NEWS FROM AGRA, GWALIOR, AND CAWNPORE.

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the Goorkhas join him, or until the European regiments join him, which they must have done by this time. I have heard nothing of a siege-train coming from Calcutta: it is probably gun-boats which I noticed had been sent up; but whatever it is it can't be for us, and there are plenty of guns of all kinds to be had at Agra. The Agra people are all well, and the mutineers at Gwalior still safe there.

We had telegraphic news of the mail last night; it said nothing of sending troops out overland, but it mentioned the arrival at Bombay of the steamer Pottinger from the Cape with troops, which is very good news, as other steamers have probably been sent to Calcutta from the Cape.

News from the city says the Sepoys are very much displeased with Prince Mirza Moghul, whom they accuse of treachery, and talk of trying him by Court-Martial. Tell Mr Philipe of the intended Court-Martial on the Prince of Delhi. I don't know whether the proofs are to be sent to me when they are finished!

Mungroo, the syce of the poor old pony, is going up to Simla to see his wife. I have paid him his wages.

3 P.M., and all quiet.

P.S.-I am glad this letter was not sent off, as Arthur Becher has just been in with a letter from Colonel Cotton from Agra, of the 20th, where all was well on that date, and all quiet at Gwalior. Colonel Cotton had felt himself strong enough to send out a detachment a short distance from Agra to keep things straight. The same cossid brought also a letter from General Neill to General Wilson, dated Cawnpore the 12th. He says that Havelock had fought the enemy again and thrashed them, with very little loss on our side, and taken two more guns; but he does not seem inclined to advance on Lucknow at present on account of his want of Cavalry, and hearing that Lucknow was not only all safe, but that the enemy had no chance of making any impression upon it. It seems there would have been three more European regiments at Cawnpore by this time if it had not been for the Dinapore mutiny. The mutineers had been severely punished and dispersed, but many were wandering about the Grand Trunk Road, and had stopped the dâks. The three regiments detained to follow them were the 5th, 37th, and 90th, and two batteries,

232 ENEMY REPORTED IN force near NUJUFGHURH.

but it was hoped all would soon be available again. General Lloyd has been removed from his command in consequence of his want of energy in the business. The letter goes on to say that three European regiments were to reach India by this mail from Malta-the 48th, 71st, and 57th-and that six other regiments were to follow by the same route. Two regiments from Madras were coming-one Infantry, and one Native Cavalry. All well at Nagode, Saugar, &c.

(Diary) 24th August.-At work to-day rather earlier than usual, and write home letters. The enemy are said to have marched out in force towards Nujufghurh, and a Movable Column under Nicholson is to march in the morning to look after them. The mail in after dinner. Speeches read out at mess table-Lord Ellenborough's good; Vernon Smith's received with shouts of derision.

CHAPTER XI.

SIEGE OF DELHI (continued)—VICTORY OF GENERAL NICHOLSON.

Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife.

CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Tuesday, 25th August.

Your letter of the 22nd reached me after dinner at the mess, and with it also came the letter herewith enclosed from your father and the home news, which I also send; but before I say anything of these, let me speak to you about your groundless apprehensions with reference to the cook. So long as all goes well here-and we all reckon that we cannot have to wait more than ten or twelve days or so longer, and perhaps less, for the fall of Delhi-there is no fear of any of the servants committing themselves, however much they might be inclined that way, and I should very much doubt the cook being traitorously disposed, or, in fact, any hardly of our Native servants; but still, if you have taken such a determined dislike to the man, and would wish to turn him off, the only way will be to have him turned out of Simla on the very day of his dismissal, and this might be done, I dare say, if you sent for Captain Seymour and spoke to him on the subject, telling him about the powder-flasks and the conversation about the letter from Meerut. But if you do turn him off, will you be able to get another cook you can depend upon? is a donkey, and always sees a cause for alarm in everything, so don't be guided by him in the matter, but consult with Seymour if you have any doubt how to act. I will now leave the matter to you to do as you think best; but be sure of this, that you have nothing to fear from any of your servants. Ask Sergeant Larkin to sleep in the house again.

234 NICHOLSON'S COLUMN SENT TO INTERCEPT ENEMY.

What do you think at Simla of the news from home? It seems that they are not sending troops out overland after all, but some of them that are coming round the Cape in screwsteamers will be out very soon; and I forgot to tell you yesterday that it has been decided that all the China troops were to come to Calcutta except the Marines.*

You will have intelligence ere this of the siege-train having passed Umballa; but there is a talk after all of its not being required, and of our being able to get into Delhi without it. A large party of the mutineers-it is said six thousand, with eight guns-left the city yesterday evening, and another party, though not so large, and with guns, left only this morning, and they gave out that it was with the intention of getting to our rear and attacking Alleepore or Sonput; but from what has since transpired it seems not unlikely that they are leaving Delhi altogether and are making for Goorgaon, with the intention, perhaps, of returning to Oude, or it may be of proceeding to Gwalior and joining the other mutineers there. A powerful Movable Column, however, under Nicholson has gone to look after them, and if he comes across them they will have little chance of escape: his Column consists of two European corps-the 1st Fusiliers and Her Majesty's 61st; and two Sikh corps-Coke's and Green's, with some of the 9th Lancers and Native Cavalry, and Horse Artillery (sixteen guns). His greatest difficulty will be the ground he has to get over. He started at daybreak, but about nine it came on to rain, so I fear Nicholson will not have a pleasant march of it; he will probably not fall in with the enemy under any circumstances for the next day or two. Shute has gone out with the Column as Quartermaster-General, and Sir Theophilus Metcalfe also, to show them the way.

The enemy, or what are left of them in the city, are very quiet to-day; they have fired a few shots from the batteries on the opposite side of the river into the Metcalfe compound, but they have done this every day for some days past, and I have not heard of their having hurt anybody.

What do people say at Simla to Sir Colin Campbell being Commander-in-Chief -for this seems evidently the intention. This will stop Seymour's trip to Bombay. Congreve will be

* See note, page 249.

LETTER FROM CAWNPORE.

235

rather delighted at it, I fancy, as he seems to think he has been very ill-used by Sir Henry Somerset.

Tell me if all the jars you sent contain apricot jelly. I have given one to Daly, who thinks it delicious.

What a very sensible speech Lord Ellenborough's is, except that part about the canal and tank. We had all the speeches read out at mess last night, and we decided that the President of the Board of Control, Vernon Smith, is a donkey and noodle!

The total number of officers killed and wounded is, I believe, one hundred and twenty-four-namely, eighty-seven wounded, eleven died from diseases, and twenty-six killed. This includes the casualties with General Wilson at Ghazeeoodeen-Nugar.

Half-past three, and no news. The rain nearly over, and everything quiet.

(Diary) 25th August.-Force under Nicholson (Her Majesty's 61st; 1st Fusiliers; Coke's and Green's corps; Money's, Tombs', and Remington's troops Horse Artillery; one hundred Her Majesty's 9th Lancers; Guides; and Mooltan Horse, &c.) left before daybreak this morning to march to Nujufghurh, where two columns of the enemy are said to have gone, another having started yesterday evening from the city. Heavy rain came on about 10 A.M., but fine later.

J. W. SHERER to R. NIXON.

CAWNPORE, 25th August. MY DEAR NIXON,-Nothing new from this place. Havelock encamped on this parade-ground. Cholera has been prevalent, but moving the men into the stables of the 2nd Cavalry has had the effect of stopping it. Brown, who escaped so wonderfully, has died of cholera; so have Grant of the Volunteer Cavalry, Kenny of the 84th, Chisholm of the Madras Fusiliers, and Young of the 4th Native Infantry. I think I mentioned this last death before.

We believe there is no enemy very near us now. The Oude fellows, indeed, come down every day to the ghat, but they cannot cross. We hear nothing of the Gwalior troops, and hope they may not have moved.