ON THE QUESTION WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY 18th February, 1823. taken by the in-chief to tion of a na tive for a European corps in Tra vancore. HIS Excellency the Commander-in-chief has dissented from Objections my proposal of relieving the European corps at Quilon by a Commanderbattalion of sepoys, instead of His Majesty's 41st Regiment, the substitunow in Fort St. George, on the following grounds:-1st. The danger from the disturbed state and actual rebellion in which the country has been within these few years. 2nd. The treacherous character of the inhabitants rendering it unsafe to place any confidence in the present apparent tranquillity. 3rd. That it was in Travancore that the most recent attempt was made to alienate the minds of our native troops, and that, by withdrawing the Europeans, they would again be disposed to similar temptation. 4th. The expediency of having a European corps with all large bodies of native troops, not only in order to check incipient discontent, but, in a military point of view, to assimilate discipline and accustom them to place confidence in each other. These arguments are all entitled to the highest, respect, and were I not satisfied that some of them have not now the same force which they would have had some years ago, I would not have recommended the present measure. There has been no rebellion, or rather insurrection, in Travancore for above twelve years, and it ought certainly to create no anxiety now. Such disturbances have occurred in many other districts, as well as in Travancore, without creating any Present convancore. dition of Tra Natives of Travancore not more treacherous Malabar and apprehension now for their tranquillity. They are the consequences which in almost all countries usually follow for a time the establishment of a foreign dominion. Malabar was long agitated by rebellion, and is now perfectly quiet; and though one regiment of Europeans is stationed there, it is not entirely for the purpose of keeping the country in subjection, but also for that of more general service, as it can, in case of emergency, be readily moved either to Mysore or by sea to Bombay; and Canara, which in the early part of our Government was disturbed by insurrections, and was occupied by a large European and native force, has long since been left to the care of a single battalion of sepoys. With regard to the treacherous character of the natives of Travancore rendering it unsafe to trust them, I can see than those of nothing in all the transactions of that country to justify the opinion that they are more treacherous than the inhabitants of Malabar and Canara, or that they differ materially from them in their general character. Canara. Nature of the attempt to seduce the As to Travancore having been the place where the most made in 1812 recent attempt to alienate the minds of our native troops was native troops. made, that event took place in 1812, and ought to excite no apprehension of such attempts being repeated when the causes which produced them no longer exist. When we advert to these causes, we shall see nothing extraordinary in the attempts, and nothing which might not have happened in any other country as well as in Travancore. We had begun as allies by furnishing troops for the protection of that province, and we had finished in a very few years by reducing it to subjection. In such circumstances it was not at all extraordinary, but was perfectly natural, that the díwán should wish to recover his rank and power, and the independence of his country, by the expulsion of the invaders, and that, in order to give him a better chance of success, he should endeavour to seduce our native troops. He prevailed on a few to join in his projects, and his gaining these few seems to have been occasioned by the guard from one of the battalions being left too long near him, without being relieved, which gave him opportunities of tampering with them. It is true that, under the influence of alarm and the credulity which usually attends it, the conspiracy was by many believed to have been extensive, and to have extended to all the corps in Travancore. But Sir Samuel Achmuty, the Commander-inchief at the time, after a full and able investigation of the evidence, has recorded his opinion that the conspiracy was of the most contemptible kind, that three out of four corps had no share in it, and that in the fourth corps it was confined to one jemadar and a few non-commissioned officers and sepoys of bad character. location of a corps with bodies of all large native troops, a measure of doubtful policy. With respect to the expediency of keeping a European Invariable corps with all large bodies of native troops, in order to check European incipient discontent, I have great doubt of the policy of the measure, because I think that it would show suspicion, without being efficacious in preventing the danger apprehended; for it is remarkable that in the only instance in which a conspiracy against the lives of the European officers was carried into execution, a European regiment was present, with only two battalions of sepoys; and yet that regiment was so far from being able to protect the European sepoy officers, that it lost a great part of its own officers and men, and was saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of troops from Arcot. I do not from this mean to infer that European troops may not be useful on such occasions, but that they do not furnish such security as can be entirely depended upon, or as ought to be purchased by any great sacrifice of convenience or economy. I think that the best way of ensuring the fidelity of our native troops is to show no distrust; but confidence at all times, to treat them well, to keep them occupied, to relieve the different stations regularly, to bring all the corps at certain fixed periods back to their respective native districts, and to take care that none of them be permitted to remain too long in any place where they are likely to be tampered with by any native chief. Best means the fidelity of ensuring of native troops. position of corps in can It appears to me that in all our cantonments our European Insecure corps are so situated as to be exposed to great danger, and European to be incapable of acting efficiently in the event of any tonments. general conspiracy among the native troops. The European barracks are so near those of the sepoys as to be always liable to surprise. In order to be secure, they ought to be at some distance from them. This would enable the European corps to guard against surprise, and more effectually to overawe any combination of the native troops. It will be obvious from what has been said, that I do not of a Euro Travancore unnecessary and unadvis able. Continuance consider it to be necessary that a European regiment should pean corps in continue in Travancore. Were it necessary, I should not object to the expense which it would involve; but as it is not, I am unwilling that Government should incur a heavy expense for barracks, more especially when we have barracks for a complete regiment at Wallajahbad, Arni, and Vellore, without a single European soldier in either of them. There are also other reasons for withdrawing the European regiment from Travancore. In that remote situation it is not easily available for general service, not only on account of the distance, but of the violence of the monsoon rendering all access to Quilon by sea impracticable during several months in the year. It is likewise desirable, on account of the tranquil state of the country, and of the propriety of our gradually relinquishing all interference with its government, that we should by degrees reduce our force there, and begin by removing the European part. The force to be permanently stationed at Quilon should not be more than the Díwán, or the Rájá when he comes of age, may deem sufficient to secure the stability of his power. I shall probably on some future occasion state my reasons for thinking that Travancore may with safety be left entirely to the management of its own rulers. The European regi ment at For the present, I would recommend that the European regiment be replaced by a sepoy corps, which, I have no replaced by doubt, we shall be able to withdraw next year without any Quilon should be a native corps. inconvenience. As it is believed that the 69th Regiment will be ordered home in the course of this year, it ought to halt and remain either at Arni or Wallajahbad, until the time of its embarkation. We shall thus avoid the inconvenience and expense of marching it into Fort St. George, and then out again in order to be drafted, and much of the irregularity which always attends the drafting of Europeans so near to the Black Town and to the artillery cantonment at the Mount. ON UNAUTHORIZED CHANGES IN THE DRESS OF 19th December, 1823. Changes in tive army dress of na made with tion of the SOON after my last return to this country, I remarked that a considerable change had taken place in the form of the native infantry turban; but supposing that it had been duly out the sanc authorized, I took no further notice of it at the time, and it Government. was not until lately that I was induced by various circumstances to doubt that any such authority had been given, and that I found that no record existed of the change having been sanctioned by Government. The scales, similar to those of the European dragoons, now worn by the native cavalry on their turbans, is another innovation; and from the inquiries which I have been led to make by the observation of these changes, I am satisfied that several others have at different times been made in the different articles of dress worn by the native troops, without the knowledge of Government. These changes are manifestly in direct opposition to the resolution of Government of *1806, that none should take place without its previous sanction-to the G. O. of the 24th September, 1806, which distinctly prescribes that the turbans of the pattern fixed in 1797 should continue in force -and to the orders of the Honourable Court of Directors under date the 29th of May, 1807, approving of that G. O., and under date the 5th of March, 1817, directing that 'no 'alteration be permitted to be made in the turban.' It is the duty of Government at all times to see that its own orders and those of the Honourable Court are strictly * The exact date is left blank in the original. Government that its bound to see |