On this page
-
Text (3)
-
54 THE LEABEB; [No. 459, January 8,1859.
-
of the people for at least the next gene...
-
The Xight March in India..;—Now, of all ...
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.
-
-
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.
France. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Pa...
Generally , he is fond of his race ' s epe , the . dolce far nietite . Ten years' uninterrupted enjoyment of the good things of this world would convert lean-sided Cassius into a well-rounded , good-natured fellow . No cur can be more harmless than a well-gorged lion . .
M . DB WALKWSKI . Among the Ministers of France whom the Emperor regards as a bonne pate cThomme , one who will do his bidding without scruple or murmuring , is the Count Walewski . This individual has passed through a variety of grades Since he made his first bow on the public stage as secretary to the Polish Revolutionary Committee of Warsaw . He has been a play writer whose compositions have sunk into oblivion . lie was patronised by a celebrated actress , and owes his present position to that accident of birth which recommended Faulconbridge to Queen Eleanor , but he lacks both the bastard ' s courage and true devotion to his master . "When I say master , I should say the nominal one , for the count having received back his
encing that lower depth of misery and degradation—French protection . I have spoken of personal reasons which tend to make war with Austria desired by Louis Napoleon . The Emperor of France believes himself to possess all the qualities and genius of a great military commander , and burns for an opportunity to win his spurs . It was with the greatest difficulty , and solely on account of the insecurity of his throne , that he refrained from taking the command in the Crimea . The telegraph wires were carried into his apartments in the Tuileries to transmit
orders for the campaign . Italy was the ground where the uncle first proved his skill , and may therefore be considered of good omen and propitious for the development of the military genius of the Bonapartes . Reviewing all these things , people here believe we are on the eve of war . To-morrow , or nexC day , the Moniteur is considered just as likely as not to contain a recapitulation of all the grievances against Austria , and an appeal to the French nation . What , you will ask , will become of Italy when the Austrians are expelled ? 1 know not , unless it be to give the title of King of Rome to the young Prince Imperial .
Polish estates , is of course bound to his latest benefactor —the Czar . Between the Czar and the Kaiser there is bad blood and deadly hate . It does not suit the present views of Russia to go to war with Austria , for she has not yet recovered from her Crimean losses , but she would be very glad to see Austria plunged into a gigantic and expensive war , and if France serve as cat'spaw , Russia will look on , complacently waiting for the moment de tlrer les marrons du f & u . Should war be lighted up Russia will bide her opportxinitVi If the sympathies of Europe should lean to Austria , and
France be on the point of being worsted , then she will throw her sword into the scale on the side of the Kaiser , and once moreappear asihe ally and liberator of German }' . Such a consummation would restore her prestige , make all the German sovereigns her vassals , and raise her to the rank of the first European power . She will , moreover , have the air of acting with rare charity in forgiving the base ingratitude" of Austria . If , on the other hand , Europe stands aloof and French influence should preponderate , Russia will step in to offer to attack Austria and to share her spoils with France .
Such is the cue given by veteran diplomatists to the incident of New Year ' s-day . Pliable and plastic as the Count Walewski may seem to be , he contrives to attain his object and serve two masters ; but whether it redounds to the credit of Louis Napoleon for . discernment to suffer himself to be made the instrument of Russian vengeance and Russian aggrandisement , your readers must determine .
WAR WITH AUSTRIA . Independently of the influence exercised on the Emperor of France by his Ministers there are certain personal reasons which render a war with Austria acceptable . It is impossible to conceal the deep-seated and wide-spread discontent which cankers France . When the dread of Red Republicanism and Communism were ever present to men ' s miuds , they were willing to sacrifice their liberties for fancied security to life and property . They put on chains in the name of order . But experience has taught them that the reddest of republics could no £ more tyrannically dispose of what they prize than the Empire , and that in reality there was little difference between the two forms of
government . ' To prevent this discontent festering to a head and breaking out into revolution , it is necessary to preoccupy the public mind . Moreover the soldiery must be employed . Advancement is slow , and officers grumble . Enthusiasm , for the Empire cools down as the measure of rewards is contracted , and fidelity is an exploded heresy . In the summer there was loud talk of war with the United States . " Their insolence must be chastised , " was said by one of Marshal Vaillant ' a aides-de-camp ; but as the war would have to be a naval one , and as England made no secret as to which side her sympathy , and probably something more substantial , would be given , the project was laid aside . To go to war with England is the last card , and no gambler , however desperate , would risk his sole remaining chance until
every other had been exhausted . Besides , war with England might involve war with the United States , and ¦ with all men , save Frenchmen , who longed for liberty ; and , in spite of the Indian rebellion , you are too well prepared . You have a numerous and well-disciplined army ; immense stores of materiel ; a contented and patriotic population ; a Channel fleet and a steam reserve that could sweep the seas ; abundant wealth , and moire abundant credit . You have struck out roots over the surface of the earth , drawing up succour from three-quarters of the globe , and you are more formidable , more invincible , than ever , unless , indeed , you should beat down your own shield by adopting Mr . JBright's un-EngUah policy . Austria is the only power that affords a sufo opportunity of fleshing French swords : ' indd ira .
With the Government of the rKaJoer it la impossible that Englishmen can havo any sympathy whatsoever ,, and that might be excused if they rejoiced like Faulconbridgo if the two sovereigns took up position so as " to shoot ) into each other ' s mouth , " Italy , with her fatal dower of beauty , would bo again the prlsso far whioh Gaul and Hun contend , for wore Franco vie * tprioufy Italian nationality and Independence would bo moro remote than ovor , Austrian domination may bo bad enough , but J-Ioavon shield Italians from oxjporl
54 The Leabeb; [No. 459, January 8,1859.
54 THE LEABEB ; [ No . 459 , January 8 , 1859 .
Of The People For At Least The Next Gene...
of the people for at least the next generation , still there is rid doubt an element of difficulty and perhaps danger in the new native army into which w o have drifted , that the Sikhs know well how much we are indebted to them for the preservation of the empire , and that they and the hordes of Irregular Horse and Foot , having Once again indulged in their hereditary taste for blood and plunder , may not quietly settle down or be got rid of . Any disturbance , however , from this cause , could only be temporary , for they cati have no guus , are without leaders , and the European force is overpowering .
There was not a voice in the Upper Provinces , from the highest to the lowest , which did not condemn Lord Canning as utterly unfit for the position and the time . He does not even yet get through the ordinary detail of work ; allows no access to himself , goes nowhere , and , in short , does nothing . Apparently there is no settled or comprehensive line of policy , and affairs are permitted to drift onwards as they best may . Sometimes an official is
reproved and punished for excess of seventy , or another removed for being too lenient j but , generally speaking , there lias been little interference with those to whom authority has been delegated ; and when it is remembered that out of the civilians- in the North-West Provinces , about twenty-five per cent , perished during the year , that there can scarcely be one who has not lost a relative , connexion , or friend , it may be . assumed that leniency has not been the rule .
If anything can alter this deplorable state of things , the wise and gracious declaration in her Majesty ' s Proclamation should do so , but a change of men as well as of the measures proposed is rie- ? cessary , and the present generation at least must pass away before Europeans , whether official or nonofficial , can look upon or deal with the natives of India in the benevolent and friendly way they have hitherto done previous to the rebellion . It is impossible now to form an opinion as to the turn things many take with regard to Europeans in the lately disturbed districts . . That there will be great changes in * their habits and modes of life is
certain , but in what direction it is not easy to guess . Perhaps , few , if any , will for years venture to settle or reside at any distance from a town or station ; perhaps recent events will make every one more anxious than ever to get away from the country and never return to it ; whilst the impossibility of obtaining European stores and liquors has taught many new lessons of economy , and enabled them to dispense with many things formerly deemed necessaries , so that there will be less indebtedness than previously , and it will unquestionably be some time before things settle down , and men have wives and families , and think of making provisions for them .
I 2 STDIA . [ We are happy to be able to lay before our readers the following private letter ^ which , being from a gentleman of mercantile pursuits , of high position , and totally unconnected with the Government , or any political sect or party , may be thoroughly relied upOn . We do not , however , endorse all our correspondent ' s opinions , though we value and rely on his interesting statements . ] Calcutta , Nov . 18 ; 185 S . I have just returned from my visit to the Upper Provinces , better in health and stronger than I have been for many years , and now furnish you with my views and . opinions on the state of the country .
After leaving the railway at Raneegunge on the 4 th of September , I travelled . along the Trunk Road , through Shergptty , Benares , Allahabad , Futtehpore , Cawnpore , Allyghur , Bolundshuhur , to Meerut ; thence I went through Rohilcund to Moradabad , and up to the hill station of Nynee Tal , where I remained some little time , making excursions to Almorah and the neighbourhood ; I then marched across the hills from Almorah to Mussoorie ( about 180 miles ) , nearly
all the way on foot , attended only by three native servants , none of whom I had seen before , and seeing only two Europeans on the whole distance . I had no arms whatever , except my gun , which I never loaded with anything but small shot for birds . From Mussooree I came down the hills to Deyrah , Mozaffernaggur , Meerut , and Delhi , and thence returned , by the same route I came , through Allyghur , Allahabad , & c .
The only external signs of the rebellion I saw were the gallows erected in each and every town , the ruined dawk , bungalows , or rest-houses on the road , and the blackened and deserted houses of Europeans in the cities and towns , particularly at Allahabad , Cawnpore , Delhi , Meerut , and Moradabad , where almost everything belonging to Europeans remained in the same state as when plundered , gutted , and burned . The cultivation everywhere / was abundant and
perfect , the crops most luxuriant , and no appearance of distress or disturbance . In short , if the ruins of the houses were cleared away , there would be no outward sighs or marks of the rebellion . When I came to inquire into the state of feeling , I found , on the one hand , that the pooplo were utterly cowed and prostrate , and that , on the other hand , the authorities in every , district were exercising the unlimited special powers of life and death entrusted to them ( from which there is no appeal ) , in the most
rigorous manner . There nre European troops and numerous Sikh regiments of foot and horse in every town and place of importance , besides swarms of Irregular Cavalry , consisting of wild horsemen from nil the tribes of Central Asia , so that ; I really believe a European could walk through our own provinces with his hands tied and a bag of money round his neck and no native would dare to touch him * In Oude the state of affairs is different . There a proud and braVe people , warriors by birth and profession , object to our rule and oppose it ; but they
will do so vainly , ana must now submit to the overwhelming force brought against them . In Bengal and the . Lower Provinces the occurrences in the North-West have struck terror , and if there are any disaffected they will never show jit . All parties resident in our own provinces are now quite safe , and in a very ehort time Oude will bo equally secure . The present ; state of things , however , must engender a deep and lasting hatred on the part of the natives to Europeans—far worse , I believe , than even a massacre such as that of Nadir Shah at Delhi would havo occasioned—and though I look upon it as impossible that there can be any rising 1
The Xight March In India..;—Now, Of All ...
The Xight March in India .. ;—Now , of all modes in which a human being can get from one place to another , I , having hnd experience of the Danish postcart , the Eastern Counties . Railway , the Dutch treksohuit , the French diligence ( t « rotundo " ) , the Russian tarantftsse , and the Scotch herring-boat , do aver and declare that the most utterly abominable is the night march with troops in India . It is very picturesque , no doubt , to see your tents struck by moonlight , the troops and natives moving about the watchfires , and such matters ; but * ' sleep it is a heavenly thing , " and wlion it does not spread from poll to poll in camp , it makes men very ill-natured and spiteful , so that they rejoice exceedingly when their comrades full
into big holes in the dark , and resont very bittorly similar mishaps to themselves , The dust is most irritating , for you must keep closo to tho column and to the guides . Walls look like roads by moonlight , and deep water-courses have the singular properly of resembling pathways . Tho rice-fields ami grain crops aro deep , fetlock encumbering , and in them lie in wmbaali wolla of prodigious profundity . Insidious branches ot trees are waiting to hit you on tho head , ami carry you off your horso . Tho quadruped itself , deprived of its natural rest , is sloopy , stumbling , and ill-difiposcil .
Tho column strngglos , baggage animals go astray ; over and above all dominates abortive Morphoua ami nt niggling Somnus . Tho stars persuado you in vain to break your neck by a precipitate descent over yoiu horse's shoulder , but tho end is nonrly achioved by tho desperate fitful starts with whioh " you reeovor your balance and nvort tho former catastrophe . However , 14 groat is discipline , " as one of tho mon said ; " horo ' d thousands of us want to atny hero nnd go to sloop , ami hero ' s one old gentleman won't lot us i ami , bcu-auso he's tlio only ono that wants to go , wo ull go . "— H . // . Itussoll in the Times .
Not QuAT . iFifliD . ~ -James Gordon Bonnett , editor ol tho New York J / arald , having boon announced in Bovornl papore ns a candidate for , Congress , thus noti * the matter nt rest : —•• Thoro is ovidontly a mistake in this . Wo can't bo a candidate Wo pny our debts-, wo never wore indictod as an aldorman for taking 100-dollar bribes . Wo don't vieit low grog * shops , nor chow tobuajo , nor drink bad whisky , nor carry lobby fuos of 10 dollars in our brooohoa pockats , as Greely tlltl for Mathoson . > Vo aro , in a word , not quaUflod for a eoat in Congress .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 8, 1859, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08011859/page/22/
-