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Leader (1850-1860), 24th July 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 703, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      Bux ; tbe Universities ( Scotland ) 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 ( APPROPRIATION ) 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 1 o finances of the current year given in his budget ; and , secondly , that the charge of lavish expenditure brought against the late- Government was unfounded . Mr . Disraeli had estimated the revenue at 63 , 900 , 0007 ., and the charges At 63 , 610 , 000 ? ., leaving an apparent surplus of revenue amounting to about 300 , 0007 . 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 ? ., the total charge to be defrayed being , not 63 , 610 , 000 / ., but 64 , 445 , 0002 . A further charge might also be expected on account of the militia .- —The Chancellob of the Exchequer observed that estimates are at all times difficult and liable to error , and no doubt 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—tbe prospects of which -were the most gloomy —it appeared that there was a surplus of income of 223 , 9447 ., extending to all the chief items , and in the

      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 , 0007 . Although the House had given to the Government a power to raise 2 , 000 , 0007 ., they had availed themselves of that power to the extent of 1 , 000 , 0007 . only , and there was every hope that they would not find it necessary to exceed this 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 of 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 affairs in India is far 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 Local Management Bill , in which , however , little progress was made .

      I / ONATIC ASTLCMS . 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 , ia 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 . Wauole said he had made inquiry , and was informed that the Commissioners in 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 . Trrn gave notice that , early next session , he should move for a select committee to inquire into the law of lunacy . ¦ ¦ ¦

      THE OUDK CREDITORS . In answer to a question from Mr . Dillwyn , with respect to the Oude creditors , Lord Stanley stated that , on the 17 th of June last year , instructions had been given to the Governor-General to direct that all bond Jide claims should be investigated and reported upon , either by the commissioner at Oude , or by some officer specially appointed for the purpose . On the 22 nd of August , a despatch was received in answer , stating that those instructions would be carried into effect so soon as the state of public affairs in Oude would permit . It was therefore to be inferred that any delay which had taken place was duo to the disturbed state of the country .

      THE PALACE AT "WESTMINSTER . Replying to Mr . Huaiis—ivho alluded to a rumour that the foundation-stono of the house had given waykq : ^ | INMaNNER 9 8 ai ( l that th 0 statement was denied Dy 8 r Llmrlcs Barry , who nevertheless admitted a fracture had taken place in one of the courses . It was of no serious consequence , however , and such svmptoms of decay « s are observable in certain portions of the stonework are nothing more than may bo common ! v observed in all slono buildings in London , owing to tho climate .

      THE MASSACllK AT JKODAir . f Jm ? ' - ° J < E ™ '" ™ . sToxic , who asfcod for iu-V m co"ncxion with " 10 . lod . luh innsaacro , Mr . irr / aicuALD ( Undor-Secrelnry of State for Foreign S . 8 lUd ; T" ° fanner occasion , Mllull lny ,, £ ,. u . „!\ r ° " mbei" for Northumberland nslvud u , Ltion KJ ; h *? iJ ° Ct ' * MtatC "' th ( lt " ( ' "' ' -i 1 " be ™ andnt-, i Cgl ' . phtl > ri ! tul > " i « " >» o < "utdy to Jeikhih , ™« » ?• Samo tMU 0 "Mtniftioiw wra givou to oiu- representative at Constantinople to domain ! tho most ample

      reparation for the outrage-which had been committed , and to insist upon the immediate punishment of all persons concerned in it . , 1 am 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 been concerned in the murder . In a subsequent despatch which has been sent 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 tha Government at

      Constantinople , to inflict immediate punishment upon the authors of the outrage . lean state farther that not only have the authorities at Constantinople and the minister of the Sublime Porte expressed their deep regret , but 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 ; and I may add , that his Majesty has placed a million of piastres at tbe disposal of the British Government , to be disposed of among the sufferers , and has signified his intention of giving an allowance of 4007 . a . year-to the daughter of the French vice-consul , and a similar annuity to the next representative of our own unfortunate consul . ( Hearhear . y

      , 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 .

      Untitled Article

      Gwaljor 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 parfc of Scindia ' s army , the Maharajah was beaten , as the reader is already aware ; and the insurgents then took possession of Gwalior and plundered it . At that time , however , three forces were marching to its relief , headed by Sir Hugh Hose , 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 . , * Last week we were informed that Sir Edward Lugard heat 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 Arrah . A rising near Dharcoar has been extinguished by the capture of tho forts of Kopal and Nurgoondor . Tho native officers of tho disarmed Bengal and Bombay Sepoy regiments have been dismissed , and the numbers of their regiments have been blotted from the Army List . The rainB ( which were nearly a fortnight behind ) had not commenced on the 19 th of J une , and the weather was most oppressive . Tho bloodthirsty Ranee of Jhansi is reported to bo killed . In Rohilcund , all is tranquil ; but Oudo is still disturbed . The Calcutta import-market is quiet ; and tho money-market is unaltered . imiOADlliR WALPOLE ' S DISASTER . A supplement to tho Gazette , published last Saturday evening , contains , umid numerous despatches , one from Uri ^ idiur-General Walpolo , explanatory of tho disaster at the fort of Uewali or llooyn , and the death of lirigndier I lope . Tho General writes : — l 1 directed my baf ^ ngo to lo mnssed in tho opon plain , near Mjullio ^ iiiigv , under a strong guard of cavalry , infantry , and two lluld guns , and procoodoil with the remainder of tho force towards Ilooya , turning ofl' from the road , about two milod from Madhogungc ,

      for the purpose of getting round to tbe 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 side is almost torrounded with jungle , and at these two sides the only two gates were stated to be , which information proved correct . It is a large oblong , with numerous cirenbtr bastions all round it , pierced for guns , and loophoieJL for musketry , and surrounded by a broad and deep ditch ; there is an inner fort or citadel , surrounded in like manner by a deep ditch , and -with a high wall considerably elevated above the rest of the work . Oa the west and part of the south side there was a large piece of water , which was partially dried up .

      " On Arriving before tbe north aide , I seat forward some infantry in extended order , to enable the place to be reconnoitred , when a heavy fi . ee of musketry was immediately opened upon them , and on occasional gun , ; the cavalry at thue same time swept entirely round to the west side , to cat off all communication with tbo fort . " A tolerable view of the fart having been obtained from the road which leads into it from tbe north , tifaa heavy guns were brought up ; the twro 18-pottnders were placed oa it ; tbe two 3-inch mortals behind a wooiZ still further to the right .

      " After a short time , a great many of the infantry were killed and wounded from having crept up too near the fort , from which the fire of xifies anf l m a . trih \^ i ^ gff was very heavy . These men had gone much , nearer to the fort than . I wished or intended them to go , and . some of the Fanjaub Rifles , with great courage , bid : ¦ without orders , jumped into the ditch and were kiUol in endeavouring to get up the scarp . I therefore ga-va directions that tliey should be withdrawn from thair forward and exposed situation , and here it was that I regret to say the gallant and able soldier Brigadier Ho $ 0 was killed by a rule or musket ball fired by . a . man from a high tree within tbe walls of the place .

      " By half-past two o'clock , the fire of oar heavy graft appeared to have made little or no impression upon the place , and as no gun could be brought to bear upon 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 loopholecl walls that commanded it , I considered it better not to attempt an assault until more impression had been made upon tho walls of tbe place , and as it was ; getting late , to withdraw from the north side and commence operations against tbe south—east angle on the following morning , which had been reconnoitred by the engineoxs , and where they thought it would be easier to effect a breach , as it could be bettor seen and a more direct fire could be brought to bear .

      "I therefore directed tbe camp to be pitched on tbe south side , about a mils 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 . "Nest morning , at daylight , MajorBrind , Bengal Artillery , and Captain Lennox , Royal Engineers , pros ceoded again to reconnoitre the place thoroughly befona recommencing operations , and found that tha enemy frftf * evacuated it . "

      BIB HUGH ROSE ' S OPERATIONS AT JHAK 8 Z . The same Gazette also contains a long despatch from Sir Hugh Rose , giving an account of hia operations against Jhansi . He writes : — "A remarkable feature in the defence was , that tho enemy Lad no works or posts outside the city . Sir Bobert Hamilton estimated the number of the garrison at 10 , 000 Bundeel&s and Valaitees , and 1500 Sepoys , of whom 400 were cavalry ; and the number of guns 4 n the city and fort at thirty or forty . " The fire of the right attack , on the first day of the opening of the fire , the 23 rd ultimo , cleared the moacjt of tho workmen and the enemy . The mortars , in consequence of information I had received , shelled and set on fire long rowa of hayricks in tbe south of the city , which created an almost general conflagration in that quarter .

      " The enemy liad been firing actively from the "White Turret , the 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 completely , but recommenced the next day with increased vigour . " Tho chief of the rebel artillery was a first-iate artilleryman ; he had under him two companies of < Jolundauze . The manner in which tho rebels served their guns , repaired their defences , and rcoponed fire from batteries and guns repeatedly shut up was remarkable . From some battories they returned shot for shot . Tho women were seen working in tho batteries and carrying ammunition . The Garden Battery wns fought under the black flag of tho Fakoors . " Numerous ' incidents marked tho desperate feeling which animated tho defenders . A retainor of tho Uanco

      tried to blow up himself and hia wifo ; failing in tho attempt lie endeavoured to cut her to pieces , and then killed himself . Two Valaiteos attacked by tho vulol tes , threw a woman who waa with them into a wcl ' , and then jumped down it themsulves »

      Untitled Article

      No . 435 , July 24 , 1858 . ] THE LEADEB . 703 — - ^^~^~~ - — — - ^—^^ i^—^^^_^^^"" ¦ — ¦ ¦ ¦ - I — HI n —— ¦ M — I—^*—^~*^~^——— . ^—*^^^^^ i ^ M ^—P—^—^ i— . i ^

      Untitled Article

      THE INDIAN REVOLT . ¦ —?

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 24, 1858, page 703, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2252/page/7/