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Leader (1850-1860), 24th October 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1011, Untitled Article

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      country cart , and covering its open front and back with sheets , in the fashion practised by the families of Mussulmans when travelling , armed himself , and , mounting his horse , proceeded at our side to a place some twenty miles distant , -where we halted for a time . We continued the journey for several successive days , till we reached Ahmednuggur , and lie endeavoured the whole time , by the most vigilant attention and kindness , to lessen the discomforts of the road . In the course of the four or five days , I several times offered him a bag of rupees , which I begged , nay , besought , him to take and useaj freely for his own wants as for ours ; but I could only persuade him to take very small sums from

      time to time , as they were required for our expenses . Again and again in tae course of our subsequent intercourse , knowing him to be much embarrassed by a large and unavoidable addition to his usual expenses , 1 begged him with great earnestness to allow me to relieve his necessities , or ev-en ( as I found it impossible to induce him to listen to this proposal ) to accept any sum he might require for a time , and till , possiblj-, he might be in better circumstances ; he suid it would be a ' great disgrace' him to accept money from me , and that he only desired ' that his name might he good' among the English , and

      neither by tears nor entreaties could I ever persuade him to change his mind . I had some difficulty in inducing him even to accept as a memorial a ring of little value which I chanced to have on my finger when I bade him farewell ; but the tears streamed from his eyes when I told him I felt I owed him more than I ever could repay , and that to tlie latest hour of my life I should consider him one of uiy most valued friends . Since the above circumstance occurred , Booran ' s house has been burnt down , as it is supposed , by some one inimical to the English . " BIOHtTN LAIC ' S ISIP 3 USON 3 IENT . The following letter from Moliun Lai to a relation lias been published in the Lahore Chronicle : — "My Dear —— , —Thanks to the merciful God , that , after being detained forty-nine days as a prisoner in the Fort of ' Malagbur , ' by "NValeedad Khan ( formerly a loyal subject , obedient ' Talookdur , ' and pensioner of Government , and now a traitor ) , I am free , and again Tinder the protection of the glorious flag of the British Government at Meerut . " The misfortunes and the dangers I have encountered , and tlte fearful sufferings I have sustained for the untimely end of poor Hodges , your papa , are indescribable ; however , I give you a brief account of them , before I tn ' . k personally with you on those melancholy subjects . •' Hodg .: s arrived in Delhi on Sunday , the 3 0 th of May , at breakfast , and we were delighted to see each other , and making arrangements how to send tbe pair of leopards that I had purchased for the Rajah Sahib . In the evening , I took him in my carriage , and showed Mm the principal places in the city . "NVe passed an agreeable night , talking a good deal about your and Henry ' s education , and about how he was discharging duties of his office at Sirsa while so voung .

      "The unhappy morning of the 11 th May appeared . Till eight at morning , all was quiet , and we received newspapers from Calcutta . Suddenly , soon after , we were thunderstruck to learn that the mutineers from Meerut hud arrived , and were perpetrating the cruel deeds of minder , plunder , and burning the houses of the Christians ami those who were there . Ihe infantry regiments followed the cavalry , and , having- joined the Delhi garrison , finished the work of massacre . I tremble when I remember that day .

      " About two i \ m . four Sepoys with muskets in their hands mad a their appearance before the doors of our house , which were shut . Instigated as they were by the rogues < if the city , they begun abusive language , adding that this house was of a Christian , and that a ' Sahib' had come yesterday and put up here , and that they will murder both of up . Our servants and the street fellows declared that it was not the house of a Christian , nor tliero wus any ' Sahib ' concealed . After they weru besought and treated with some cash by Sher Khan , tho rascals went away that daw

      " Whilo thirt was going on outside at tho hou . se , your poor papa and myself were concealed in a very small dark room , Avhero wood waa placed for burning . In tho dark of night , Hodges "was removed into my uncle ' s house , Avillv tho four that , if tho . se Sepoys came again and enter the house , they should not find him tliero . " On the l . 'Uh ofMny , after the rogue * of tbe city had told tho lruitinoora everything regarding my circumstances ami connexion with Government , they came in , the grcalor number plundering all the neighbouring shops . Tlioy entered into my house by force : they

      plundered everything , and , sifter seizing mo ( as thev were informed by certain men of tho citv ) , said , by mv going to kuglanu , I could not remain a Hindoo , ami bv sending my daughter for education in London , and beiiitf ivlnU « l with your pnpa , I cannot bo a Mahometan , addm / .- that 1 w . i . sa mookhbir' « f Government , ami received « n I bat account a lii h pension . They will , thoroloro , put mo to . loath . <> , u , of them placed his nmski-t . ovit n . y l . ivnst , and wan about to shoot me . Ahe Hcri'MiiK of tlii ! females of tho houso , and tho cntrentii .. ., ,, f ( i , o neighbouring Hindoos and Mussulmans , and the ( kuunistri . tion of tho « Kolwul' ( who happened

      to pass in that time ) , Induced his comrades to stop him fro-TO killing me till they had made further inquiry . " After this , I remained concealed , and moving from one place to another . Hodges was also removed from my ancle ' s house to that of my aunt , whence , after remaining a few days , as the people had begun to suspect of his being concealed in her house , Hodges and all of us ( though dangerous ) thought better to try the cha-nce of escape than to be seized and slaughtered in the house . He was disguised in colour and dress , and about eight p . m . he left the house for going out of the Lahore gate , and then go on to Kurnal . Unfortunately ( as his guide reports ) , he was suspected by his walk and dress from the mutineers who throng all the streets . After being seized it was proven , by his talk , that he was ha disguise a * Sahib , ' on which , in great perplexity , Hodges told them who he was , whence and where ( mentioning my name ) he came . On this , they shot him to death , and next day most search was made after me . Some of my friends , on spending about 500 rupees , obtained the » permission of ' Khizur Sooltan , ' one of the corrupt ' Shahzadahs , ' under the name of the ungrateful king , of my quitting the city with their friend Waleedad IChan , the Talookdar of Malaghur , about two miles from Boolundshahur , where Mr . B . Sapte , the collector and magistrate , was holding his authority . The Khau was a pensioner and loyal subject of our Government , and continued to obey the collector till tlie 10 th of June last . Concealed in a palanquin , I came out of the city in the train of his family . He had promised in Delhi to send me to Agra , and remain faithful to my Government . But the fool , on learning the misfortunes of our rulers in some districts , turned a rebel , and kept me a prisoner with intentions to murder me on his flight , if attacked by a European force . u Though not happy , and miserable , I was trying to pTocure my escape from this traitor ' s hands by some means or other . I wrote secretly to Rao Gholab Sing , a rich and great ' Talookdar up ' Kochesur , ' a loyal subject of the Government , an acquaintance of th-e rebel , asking him . to write to Waleedad Khan to send me to-him . The ¦ llao' kindly sent his ' Deewan , ' and aslced the favour of the traitor to Fend me to him . But lie declined . I then wrote to a friend of mine in Agra to employ about twenty armed men , come to ' Jtalaghur , ' and . steal my C 3 cape . He could neither get money nor men , and therefore failed to assist . "I had no other course but to rely on the protection of God , who had hitherto saved me . On the 29 th July , tbe little brave party of Europeans came from Meerut , and defeated the traitor ' s force near Haupper . 'Fhere was so much confusion , consternation , and alarm on the night attack created in the fort by this defeat , tiiat early on the morning of the 80 th I escaped from my dungeon to Bahaderghur , near the Ganges . ... . ' Thanks , thanks and humble devotions , to the merciful and Almighty God , that , after being forty-nine days in imprisonment , I am free and at ease under the British protection . India was in great crisis , but the g-igantic rule of Sir John Lawrence , and his keeping the Punjab in tranquillity , has kept all the chiefs of India in check and awe . May he live long , arid may the gracious Queen and her country make him Earl of Punjab . ... " Mohun Lax .. " a Belgian ' s letter from Bombay . A report has been adtlressed by Monsieur H . Volkart , the Belgian Consul , at Bombay , to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in his own country . It is dated September 17 tb , and contains the subjoined passages : — " The trade of Bombay does not suffer directly , but it i . 3 not impossible that the events in Bengal may have un indirect influence that -will be felt in our important market . Our merchants supply the interior for a great distance . Wo furnish articles of European manufacture to provinces now insurgent . Tho demand for tho . se districts has fallen off , and the spirit of speculation also suffers under the influence , of an uncertain position . "Whilst in former years transactions becuune very important at tho end of tho monsoon , because there was nlwnys considerable speculation , the business now doing shows that the native merchants prefer confining themselves to mere purchases for pressing wants . "As regards our export trade , I am happy to be able to state Hint the districts that supply our market with their produce are in a state of perfect tranquillity , and cultivation ami" produce pursue their usual courso , A circumstance must , however , be mentioned , which may have ; its influence . The Government will have need of a groat number of means of transport , for the conveymi * of tioops , . supplies , and munitions of war , and will "lay nn embargo on whatever oi' tho kind it may find on the routes lending to tho . scat of war , and may thus deprive , tho traders of tin- possibility of expediting their goods in tlie usual way . According to nil appearances , this is tin : only irregularity likely to produce compliealiuiiH in our market , and those will not be of any great importance . " Tho conviction that tho lives and properties of Europeans run no risk in our Presidency is general hero , and 1 . share the opinion . Tlie nu ' . rcliant . s of Europe in general , and those of llelghiui in particular , who may be lu'sil . atin ^; to continue their ncr . u . stmiieU expoi'latiuii . H to our market have nothing to fear , as tti ' . ir interests will bo r . a Hiil ' ejia heretofore . "

      THE RELIEF ! FUN £ > - The meetings and subscriptions fri aid of the fetid continue both in London and the j > rovirtces , -and the ¦ amount now in hand is very large . Sir John Pakmgton , writing to the 3 Loadon secretary en the 18 th . inst ., says : — "A preliminary meeting was held at " Worcester yesterday , and I was there . told by several gentlemen , as I have heard from many quarters elsewhere , that there exists in the public mind , in combination-with a desire to subscribe , a feeling that no adequate security has yet been offered with respect either to the responsibility under which the fund is to be administered , or the principles , regulations , or conditions under which it is to be applied . " To this , the Lord Mayor himself replies , oft the 19 th : —

      " The business is conducted by a General Committee , whose meetings are held weekly , a Finance Committee , whose meetings are held weekly , and a Belief Committee , who meet twice a \ reek . I enclose to you a list of the names of the gentlemen who compose the Relief and Finamce Committees , which you will iind to include East India directors , Bank directors , merchants and bankers , and officers , both military and civil , -who have occupied important positions in India . .... I will only add tfaat a concurrent audit of the accounts of the committee is conducted under the supervision of JIt . Anderson , of the Treasury ; Mr . Andoe , of the Audit-office ; and Mr . Prescott , of the firm of Grote , Prescott , and Co . . . "P . S . The committee have already sent out 30 , 000 / . to Calcutta , 3000 / . to Bombay , and" 70001 . to Sir John Lawrence at Lahore , and . are relieving cases of distress at home . "

      u . he Governor-General of India has refused to make any Government contribution to the fund , because a grant of public money would tend 'to restrict , if not altogether to close , the sources of private charitv . '

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      THE DUKE OF CAMBBIGE AT SHEFFIELD The Duke of Cambridge , on Wednesday , laid at Sheffield the foundation-stone of a monument to the memory of the soldiers from Sheffield who fell during the Oimean war , the idea of which originated with a few working men who formed themselves into a committee and collected subscriptions . The day was observed as a general holiday , and the streets were gay with banners . All the public bodies , and the various societies of Odd Fellows , benefit clubs , &c , were represented ; and many thousands gathered round the spot during the ceremony . At four o ' clock in the afternoon , a cold collation was served at the Cutler ' s Hall , at which the Mayor presided . In answer to tlie toast of his health , tlie Duke of Cambric ! < re said : —

      " The only subject which of late has given me anxiet y was the recruiting for the army . I must , however , tell you—for there is nothing like being frank and open with you—that the ordinary recruiting for the army is progressing in a manner which is perfectly incredibl-e . { Loud cheers . ) The ordinary means of recruiting have in two days alone produced eight hundred men . ( Rene we J ajylause . ) That is a great fact ; it is a result which was never obtained during the Russian war ; a result which was never equalled in tlie military history of the country . ( Cheers . ) Gentlemen , I put this foxward to prove that it is not a mistake to say that we are recruiting remarkably well . There is no doubt that all parties , especially myself , must have felt considerable

      anxiety as to the lesult . The number of men required is very considerable . How were they to be recruited ? Ordinary recruiting , I have no doubt , would in time have produced them . The circumstances are ¦ extraordinary , and extraordinary efforts must be made ; it id of the very greatest consequence that tlie feeling which baa obtained in Sheffield should be spread and extended through the country , and tbe example which Sheffield has in tha-i respect given is very valuable . Ou my part , it has been felt very sincerely , and we feel very grateful to you for it . ( Loud cheers . ) And ¦ what has been done by Sheffield might be done by other and not

      towns , only by towns , but by individuals . Gentlemen rend of these events in India , and say , ' How sad it is ! ' and wish they could assist the Government ir their suppression of tho mutiny . Gentlemen , you can assist—every country gentleman , every community , every individual , can assist—if you will take the pain ; and troublo to explain to men who , from their peculin : position , live very humbly , live from hand to mouth and say , ' W liy do you not go into tho wmv , when ; yoi will be well cared for , and do the country service ? ' 1 you do this , you will be benefiting tho country , and Lin army will receive great advantage from getting an increased number of good recruits . " { Loud cheers . )

      Alter observing that the rebellion must bo pul down with lirmnesti , though neither \\ il \\ indiscriminate vcMigouneo nor undue leniency , ami thai , thouyli our rule ; in India has boon marked with some faults , it , has , on the wholo , been a good rule , his Royal 11 ighiu hs proceeded : — "Thin great empire must always be , to a certain extent , prepared for . such disasters iih that which has now come- upon it . { Chrtws . ) What hus been our principle of action V We have cut down our establishment .- } ex

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      Ko . 396 , October 24 y 1857 . 1 THE LEADER , , 1011

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 24, 1857, page 1011, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2215/page/3/