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Leader (1850-1860), 24th July 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 704

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      Untitled Article

      ; " The following morning , a -wounded Mahratta retainer of the Ranee was sent in to me from Captain -Abbott's flying camp . He stated that the Ranee , accompanied ity three hundred Valaitees , and twenty-five sowars , fled that night from the fort ; that after leaving it , they had been headed back by one of the pickets , where the Sanee and her party separated , she herself taking to the right with a few sowars , in the direction of her intended fligbt to Bundere . The Observatory also telegraphed , * Enemy escaping to the north-east . '"

      A PXEA FOR MERCY" . Mr . Russell , writing to the Times on June 2 nd , Bays : — " Up to this time there has certainly been , no lack of wort for the executioner . Rajahs , nawabs , zemindars , have been ' strung -up , ' or * polished off' weekly , and ihen of less note daily—all , probably , deserving their fate ; but I confess that , anxious asl am for th « punishment of the guilty wretches whose deeds have outraged humanity , 1 have no sympathy with those who gloat over their death , and who , in . the press and elsewhere , fly into ecstasies of delight at the records of each act of necessary justice , and glory in the exhibition of a spirit as sanguinary and inhuman as that which prompted

      murderers , assassins , and mutilators to the commission of the crimes for which they have met their doom . The utterers of those sentiments have been so terribly frightened that they can never forgive those or the race of those who inflicted such terrible shocks on their nervous system . They see no safety , no absolute means of prevention to the recurrence of such alarms , but in the annihilation of every Sepoy who mutinied , or who was likely to have done so if he could . They forget that the experience of all history and of all time is against their theory that security can be obtained by bloodshed and -universal proscription . At every large station winch I have visited executions have taken place during xny ' stay , bvtl have never been yet induced to witness one

      of these , spectacles , which , indeed , take place so secretly that one object which , the infliction of capital punish * ment has in view , to deter others from the commission of crime , must be frustrated . Thus you have missed many thrilling horrors—tales of mien blown away from howitzers or swung off from carts , and always meeting their death , with resolution and courage , which they never exhibit in the field , or , when the chances of life aadd&th . arei undecided . Unconscious of the real force of ^ e term , the admirers of such sights apply the term white Pandy * to those who are bold enough to remember they are Christians . Pandy—black or white—is the name of a savage , ferocious , merciless , bloodthirsty wretch , ¦ who has so pity and no stint in his lust for taking life of

      ^—who disregards the voice religion and of humanity , or has never , heard it . Such a one is he who can write like this , almost as bad is he who can print and publish it : — ' 1 did not get a cut at any of the wretches , but I lad the satisfaction of riding my horse over the beads and faces of some of the beasts as they lay on the field . 3 am glad to . say the writer was not a soldier , at least a soldier-by profession . I am sure that be is not a pure Englishman , but that he must have a dash of Pandy tilood in his veins . Very different indeed ar « the sentiments which prevail in the army . It is almost an offence to them to say so . The first fierce excitement having died away , the army is only animated by the

      common instincts which actuate British soldiers , and they are little desirous of continuing a war in which there is no mercy to the vanquished and no glory to the conqueror . For this reason , perhaps , it is that the tone which prevails among officers of the Queen ' s army in reference to this outbreak is more moderate than that of the civil servants of the Company , or of many of the Indian community at large . The secret despatch of the Court of Directors to Lord Canning , although it will provoke a yell from the Jack Ketch party , will strengthen the hands of those who desire to see peace founded on some more solid basis than solitude and skeletons . "

      THE SEPOY ATROCITIES . This subject—now , happily , almost set to sleepia revived in the Times of Tuesday by Mr . George Campbell , who , writing from Lucknow on the 5 th of June , sayB : — 14 The discussion and inquiry that have occurred have more and more convinced me that almost the whole of the stories of torture , mutilation , and dishonour , are the purest inventions . But in urging this 1 am very far , indeed , from desiring to be an apologist for the Sepoys . On the contrary , I altogether dissent from and disclaim the line of argument which would make tho falseness of these stories a mitigation of their guilt ; and I think

      that the disposition to reaction caused by the discovery that the popular imagination had stultified itself is tho greatest evil which has resulted from the « rror , and one against which tho public should bo warned . Surely , things must have como to a strange pass when the most brutal and wholosnlo murders of men , -women , and children , without distinction of box , age , or character , are not reckoned ia tho list of atrocities , and , because death invariably proven tod the possibility of other crimes , tho Sepoys ecom to bo held up rnther as honourable exceptions to the lustful criminality of other ages and other wars . I believe that there can bo no greator mistake . The murders were sufficiently atrocious and

      unsparing to justify any denunciations and to gratify any taste for the horrible if . they had not been overlaid by the appeal to less legitimate imaginations . "

      Untitled Article

      THE ORIENT . CHINA . The forts at the mouth of the Peiho , mounting 138 guns , and backed by a large body of troops , were attacked by the English and French gunboats on the 20 th of May , and were captured . The French suffered severely from the explosion of a mine ; but we appear to have sustained onl y a very trifling loss- The Chinese are said to have stood to their guns very fairly . Oa the 22 nd of May , the force commenced advancing up the river ; and , on the 2 nd of June , the allies made an unsuccessful attempt to rout the enemy on the mountains in the vicinity of Canton . The weather was cool at that time , and the squadron in excellent health and spirits . Six thousand French troops , originally destined for Cochin China , to avenge the death of a . Bishop , were , at the last dates , on their way to the Gulf of Pecnelee . Trade is unsettled at Shanghai by the intelligence from the Peiho , and at Canton it is almost at a standstill . The new Bilk crop is favourably reported on . Ming Poo is in possession of the rebels . The telegram ( as usual ) is confused ; but it -would appear that the English merchants there escaped on board an English ship .

      Untitled Article

      IRELAND . Obange Pbocessions ;— -Twenty-six persons , convicted at the Londonderry Assizes for assembling in an Orange procession on the 1 st of July , have just been sentenced by Mr . Justice Christian , who observed : —" Prisoners at the bar , you have been convicted , after a very patient , careful , and impartial trial , of the offence of joining in an illegal assembly of the kind that is designated by the name of illegal procession . Xooking at the evidence , and endeavouring to judge of your motives , one would possibly be struck , at first , rather with the foolishness than with the criminality of . your conduct . Undoubtedly , if these public processions meant nothing but what outwardly they appear to signify , if they had no meaning or signification except the commemoration of some old-world story : —the importance and interest , and almost the very memory of which have become effete and obsolete—the parties joining in these proceedings would be mor * proper objects for pity and contempt than for indignation or punishment . But it is because experience has shown us that they mean something more , when they take place in a mixed community , differing in political and in religious opinions , and in which there is a prevalence of party spirit—then their true meaning is insult and provocation to those who differ from them , and a public challenge to xiot and . disturbance . It is because experience has shown us that this is -what they mean that the law has intervened , and has declared that these

      demonstrations , which otherwise might be simply ridiculous , are wrong and unlawful . N " ow , it is perfectly well known that such was the purpose and the object of the assemblage on the occasion in question . " His Lordship concluded by sentencing the prisoners to two months' imprisonment , and at the end of that time not to he liberated unless they found bail , themselves in 207 . and two or more sureties in another 201 . more , to keep the peace for a term of seven years . Sixteen Catholics were tried for an affray ensuing out of the same tran :-action . His Lordship charged strongly in their favour , but the jury did not agree , and they wero eventually discharged on their own recognizances , to appear for trial on receiving fourteen davs' notice .

      Increase in the Value of Land . —A portion of the Blessington property , which was sold in 1847 , by order of the Court of Chancery , for 1200 £ , wa 8 resold last week under the Encumbered Estates Court for 5545 / . An , estate situate in tho county of Waterford , and containing 1800 acres , with a net annual Tcntal of 1400 / ., has just been sold in Dublin by Mr . Littlcdale , the auctioneer , for 32 , 000 ? ., or at about twenty-three years ' purchase . Lord John Bcreaford ia said to be the new proprietor . — 7 'imes .

      Untitled Article

      AMERICA . Tiik right of search having boon abandoned by tho English Government , tho "United States vessels of -war have been ordered home from the Gulf of Mexico . " The accounts from Mexico , " says tho Times , " contradict tho statement that Mr . Forsyth , tho American Minister , had demanded his passports . The Government , if such a term can bo used , had inniBtccl upon tho foreign merchants contributing to tha forced loan , and upon noncompliance had issued , it is « aiil , a decree of banishment

      against all who should resist , detachments of troops being at tho samo timo sent to tlio stores to seizo un amount of merchandise e < iunl to tho sum riumnmlcil . Against tlila , Mr . For . sytli and also Mr , Ottwuy , tlio British Minister , had unequivocally protested . Tho French Minister is nllcguri not only to have declined joining them , but to have racoimiu » . ndi > d liia countrymen to pay . Tho latter , however , luul »< ' 1 < 1 <« - mm'ting , and had positively detonninoil not to i-ontributo unless coinpolled bv force . Tliolr minihcr " m Mexiio is wnnputed

      at about five thousand , and many had appealed to thp protection of Mrv Forsyth . It was felt that in a few days the power of Zuloaga would most likely terminate with bis flight to Tampico , for which he wasTbelSved £ be in preparation , and where the means of escape by sea would be open to him in case of need " In the ^ bsence of polical news at Washington , one or two affairs of honour" are being talked about . One of these was between Senor Muruaga , Spanish Secretary of Legation , and Mr . Corcoran , the banker . The Spaniard had paid great attentions to Mr . Corcoran ' s daughter to which the father objected . One day , he forJbW £ pelled Senor Maruaga from his house ; and the Secretary thereupon applied to his Government for conge for the purpose of obtaining satisfaction without compromising the legation . This was granted him , and he challenged Mr . Corcoran ; but it does not appear that any a -

      rrange mania wrrfva ^ st « ma Jn ^* w — - __ t _ _ « ** o * - ' . mentswere made for a meeting . However , the antagonists met one day m the streets , when Sefior Muruaga threw his glove in the face of Mr . Corcoran The latter drew a pistol , but did not fire , and Senor Muroaea calmly awaited the issue , prepared to fire again should his opponent discharge his pistol . The end of tlie affair is not stated , and endeavours liave been made to hush it up . —Another affair of a similar kind took place between the Hon . Mr . Scott , of California , and Dr . Ogden of the same State . It is thus related in the Neib York Herald : — "Scott was at KiTkwood-house , when Dr . Ogden came iato the office of the hotel . Mr . Scott was talking -with several gentlemen , when some offensive remarks were made by Dr . Ogden . Scott told Ogden he had insulted him three times during the conversation . He asked him to stand up . When asked for what purpose , Scott leplied that he would not strike a man

      sitting . Ogdfen got up , and Scott knocked him down or back into his chair . Ogden drew his knife , and threatened to attack Scott with it , who was unarmed , but did not . Ogden challenged Scott , who promptly accepted through his friend Mr . Maynard . On Monday , the affair was settled by a declaration from Dr . Ogden of no intentional insult in the language used , when Mr . Scott expressed his regret for the blow . " The President is said to have determined to have the Nicaraguan route opened , and to sustain any company that has a valid right . Vessels of war are at each terminus . The Neio York ] Herald ' - ' says , in reference to this question : — " M . Belly returns to Europe this day by the steamer Persia , having completed his arrangements in Central America for constructing a ship canal from ocean to ocean . "

      Considerable anxiety has been felt at New York at the arrival at quarantine of several vessels from Cuban ports with tlieir whole crews sick with yellow fever , and of others which had lost a large portion of their number by that disease while at sea . The ship Susanne , Captain " Williamson , sailed from Matanzas on the 20 th ult ., with a cargo of sugars for Greenock ; but her commander , together with Robert Newton , cook , of England , and Johu Harper , seaman , of Norway , died ; and the mate , who succeeded to the command , was compelled to put into port for assistance . The ship Grotto , of Batb , Maine , which left Sagua la Grande for Liverpool , suffered in a similar degree . The wife of the commander , Dunlevie , who , with her two children , was on board , was obliged to divide her attentions between , her dying husband and the care of the ship . She was actually at tbo helm , steering , when spoken .

      The Federal army directed against the Mormons lias been reinforced , and was about to march on the disaffected country at the last dates . From Chili wo hear of a diplomatic quarrel with Sardinia , arising out of an unfavourable sentence pronounced by the Supreme Court of Chili in a suit of the Vice-Consul of Sardinia against several sailors of the Sardinian frigate San Jorge . Silvestre Ochagavia has been appointed to raise in Europe a loan of 7 , 000 , 000 dollars for the construction of tho railway from Valparaiso to , Santiago , and thence to Talca . Peru is engaged in a presidential election struggle , and it is feared it may assume a character as prejudicial to tho community as a revolution . Business has been active at Arequipa since the adjustment of tho revolution , and largo shipments have been made to that market from Lima . At Callao , business continues extremely dull , with no prospect of a change .

      Untitled Article

      ACCIDENTS AND SUDDEN DEATHS . An explosion of gas took placo a little before eight o ' clock last Saturday morning at tho oflico of Bell's IJ / e in London y 170 , Strand . Tlio mains of the gas pijtca wero being rcltiid , and a very strong smell of gas nroso from the cellar . Two persona connected with the engine room wentdown stairs to see after tho source of the escnpe , when an oxjilosion ensued , and both were t : a fearfully burnt that it was found necessary to remove them to King ' s College Hospital . A Hon of tho Rov . Arthur Davics , of Lifdiem , Norfolk , has Iicen drownoil while Imlliing oil' Kirtlcy hoach , near tho si > or . where tlionti uncled Caroline is lyiii , ^ . ' Jt if . HiipnoMdd Unit , tlio lioy ( wlio was fourteen year . - * of age ) vent too noiir that vohsoI , and became outungltid . A voiingor brother saw him in dungor , and fjuvo notU ' fl to an older lirothor , who went to his usuistunoe , and f '"'

      Untitled Article

      704 . THE LEADEB , [ No . 4 . 35 , July 24 , 1858

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 24, 1858, page 704, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2252/page/8/