Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 5th January 1856, Edition 1 of 2, Page 8

Page 8
Page 8
8 of 24

On this page

  • Text (5)
  • 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.

      Untitled Article

      King of Oude consented , with the sanction , or rath 5 at the compulsion , of the English , to deal vigorously ¦ with the rebels . Accordingly , the Mahomednn soldiers in the royal army were -weeded by Captain Barlow from their comrades , and the Mussulznen tinder Ameer All were attacked . Had with fanatiqism , they charged their enemies even up to the muzzles of the guns ; but they were also attacked in rear , and their leader , being killed , they were at length defeated , though not without great slaughter and a most obstinate resistance . Ameer is looked on as a

      martyr ; a mosque over his grave is talked of , and an outbreak is expected in Lucknow . In the meanwhile , the revenue has fallen to nothing , and Daryabad is utterly desolate . It is not impossible that this state of things may lead to the annexation of Oude . An army of 16 , 000 Anglo-Indians , including three European regiments , has been collected in the frontier town of Cawnpore . Martial law has been proclaimed in the Santal districts . The insurrection is not yet put down ; but it is thought the rebels will shortly yield .

      Herat—one of the most important towns in the East , commonly called " the gate of India , " because it offers the only practicable route for a large army passing from the north-west to the frontiers of India —has been taken from its monarch , Mahomed Said , by iiie Persians , who , not improbably , have been acting in the interest of the Russians . The story of its capture , as told by the Times Bombay correspondent , is like a chapier out of an eastern romance : — " Mahomed Said , always a slave to his passions , had of late become more grossly abandoned than ever , and was in an almost continual state of intoxication . His personal followers , availing themselves of his condition , perpetrated at their leisure and unrepressed all the

      EQYIT , ETC . An insurrection has broken out in the Hedjaz in Arabia . The Arabs threaten to expel the Turks from the coasts of the Red Sea , and demand that the English and French flags be pulled down , and all Europeans driven out of the country . Lord Canning , on his passage to India , has been received with the utmost courtesy by Said Pasha . A race between an English mare and an Arabian horse has resulted in the complete . victory of ihe former . The Pasha has annulled his order for tie prohibition of the exportation of wheat and Indian corn , which will be permitted as heretofore . Prices of produce have fallen a little , in consequence of discouraging advices from Europe , and freights are now at 8 s . per quarter .

      crimes that can be committed by lawless men against the persons and the property of their neighbours . At last the evil became intolerable , and petitions from all ranks of the people were forwarded to Teheran , entreating the Shah to interfere for their protection , to dethrone Mahomed Said , and annex Herat to his own empire . The King assented , and despatched orders to an officer in his service—no other than a Prince of the Royal Affghan race of the Sudd ozyes , byname Yusuf- —to concert measures with the Persian resident at Herat for taking possession of the city . All was

      easily arranged . The envoy was in the habit of riding out daily for considerable distances , attended lay a large escort , and often returning after dark . One day he was joined by Tusuf with 4 , 000 horse , who accompanied him back to Herat . TIi 6 gates , a 3 usual ) were opened to receive him . Yusuf and his men entered , ^ spatched the guard , and , with the aid of the citizens , ao were in the plot , possessed themselves of the . reasury and the citadel . Mahomed Said , surprised over his cups , was taken and imprisoned , and Prince Yusuf proclaimed himself chief , as vassal of the Shah . "

      A contest has been going on at Calcutta between the Indian Board of Control and the Legislative Council . The former ordered the latter to repeal certain clauses in a given act . The Council , resisting this dictation , has x-efused to obey ; and it is pretty certain that that body is legally as well as morally right . The mission to Ava baa returned , without , however , as it is thought , bringing any concessions from the King , who is still under the influence of the warlike heir apparent . The amalgamation of the Bengal Marines with tho Indian navy has been finally arranged , and will take place almost immediately . Trade at Bombay ia still in a depressed condition , little or nothing improved since the departure of the last mail . Freights have slightly advanced . In the money-market , the scat-city which has been some time anticipated is beginning to be perceptible , and Government stock has slightly declined .

      CHINA . The rebellion appears neither to advance nor recede , From the north , wo have no definite intelligence of the insurgents ; but in tho Kwangsi and Oonam provinces they are said to hold their ground , and their proximity occasions some anxiety in tho Canton district , and materially injures trade . A disagreeable feeling has been aroused by a contest between the captain of an American vessel and tho authorities at Hong-Kong . The authorities asserted that they have power to puniah offences committed on board American vesHolfl in British possessions . Tho captain denied this right ; committed some offence in

      defiance ; was arrested , examined at a police office , and remitted to the criminal hobbiohb , A very dreadful occurrence has taken place on board tho American ship Waverley , conveying Coolies from China to Peru . Tho captain having died , the ship put into Manilla . Some disturbances enaued , and tho Chinos o to tho number of four hundred and fifty wero driven below , and tho hatches oloned . On thoir beiug'oponod again , two hundred and fifty-ono men were found dead I The tea market Una been activo tit Hong-Kong ; rioo in cheap and plentiful ; but import * have boon rather dull , though prices hnvo been maintained . Money i » scarce in native hands .

      Untitled Article

      • LETTER FROM CONSTANTINOPLE . ( From ^ ctr-Pnvate Correspondent . ) December 17 tb , 1855 . Thk rainy season has now fairly commenced here . Lord Stratford has removed from , his summer residence on the Bosphoms , and ia domiciled at the English Embassy at Pe ? a . The narrow declivities , and ill-paved streets , are converted into dikes overflowing with nxud , through which the hapless pedestrian wades ankle deep , jostled from side to side , now by Turkish porters , carry ing immense bales of goods , &c , and anon by Arabas , a string of mules or ca , mels conveying French commissariat stores . Should a vehicle approach in the opposite direction , the street is blocked up , and a great deal of manccuvering is required to get the one past the other .

      The town has been remarkably quiet lately . Nothing has been heard of any midnight assaults or assassinations in the streets , and people begin to move out again after dark , as they were wont to do before the assassinations which occurred last month . Telegraphic communication with the Crimea is still cutoff , the cable whi ch crosses the Black Sea from Kaliakra to Kazatch , being either broken or so far damaged as to render it useless . Despatches from England are iu consequence sent froni Constantinople to the Crimea by steam , packet , and vice versa . It is stated that the telegraph between Constantin ople and England is to ~ be thrown open to the public shortly . Kximour says that twenty-one companies of artillery are under orders to return home , and that they are to be sent to the Baltic for activo service next spring . ¦¦

      The English soldier out here who does not troiible himself about that ignis faluus , the " Balance of Power , " asks , " What are we fighting for ? are we fighting for these lazy , dirty , ill-governed Turks ? if so , it is a waste of men and money . Better let the Russians take the country ; they cannot make it worse , arid may make it a grea , fc deal better . But we think England or Fxance should take it . " The post-office authorities at home would confer a great benefit on the British soldier serving out here , were they to issue post-office orders at the " British

      Army post-office , " at P-era . The recent arrangement , by which books may be sent from England by post , at the rate of twopence for each four ounces , applies almost exclusively to officers , as very few in tho ranks are in a position to avail themselves of the benefit . On the other hand , the granting of postoffice orders -would be an arrangement solely for the benefit of the soldier and his family at home . If this were the case , mqiiiy a povmd which is now spent ia drinking and debauchery , would be se nt home and go a great wsiy towards making a happy home for friends left behind .

      Untitled Article

      PUBLIC OPINION IN FRANCE . A correspondent , who is in a position to be correctly informed , writes us from Paris : — " Believe me there is not a particle of truth in the notion of French jealousy of British operations in Asia Minor , and of rejoicings here at the fall of Kara . "What is true is , that a very general impression prevail s here that there are points of difference between the two governments , and that these differences might become obstacles . In England , you are all for war at any price . You are for war , it is said , because you fancy you have played a very secondary part in the contest hitherto , and you are determined upon a grand revanche , to reconquer your compromised

      prestige and your damaged influence . For you , then , the war is no longer a question of general interest , but of exclusivel y national and British interests . In France , on the contrary , -we desire peace . We desire it for several reasons . In the first place , as you know very well , the war Las never been very popular with , us , whatever may have been , pretended . We have never understood its necessity or its importance , and since , as before , the taking of Sebastopol , the results have appeared to us hardly equal to the sacrifice and to th « cost . Now that the honour of our arms is safe , all the considerations drawn from the state of our finances , our food crisis , and our political and economical situation , have assumed a force and

      an intensity to which the Government could not be insensible . Indeed , the Government itself is tired of tho war , and , I believe , has lately had some explanations with yeur Cabinet on the subject . The Emperor is believed to have held to Lord Paltnerston language of this kind : —' For « iy own part , I consider the objects of the war attained . I have done both for the principles engaged , and for « the general interests , more than could have been demanded of France . If Eussia accepts rational conditions , we must conclude ; if you are for going further , I cannot undertake to follow you . France has no interest in crushing Russia , whom she considers still essential to the equilibrium of Europe . The English Alliance is not eternal , and , in caae of eventual conflict , we might have need of Russia . If tho cabinet of St . Petersburg will not yield , and if

      we must recommence the war , take Cronstadt , and occupy Sti ^ etersburg : I am read y to march ; but then for these new and heavier sacrifices , I must have compensations now these compensations are the Rhine and Belgium . ' I simply report to you what is said here , and what seems at least probable . The facfe is , that if the war must go on and spread , our government cannot afford to play the part of Don Quixote . To do so would be its ruin and confusion , The language ascribed to it iii its recent communications with your government ( and , I repeat , it has at least the air of probability ) , is generally approved ; it is considered a natural resumption of the * policy of the firHt Empire . The old Imperialists , the vicux de la vieille , nnd all the ardent partisans of tho government , are enchanted ; but as to tho government itself , I a . tn inclined to believe that it feels tho want of peace , and would prefer it . "

      Untitled Article

      CONTINENTAL NOTES . rKAov rnosPECTS . Prinqk GoaTSCHAicoifir , tho Russian Ambassador ut Vienna , ia esiid to lmvo proposed to Count Buol that ships of war of all nations should bo oxoludod from the Black Sea , except thotc of Russia and Turkey , ami that it should bo left to those two Powers to decide tho amount of force which each might require Count Buol communicated this proposal to tho ropresentatiyefi of France and England , but took no further noti « e of it . The Russian diplomatist twice brought forward Ma Buggeution , which of course emanated direct

      from tho Cz «» - ; but it in neodloaa to say that it han received no attention . Of tho character of Prince Q ortaohakofi " , tho Times Vienna oorrettpondont given Homo particulai-H : — " Tho Prince , " ho observes , " ifi <> no of tho moHt resolute champions of tho old Muaoo-Tito party , stnd carries * tho Hag of RuHBia remarkably lugh . Ho ie not likely to approve of tho proposition « -which have juot been uoiit to RuHnia , and it is therefore tho wialx of AuBtrift that tho Emperor Alexander oliould hav « an opportunity of examining iuto thoir montH before they aro communicated to hia roproaontntivo at this Court , who etiU proclaims tho rcaolvc of

      Untitled Article

      " If to Frencpress , in its present state , wero worth consideration , wo should almost say that , on this question , it adopted a more gonorous procedure . It did not futt in energetic protest 8 in favour of tho ' victim . ' Tho Presee , tho 8 tide , and « von tho Charivari spoke out . Indeed , wo aro not a-waro that tho Paris prints most dependent on tho Empire , attempted , like the Morning Poat and tho ( flobe , with Htudiod HopliisntiH to discover any right on tho part of Austria to commit an outrage on the liberty of an officer employed in tho English Horvico , « nd in a country not nubjoot to Austrian law . " In short , the conduct of the English prowa in this affair calls for tho reprobation of all howost men who look with natural aversion und dinguBt on tho

      nsauinption otf brute force , and rightly feel for the sufferings of a brave soldier whose future mission was consecrated to the succour of the oppressed . " H " ow this despicable policy is another proof of the degeaeraoy of that press ; and to what it was reduced after England had entered upon a war of purely commercial interests of which its own Government , constrained by that of France ., persists in maintaining the exclusive character—that of the old policy and balan ce of power from which oppressed nations , and mankind , who combat for it , have nothing whatever to hope . "But views like these are considered criminal ; yet the time may come when the English people will be reminded of them ; and in an hour when they would willingly have banished them , from their minds . "

      h h THE ENGLISH PRESS AND | COLONEL TURK . Tuk Dh'itta—the brilliant representative of the liberals of Piedmont—has tho following : — " If avo except throo or four of the London journals among which the Leader and the Daily Nactt aro ontitled to tho most honourable mention , the other periodicals have either said nothing , or , Btill worse , attempted to jiiRtify tho conduct of Austria , in the arrest of that distinguished soldier , Colonel Ttirr . " Tho calumnies circulated through the organs of tho Vienna censorship were passed over with no indignant comment . With the coldest indifference and most cynical selfishness , reasons of right and public law , every regard for justice or humanity , were shelved in support of a base and dastard policy .

      Untitled Article

      _ 8 THE LEADER . [ No . 302 , Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 5, 1856, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2122/page/8/