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Ko. 435, Jvisz 24,1858.] THE LEADER, 703
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THE INDIAN REVOLT. ¦ . • ¦ ' -—¦ ?— • ' ...
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Transcript
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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.
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Imperial Parliament. Monday, July 19th. ...
Box , ; the Universities ( Scotlasto ) Biix ; and the Stipendiary Magistrates Bill . Several other bills having "been passed through various stages , their Lordships adjourned . The House of Commons had a morning sitting . CONSOLIDATED FUND ( APPBOPKIA . TION ) BILL . On the order for going into committee on this bill , Sir G . C . Lewis called attention to > a long array of figures , tending , as he said , to show , first , that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had erred in the calculations as to finances of the current year given in his budget ; and , secondly , that the chaTge of lavish expenditure brought against the late Government was unfounded . Mr .
Disraeli had estimated the revenue at 63 , 900 , 0007 ., and tie charges at 63 , 610 , 000 / ., leaving an apparent surplus of revenue amounting to about 300 , 000 £ It appeared from the Appropriation Bill , however , that instead of a surplus , there is an excess of estimated charge over the estimated revenue , or a deficiency of 835 , 000 Z , the total charge to be defrayed being , not 63 , 610 , 000 / ., but 64 , 4 : 45 , 0002 . A further charge might also be expected on account of the militia . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer observed that estimates are at all times difficult and liable to error , and no doulit there had been an excess of expenditure beyond his estimate ; at the same time , the estimated revenue had considerably
exceeded the amount at which he had assumed it . From the returns for the first quarter of the financial year- —the prospects of which were the most gloomy —it appeared that there -was a surplus of income of 223 , 94 : 4 / ., extending to all the chief items , and in tie eighteen days of the present quarter , from the 1 st to the 19 th of July , there was a surplus of revenue from the four sources of Customs , Excise , Stamps , and Post-office of no less than 364 , 000 / . Although the House had given to the Government a power to raise 2 , 000 , 000 / ., they had availed themselves of that pover to the extent of 1 , 000 , 000 / . only , and there was every hope that they would not find it necessary to exceed thi 3 amount . There was no reason to anticipate the necessity of any additional
expenditure for the militia . He thought he might congratulate the country upon the state of our finances , and their highly favourable prospects . There are hopes off a good harvest , and our foreign relations are in a far more satisfactory state than a year or six months ago . Even the condition of aiTairs in India is for more favourable than might have been expected . So far as the finances of the country are concerned , they never were in a more healthy condition than at present . —Some brief discussion ensued among the financial members of the House ; but the subject soon dropped , and the House went into committee on the bill , and subsequently into committee on the Metropolis Locai . Management Bill , in which , however , little progress was made .
LUNATIC ASYXUMS . _ In the evening , Mr . Fitzroy inquired of the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was true , as stated in a daily paper , that at a recent visitation the Commissioners in Lunacy discovered , in a private provincial lunatic asylum , a concealed cell , in which a man , stated to be in full possession of his faculties , had been for many years confined . —Mr . Walpole said he had made inquiry , and was informed fhat the Commissioners m Lunacy had not discovered any instance of a person in full possession of his faculties having been confined for many years in a lunatic asylum . Mr . Tite gave notice that , early xext session , he should move for a select committee to inquire into the law of lunacy .
THE OtTDE CREDITORS .. In answer to a question from Mr . Dillwyk , with resped ; to the Oude creditors , Lord Stamley stated that , on the 17 th of June last year , instructions had been given to the Governor-General to direct that all bond JfWe claims should be investigated and reported upon , eitner by tho commissioner at Oude , or by some officer specially appointed for tho purpose . On the 22 nd of August , a despatch was received in answer , stating that tnose instructions would be carried into effect so soon as tuo state of public affairs in Oudo would permit . It was therefore to bo inferred that any delay which had taken place was due to tho disturbed state of the country .
THE PALACE AT "WESTMINSTER . ttSX ? * ° Mr ' HUMK-who nlhuled to a rumour Lo « 1 ? nT ^ i- atl ° n" 8 tono of thlJ housc ] lsul S ^ wnyb , % r A * ™ s « wM that the statement was denied tL hnrf 1 l , arry > who "ovcrtholess admitted a frncsS ? o . ™ JL Plac ° \ x Ono of the courses - Ifc ™ s of no docav ns ST ° ' , f ^ ! ' nnd 8 uch Bymptoma of aocay ns nvo observable in certain portions of the atoncm ° all IKrSllf - " r b ° - " -only . b ^ ved mall stono bmlchnga m London , owing to tho climate .
reparation for the outrage which had been committed , and to insist upon the immediate punishment of all persons concerned in it . I ana now in a position to state that the Cyclops at once sailed to Jeddah , where she now is , and we are informed by her captain that , by lightening her , she can approach close to the town , and is so heavily armed that she can perform any service that may be required of her ; besides which , she carries very heavily-armed boats for her size . This , determination of her Majesty ' s Government was communicated to the Turkish Government , and they were informed that orders had been sent to obtain , and if necessary to enforce , summary punishment upon those who had heen concerned in the murder . In a subsequent despatch
which has been seat by the Foreign-Office to Sir Henry Bulwer , he is instructed to say that this is a case in which the British Government will not be trifled with , and that even great political objects , as they regard our alliance with the Porte , must yield to the paramount principle of supporting Christian and British prestige in those regions . It was not enough to send a General to Jeddah . Troops were wanted there , but above all a public execution of the murderers . The Pacha ought to have the power of life and death without tedious references to Constantinople . Three ships had been ordered to Jeddah , and we
should seize the place if justice was not speedily obtained . In consequence of these representations on the part of the British Government , an officer of the highest rank ^ has been despatched from Constantinople with an armed force , who is authorized to proclaim martial law , and , without reference to the Government at Constantinople , to inflict immediate punishment upon the authors of the outrage . I cam state further that not only have the authorities at Constantinople and the minister of the Sublime Porte expressed their deep regret , hut the Sultan himself has sent to Sir Henry Bulwer to say that there is nothing -which his Majesty will not do to testify his own detestation of the act and to afford
reparation 5 and I may add , that his Majesty has placed a million of piastres at the disposal of the British Government , to be disposed of among the sufferers , and has signified his intention of giving an allowance of 400 £ a year to the daughter of the French vice-consul , and a similar annuity to "the next representative of our own unfortunate consul . { Hear , hear . ') The House then again went into committee on the Metropolis Local Management Act Amendment Bill , when a long discussion , of a technical and personal character , ensued , and several clauses were agreed to , with amendments and additions .
A great number of other bills were also passed through committee , or otherwise forwarded ; and the House adjourned at a quarter to two o ' clock . ,
THE MA 8 SAC 1 M 5 AT JEDDA 11 S fcSpwiSSSSSs SSsSSaSS-HS
Ko. 435, Jvisz 24,1858.] The Leader, 703
Ko . 435 , Jvisz 24 , 1858 . ] THE LEADER , 703
The Indian Revolt. ¦ . • ¦ ' -—¦ ?— • ' ...
THE INDIAN REVOLT . ¦ . ¦ ' - —¦ ?— ' ¦ : Gwalior has been the scene of some very severe struggles . Thirteen thousand of the rebels left Calpee on the 23 rd of May , and reached the town in question on the 1 st of June . It was then that the action took place which was related in our last issue . Owing to the treachery of a large part of Scindia ' a army , the Maharajah was beaten , as the reader is already aware ; and the insurgents then took possession of Gwalior aad plundered it . At that time , however , three forces were marching to its relief , headed by Sir Hugh Rose , Brigadier Hicks , and Colonel Smith ; and , on the 19 th or 20 th of June , the city was retaken by our forces , after a severe contest of four hours . The Cavalry and Artillery then pursued the enemy—with what result , we have yet to learn . Scindia left Agra on the 13 th of June , to join the Central India field force on its way to Gwalior . J
Last week wo were informed that Sir Edward Lugard beat the Jugdespore rebels on the 4 th of June : we now learn that he also defeated them on the 27 th of May , and recovered the guns lost at Arroh . A . rising near Dharcoar has been extinguished by the capture of the forts of Kopal and Nurgoondor . I ho native officers of tho disarmed Bengal and Bombay Sepoy regiments have been dismissed , and tlio numbers of their regiments have been blotted from the Army List . The rains ( which were nearly a fortnight behind ) had not commenced on tho 19 th of Juno , and the weather was most oppressive . Iho bloodthirsty Ranee of Jhansi is reported to be killed . In Kohilcund , all is tranquil ; but Oude is still disturbed . The Calcutta import-market is quiet ftaU tho money-market is unaltered . niuaADircii walpolk ' s disaster .
A supplement to tho Gazette , published last Saturday evening , contains , lumd numerous despatches , one irom DrigiuUer-lJonorul Will polo , explanatory of tho disaster at the fort of Rewah or Uooya , nnd the do .-ith of Urigmlior Jlope . Tho General writes : " 1 directed my Imp ^ i ^ o to be innssud in tho open plmii , near Mmllioyungi ' , under a strong guard of cavalry , inf ; ni ( ry , mid two Held guns , nnd proceeded with tho remainder ,, f Ulu forco towards llooyn , turning oil from thi ! road , nbout two miles Irom ftladhogungo .
for the purpose of getting round to the north side of the fort , which was stated to be the weakest part of if , where there was a gate , and where there were very few guns . " The fort on the east and north siJe is alnaoet surrounded "with jungle , and at these tvro sides the only two gates were stated to be , which information proved correct . It is a large oblong , with numerous circular bastions all round it , pierced for guns , and loopholefl for musketry , and surrounded by a broad and deep ditch ; there is an inner fort or citadsd , surrouaded in like manner by a deep ditch , and with a high vrall considerably elevated above the rest of the work . Ob the west and part of the south side there was a large piece of-water , which was partially dried
up-* ' On arriving before the north aide , I sent forward some infantry in extended order , to enable the place fco be reconnoitred , when a heavy fire of musketry-was immediately opened upon them , and an occasional gun , 3 the cavalry at the same time swept entirely round to the west side , to cut off all communicatioa with tie fort . " A tolerable view of the fort having been obtained from the road which leads into it from the north , the heavy guns were brought up ; the two 18-ponnders were placed on it ; the two 8-inch mortars behind a wood still further to the light .
"After a short time , a great many of the infantry were killed and wounded from , haying crept up too near the fort , from which the fire of rifles and matchlocks was very heavy . These men had gone much nearer to the fort than I wished or intended them to go , And some of the Punjaab Rifles , with great courage , but without orders , jumped into the ditch and were killed in endeavouring to get up the scarp . I therefore gave directions that they should be withdrawn , from their forward and exposed situation , and here it was that I regret to say the gallant and able soldier Brigadier Hope was killed by a rifle or nlusket ball fired by a man from a high tree within the walls of the
place" By half-past two o ' clock , the fire of our heavy guns appeared to have made little or no impression upon the place , and as no gun could be brought to hear japon the gate , the passage to which was not straight , and it could not be approached without the men being exposed to a very heavy fire from the bastion and loopholed walls that commanded it , I considered it better not to attempt an assault until more impression had heen made upon the walls of the place , and as it was getting late , to withdraw from the north side and commence operations against the south-east angle on the following morning , which had been reconnoitred by the engineers , and where they thought it would be easier to effect a breach , as it could be better seen and * more direct fire could be brought to bear .
" I therefore directed the camp to be pitched on the south side , about a mile from the fort , and -withdrew from the north side , where it would have been dangerous to have passed the night , as it was surrounded by thick jungle . "Next morning , at daylight , Major Brind , Bengal Artillery , and Captain Lennox , Royal Engineers , pro « ceeded again to reconnoitre the place thoroughly before recommencing operations , and found that the enemy had evacuated it . "
SIR HTJGH HOSE ' S OPERATIONS XT JHAST 0 I . The same Gasette also contains a long despatch froni Sir Hugh Rose , giving an account of his opera .-tions against Jhansi . He writes : —> "A remarkable feature in the defence was , that the enemy had no works or posts outside tie city .. Sir Robert Hamilton estimated the number of the garrison at 10 , 000 Bundeelas and Valaitees , and 1600 Sepoys , pf whom 400 were cavalry ; and the number of guns in the city and fort at thirty or forty . " The fire of the right attack , on th « first day of the opening of the fire , the 23 rd ultimo , cleared the moucd of the workmen and the enemy . The mortars , in consequence of information I had received , shelled and set on fire long rows of hayricks in the south of the city , which created an almost general conflagration in that quarter .
" Tho enemy had been firing actively from the White Turret , tho Two Tower Battery in the fort , and the "Wheel Tower , Saugor , and Sutehmen , gate batteries , in the town . About mid-day their fire ceased almost com- * pletely , but recommenced tho next day with increased vigour . * ' Tho chief of tho rebel artillery was a first-iato artilleryman ; ho had under him two companies of Qolundauze . The manner in which tho rebels served their guns , repaired thoir defences , and reopened / lro from batteries nnd guna repeatedly shut up > was remarkable . From some battcrlos they returned ahct for shot . The women were seen working in tho batteries and . carrying ammunition . Tho Garden Battery was fought undox tho black flag of tho Fakocrs . " Numerous incidents marked tlio desperate fooling which animated tho defenders . A rotninor of tlio Ilaueo trioil to blew up himself mul Lis wi /' o ; failing in tho attempt ho endeavoured to cut hor to pieces , and then killed himself . Two Vnlailcen nttueke < l by the vidcltes , throw a woman who was with them into a wol ) , and then jumped down it themselves ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 24, 1858, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24071858/page/7/
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