I purpose taking on two guns of the battery herc (leaving the mountain train for service in Behar if necessary hereafter, for which I intended it), and also Major Eyre's battery, to Benares, where I propose, if practicable, to organize a column to advance to Lucknow, through Jaunpore, between the Sye and Goomtee rivers; the only course now left by which we can hope to relieve our garrison in Lucknow; General Havelock having again retired from the attempt, and recrossed the Ganges to Cawnpore, being unable, I imagine, to cross the Sye in the face of the enemy, the Bunnee bridge having been destroyed. In addition to the Artillery above mentioned, I can only have the 5th Fusiliers and 90th Regiments, so weakened by detachments as to amount together to less than 1,000 mensome of the Ghoorkas perhaps, and the Madras Regiment now on its way up the river. But I hope to arrange with General Havelock-after effecting a junction with such troops as he can forward from Cawnpore -to cross the Ganges about Futtehpore, and pass the Syc near Roy Bareilly. I would there prepare rafts (on inflated skins) by which these reinforcements would cross the Sye. We should then be in sufficient strength, I trust, to force our way to Lucknow.

All my arrangements here will be completed by tomorrow, and no time shall be lost in pushing up to Benares, whence I hope to send back most of the steamers and flats now here, and above. Aware as I am how urgently these vessels are required at Calcutta, I am very much vexed that such great and unnecessary delays should have interposed, by detentions here, at Dinapore, and other places; and your Lordship may rely on my preventing any further delay that can possibly be avoided.

To G. F. Edmonstone, Esq., Secretary to Government. Dinapore, 20th August, 1857.

I have the honour to transmit for the information of the Right Honourable the Governor-General in Council, copy of a memorandum received from Commissioner Samuells, explaining his views of the state of Behar, and the measures necessary for its pacification, with copy of my reply of this date.

(Enclosure.)

MEMORANDUM by Mr. Samuells for General Sir James

Outram.

Patna, 18th August, 1857.

There are three objects in this division for which it appears necessary to provide. The first is, the security of the city of Patna, including the opium Godown; the second, clearing the district of Arrah of the rebel bands which now infest it, and re-opening the communication between Benares and the Soane; and, thirdly, the protection of the district of Gyah, which is at present open to the incursion of the rebel troops from Ramghur. The first of these objects seems to be, in a great measure, secured. The only desiderata appear to be a small detachment of Europeans in the Godown, the improvement of its defences, and the construction of a fortified post in the civil station of Patna, which would at once protect that portion of the city in the vicinity of the station, and serve as a place of security for the residents in the event of any sudden émeute.

The second of these objects, the pacification of the Arrah district, is of very great importance. On the speedy attainment of this object the opium crop in that district depends, which is worth to Government, as I am informed, not less than half a million sterling. While Arrah remains also disturbed, the districts in its immediate neighbourhood will continue in an inflammable state, and the communication between Calcutta and Benares-whether by dâk or telegraphinterrupted. Were a small force, similar to that now under Major Eyre, to be posted at Sasseram, it would, with the aid of the detachment at Buxar, be able, it is presumed, to preserve the peace of the district; to keep the Trunk Road free; and to prevent the Ramghur and Bhaugulpore mutineers from crossing the Soane at Dehree.

The Madras Column, which is about to move up the Trunk Road, may, when it reaches Sasseram, perform the same service as Major Eyre's detachment, or any similar detachment, from this side, in keeping the road and district free of insurgents, but it is to be considered that they will not be able to head mutineers, who will have a

long start of them, and that the latter, by occupying the ghâts on the Soane, may render it impossible for the column to cross without the co-operation of a force on the Arrah side.

Gyah, it is obvious, is in a dangerous position, if the rebel troops from Ramghur should move upon it, the small party now there being quite inadequate for its protection. If the ghâts on the Soane are unoccupied, and the road towards Benares open, it is not at all improbable that they may avail themselves of the trunk road as far as they can, and plunder the district of Gyah until the approach of the column which is moving up the trunk road, and which cannot reach Gyah for the next three weeks, forces them to decamp. It would thus seem that the safety of Gyah and Shergotty would be, in a great measure, secured by a small force at Sasseram. For the rebels, finding the trunk road closed, would naturally take the hill road by Lohardugga.

These are, in a concise form, the considerations which occur to me on the subject of the defence of this division. It is, of course, for the military authorities to consider whether the force at their disposal, or the pressing need of troops in other quarters, will admit of the arrangements which I have suggested being carried out, or whether better arrangements cannot be made for the attainment of the objects which I have specified.

E. A. SAMUELLS, Commissioner.

(Enclosure.)

Colonel Napier, Military Secretary to Sir James Outram, to E. A. Samuells, Esquire, Commissioner of Patna.

Dinapore, 20th August, 1857.

I am directed by Major-General Sir James Outram, K.C.B., commanding the Dinapore and Cawnpore divisions, to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum, on the protective measure for Behar, which I laid before him.

The first point of the memorandum, the security of the city of Patna, has been provided for in the following manner:

The Opium Godown is being fortified in a temporary but substantial manner, by Captain Harris, an experienced engineer officer, and armed with six mountain train guns. In addition to its present garrison of 70 Sikhs, and a small party of Najeebs, it has a detachment of 80 of H.M.'s Fusiliers, which, with two 9-pounder guns, is posted at the civil station.

During the Mohurrum these detachments will be doubled, from the cantonment of Dinapore, or still further increased should the Commissioner think it necessary.

Sir James Outram considers these arrangements amply sufficient for the present security of Patna. Regarding the remaining points of your memorandum, the pacification of Arrah, and its results as affecting the opium crop, he deems them less urgent than the vital interests

at stake higher up the country, to forward which every European soldier not absolutely necessary for the protection of Dinapore and Patna must be sent on. The rebels in the Arrah district have been defeated and dispersed. With Gyah and Arrah reoccupied, those districts must be held by the detachment now there,* and such police and local means as the civil authorities can organize: and the principal zemindars should be held strictly responsible for the peace of the elaquas under their influence.

Major Eyre's battery is most urgently called for in advance, and under no circumstances can it be longer detained at Arrah. Should Koer Singh reappear in force, the column approaching by the trunk road must be called upon to act against him if absolutely necessary.

The Madras Regiment now coming up the river may be employed under circumstances of extreme urgency, but, in addition to the demand for its presence in advance, it is of the utmost importance that its upward progress should not be interrupted, if it can possibly be avoided. For it is of the greatest moment that the vessels it occupied should be speedily released to return to Calcutta, after landing the regiment at Benares.

The Commander-in-Chief (Sir Colin Campbell) to Sir J. Outram.

(Telegraphic.)

18th August, 1857. It is hoped that Eyre's signal success at Jugdespore will restore tranquillity in the Dinapore division, and enable you to send on the 5th and 90th Regiments to their original destination, Allahabad; or at least one of those regiments. If one must be retained in Behar, keep the 5th, and send on the 90th the moment you can spare it. The flats and steamers they now have should take on the regiments to Allahabad. Give notice to the officer commanding at Allahabad as soon as you despatch the troops, in order that every preparation may be made for their reception.

The wing of the 37th Regiment was sent up expressly for the purpose of relieving the detachments belonging to the regiments of Havelock's force as far as practicable; it is very desirable that this arrangement

*Arrah: 150 Sikhs, Bieutenant Robertson, Lieutenant Powis; Gyah: 43 men H. M.'s 54th, 3 officers, 150 Sikhs, and head-quarters, under Captain Rattray.

should still be carried out, and those detachments pushed on rapidly to Cawnpore, to join their regimental head-quarters.

Havelock's force is composed of portions of the 64th, 78th, 84th, and 1st Madras Fusiliers. Your returns will show you where the detachments belonging to them are posted in the Dinapore and Cawnpore divisions. Bear in mind the extreme importance of maintaining a strong garrison in Allahabad; 500 Europeans, at least, are required.

A column of troops will start from Raneegunge to-morrow or the next day, and march along the great trunk road to Benares, and thence on to Allahabad. The officer in command has been directed to report to you daily, and attend to any instructions you may send him.

The column consists of

Wing of 53rd Foot.

Madras Field Battery, 6 guns.

27th Regiment Madras Native Infantry.

Possibly this column may be moved on Hazareebaugh, to re-establish order there; but its detention will be very short, and a report will be made to you.

P.S.-It is an exceeding satisfaction to me to have your assistance, and to find you in your present position.

Sir J. Outram to the Commander-in-Chief.

(Telegraphic.)

Dinapore, 20th August, 1857. Received at Dinapore, on the evening of the 20th August, by letter from Monghyr, dated yesterday, the purport of a message from your Excellency, read by a gentleman at the telegraph station, five miles from