an armed flotilla, under the command of Captain Rennie, of the Indian Navy, up the Karoon River to Ahwaz, to make a reconnaissance, and ascertain, if possible, the movements of the Persian armyas he had no luggage cattle to enable him to march into the interior. The expedition sailed on the 29th of March, and was completely successful. Near Ahwaz the Persian army was seen occupying a low range of hills at right angles to the river on the right bank, and as there was reason to believe that the town was either abandoned or weakly guarded Capt. Rennie determined to attack it. The troops were landed and although only 300 in number were so disposed as to assume the appearance of 1500while the gun-boats took up a position within range of the enemy's camp, and opened fire. As the British advanced, the whole Persian force retired; and when we took possession of the town of Ahwaz, without opposition, the Persian army was seen in full retreat in the direction of Dizful. After obtaining supplies from the inhabitants, who professed entire submission to the British Government, the expedition returned to Mohammerah, and soon afterwards the news arrived that peace had been concluded between Great Britain and Persia, so that further operations were at once put a stop to. Sir James Outram remained in Persia with the British force until the beginning of June, when the terrible events that happened in the Bengal Presidency called him to India to assume an important command there, and at the same time a number of troops were despatched from Bushire to Bombay to assist in quelling the revolt of the Bombay army. The Treaty of Peace between Her Majesty the Queen and the Shah of Persia was signed at Paris on the 4th of March, and the ratifications were exchanged at Bagdad on the 2nd of May. The following were the principal Articles of the treaty. The first four Articles provided for "perpetual peace and friendship between the contracting parties-the evacuation of the Persian territory by the British forces-the liberation of prisoners taken during the war-and the amnesty to be published by the Shah of Persia, absolving from responsibility all Persian subjects who might have been empowered by intercourse with the British forces. "Art. 5. His Majesty the Shah of Persia engages further to take immediate measures for withdrawing from the territory and city of Herat, and from every other part of Affghanistan, the Persian troops and authorities now stationed therein; such withdrawal to be effected within three months from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty. "Art. 6. His Majesty the Shah of Persia agrees to relinquish all claims to sovereignty over the territory and city of Herat from the countries of Affghanistan, and never to demand from the chiefs of Herat, or of the countries of Affghanistan, any marks of obedience, such as the coinage, or 'khotbeh,' or the tribute. "His Majesty further engages to abstain hereafter from all interference with the internal affairs of Affghanistan. His Majesty promises to recognise the independence of Herat, and of the whole of Affghanistan, and never to attempt to interfere with the independence of those States. "In case of differences arising between the Government of Persia and the countries of Herat and Affghanistan, the Persian Government engages to refer them for adjustment to the friendly offices of the British Government, and not to take up arms unless those friendly offices fail of effect. return to Teheran, when the Persian Government agrees to receive it with the apologies and ceremonies specified in the separate note signed this day by the Plenipotentiaries of the high contracting parties."* IN * SEPARATE NOTE REFERRED TO ARTICLE X. OF THE FOREGOING TREATY. "The British Government, on "The undersigned, Her Britannic Matheir part, engage at all times to jesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and exert their influence with the Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of the States of Affghanistan to prevent French, and His Persian Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotenany cause of umbrage being given tiary to his said Imperial Majesty, being by them, or by any of them, to duly authorised by their respective Gothe Persian Government; and the vernments, hereby agree that the following British Government, when ap-lishment of diplomatic and friendly relaceremonial shall take place for the re-estapealed to by the Persian Government, in the event of difficulties arising, will use their best endeavours to compose such differences in a manner just and honourable to Persia. Art. 7. In case of any violation of the Persian frontier by any of the States referred to above, the Persian Government shall have the right, if due satisfaction is not given, to undertake military operations for the repression and punishment of the aggressors; but it is distinctly understood and agreed to that any military force of the Shah which may cross the frontier for the above-mentioned purpose shall retire within its own territory as soon as its object is accomplished, and that the exercise of the above-mentioned right is not to be made a pretext for the permanent occupation by Persia, or for the annexation to the Persian dominions of any town or portion of the said States. "Art. 10. Immediately after the ratifications of this treaty have been exchanged the British Mission shall tions between the Courts of Great Britain and Persia. This agreement to have the same force and value as if inserted in the treaty of peace concluded this day between the undersigned: : "The Sadr Azim shall write, in the Shah's name, a letter to Mr. Murray, expressing his regret at having uttered and given currency to the offensive imputations upon the honour of Her Majesty's Miletter of the 19th of November, and the nister, requesting to withdraw his own two letters of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the 26th of November, one of which contains a rescript from the Shah respecting the imputation upon Mr. Murray, and declaring, in the same letter, that no such further rescript from the Shah as that enclosed herewith in copy was communicated, directly or indirectly, to any of the foreign missions at Teheran. "A copy of this letter shall be communicated, officially, by the Sadr Azim to each of the missions at Teheran, and the substance of it shall be made public in that capital. "The original letter shall be conveyed to Mr. Murray, at Bagdad, by the hands of some high Persian officer, and shall be accompanied by an invitation to Mr. Murray, in the Shah's name, to return with the mission to Teheran, on His Majesty's assurance that he will be received with all the honours and consideration due to the representative of the British Government, another person of suitable rank being sent to conduct him, as Mehmandar, on his journey through Persia. "Mr. Murray, on approaching the capital, shall be received by persons of high rank deputed to escort him to his residence in the town. Immediately on his arrival there the Sadr Azim shall go in state to the British Mission, and renew friendly relations with Mr. Murray, leaving the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to accompany him to the Royal Palace, the Sadr Azim receiving Mr. Murray and conducting him to the presence of the Shah. "The Sadr Azim shall visit the mission at noon on the following day, which visit Mr. Murray will return, at latest, on the following day before noon. "Done at Paris, this 4th day of March, 1857. "COWLEY "FEROKH." CHAPTER XI. INDIA. HISTORY OF THE MUTINY.-Causes which led to disaffection in India-Proceedings connected with the greased cartridges-Excitement amongst the native troops at Barrackpore-Disorderly conduct of the 19th N. I. at Berhampore-The regiment disbanded-Attempt to murder an European officer at Barrackpore-Disbandment of the 34th N. I.—Incident of the Chupatties-Bazaar reports-Proclamation of the Governor-General in Council-Distribution of European regiments in the Bengal Presidency - Outbreak of mutiny at MeerutEntry of the 3rd Light Cavalry into Delhi-Mutiny and massacre at Delhi-Blowing up of the powder-magazine there-Death of General Anson, the Commander-in-Chief-Victory over the rebels by General Sir Henry Barnard at Badulee Ke-Serai-The British forces take up their position before Delhi-Mutiny at Futteghur-Fate of the European fugitives-Outbreak at Allahabad, and murder of European Officers-Arrival of Colonel Neill, and retribution upon the insurgents-Mutiny and murders at Jhansi-Proclamation of Martial Law in the North-West Provinces-Mutiny at Azimghur, and at Benares-Mutiny at Bareilly, Shajehanpoor, and Mooradabad-List of revolted regiments. INDIA. HISTORY OF THE MUTINY.-Just one hundred years ago was fought the battle of Plassey, in Bengal, when Clive, at the head of 3000 troops, of whom only one-third were Europeans, defeated and utterly overthrew 50,000 native soldiers, under Surajah Dowlah, the Nawab of Bengal. This victory decided the question of the supremacy of the British power in India, and laid the deep and strong foundations of our Empire in the East. Since then we have governed India with the aid of a native army, which has been distinguished for its gallantry in the field and its fidelity to the State. Vast accessions of territory have been won for England by means of troops whose fathers disputed with the sword her possession of a few acres of their soil. Not only in British India, but in Burmah-in Affghanistan and the Punjaub-the Sepoy has fought side by side along with the European soldier, and approved himself a brave and devoted servant of the Government that employed him. It was in truth a splendid army, or rather collection of armies for each Presidency, Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, had a separate force, and, with the exception of a mutiny which broke out in 1806 at Vellore, in the Presidency of Madras, and which was put down and crushed on the instant with memorable severity and success, no overt act of sedition had thrown suspicion upon their loyalty. But of late years, watchful observers had noticed symptoms in the army of Bengal which seemed to indicate the possibility of danger to our sway arising from the very men who had hitherto been most active in maintaining it. The Bengal Sepoy was very different from the Sepoy of Madras or Bombay. The army there was recruited from a class the most likely to take offence at European customs and to resist European interference. In the other Presidencies the native soldiers were generally men of low caste, who were studiously rejected in supplying the ranks of the army of Bengal. In that Presidency they consisted of two classes-Mahommedans and Hindus. The cavalry were chiefly Mahommedan. The Hindus were to a great extent men of the highest caste. The territory which supplied an immense number of recruits was Rajpootana, where the Brahmin caste, in its utmost purity, principally prevails, and where the strange usages of the Hindu religion are most sedulously observed. Another great source of supply to the Bengal army was Oude, full of a warlike population, and studded with fortresses in the hands of chieftains who yielded little more than a nominal obedience to the weak and corrupt Government of Lucknow, and, like the Highland clans in former times, settled their quarrels amongst themselves by the right of the strong hand. Of late years changes had been introduced, through English influence, into the Hindu system of religion, which is interwoven more closely than can easily be imagined by Europeans with the social economy of the people. Suttees, which, although neither enjoined by nor mentioned in their Vedas or sacred books, had, by inveterate custom, acquired in their eyes the sanctity of a Divine command, had been declared illegal, and abolished throughout India. Widows, instead of throwing themselves upon the funeral pyres of their husbands, and mingling their ashes together in hopes of thereby securing paradise, had begun to contract second marriages. Numerous conversions to Christianity were taking place, and litigation ensued as to the right of relatives to exclude the converts from participation in property as having forfeited their caste. In Bengal especially a school of young Hindus had sprung up, who, throwing off the absurdities of the ancient faith, stopped short of embracing Christianity, and professed themselves to be mere Deists, denying the truth of any revelation of God to man. The intercourse with Europe had become more frequent, and Hindus of the upper classes who returned from England brought with them ideas and manners repugnant to eastern modes of thought. The trammels of their old faith sat lightly on them, and they almost necessarily incurred loss of caste by their sojourn amongst foreigners; so that it was their interest to try and break down the barriers by which the different classes of society in India are so curiously hedged in, and show contempt for observances from the practical benefit of which they were in future debarred. From time immemorial a childless Hindu had been in the habit of adopting a son, in order that he might offer the sacrificial cake at his obsequies, and so rescue the soul of the deceased from the horrors of put, the Hindu purgatory, or hell. A son so |