laying claim to prescience, I was prepared in some measure for this; private letters having informed me, before I left England, that disaffection had manifested itself amongst the native troops of the Honorable Company. Where will it end? MAY 16th. I removed to the Royal Barracks, met my old friend Walters, and was admitted an honorary member of the mess of Her Majesty's 53rd Regiment. The storm begins! News has arrived to-day from Meerut of the mutiny of the 3rd cavalry. Joined by the 11th, 20th, and 94th Native Infantry, they have broken into the gaol and liberated one thousand two hundred prisoners, including eighty-five convicted troopers of the 3rd, sentenced to penal servitude for refusing to use cartridges issued to them, and for which act of disobedience they were placed in irons in the presence of the entire troops, and committed to gaol. On the policy of this step I abstain from comment. It is marked in fire and blood by the mutineers. The absence of the European troops at Divine Service has favoured their designs. They have burnt their lines or huts, attacked and dismantled the Bungalows of English officers, and murdered all they could lay hands on. A cantonment so extensive as Meerut afforded strange facility for the commission of such atrocities, as time must of necessity have elapsed before our troops could be collected to disperse the mutineers; the lines of the European Cavalry being at some distance, and the staff occupying widely-scattered bungalows. The approach of night favoured the flight of the insurgents, who have taken the road to Delhi. Should the conflagration become general, as I apprehend, how are we prepared to resist it? Only two available regiments are in the Presidency; Her Majesty's 53rd, here at Fort William, and Her Majesty's 84th, brought from Burmagh, to overawe the mutinous 19th Native Infantry when disbanded at Barrackpore, probably to sow the seeds of disaffection as they dispersed. We have neither cavalry nor artillery; nor have we even a General Officer. Such is the state of military preparation in Bengal. According to the favourite system, European troops have been generally dispensed with, Cawnpore being garrisoned by a mise rable detachment of Her Majesty's 32nd, and all the stations on the Grand Trunk Road held by Sepoys. MAY 27th. Matters progress as usual here, despite the cloud of rebellion looming in the distance, and ready to burst upon the Presidency. The too-apparent disloyalty of the Native Troops has not prevented the annual celebration of Her Majesty's birthday, in honor of which a ball has been given by the Governor-General, and however much distrust is felt, none is expressed, and appearances are kept up. Indeed the general opinion seems to favour the idea of partial rebellion rather than general disaffection, palpable as it is, notwithstanding the fact of the Sepoys at Allyghur and Ferozepore having followed the example of their brethren without offering violence to their officers or other Europeans. All classes seem pervaded by a feeling of panic, while the inertness on the part of those Military Authorities who ought to make arrangements to meet every exigency is remarkable. JUNE 5th. At length my representations have been attended to. I have gained permission to make the attempt to join my regiment (60th, Royal Rifles) at Meerut, distant from hence about nine hundred miles. The roads having been for some time impassable for private travellers, an escort is necessary; and to-morrow I am to accom |