INDIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 678, 31 January 1852, Page 4

INDIA.

[From the Sydney Morning Herald, Dec. 22.] “ The political atmosphere of India is becoming clouded, rumours of war are rife, and a storm seems gathering in Cashmere, which may pass away or break upon us at any moment, according as Goolab Singh may recover from his reported sickness, or may fall a victim to disease or poison. “ There has been some talk of an expedition to be sent from Bombay, of which the 78th Highlanders is to form part, the destination of the force being, it is said, Aden, whither it is proposed to send troops for the purpose of bringing some of the turbulent Arab tribes to their senses, Another report is that the army about to be despatched from Bombay, is intended for Egypt, a report which we consider as improbable, as we deem it likely that it will proceed to Aden, for we do not see what six thousand men could effect in the land of the Nile, should the Sublime Porte think proper to attempt the subjugation -if its nominal vassal, who is to all intents and purposes an independent sovereign. Should the rulers of Turkey and Egypt come to Mows, the army of the former will doubtless sc of overwhelming numbers, and should England engage in the contest, it will probably be as a maritime power ; but if it be true that France as well as England is favourable to the cause of the Pasha, the Sultan will hardly be rash enough to involve himself in a quarrel with the two powers whose support alone hinders the Russian autocrat from marching his legions upon Constantinople, and occupying the waters of the Bosphorus with the Black Sea fleet. Still less would he be mad enough to throw himself into the arms of Russia, such a proceeding would be likely to lead to a general European war. The three northern powers composing the new holy alliance, with their inferior allies opposing those nations in which liberal principles prevail, and England and France heading the antagonistic part, whichever party might eventually prevail, Turkey would not merely be the theatre of war during the contest, but would suffer in the end. “Again, Government is said to have resolved upon making an attack upon the Hill tribes, occupying the country in advance of our North Frontier, and reducing them during the coming cold season to such a state of submission as will secure the future tranquillity of the border. These wild hill men have certainly given us cause enough of offenee, and it is high time that measures should be taken to prevent them from keeping

Peshawur in the state of disquiet that has hitherto prevailed in that quarter. Our mountain expeditions have not usually been, so successful, as to prevent us from feeling some apprehension as to the result of that now said to be in contemplation ; and we shall look out anxiously to learn the amount and nature of the force to be sent on this expedition. It will probably take-place in the coming cold season. We hope, however, that H. 60th Rifles may be brought down from the hills in time to form part of the force, and that the Goorkah regiment, the 66th N, I. now at Peshawur, will also be sent. The rifle is a match for the long jezail of the hill men, and the Goorkabs will be at home among the mountains. We wish that they had the rifle again in their hands, instead of the musket so injudiciously given to them, when transferred to the line, and made the 66th N.I. This weapon is a most unwieldly one at all times, and not only it, but all the equipments of a regiment of the line are ill adapted to the little Goorkahs.

“ It is impossible, however, to say whether this intended little game at soldiers in the Western Hills may not give place to another on a grander scale in an opposite direction, but should it come off, we fear that those engaged in it are likely to get little save hard knocks as a reward for much toil and privation, and we feel a sort of presentiment that many a gallant fellow will lay his bones among the bare rocks and wild mountains, before the fierce and hardy hill men are brought into submission. Much will depend upon who is selected to command the expedition. We presume Sir Colin Campbell will be the man ; he is the senior officer at present in the Punjaub, and, moreover, on the spot. It would be difficult to find a man of higher rank for the duty, and it would be ungenerous to supersede one who has shown so much ability in the field. We think, too, that the work could hardly be entrusted to better hands.

“ Should the present illness of Goolab Singh terminate fatally, the premeditated expedition will probably be deferred, perhaps sine die, as it will be necessary to keep all our troops in hand, until it is seen what turn affairs are likely to take in Cashmere. It appears by no means certain in the event of Goolab Singh’s death, that his son will be allowed quietly to succeed him, and should there be a contest for the throne, there can hardly be a question that the remnant of the old Sikh army will flock to the standard of one of the aspirants, perhaps enlist under the banners of both. In such a case it might be wise to leave them to fight it out amongst themselves, unless we are bound to support the heir of the present Maharajah, in which case, if he is likely to be worsted, or demands our assistance, we must of course step in. “But even if Goolab Singh’s son is permitted quietly to ascend the throne, it is by no means certain that peace will continue for any length of time. He is said to be very hostile to the British, a circumstance alone sufficient to attract the Sikhs to his service. His country is naturally strong, and rendered more difficult of assault by art. With an overflowing treasury, an army eager for war, and capable of being immensely increased, a fiery youth may easily depart from the wary policy of a cool old man, and we may yet once more see the standard of Khalsa raised, and planted on the Mountain fastnesses of Cashmere, girt with thousands of tried warriors burning for revenge upon the foe whom they have twice defied, each time yielding the palm of victory after a stern and bloody conflict, longing to recover their obscured renown ; it would be no light task we should have before us, to reach that standard, it must be over the corpses of the bravest of its defenders.

“ We do not believe that the spirit of Runjeet’s soldiers is yet broken, and their numbers are still considerable. It is not to be supposed that all of them were present at Goozerat, or that the 20,000 men, who laid down their arms to General Gilbert, were more than a small portion of the troops who escaped from that bloody field, though in all probability the best soldiers of the survivors ; it is, therefore, no out-of-the-way speculation to suppose that if the successor of Goolab Singh, when firm upon his throne, were to raise the Khalsa and proclaim war against the British, be would be able to collect around him, in the course of a few weeks, 50,000 Sikh soldiers, in addition to the existing army in Cashmere, and if there be any approximation to truth in the estimates of the treasures in the vaults, and materials of war in the arsenals o; Jummo, he would be amply supplied with the sinews of war to enable him to keep the field for a period longer than we could afford to allow the continuance of the war without injuring, if not destroying, the prestige of success, which though weakened during the Sutlej and Punjab campaigns, still attaches to our arm;.

“ An express had reached Seepree, recalling Sir Richard Shakspear to his former post at Gwa'ior."