THE CONVICTS. 629 It would be next to impossible for an unso- transported by the Duchess of Northu erland phisticated mind to conceive human beings so for seven years, for stealing, together with his saturated with crime and so utterly abandoned wife, fifty sovereigns. He was sent to Westas to have lost all sympathy for humanity, and bury probation station in Van Diemen's Land, to have become actual demons. The history where his conduct was so violent against the of the Australian colonies exhibits many pain- officers and visiting justices that he was transful instances of this. Captain Knatchbull per- ferred from that place to Fingal, separate petrated the most diabolical crimes, was seve- treatment cells; the officers there lost all conral times sentenced to death, and was at length trol over him, and he was sent to me at Norfolk executed for the murder, in cold blood, of an Island to complete his sentence. He was one unprotected woman he appears to have been of the most fearful ruffians I ever encountered a person of the class just described, and re- in my life; his conduct was so violent that I. markable as being a scion of a great family. was unable to allow him to work with the rest Wainwright, who was one of the contributors of the men, for fear he should violently assault to the "London Magazine," under the name of them; and in consequence of that he was emJanus, and met frequently with Lamb, Deployed in pulling cotton tree from the runs by Quincy, Coleridge, Scott, and other stars of the literary firmament, died but very recently in Hobart Town. His crimes are well known, and far exceeded in atrocity those of Palmer, who was recently executed at home. The worst instance, however, was that of a criminal executed about fifteen years since in Sydney, who used to go up the country and meet the bullock drays coming down with wool. He would camp with those in charge, and make them drunk, when he murdered them, and, making an enormous fire, he burned the bodies, took the bullock drays on to Sydney, and sold them and the wool. He had carried on this system for some time before it was traced. I remember reading this man's confession, and I thought it the most horrible thing that I had ever heard or read of. No offences or crimes that I have read of since approach those of which this man had been guilty. Could any but a demon approach five human beings camped in the wild bush, hold out to them the hand of friendship, smoke the pipe of peace, and drink with them as brethren, but when he found them stupified or asleep, deliberately murder the whole of them, and burn the remains and everything connected with their encampment? Some will exclaim "can these things be?"—but I believe that in the hulk President already alluded to there are many men as vicious as this man was, and capable of perpetrating crimes quite as atrocious as he committed. Mr. Price, in evidence given before a committee of the Legislative Council, of Victoria, mentions one man, known by the name of Ryan, who was by no means one of the worst, but whose case had attracted some attention in consequence of his having represented himself as a free immigrant. Mr. Price thus speaks of this person: "He was here with me by the name of Michael Ryan. I knew him by the name of Mick Pheeney in Norfolk Island. He was a soldier, who served a sentence at one time in Wooloomoloo jail. He went home with his regiment from New South Wales, and was himself; he was not allowed to work with another man, his conduct was always of the most outrageous character. I sent him up either in the Lady Franklin or the Governor Phillip to Van Diemen's Land, via Sydney. On board the vessel he became so violent that they would not take him to Van Diemen's Land, but landed him in Sydney. He was then free. In Sydney he immediately received another sentence, and the Van Diemen's Land authorities were blamed by the Sydney people for having imported such a scoundrel. He came on here, and I think he has undergone three sentences in the stockades, and he has been most violent and insubordinate and insulting to his officers. Once, when I was at the Marine Stockade, when he was in solitary confinement, I walked into his cell, and I saw that his face was completely raw on both sides, and noticing that it was begrimed with black, I asked him what was the matter. replied to me, Blown up in a colliery, Mr. Price.' I said, 'Blown up in a colliery; what do you mean?' 'Why,' he said, 'I shall work upon this when I get out.' Work upon it when you get out,' I said, 'what do you mean?' He said, 'Why it is only a bit of coal, Sir.' And he was grinding this into his face to give him the appearance of having been blown up in a colliery." He At a former period bushranging was often resorted to by the most incorrigible convicts when they could manage to make their escape from the stations where they served. Michael Howe is the most celebrated man of this savage order who has appeared in Van Diemen's Land, and a person named William Westwood, or Jackie Jackie, carries off the palm for New South Wales. Within the last few years, in the far more highly civilised colony of Victoria, there have been some most daring acts perpetrated, fortunately, however, without the extreme loss of life that was wont to add such deep tragic interest to the proceedings of such ruffians as Michael Howe and William Westwood. In a former sketch I have remarked that the Nelson, lying at anchor in Hobson's Bay, was boarded by men disguised, with their faces concealed, and that a large quantity of gold dust, which had been shipped on board as cargo for London, was taken on shore; and so excellent were the arrangements of the villains that they got clear off with their booty before the alarm could be given. The gold escort from the diggings to Melbourne was attacked and robbed by a number of determined ruffians, and this gang of villains got the gold into their possession. In the year 1853 a gold broker's premises were entered in open day, the door shut, and the owner plundered !—and, although in a thoroughfare where hundreds were passing every hour, the villains escaped with a great booty. I can remember that, at a short distance from where I am now writing, in front of my house, on the Brighton-road, within a mile of St. Kilda (a populous part of the city of Melbourne) nearly forty persons were stopped on the highway, plundered and sat round in a circle, with loaded guns held at their heads; I happened to be returning home, and had the narrowest escape, having had to ride for it. Before the alarm could be given the men had got away, and have not yet been captured. A short distance behind my house a party of bushrangers came to a man ploughing, and demanded his horses; this not being at once complied with, one of them deliberately shot the poor fellow dead. The authors of these and hundreds of other deeds as cruel and bloodthirsty, are confined on board the Success and President hulks, and many on the very spots where they occurred sleep in perfect security, without turning a key or drawing a bolt. Yet the President carries a cargo of caged tigers, and if they could break forth they would spread desolation and death abroad far and wide throughout the peaceful colony. POLITICAL NARRATIVE. INDIAN POLITICS. INDIA has occupied papers, platforms, pulpits, and all men's thoughts for some time. The telegraphic fragments arrive first, and they are the shadows of coming events, but very indistinct. The telegra phic reports from Trieste, are not trustworthy. They pause with the announcement of some evil that has befallen our cause and people; although in two lines more they might give the remedy which occurs usually. The successors of the Cæsars, perhaps, seeks to accustom us to calamity; and yet Austria is on friendly terms with Britain, for the time being, as it is its interest to be at all times. The omissions may only be of a stock jobbing character. The letters follow the telegraphs at an interval of two days passed in endeavouring to collect the meaning of the telegraph clerks. They are more distinct, and for several days after the arrival of each mail, private correspondence is published, and different versions of the same events are given. As they subside, speculation becomes active concerning the character of the next intelligence; and, in the ordinary course it arrives from Trieste. This is a great country, and the Indian mutiny is a great crisis. We require to notice these facts, because the overland mail creeps homewards as before, when it brought nothing more precious than the price of cotton, once in two weeks. A weekly mail, even at the same rate of speed would be successful; but ours is an imperturbable government, and the continental peoples must be made to comprehend our perfect indifference to wards the revolt of one hundred thousand soldiers. Some persons in private life allege that they could expedite our information by several days, but they are only in private life, and do not understand the supreme indifference of public men to news. The latter even select a slow steamer to carry the despatches from Malta. The first measure taken for the deliverance of our countrymen in India was the transmission of reinforcements to the army round the Cape of Good Hope. Three events favoured the Indian Government in their difficulties. The expedition against China, included several celebrated regi ments. They have been directed on Calcutta, instead of Canton, and began to arrive there as the reinforcements actually ordered for the special purpose left the channel. The Persian war was concluded before the operations of the mutineers were commenced; and thus the 78th and 64th regiments were set free from Bushire and Mohammerah, to operate against Nena Sahib, under General Havelock, from Allahabad to Cawnpore. The third circumstance in favour of the AngloIndian Government is the collection of a large army at the Cape, who may reinforce the Indian army in much larger numbers, and at an earlier date than the insurgents supposed, even if they made any calculations on the subject. Who are the insurgents? The King of Oude has been apprehended. Several of his advisers have also been committed to prison, but they have not been tried, although their punishment, if they are guilty, and we have no doubt that the advisers of the ex-monarch are guilty, is desirable. The King of Delhi has committed openly treason against us, even to war. He commands and pays the Delhi insurgents, who, perhaps, command and POLITICAL NARRATIVE. rob his Majesty. The Mogul family add ingratitude to their other offences against the British Government. They were found in poverty and almost absolute want; conquered on the field and subdued in every respect by a more successful race. In these circumstances our representatives instead of giving the descendants of the Great Mogul an opportunity of earning their bread by working in any honest way, set them up in a palace with a pension, with guards, with a ministry, and other mummery of royalty in a play, but left them to the temptation of all idle hands; and Satan has tempted them, as a great English hymnwriter has long assured the infancy of England that he will try all idle people, by finding them mischief to do. We thought that the orders respecting them would have been been "when caught to be hung;" but Viscount Canning respects crowns, and they are to be packed with care and transmitted to his address at Calcutta. The Mogul dynasty is an old branch of the world's royal tree, and must be treated with consideration; yet the British people are sure to believe that any one of their families foully massacred in the palace of the Moguls, or in the streets of their accursed metropolis, were much more valuable than the cruel and effete fragments of a miserable race; and Viscount Canning must succumb to their views. Nena Sahib is probably one of the conspirators. He is a man of some ability, the adopted son of the late Peishwa, and the claimant for the large pension attached to that dignity, and which would have been payable to the son of the Peishwa, if the direct line had been continued. The Anglo-Indian Government will not recognise the Hindoo principle of adoption-when it costs them money. By Hindoo law Nena Sahib was entitled to the Peishwa's pension and power. He applied for the allowance at Calcutta, and sent agents to London, for the prosecution of his claims. Two native agents were consigned to the care of a Liverpool merchant and a London lawyer. The natives had residences in Brighton and London. They visited the fag-ends of our nobility, who visitod them in return. They were even charitable, and one of them, during a great frost in London two or three years since, requested the Lord Mayor to supply a hundred of the river labourers with bread at his expense-or at Nena Sahib's expense-while the frost continued. But they did no work for their employer, who lost one hundred thousand pounds, perhaps, by the mission, although the only record of its existence is in a case before the Court of Chancery, raised to wrest the balance of the funds out of the custody of the European agents. It was successful. These circumstamces form no apology for the atrocities of Nena Sahib. They rather leave his cruelties without excuse; for, both from his intercourse with Europeans at Bithoor, and the reports of his agents from London, he must have known 631 that the persons upon whom his wrath fell had no connexion with, and no power over the AngloIndian Government. Even if they had been the families of the Directors themselves who were fugitives from Futtyghur, or residents of Cawnpore, Nena Sahib's guilt wonld not have been less; for he is not an ignorant savage-but a man perfectly acquainted with the "requirements" of "civil life." The Mohamedans have been the grand conspirators from the commencement. The Kings of Delhi and Oude belong to the fierce heresy or Mormonism of Mecca. The Hindoo chiefs, such as this butcher of Bithoor, who have joined them are counselled by Mohamedans. The deputy collector at Cawnpore, who seems to have been the counsellor to the Bithoor chief during his brief supremacy, is a Mohamedan, who made a fortune in the British service. Everywhere this sect have been the authors and the propagators of this treason. Even fugitive families report that they were kindly treated by the Hindoos, with the exception of the Sepoys and the thieves; but invariably persecuted by the Mohamedans. A general idea prevails that they are the conspirators; and that the hypocrites (on that point) who would not permit, if they could prevent, the existence of any form of religion except their own, used the fiction of greased cartridges and similar matters to persuade the Hindoos that we meditated making a compulsory change in their religion. They were either to accept the cross or be sabred. this time, however, many Hindoos must know that the fundamental article of Christianity in Britain absolutely proscribes the employment of force to convert any person;-and not only of force, but even of undue influence. By The numerous reinforcements already despatched to India are supported, and a regular current of soldiers now maintained towards the Cape. The artillery and cavalry will be stronger than their usual proportions in a British army for India; and at no former period have our armies in that empire numbered nearly the strength that they will reach during the present year. They will be able to put down opposition, and the punishment of the Bengal army, excepting the few regiments who have not mutinied, will be extinction, if we are successful; if we were defeated it would be extinction to the Hindoos "all the same," for they would be the slaves of their former conquerors instead of their equals. At home, or in India, the citizens of this country do not contemplate defeat as a final issue of any struggle. If India cannot be occupied, and order restored by fifty thousand men, it may be done by one hundred thousand or by two hundred thousand men. It must be done; because the blood of one family belonging to our race, would be revenged; the blood, the dishonour, the torments and tortures of thousands call for a monument of punishment that will be a moral pyramid for centuries. 632 INDIAN EVENTS. POLITICAL NARRATIVE They are not within the month, but as ascertained here within that period. An insurrection of four native infantry regiments and one of cavalry, at Dinapore, a large station between Be nares and Calcutta; the mutineers were expelled from the station by her Majesty's 10th Regiment. It was said that they suffered the loss of 800 men in their expulsion, and subsequently that 500 of them, while passing Dinapore in boats, were drowned, as the boats were sunk by the artillery. Both statements appear to be exaggerations. is not an exaggeration that the 10th and 37th Regiments lost 200 men in an ambuscade by these mutineers, while endeavouring to rescue a small garrison of 15 Europeans and 45 Sikhs, who successfully defended themselves in a bungalow until relieved by Major Eyre and a small force, who defeated the rebels. The Commander of the district, General Lloyd, has been removed, and Sir James Outram has accepted the appointment. It General Havelock, with his little army, after burning Nena Sahib's castle and palace at Bithoor, crossed the Ganges. and advanced on Lucknow. They fought two severe engagements with the Oude mutineers, who are now supposed to be under the command of Nena Sahib. They were defeated in both engagements, and their artillery, to the number of 25 guns, were captured, by General Havelock but he was compelled to retreat on Cawnpore, with his sick, his wounded, and his captured guns. He received a small reinforcement, and again left Cawnpore upon his mission to Lucknow on the 5th August. He was successful in two engagements, taking a number more guns, of which he must now have captured one hundred pieces; but on reaching a river in flood, he found mutineers entrenched in great numbers on the opposite bank, and seeing that, with his small force, he could not hope to force his way to Lucknow, he again retreated on Cawnpore. The Lucknow garrison are therefore left unaided. Some accounts represent them in starvation. Other parties mention that they have obtained food, and can hold the place. One thousand lives depend upon their capability of resistance. The Oude mutineers are said to threaten an attack upon Generals Havelock, and Neill, at Cawnpore; but they must be well fortified, and they now possess a large park of artillery. Her Majesty's 5th Regiment and the 90th regiment left Calcutta early in August, to strengthen General Havelock's force, but they would require nearly one month on the voyage. Captain Peel, of the Shannon, with a naval brigade of 400 men, and ten 68-pound guns followed in a steamer, on the 18th August, but the sailors are destined more probably for Delhi than Cawnpore. If the seamen can establish their heavy guns on floats in the Jumna near Delhi, they will make short work with its palaces, towers, and walls. No official bulletins of these transactions have been published, and the remark is equally appli cable to the Delhi engagements, which have been numerous, and resulted always in great loss to the mutineers. Before the events recorded in the mail now telegraphed, it was said that twentythree different and distinct conflicts had occurred before Delhi. There were severe fights on the 14th, 18th, and 25th of July. On the last named day, the mutineers were said to have lost one thousand men in killed and wounded. The loss of the British forces in all the operations embraced within the narrative of that mail amounted to 500 men in killed and wounded. The series of combats were renewed with great violence on the 30th of July; but the most serious fighting occurred on the the 1st and 2nd of August, when the Delhi regiments were joined by the Neemuch force; and a fatal battle to them ensued-so extremely fatal that three thousand of their number are reported to have been killed and wounded. The British loss was not severe on these days. Upon the 7th of August, the manufactory of powder for the insurgents within the city was exploded by a shell, and five hundred persons destroyed. On the 6th, 7th, and 12th, more fighting occurred, and some batteries of the mutineers were taken; but on the 12th, the British forces had a loss of 112 in killed and wounded. Brigadier Nicholson's column were expected to arrive on the 15th August. They would bring the besiegers up to 11,000 men. Other reinforcements [were expected-probably Van Cortlandt's column-and they would swell the besieging force to 15,000 men. An assault was probable. Another Bengal regiment had revolted in the Punjaub, and was destroyed. The insurrection had spread to the other Presidencies, so far as that in two stations of Bombay one or two companies of some regiments had revolted and been suppressed. A regiment of Madras cavalry having refused to march against the insurgents of Bengal, were disarmed. Lord Elgin had visited Calcutta, but was again to leave for Hong Kong. Sir Colin Campbell had arrived out, and it was reported that differences had arisen between the Commander-in-Chief and the Governor-General, Admiral Seymour has declared the river of Canton in a state of blockade. As the Cantonese will feel in every way the destruction of their trade, some settlement may be offered by Commissioner Yeh, which would relieve the gunboats from service in the Canton river, and allow them to take part of the proceedings on the Ganges. No calculation has yet been made of the number of lives lost by the mutineers, but it must be very large, and complaints are made that no nominal return of the casualties in our army has been published. MILITARY MOVEMENTS. The enlistments in our army are all voluntary. Our soldiers are all volunteers; and the Government now receive one thousand recruits weekly, irrespective of the militia force; but for this pre POLITICAL NARRATIVE. sent purpose, to punish the crimes of the Bengalese army, the Government may have the services of a greater number of volunteers than they could forward, not only in the three kingdoms but in the colonies. The intelligence of this revolt had only reached our distant west, accompanied with rumours of peaceable families murdered in Delhi and Meerut, when offers of artillery and infantry were made from Canada; offers that would have been multiplied ten fold if steamers could have been supplied to take the men. The Government, after an earnest resistance on the part of routine, are to use the steamers on the overland route for all the soldiers that they can carry. The number will not be great, but, perhaps four hundred monthly. Stupid civilians cannot see how the Australian steamers might not be used for the same good work. Each voyage would only be lengthened by two or three weeks, even if they conveyed another thousand soldiers monthly to Bombay. Still more stupid people, altogether unacquained with politics, think that the offer of one shipping company to establish means for the conveyance of two thousand men monthly by that route should have been accepted. Between July 1st and September 24th, 77 vessels have left England with 29,935 troops on board; 6 vessels are now embarking 4,536 men, and others are immediately required to take 1,562 men, who are only waiting transport, so that since the first intelligence of the revolt 36,033 soldiers will have left Great Britain. RELIEF FOR INDIA. The fund for the relief of the sufferers by the mutiny of the Sepoys commenced in London, has now become almost universal in this country. The French Ambassador was one of the first subscribers by a donation of one hundred pounds, followed by one thousand pounds from the French Emperor, four hundred pounds from the Imperial Guard of France, and one thousand pounds from the Sultan. The subscription of one thousand pounds from the Queen, and smaller sums from other members of the Royal family, have recommended the case to the country, and it will be generously met. The subscriptions to the Relief Fund at present in Glasgow, Liverpool, and Manchester, probably reach ten thousand pounds in each place; and those in London, including general subscriptions, fifty thousand pounds; but, from the measures taken over the country, and the assistance certain to be sent from the colonies, the total sum will reach half a million, or one million, if one million be required. EUROREAN POLITICS. The Emperors of France and Russia have had | 533 their meeting at Stuttgart, commencing on the 25th inst., out of which some people say that peace will come, and others think that war will spring. Advantage may be taken, say the latter, by the nephews to renew the league formed at Tilsit, by the uncles, fifty years ago. At that date the elder Napoleon refused Constantinople to the Czar. At this day the younger Napoleon feels the inspiration, and follows the traditions of his uncle. Constantinople, we are told by one party of alarmists, is to go for Egypt and Tunis. Well, the arrangement is clear, and so far good, but who takes Syria? The British Lion may be deemed decrepit just now, with his fangs in cotton, and his teeth drawn; but that is a grand error, and it would be discovered to be a grand mistake. The Emperor of Austria is not one of the Stuttgart visitors. We have not yet a triumvirate of Europe. Still, when did ever Austria see a prey without looking for a share of the spoil? Prussia, in 1807, counted for nothing more in the opinion of the raft party than a mortuum corpus; not vile, certainly, for they rather liked the body, thought that it would cut up well, and they relished the limbs. Prussia then had a spark of independence left, and it made a blaze that burned the raft of Tilsit, at any rate. Prussia now has two hundred and fifty thousand good soldiers. The meeting of Stuttgart will not make war. France has financial difficulties and a shrewd sovereign. Russia has been unfortunate in the Circassian campaign. A battle lost is mentioned, in which fell from four to five thousand Russians -a terrible affair, if the rumour be true. As little will peace spring out of this meeting of the Emperors, in any other sense than it now exists-viz., a state of preparation for war. The idea of a disarmament is amiable, and some day will be practicable; but not at this day; and the two Emperors will plant neither laurels nor olives this time. AUSTRALIA. The migratory habits of the Chinese are vexatious to the Anglo-Saxons in Australia as in California; and we regret to learn that riots have taken place at some of the Australian diggings. The Chinese are not the best or the most cleanly of neighbours, but they may improve by contact with more advanced races. FRANCE. An inundation on a more contracted scale than the grand inundations of a past year, but yet very mischievous to the silk and wine interests, has occurred in France. During the month past much rain has fallen in this country; but nearly all the harvest is now secured in tolerably fair condition, and the return will be heavy. |
