Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 28th November 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1138, .OHO % c

Page 1138
Page 10
10 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (2)
    • .. , v v v J^ tlultC 3lltHtr0* ¦ -' . ; ' . - \ ¦ '•, _ ¦ __ " # *
    • .OHO % c
  • Text (8)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTSSeveral communications unavoidably stand over . It is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we receive . Their insertion is of tea delayed , owing to a press of matter ; and when omitted , it is frequently from reasons quite independent of the merits of the communication . No notice can be taken of anonymous correspondence . Whatever is intendedfor insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily for publication . but as a guarantee of his good faith . We caunot undertake to return rejected communications .

      Untitled Article

      INDIA—THE PROGRESS OF AFFAIRS . Theeb steamers , with troops on board , had actually reached Calcutta ere the departure of the mail steamer Tvith the despatches already telegraphed . The Bentinck , which brought the mail to Suez , either encountered during her passage or heard of the following- — viz ., two sailing-vessels off the ' Sandheads , ' at the entrance of the Hooghly—two steamers

      and a sailing-vessel arrived in Madras [ Roads — four steamers and three sailing-vessels leached Point de Gralle , in Ceylon , at different dates . There were , moreover , certain steamers in "waiting at Gralle-,- in order to receive troops iroin sailing-vessels and carry them up the Bay of Bengal with extra despatch . All the ships mentioned , or at least the soldiers they conveyed , would probably have reached Calcutta before the Bentinck arrived at Suez . The tide of reinforcements had thus fairly set in , and would flow continuously for some time to come . But the mere fact of these -welcome succours having landed in the quiet , peaceable province of Bengal , would be of little avail in the absence of any organized means of forwarding the newly arrived corps to the distant localities , where their presence and aid have been so sorely needed . AVe are therefore glad to find that this important consideration has not been overlooked by the local authorities . Official documents have been lately published which supply the

      details of a scheme ( originating , it is said , with Mr . Hallidat , Lieutenant-G-overnor of Bengal ) for the organization along the Grand Trunk Road of establishments to supply passing detachments with carriage and provisions . The arrangements proposed have been duly carried out , and the practical result is highly gratifying . It is at Haneegunge , the present terminus of the East Indian Railway—one hundred and twenty-one miles north-west of the Presidency—that the new system comes into play . TJnder its operation , two hundred men with their officers could be forwarded

      towards Benares daily , from and after the 1 st November , 1857 . Of the above number , fifty men with officers would be sent in ddk-cavriages , drawn by horses or propelled by bearers , and reach Benares ( distant three hundred miles ) in live days , at a cost of sixty-four rupees per bead . The balance of one hundred mid fifty men with officers , would proceed by * bullock ( or wnggon ) train , ' and reach Benares in ten days , at a cost of sixteen and a half rupees per head . Summa : —That , by these two means combined , an aggregate ot 4 G 00 men and their oflicers can bo conveyed monthly to Benares from " ftaneegunge , at an average expense of about thirfcy-three

      rupees per man . An arrangement cannot be too highly spoken of , by which , afc a very trifling outlay , the British soldier , in full health and vigour , fresh from his native soil , and fully prepared for action , is ( to use the renowned Hydeb Ali's plirase ) * let loose / if not on the very battle-field , at least within hail of the fray . Turning now to tlie latest items of intelligence , we observe that the Lucknow garrison , after being again placed in great apparent jeopardy , had been sensibly reinforced by the arrival of H . M ' s . 53 rd and 93 rd Regiments . Still , witli a divided force ( for 1000 men . had

      charge of the sick and wounded at the Alumbsgli ) , General Havelock ' s position might be regarded as critical , but for the certainty that Brigadier Gtreathed ' s junction had swelled his muster-roll to 7000 men . The Najsta is said to be again in the neighbourhood of Bhitoor , near which place a body of the Delhi mutineers , flying before Gijeathied's force ( which had already twice discomfited them ) , were attacked in a strong position by a detachment from Cawnpore , under Colonel "Wilson , which routed and dispersed the rebels .

      On the other side of the Jumna the pursuing column ( under Brigadier SriowEEs ) appears to have reached Agra , en route for Gwalior , on the 14 th of October , and was some days after attacked on the line of march by the rebels . The latter wero defeated , with a loss of one thousand killed ; and , moreover , driven pell-mell across the Eoharee-INTuddy ( about thirty miles from Gwalior ) , leaving to the victors , who suffered but slightly , their guns , camp equipage , treasure , and a mass of ill-gotten spoils .

      In spite of so much cheering intelligence , in spite of the grievous checks which rebellion has encountered , the spirit of mutiny is still abroad . The 32 nd Bengal Native Infantry lias gone at last . At all events , a portion of the regiment ( which may be taken to imply the whole ) had risen and committed several murders at Deoghur , in the Bhaugulpore district . It is also to be feared that disaffection

      is very general in the Bombay army . In addition to this , it is rumoured that the Maharajah of Gwalior lias been assassinated by his own . people , and that Maun Singh of Jodhpore has turned traitor upon principle , seeing that he has now but little apparent chance of profiting-by the move . The standing camp at Raneegunge , which has been formed at Sir Colin Campbell ' s suggestion , will , we imagine , constitute a depot , from which troops will be despatched to Upper India , on the plan already described and commended by us .

      The King of Delhi , it is now reported , will be tried by a military commission . Then it is a pity that his life was ever spared . For —if really accountable for his own actionshe has far less right to consideration than the meanest of those whom his example led astray . And again , if the sentence of death ( which must of course be passed ) should not be executed on his sometime Majesty , the proceedings of the military commission will degenerate into farce ; and , worse than all , the incorrigible native will , for the thousandth time , ascribe lenity to weakness and forbearance to fear .

      Untitled Article

      THE POSITION OF REFORM . The journals supposed to bo under official influence have been diverging in their speculations on tho subject of Paliamontary Reform . No authoritative announcement of ministerial intentions has appeared . It is possible that even the roynl speech will leavo the question undecided . Silence , at least , would not imply a resolve on the part of Lord Palmehston to forfeit his pledge . But lie is

      in a difficult position . Intrinsically , he is not a Liberal by sentiment , although he may be one by conviction . "When he has satisfied himself that Reform is the right policy for a Premier to pursue , he will advance , and that vigorously . We believe that more discussion has taken place in connexion with the promise of last session than the public is avvare of . In , the first place , it has been discovered that a movement of considerable importance

      although informal , has been going on amon « the friends of Lord Johit Rttsshil . That statesman is encamped outside the Cabinet He has said , since tlie Indian mutiny assumed its most terrible proportions , ¦¦ " The time has come ; " and those distinct and deliberate words seem to mark him as the probable chief of not a few powerful "Whigs , who will conibiue actively in the event of a breach of faith by the Government .

      Lord John Rttsselx , of course , reserves his confidences for Ids traditionary allies , but the view of his position suggested above . is-taken by those who stand near and infer from impressions . Here is one motive at work inclimn g the First Minister to fortify himself by actiug as a Liberal among Liberals . But the pressure most directly felt has been that of his own

      colleagues , and we are not merely guessing when we say that Lord Panmure , Sir Chakles "Wood , and Sir George Gke y stand opposed to the hesitating tendencies of tlie Duke and tlie Earl , who , in the Cabinet , are supposed to represent a desire to delay the Reform Bill . The Times has spoken out as if it possessed minutes of all the Cabinet Councils * at which Reform has been

      mentioned ; but its devotees must not be deceived into the idea that , when their .. ; great oracle has pronounced , Lord PalmebSton has decided . If Lori Paxmerstonwere really to throw the question overboard , it would be partially on account of representations made by writers assuming to lay before him the sentiments of the public . Neither the nation nor the Ministry as a whole , but a part of one and the other , has declared itself against

      the fulfilment of a pledge . Some , who are not unacquainted with the mental progress of the Premier , would be little astonished to see him striving for a position among the great historical promoters of Reform . It would plume him with a new honour . It would leave him , he might think , without a point of unfavourable comparison with Lord Jonx RttsselIi . It would place him at the head of public opinion . And , if the courtly members of his administration should bo intractable .

      they are not statesmen whom it would be difficult to replace . Their x ^ ersonal influence , rather than their ability , accounts for whatever importance attaches to the views they hold . Now , outside the Cabinet , there is a powerful feeling in favour of an immediate Reform . "Wo are not wrong , we hope , in assuming that Mr . Gladstone , Mr . Sidney Herbert , n : nd others of that connexion , would regard any attempt to break through the pledge * of last session as an act of gross

      dishonesty . Tho excuses put forward on behalf of the-unwilling section of tho Ministry are universally rejected as hollow and disingenuous . If we wait for a clear session we shall simply imitate tho rustic who postponed his journey until the river had ceased to flow by . It is nothing loss than to expect that History will come to a standstill in order

      that wo may rearrange our political machinery . That Indian affairs must be debated ia true , but it is true , also , unless an 1 mlinn . Bill is to " bo forced precipitately through Parliament , that the time will not have come , for several months , for final deliberation on that subject . If , as semi-ministerial writers say , tho Bank Charter is not to bo modified , why should a year of legiff-

      Untitled Article

      There is notliing" so revolutionary , becaiise there is nothing so ¦ unnatural and convulsive , as the strain "to keep things fixed when allthe world is "by the very law of its creation in . eternal progress . —Db . Abkold .

      .. , V V V J^ Tlultc 3llthtr0* ¦ -' . ; ' . - \ ¦ '•, _ ¦ __ " # *

      ^ tibltr ^ ffiixr 0 . ¦ ¦ ¦ .. . - ¦ ' ¦ ¦ , . ' - ¦ ' — ¦» - ¦ : ' : ' ¦ ' ¦ '¦'¦ ¦

      Untitled Article

      SATTJKDAY , NOVEMBER 28 , 1857 .

      .Oho % C

      . OHO % c

      Untitled Article

      11 SS TlfcE IiEAD E R . [ No . 401 , November 28 , 1857 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 28, 1857, page 1138, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2219/page/10/