke of Wellington. When
that officer had taken possession of all the
Company then thought fit to appropriate, it
was resolved to form the remainder into q ma
tive kingdom, and place upon the throne q
child six years old, who should be under the
charge of the British Government.
The influence of British authority was by
this time extended over the greater part of Ia
dia, not only by conquest, but by protective
treaties. 1t is apparent, that the presence of a
military force superior to its own must have
reduced every Prince in whose territory it was
stationed to q state of complete subsection.
The next step taken by the Company was to re-
| quire that certain districts in each protected
| State should be assigned for the maintenance
of the troops and at length the Princes were
obliged to resign the civil administration, with
all its revenues, and to accept from the Com
pany pension just sufficient to support the
pomp of royalty. Among these pensioners to
a corporation was the Mogul himself, the Ma
bob of Bengal, the Nizam, and the King of
Mysore.
| In 1906, charges were preferred against the
Marquis of Wellesley, for Encouragement in Of
| fee, but, deferred by the want of success in
the case of Hastings, the accusation was al
lowed to sleep. In 1913, the charter of the
Company expired.
Great opposition was manifested on both
sides to its renewal the influence of the asso-
citation, however, was sufficient TO procure its
extension for twenty years, but the trade to
India was for the first time thrown open, the
trade to China only remaining exclusively to
the Company. In 1913, the Marquis of Hast.
ings increased the English rule by the defeat
of Holker, and the conquest of the Mahrattas.
In 1888, the charter being again about to
expire, most radical and singular change took
place IN its system and management. The
charter was enlarged for twenty years, on con.
dtion that the trade to China should be thrown
open, and all the effects and claims of the Compa.
| ny were transferred to the Grown, in consdera-
| ton of which the Government assumed its obi.
| cations, and undertook to pay to the Company
| thereafter an annual sum from the Indian rev.
enue. The political government was, however,
continued to the Company for twenty years, the
association abandoning entirely its commercial
pursuits. In 1884, the English attacked and
defeated the Rajah of Coorg, and annexed his
dominions. During the period from 1897 to
l848, the invasion of Csbul was undertaken,
for which the British had no valid pretext, the
only ostensible ground being alleged Russian
intrigues in central Asia. In this war thew
gained neither renown, success, nor territory
the scheme being, as in the case of Suraia
Dowls, to expel Dost Mahommed from the
throne, and set up puppet in his stead, intend
ed to be governed by British residents The
administration of Lord Hardinge, which com.
menced in l744, was signalized BY q success.
full attack on the Sikhs, during which their cap.
ital was occupied, such terms of submission en-.
forced as the British desired, and the Pupiab
was finally annexed. Scinde and Cavalier we're
also conquered by Napier, and added to the
English possessions. Even as late as 1853, the
insatiste spirit of conquest found vent in
second Burmese war, in which Lord Dalhousie
annexed the ancient Kingdom of Pegu to the
British dominions.
We have thus given rapid sketch of the
East India Company, and the conquests which
it has made in India. Great Britain now re-
mains sole master of that vast Empire but
whether it will retain it, remains yet among the
mysteries of time.
India is divided into three Presidencies. of
Bengal, Madras, and Bombay. The iusur.
rection which is now exciting so much interest
throughout the world has as yet been confined
to Bengal; but, by the latest advices, it seems
to be extending to the other departments. The
Governor General is Governor OF the Presidency
of Bengal, and is appointed by the Court, of Di-
rectors, subject to the pleasure of the Crown.
His Council consists of four members, who are
also nominated by the Court, subject to the ap.
psoval of her Majesty.
The East India Company, according to the
latest information, consists of 1850 proprietors,
who meet every quarter, elect Directors frame
the bylaws, and control the salaries and pen.
sions. In the Court of Directors thus elected,
and Board of Control, are vested the sovereign
ty of India, and they regulate by supreme au-
thority the policy of the Government. The
Chairman and Deputy Chairman receive sal
airy of FL 900, and every other Director $500.
Each Presidency has its separate army, Com.
mander.in-chief, and military establishment.
The total armed force in India is about 100000
men. The European troops-Queen's and Com
panys-amount, according to the latest &C.
counts, to 43, 900; the native troops to 23O 900,
highly distinguished for discipline and valor.
The history of the world affords nothing
more extraordinary than the present position
of the East India Company created exclusive
ly for the purpose of trade, it has renounced
commerce, and exists for objects never con-
templated in its origin. The whole of its prop
erty, territorial and commercial, having been
surrendered, it is retained as an instrument for
governing the magnificent dominion which the
cupidity or avarice of its servants have an.
nexed to the British Crown.
1t is a remarkable fact, most creditable to Brit
ish historians, that many of the principal writer's
on the subject of India have not hesitated to
record their detestation of the means by which
the country was won and governed. With
regard to the present insurrection, the follow.
ing sentence from the British Colonial Library,
published in 1854, is most oracular: "Any viola
ton of the customs which their religion ordains
has ever been attended with serious conse-
quences. If the native troops become averse
unfaithful to those whose salt they eat, ell
the European troops which England could
raise would be insufficient for the preservation
of India"
The Florence correspondent of the London
Morning Post tells this good story:
"There is q story of an Imperial Highness
waltzing thrice in the same evening with an
English lady at the Court of Berlin. She nat
urally felt and frankly expressed herself high
ly hsttered by the compliment. Il did not in
tend it as compliment was the answer.
Them said the lady, somewhat rebuffed, syour
Highness must be very fond of dancing? Il
detest dancipg,' was the still unsatisfactory
response. Undeterred by her i'll success, our
fair countrywoman still prosecuted her inqui-
ries. What, then, may / ask, can be your I'm
perial Highness's motive for dancing D Mad.
am was the exalted personsges reply, Il
dance to perspire >"
The Boston Transcript says: a. The differ
ence in the assessed valuation of Boston and
" - n