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    No. 413, Eebrtjaby 20, 1858.] THE LEADER...

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    THE INDIAN REVOLT. ?—

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    Imperial Parliament. Monday, February 15...

    of the Crown the uncontrolled appointment of high officers in India . —Sir Charles Wood , referring to the act of 1853 , which he had introduced when President of the Board of Control , said lie then expressly stated that it might be necessary at a future day to intro duce still further , changes , and to , govern India in the name of the Queen . There should be a better mode of choosing councillors for India than by the proprietors of East India Stock . A larger number of European troops must be maintained in India , and to put an end to jealousies the whole of our Indian army should be the Queen ' s army . —Mr . Willoughby believed that the contemplated change would bring dismay on the minds of the natives , who would look upon it as the forerunner of the withdrawal of some of their most cherished privileges . The patronage of India is now distributed upon just principles , and he could not think favourably of a measure which would change that system . A vast amount of patronage would be placed in the hands of the Go- ' vernment without a check , and its influence would arm an unscrupulous minister with a very dangerous power . With regard to adoption , the Company never interfered *» MfTi it- whoro nrirnto f \ v narcnnal nrnnorfir woia # »/¦»«_

    cerned . They had not ignored the Christian religion ; on the contrary , the servants of the Company had been among the best friends of that religion . Much had been said about colonization ; but it was said in ignorance . To entertain the project of colonizing the plains of India was an absurdity . —Mr . Campbell said that the Company had taken credit to themselves for improvements in India , but most of them had originated with the nis aecui

    uoverno : s- * jtenerai . Me expressed en . approval of the bill , and believed that the name of the Queen would be hailed with delight by the various classes in India . — Sir Edward Bulwer Lyiton characterized the measure as audacious , incomplete , and unconsidered . The system of check now complained of had saved the empire from many a fatal blunder . Lord Palmerston and Sir G . C > Lewis had affirmed that under the existing system there is no responsibility ; but Sir Charles Wood—whose speech that night had answered bis speech in 1853—contended that the whole responsibility rests upon the President of the Board of Control . Pass this bill , and the

    House would never interfere with the affairs of India , unless it were to the interest of some part y to assail the Government through the Indian Minister . —Lord -John Russell , could not consent to leave this matter in doubt for another year . It was imperative that they should have only a Queen ' s army in India . That alone—seeing that it broke up the very foundation of the East India Company — showed' the urgency of legislation . He saw " no alternative but to look the question in the face , and to come at once to a gtAllit . inn nf tYlf * Hiflfir » lllf V Af " r * Tlici > i 11 < l T I < amini 1 af 1 & « r » a « mmmm

    m * ** - «• v ^ w ^ v •*» ** ^ «¦* ^* «** J AlAi ^ * . M ^ JLh'JLftdA " * r f 7 t A Wllll f n * i ^* M * S ^ the House that they had not taken into consideration the financial part of the question . After the proposed change , it would be impossible to keep up any distinction between the finances of India and those of England . If the exchequer of India should be empty , England would be liable . At this moment ^ there is a deficit in India of about two millions , and this will necessarily be doubled and quadrupled . The House ought to know , before it passed this bill , what are the resources of India , and how they are to be managed . What is wanted is a total change in the local administration of India itself . The projected scheme of homo government for India would not meet the necessities of the case . The President of the Council must trust to the Governorvceueruiwho iuus invested witn aosoiuie

    , woum oe power . The expenditure would increase every year , and England would have to pay for India . Lord Palmerston said it was admitted on all hands that the Court of Directors was doomed ; and the Government wished to bring the authority of the Queon to bear on India with as little derangement of existing machinery as possible . It had bceu saiil that the council would not be independent ; but did those who said so mean that there ought to be associated with the President an antagonistic council , who would overrule him . without

    responsibility either to the Government or Parliament ? Would that conduce to harmonious action and beneficial result ? Clearly , the council must be one of advice , not of control . It appeared to him Unit the proposed arrangement would bo most conducive to the end in view . He wished that the House would' neitlicn be led away by the sophistry they had heard , nor daunted by the phantom of an imaginary call on tlio revenues of the

    country for Indian purposes . If the local Government were to have power to increase tho local expenditureif the Governor-General wore to bo mistrusted—then , ho said , strengthen the Government at homo , and give them tho power of bringing tho whole concern under tho control of Parliament . ' Mr . NuwujEcctATK having made an iuoffcatual endeavour to address the House , a division took place , and the 9 uie !

    —re -wa 8 = ' *— " — " —'— " - '""¦ "' — ' ""— ' — For tho motion 818 Against it 178 Majority 146 The bill was then brought in and road a first time , and Lord Palmkhston stated that tho second reading would be taken that day fortnight . The Houac adjourned at ten mimitoa past one .

    No. 413, Eebrtjaby 20, 1858.] The Leader...

    No . 413 , Eebrtjaby 20 , 1858 . ] THE LEADER . ^ 73

    The Indian Revolt. ?—

    THE INDIAN REVOLT . ?—

    An attack on the position held by Sir James Outram at Alumbagh , guarded by four thousand . of our men , was made by the enemy on the 22 nd of December , on the 12 th of January , and on the- 16 th of the same month . On each occasion the insurgents were defeated , with heavy loss of men and guns , and with scarcely any casualties on our side . In the last engagement , the leader of the rebels , a Hindoo fanatic , was wounded and taken prisoner . The Sepoys in this locality are said to be fiercely quarrelling among themselves . Heading a force of about eight thousand men , Sir Colin Campbell left Cawnpore 011 the 24 th of December , and secured a large quantity of treasure at Bhitoor . Three days later , he attacked and defeated the rebels on the Khoree Nudee ; and on the 11 th of January he took possession of Futtehghur . From this locality the enemy fled precipitately , leaving \ their guns , baggage , and ammunition behind them , j ' 1 Mi A \ To iirnk m firl f \ n n « mofi 4-Y * n /^* a « * wn « Z «^ a . * DnU SI . . .... . I . ¦ ija \ 4

    true Asiatic thirst for blood . In Goruckpore , for instance , Mahommed Hoossein cuts off quiet folks ' heads because they will not pay revenue . His assistants cut off heads because their owners will not pay bribes in excess of revenue . Jung Bahadoor is cutting off the heads of Mahommed Hoossein ' s followers , and , to crown ' the scene , the villagers kill each other to reconcile longstanding feuds . The slaughter from all causes is frightful , and Goruckpore will remember the year 1857 as the Irish remember the j-ears of famine . " As a result of our improved prospects , trade at Calcutta shows signs of reviving health . The Governor-General is said to be on his way to the North-West Provinces . ALLEGED RUSSIAN AGGRESSIONS IK INDIA . A strange and startling piece of intelligence , which , however , awaits confirmation , is mentioned in a letter from Central India , which says : — " News has just arrived here from the interior , that a large body of Russians , Kehmin Tartars , and troops from Bokhara , have invested Yarkund , a place about Forty marches from Simla , across the Himalaya

    moun-- »• " * - ^ -tO ' VTALr C U . K * L \ JBa bllG UOUUC 5 AUtitJ J . MJliUi ; UIlU , whither Sir Colin was about to follow him . After subduing that district , the Commander-in-Chief was to advance again upon Lucknow . , Brigadier Walpole joined Colonel Seaton ' s column at Bewar , near Mynporee , on the 3 rd of January . The whole of the road is clear . Troops are being pushed through Scinde into the Punjab , and it is calculated that Sir John Lawrence

    tains , and on the borders either of Thibet or Chinese Tartary . It was well known , some time ago , that a large body of Russians were making their way by land towards India , although the English papers denied the practicability of their being able to do so . I should not be at all surprised if they attempt to take Cashmere , and march on to Simla along the very road we have lately made . "

    will soon have a reinforcement of from three to four thousand men . With the usual energy and alertness of himself and his lamented brother , he has already provided horses for the cavalry as soon as they shall arrive . A strong column , under Brigadier Roberts , is moving from Deesa into Rajpootana , and has already signalized itself by capturing an insurgent stronghold near Mount Aboo . This was effected by the first detachment , under Major Rains , which subsequently proceeded to Nusseerabad . Other forces are advancing to join them . Sir Huerh Rose was at Sehore at the last arivfops ..

    SIK COI . IN CAMPBELL AND GENERAL . WTNDHAJE . The Commander-in-Chief has published the following despatch with reference to the defeat of General Windham at Cawnpore : — V To the Right Hon . the Governor-General . " Head-quarters , Camp near Cawnpore , Dec . 20 . "My Lord , —I have the honour to bring to your Lordship ' s notice an omission , which I have to regret , in , my despatch of the 2 nd of December , and I beg to be allowed now to repair it . I desire to make my acknowledgment of the great difficulties in which Major-General Windham . C . B .. was nlaced during th « oni » ratinTi « \ ie >

    describes in his despatch , and to . recommend him ^ nd the officers whom he notices as having rendered him assistance to your Lordship ' s protection and good offices . I may mention , in conclusion , that Major-General Windham is ignorant of the contents of my despatch of the 2 nd of December , and that I am prompted to take this step solely as a matter of justice to the Major-General and the other officers concerned . — -I have , & c . " G . Campbell , General , COIPmander-in-Chief . " R . J . H . Biucir , Colonel , Secretary to the Governha ^ % v * J > ^ . £ ? Th . * J £ . «• - - _ xl . ^ "H ^ - 15 j ¥ ~^ - — —j ~ -a . It iiiciiivi iimiu 111 Liits

    . . ivjLiuiziry ucpariinenr . The Governor-General has followed this up by the General Order annexed : — "The Right Hon . the Governor-General in Council has received the accompanying despatch from his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief , and hastens to give publicity to it . It supplies an omission in a previous despatch from his Excellency , which was printed in the Gazette Extraordinary of the 24 th instant . Major-General "Windham ' s reputation as a lender of conspicuous bravery and coolness , and the reputation of the gallant force which he commanded , will have lost nothing from an accidental omission such as General Sir Colin Campbell has occasion to regret . But "the Governor-General in Council will not fail to bring to the notice of the

    u-overnment in . England the opinions formed by his Ex-i cellency of the difficulties against which Major-General Windham , with the officers and men under his crders , had to contend . " PROCLAMATION TiT A REBEL ' KINO . ' Tlie rebel ' King' at Mundesore , has addressed " Moulavie Jummaloodcen Bahadoor , Commander-in-Chief of the Koynl Army at Neemuch , In tho following proclamation , dated Mundesore , the 10 th of November , 1857 : — 11 iviiuwu limb tvikuur h

    ^ u « . . messenger nas mus moment ( twelve o ' clock noon-day ) arrived from Necmuch , and appeared in tho presence of the King , into whoso ears ho has poured tho glad tidings of victory and conquest over the infidels , by tho capture of the Fort of Ncomuch , by the courageous and all-daring warriors of hia Majestv ' s army . This intelligence is most welcome and pleasing to his Majesty . But Heaven grant that tl « n 1 /* in «¦* a ... 1 l-t « IVil * Kr .. l I . 1 ! _ _ ¦ . __ 1 Axing miiu iiiamuuiui auiuitira aciuovu

    and was expected to arrive at Saugor onjjie 28 th of January , and then to advance to Jhansi . On the 10 th of that month ( the Malwa mutineers at Indore being disposed of } , he proceeded to Lechoa , and was followed next day by Sir Robert Hamilton . On the 13 th , Sir Hugh tried and executed one hundred and fifty mutineers , having first disarmed the BhoAval contingent . A Madras column , about to be joined by Sir W . Grant , is advancing . General-Whitelock ' s force was at Nagpore at the date of the last f \ £ ^ G t \ n t r \ w % r \ a n * -t y ^ ^ Tt ^* h vri 1 1 / 1 ^ v ^^ ^ v » ^ fr- > ^^ «*^ -hl ^^^ l 'f t - » «« _ Fit vl _ «« f — .

    u ^ o ^ aLV ^ ii ^ C ) < % Lii 4 biic Tillage Ul 1 * 11 C 7 ICMClllUUs XlliltvUF of Rewa had been attacked and burnt , after an obstinate resistance . This was on the 6 th of January . The Kamptee column is advancing on Saugor . The Rajah of Kotah is said to be anxious to make terms . Captain Osborne , with the troops of the Rewah Rajah , took the city of Myhere by storm on the 28 th of December , capturing two guns . The fort of Myhere was also taken on the 3 rd of January . The direct route to Bombay has been re-opened . The Maharajah of Gwalior has come to Agra on a visit . The Dacca mutineers crossed the Teesta River , and made their way through dense jungles into Nepal . A Glioorka regiment has been sent against them by Jung Bahadoor , and it is supposed they will fall back

    again to tne eastward , xne unittagong mutineers ^ are wandering about in the Eachar jungles . Many have been killed and captured by the Sylhefc Light Infantry and the Kookies . The Bheels , who had assembled in force near the STizam ' s frontier , were attacked 011 the 20 th of January by Captain Montgomery , in tho Mindar Junmle-Aroum . The result of this struggle is described as 'indecisive . ' Captain Montgomery and three other officers were wounded ; and one of these —Lieutenant Stewwt , of the Nizam ' s infantry— . has

    since died . Our total loss is said to have been fifty rank and file . Reinforcements are on their way . The Punjab is quiet , and tho country for the most part is being gradually tranquillized ; " but , " says the telegram from Lord Lyons , " n vast amount of work has still to bo . performed . " Nana Sahib is snid , in n despatch dated January 7 th , to be near NiiKode with a very lursre force , and

    it is added that ho means to besiege Saugor , unless tho arrival of reinforcements should compel him to move in another direction . An earlier despatch mentions n report that lie was then nt a place near Ghurinucktce 8 or Ghaut , and that u party of infantry and cavalry had gone after him . A third report , of doubtful authenticity , apeaks of his having been captured by General Outram . " ifr sirot

    ~~ m < orty = n vo-re ue -nu ve ^ uoon ~ ~ a"tr ^ GoorgnonT Of these , thirty-five were member a of the Royal family . Tho diatrict ia tolerably quiofc , nnd the revenue is coming in fast . " Tho genorul improaalon left by a roviow of the facts of tho fortnight , " auy « the Times Calcutta correspondent , writing on tho 8 th of January , " is one , of flucooas ; but tho condition of tho country In some places is frightful . Tho people , released from nil restraint ; , arc indulging tho

    , v »«« may moro ancj greater triumphs ove , y their enemies I It is required that upon the receipt of this you immediately despatch , under ' a strong escort , and properly secured , tho everlastingly holl-doomed English prisoners to Mundesore , that tho King may himself fix upon a suitable mode of torture for them . Lone no time in eradicating ovory vestigo of the English power , and in erecting our standards in the Jf 9 rt ,.. guntQn . ment , ^ aiid . tgwn _ oC . JNcoOT ^

    join tho soldiers that they in no way injure tho country pooplo ; severe punishmont will bo inflicted on . those who dlsoboy this order . Carefully proservo tho arma and other property found in tho fort , and , until further ordors , do not march upon Javvud . Convoy my hearty congratulations to tho army on tho attainment of this glorious victory , in honour of which I have fired a saluto of olovon guns . But an tho information has not yet been autliontioatcd by your despatches , I Am rathor

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 20, 1858, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20021858/page/5/