On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (7)
-
$££ TTH E LE-AD'FK [No. 281, Saturday,
-
Tokture in Ini>ia.—Pupcrs relative to th...
-
^tlNttlHf flFVlittTrf VU^-pi'U VllyUUlRW*., , ri ™^\ n ^.^^^^ s&.r kksi-qnsidlk kou monk.]
-
ClN THIS nKP.ltlTMKiNI, AS ALL OPINIONS ...
-
There is no learned man but will confess...
-
SABBATARIANISM IN SCOTLAND. (7b the Edit...
-
(JTo the Editor of the Lender.) gia,—You...
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.
Progress Of Russian Policy In Central As...
shamefully delivered up to him , to co-operate with the Persian forces , as by so doin ^ they would be rend w » ng good * sec vice to their country . A Russian agent , Captain Witkiewitsch—better known as Vicovich . —was likewise despatched to Cabul , to induce Dost Mahommed to ally himself with Persia and her powerful ally . Count Simonieh also arranged a convention with Kohundil Khan , Sirdar of Candahar , engaging to protect the
Afghans against the Sikhs , or any other hostile power . Meanwhile the counsels and warnings of the British envoy were treated with cool contempt , and a courier in the service of the embassy was grossly ill-treated . As the Government obstinatel y * refused to offer any apology or satisfaction for this outrage upon the law of nations , Mr . McNeil ! very properly broke off all relations with the Persian Court , and withdrew to the Turkish , frontier .
But the valour of the Heratees , guided by the great military talent of Lieutenant Pottinger , baffled every attempt to carry the place by assault . And , finally , the occupation of the rocky island of Karrack , in the Persian Gulf , by a detachment of 500 Sepoys and two 6-pounders , under Lieutenant-Colonel Shirreff , compelled the Shah to retire with disgrace into his own territories . It is true that the Court of St . Petersburg pretended to disavow the intrigues of its accredited envoy , as well as of the Cossack officer Witkiewitsch . And
when it became manifest that these agents had failed to do more than lay patent the designs of their Government , they were recalled from their respective posts , and treated with unmerited rigour . Count Nesselrode expressly declared that Witkiewitsch had been sent into Afghanistan for the sole purpose of concluding a commercial treaty with Dost Mahommed , at that prince ' s own request , and that he had grossly exceeded his instructions . Russia , he sajd , was naturally desirous to possess a moral influence in Turkey and Persia , but not with a view to injure British interests ; nor had she any intention of taking part with the Afghan chiefs in their internal dissensions . Indeed , all
that Russia demanded was a fair share of the commerce of Central Asia , and she altogether deprecated a struggle for political ascendancy in the intermediate countries that lie between Asiatic Russia and British India—for their perfect independence is to the mutual advantage of those two great Powers . Such , continues Count Nesselrode , ** is in our opinion the system which the two Cabinets have a common interest invariably to pursue , in order to prevent the possibility of a conflict between two great Powers , which , that they may remain friends , require not to touch each other , and not come into collision with each other in the centre of Asia . "
The key to this moderation is , no doubt , to be found in the fact that an English force was actually in command of the Persian Gulf , and threatening the heart of that kingdom , while a powerful army was being concentrated at Ferozopore , for the invasion of Afghanistan . The Russian Government had long since adopted the Persian aphorism that " Cabul and Candahar are the gates of Hindostan . " With these districts subject to its pressure , and Persia a mere steppingstone , it considered a descent into the Punjab as only a question of time and circumstance . And this was also the opinion of our own diplomatists . The fall of Herat , said Mr . Ellis , " would produce
a serious change in the prospects of our Indian Empire , and might possibly not be without influence on the politics of Europe . " The extension of the Persian monarchy in the direction of Afghanistan appeared to him as certain to bring Russian influence to the very threshold of our Eastern dominions . Persia , ho adds , would be ' * no longer an outwork for the defence of India , but as the first parallel from whence the attack may be commenced or threatened . " Mr . McNeili continually wrote to the same effect , and warned his Government that the country between the Persian frontiers and Northern India was far
more fertile than he had expected , and that it was capable of producing ample supplies for the maintenance of a large army . The road from Teheran to Herat was so good that Count Simonieh proceeded to the latter place in a ' carringe , and consequently there would be no difficulty in the vray of transporting artillery and ammunition . In Persia itself it had become a proverbi a l saying to speak of " the road to India" as lying through that kingdom ; and Dost Mahommed ' s agent at Teheran reminded him that he had a toll lower down the road / ' He likewise , informed the Ameer
that the Russian ambassador , Count Simonieh , had verbally promised the support of his Government , should the Shah fail to assist him against the Sikhs . " The object , " he continues , " of the Russian Elchee , by his message , is to have a road to the English , and for this they are very anxious . '' The necessity , real or imagined , of closing this " road , " led to our invasion of Afghanistan , and to all the disasters that thence ensued . It is now universally admitted that that proceeding was as ill conceived as it was wicked and unjustifiable . But , although no defence can be set up for the
invasion of that country , we are not equally certain that it was wise and politic to" withdraw our troops after the second occupation of Cabul . The revolt of the Afghans may be easily traced to a variety of causes that would not again have occurred , unless we refused to benefit by our dearbought experience . This question , however , would demand more time and space for discussion than we can now afford ; and assuredly , as matters now are , there is little occasion for reopening a subject filled with sad memories , and which must ever remain a dark spot in the annals of the British Empire .
But if the Afghan campaigns produced no tangible results in proportion to the magnitude of our armaments , they have at least been beneficial in allaying the popular anxiety with respect to the safety of our north-west frontier . It is only logical to conclude that if a British , army , exceedingly well appointed , and having a tolerably convenient basis of operations at Fcrozepore , was unable to hold possession of a thinly-peopled country , inhabited by different races , brave indeed , but rudely armed and divided among themselves , it would be quite impracticable for a Russian force , drawing its smallest supplies from the further side of the kingdom of Persia , to
advance in efficient order across the rugged mountains and through the intricate defiles of Afghanistan . The Russians themselves made the experiment on a smaller scale in 1 S 40 , when the veteran troops of General Petrowski were annihilated in the inhospitable deserts of the Khanat of Khiva . But even if they had succeeded in this mad enterprise , which could have originated in no better motive than the lust of conquest , they would virtually have been no nearer to the frontiers of British India .
A very cursory glance at the map will convince any one that Khiva could never form the basis of operations extensive enough even for the conquest of Khorassan . The only point that could possibly serve for such a purpose is Astrabad , on the Caspian Sea , and we may now reasonably indulgein the hope that many a long year and age must elapse before Russia shall be able to make good her footing so far into the centre of Asia . As the ally of Persia , and while mistress of Georgia and
the Caspian , it might no doubt be possible for her to exercise something more than a mere moral pressure upon Afghanistan ; but as long as our troops guard the line of the Indus and hold the Bolan and Kbyber passes , the safety of British India will never be jeopardised in that quarter . And it would be always practicable to transport a considerable force from Bombay and Kurachee to the Persian Gulf , whence it could operate on the flank and rear of a hostile army marching upon Afghanistan .
$££ Tth E Le-Ad'fk [No. 281, Saturday,
$££ TTH E LE-AD'FK [ No . 281 , Saturday ,
Tokture In Ini>Ia.—Pupcrs Relative To Th...
Tokture in Ini > ia . —Pupcrs relative to tho employment of torture in India have been laid before Parliament on the motion of Mr . Vornon Smith , M . I ' . In conaequenco of a debate in tho Houao of Commons in tho session of 1854 , tho Ennt India director ordered ft searching inquiry to bo made in India . Tho Report of the Commiabioners of Inquiry on the ovidenco Adduced loaves no room for doubt , in tho opinion of Mr . President HalliH and other members of the Indian dovernment , that practices properly duuignatcd an " torture " do exist , and that tho evil i » " of a mo » t serious nature , pervading tho whole of tho native population , and
helping moat inilucntially to perpetunte the moral and social degradation in which tho inhabitants of ( lie country nre sunk . " Torture iH no now thing ; but thoro in every reaHon to suppono that it hu » l ) eon discouraged , and nn far nn possible prevented , by tho Engllnh rulern of India . The rcHiilt was the i » ma of a Government circular from Fort St . George , on tho 7 th of June lant , calling on the local authorities to make known aa widely as possible the illegality of torture , and the detestation with whioh it in viewed by the Government , and to co operate to tho utmost of their power with Government toward * ita extinction .
^Tlnttlhf Flfvlitttrf Vu^-Pi'u Vllyuulrw*., , Ri ™^\ N ^.^^^^ S&.R Kksi-Qnsidlk Kou Monk.]
( 0 pm CnanrtL
Cln This Nkp.Ltltmkini, As All Opinions ...
ClN THIS nKP . ltlTMKiNI , AS ALL OPINIONS * HOWEVER EXIREUR , ARK ALLOWED AN KXI'UKSSION , T 1 IK KDITOK NKCKSS ARILY HOLDS Iflu . SKt . P UKSl-ONSIllLK KOIt NONK . l
There Is No Learned Man But Will Confess...
There is no learned man but will confess he bath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened , atid-his judgment sharpened . If , then , it ¦ be profitable for lum to read , why should it not , at least , betoi & raolefor his adversary to write . —Milton .
Sabbatarianism In Scotland. (7b The Edit...
SABBATARIANISM IN SCOTLAND . ( 7 b the Editor of the Leader . ~ ) Sir , —Scotland has the reputation of being the headquarters of Sabbatarianism , and English writers anxious for the preservation of the freedom of the old English Sunday are accustomed to point to the north for an example of what England may become if allowed to fall into the Sabbatarian yoke . Warring against Sabbatarianism myself , I cannot but regret that in picturing its Scottish development so little care should be taken to paint it as it really is . I know that the Leader would not williugly misrepresent an opponent , yet truth compels me to say that the description in last week ' s paper of the manner in which Sunday is kept by the austere
children of the Kirk has small claim to be conaidered correct a picture . I am aware that there has always been in English literature a conventional Scotchman wearing a kilt , droning psalms nasally , taking immense quantities of snuff and huge bumpers of whisky , and , when he now and then makes his appearance in Punch , I enjoy the fun , only wondering how long it will last ; but when in a modified form he appears in the Leader , 1 think it high time to denounce him as an impostor . Your vision of Sabbatarian orgies in darkened rooms , and fuddled elders in back parlours , is no more representative of a Scotch Sunday than our venerable acquaintance of the kilt is of Scotchmen .
Sabbatarianism is in Scotland , as you have truly stated , a large part of the national religion , and whisky-drinking behind window-blinds and elsewhere is unfortunately too common ; but the whiskydrinkers and the Sabbatarians are two distinct classes , and no returns yet made will enable you to establish an identity between them . Indeed a large proportion of the Sabbatarians are also teetotallers , and war * as vigorously against drunkenness as agaiust innocent recreation on Sunday . How far they may encourage drunkenness by shutting up all sources of healthy excitement is another question , but assuredly it is alike impolitic and unjust to bring ngainst them an accusation which to those who know them does not require an answer .
Our quarrel with thorn is that they insolently set themselves up as lords of our consciences . Fighting for freedom of conscience our victory is sure , but when deserting this high ground we introduce into the quarrel the paltry element of personal conduct , our holy struggle degenerates into a squabble , and we run a great chance of being , and deserve to be , beaten . I am , youra respectfully , A Scotsman .
(Jto The Editor Of The Lender.) Gia,—You...
( JTo the Editor of the Lender . ) gia , —You allege that in my former letter I disdained to argue ; the briefness of the space which I could claim in your paper was a much more natural explanation of the matter . " The Sabbath was made for man , " suys Jesus , not for the Jews merely ; aud so long as man exists , ho always thus will need the gracious provision for his spiritual welfare , as well as temporal rest , which tho Sabbath involves . Tlie occupation of the Sabbath in religious services which exercise the intellect , the conscience , and tho affections , is a far more noblo method of spending tho time than cvea the luxuriating tho fancy andj | hc taste amid galleries of art . Conscience rankflrfflp her fur than fancy , correctness higher far than UM . Your dilettante is a poor creaturo compared with tho humblest Kantcr minister 1
I have talked with tho working-classes time after time , and in place after place , and have always fouiul them in favour , not of Sabbath desecration , but of the haff holiday movement , which is destined to bear more and more fruit . They boo that wages as well as itUKinesH would soon right themselves ; for live < luye and a half toil ( long enough for any man ) they would get , ere long , as good pay aa thoy now gut for » ix days . Thorn lot tho hull' holiday be agitated for till wo got tho Logiblaturo to mako it imperative , and nltjo hnpemtivo the paying of wages not lator than Friday , or perhaps oven Thursday night . Do this , and you do away with those Ilydo Park gatherings , which have commenced with stump orators and ended with pickpockets . Your obedient servant , A JThmh CnuKOit Miwistkb .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 11, 1855, page 770, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_11081855/page/14/
-