a part of the tax for defraying the expenses of inflicted upon them is the change of division these establishment, letting their subjects be and no more, the consequence of which is confident of the security of their property. therefore the change of evils but not their eraThis is the purpose for which they tax the lands dication, for the chowkeydars who were care_ of the inhabitants; but how far they realize less in this division must be so in another of their purpose we are at a loss to determine. course, a few days excepted, if not duly puThe property of their subjects is more insecure nished; so that the evil will go from one place than even in a state where anarchy prevails. to another, producing endless mischief and miJustice requires that they should apply all the sery. Such light punishment, if I may so call money which they extort from the hard hand it, has the power of giving birth to another of an Indian labourer, to the purpose under the mischief, nam ely,of making those who are carename of which they collect the revenue. But ful a careless set of persons, producing in their let not the reader thereby understand, that we minds a conviction that the utmost punishcharge the Government with fraud and de- ment to which they shall be subjected for ception: all that we mean to say, is that they breach of their duty is only the change of expend it to no purpose; they feed the idle place, which so far as we can judge will have jemadars and chowkeydars, by the earnings of no effect upon the minds of the ignorant vulan industrious people. The Police ought to gar. It would indeed be needless and tedious take special care whether the Thanadars dis- to say any thing further upon the subject, charge their duty properly, and it is the duty suffice it to say, that the condition of the Poof the Government on the other hand, to watch | lice is very miserable and loudly calls for an over the conduct of the Police, whether they immediate reformation. act with efficacy. But if neither of them do Many thieves escape the punishment of the what they are legitimately bound to perform, Police on account of that odious law by which and the thanadars are in consequence to neg-persons are obliged to swear that such a perlect their duty, the effect would be, as it now son is a thief. It is already known to our is, that the Police Thanas will go on well; but rulers, we believe, that the natives think it a the poor subjects will ever be in the danger of transgression of the law of God to swear by their property, being always attacked by thieves, to be secure from whom they pay a lage sum of money to Government.

the Bhaggyruthi water, they will have rather all their property lost than once touch that sacred water which they look upon as the sole When a theft happens in any place, the source of their salvation, under the considerMagistrate comes in the morning to examine ation that all these things are nothing in comhow it came to pass; but instead of investi-parison with the bliss of heaven which they gating to matter as it is his duty, viz. how such think they will not obtain if they swear by the things can possibly take place if the chowkey-Gunga water. Many examples of this nature dars were constantly on guard, looks into the can be brought forward, and unless this stain of breach that had been made by those villains the British Court be abolished, fair distribution for their entering the house, and then orders of justice will be shared by very few. But it it to be made up-no further, he has acted his might be said that if such a law does not exist, part most satisfactorily. Or if he happen to every one may accuse his enemy before the be one who takes great interest for the welfare Police of theft without caring whether he of the natives, only remove the chowkeydars is speaking truth or not. To that we would say from one division to another, as if that is the that he who can speak falsely without touching chief means of preventing the mischief. So sacred water can do so with it. If he be a much for the care taken by the magistrates for rebellious subject of all powerful truth, his the detection of thieves and robbers. Besides, rebellious spirit will not be suppressed by the the Police ought to consider how theft can Gunga water which to him appears no more possibly take place if the chowkeedars are sacred than a few drops from any muddy pool. constantly on guard, and can they not by that Who possesses the hardihood to say that means conclude that they are neglectful of there prevails no perjury at present in the their duty. The utmost punishment which is Courts?-Reformer.

NOTES ON INDIAN INVASION.

The hazard of external attack is upon the N. W. parts of India. The danger is, I conceive, less from any Asiatic power than from Russia advancing into Tartary, or establishing such an influence over Persia as would enable her to use Asiatic states as aids and instruments in the invasion of India. I do not mean to say the danger is proximate, but it is one we should never cease to contemplate as possible, and without incurring unnecessary expense, we should suit our means of defence to those of eventual attack."-Sir J. Malcolm, Adm. of India.

In attempting to consider the important sub- but little inclined to think: be this as it may, ject referred to in the above observation of however, at least we cannot possess too much Sir John Malcolm, with a view to form an knowledge on this point. In order to avoid opinion of my own on the probability of an controversy as far as possible, I propose makIndian invasion, I have been surprised to dis- ing use of the very words of the authors I cover how difficult it is to obtain data of suffici- may quote-others will decide according to ent accuracy to be able to do this satisfactorily. the degree of credit they may give to my auIt might have been thought that a matter of thorities. In conducting our enquiry, the so great import to the Indian army, had received plan most advisable would be to consider each much and careful consideration from its Go-head separately; but as the amount of inforvernment and scientific members,--that it mation attainable on each is very variable, on would have been esteemed a point of so much some very limited, I prefer taking the subject, interest that condensed statistical information en masse, premising that I consider the prin would have been demanded and obtained by cipal points to be. 1st. Amount of Russian the curiosity of every member of the Indian disposable force. 2nd. Its physical charac services; and that in considering the sub-ter. 3rd. Means and resource, position of ject we should rather be puzzled to decide arsenals, &c. &c. 4th. State of bordering Rusfrom the richness and variety of materials, sian provinces. Lastly. Routes to India, and than find it difficult to form an opinion at all statistical information connected with these. from their paucity: but this is the case. I am far from intending to state that there is any discussion on the present probabilities of a It is not my intention to enter much into the want of recorded opinions on this point; of Russian invasion, connected as they are with these we have abundance; but the grounds on European politics, but rather to refer to the which such opinions are founded are too possibility of such an event. If it be ever seldom afforded to assist others in coming undertaken, we are not ignorant of the bold, to their own conclusions, Except Colonel Evans's work, which is the less satisfactory, as Russian' Government, as to fancy it would resolved, and yet cautious policy of the not comprising any of the later information be so till that Government was able to disobtained respecting the countries treated of, play the due degree of energy. We may I know of no accumulated data for the con- therefore assume that if the attempt be made, sideration of this subject ;-any other informa- it will be so, with all necessary preparatives tion we must seek here and there, scattered and due provision of warlike "materiel." as it may be through the narratives of various travellers. Having lately made a few! notes connected with this subject, it may not be uninteresting should I afford an opportunity to your readers to compare their preconceived ideas with the few facts I have been able to collect; and here I might remark, that if I, who have really attempted to gain for myself some useful information respecting so important a topic, have been able to collect so little, it is sincerely to be hoped, that there are condensed documents in the hands of Government, by means of which any oflicer, to whom in case of need the charge of superintending defensive preparations might be committed, would be enabled to sketch out the necessary operations on sure data-to be prepared for all chances in the part of wisdom; will be found difficult to speak decidedly on: The amount of Russian disposable force and surely surveys of the Punjab, Cashmeer and the mountainous passes on the right bank-if we credit the reports by Russian influof the Indus should be considered indispensa-ence, we may count it at hundreds of thousble requisites to our Indian archives. We In 1820-9,89,000 men, independent hear day after day, old and young equally of national guards, was said to be its force. ready to say, whether in such a warfare, they However, one simple fact will serve to reduce deem chances for or against us; but that this readiness for expressing opinion is generally the result of matured enquiry, I for one am

M

How

To know our enemy is the first point. many a success in war has been obtained by the weaker power solely from the presumption or ignorance of its more powerful opponent! As ours would be a struggle for existence, as well as empire, we should leave nothing to chance, but should calculate well the means opposed to the threatened attack. Whether the sepoy is likely or not to stand a chance of success against the Russian soldier, can only be decided by considering the physical powers of both! Of the Russian army and soldier we will now speak ;-the comparison with the Indian, I shall leave in a great measure to its own officers to draw.

ands.

indebted-I give them now. Elphinstone, Fraser, Burnes, Col. Evans, Sir. Scott,-Kepple, Alexander Jacquemont, &c.

* As I may frequently forget to name the writers to whom I am

enemy's fire, and again advanced to the combat." -"Regiments of raw peasants who till that day had never seen war, formed with the seadiness of veterans, crossed their brows, and having uttered their national exclamation Gospodee pomilominas,'God have mercy upon us,' rushed into the thickest of the

the statement to its true value. When Bona- | was with the French: two strong columns adparte advanced to Moscow with 130,000 men, vanced to turn the Russian right and storm he outnumbered all the forces which Russia, their centre they were driven back by the in that utmost extremity, was able to bring | heavy fire of the Russian artillery.” “The Rusagainst him these were not estimated at sian infantry stood like stone ramparts, they more than 90,000 men :—there might be 40,000 repulsed the enemy; their cavalry came to more on the Turkish and a few on the Persian their support pursued the retiring assailants, frontier, but certainly the utmost Russia could and took both standards and eagles." Again, then summons was 150,000, with the troops" A French regiment of cuirassiers had gained employed in garrison, police service and in an interval in the Russian army, but were charguarding Asiatic frontier, did not probably ged by the Cossacks and only 18 saved."-After more than double. In the late war, 1829-30, this tremendous battle, when the Russians loss with Turkey, however, we find Russian was computed at 20,000, that of the French at exertions far more considerable. In the more, Benigson, the Russian general, was campaign of 1829, the Russian officers owned entreated by his officers to renew the action to a loss of 70,000 men; and in 1830, at ap-next day; but being short of ammunition and parently a rough approximation only, we are provisions he retreated. Lastly, let us view told the loss was 100,000. The army which them at Borodino: both armies were perhaps crossed the Balkan was 45,000, including 4 or 120,000 strong; the guns on each side 1,000. 5000 cavalry; at the end of the year, or rather" No action was ever more keenly debated by October, these were reduced to 21,000; or at so wasteful an expenditure of human besides which was a blockading force before life; the French carried the redoubts, but the Schoumla, garrisons north of the Balkan, Russians rallied under the very line of their and a small force with Admiral Greig; we may, therefore, not be far wrong in estimating the whole Russian force employed in this war at 2,50,000 men, to be added to which is 15 or 20,000 on the Persian frontiers in excess of the usual force engaged in aggression. We have thus 2,70,000 men, the total number of men Russia could bring forward in this import-battle, where the survivors, without feeling ant war. We know, too, that to do this the either fear or astonishment, closed to their whole of the northern part of the empire was ranks over their comrades as they fell: while, so denuded of troops, that had the Polish supported alike by their enthusiasm and sense insurrection occurred during the progress of the of predestination, life and death seemed alike Turkish war, or even when it did occur, had indifferent to them." The Russians were commore energetic advantage been taken of the fa-manded to retreat, but so little were they vorable disposition in Lithuania and Volthy-broken that after the battle, at their leisure, nia, for the attack of the isolated Russian they buried their dead and carried off their troops, at the very commencement of the revo-wounded. lution, the result might have been different. In a war with England, most probably combined with France and Turkey, taking into our consideration also the state of Poland, whether any or what part of this military power could be spared for such a distant field of operations as India, would be no very alarming question: But still further to assist our judgment, let This is the enemy we may have to meet. its true answer perhaps depends most on the nature of Russia's alliance at such time. us see what British officers, who saw the RusShould we, however, see the glare reflected sian troops at Adrianople under all the disfrom Russian bayonets, let us now ask, what advantages of a just terminated campaign, remark regarding them." The strictest discikind of troops are they?" The passive and iron valour of the infantry, the rapid and pline prevailed amongst them. The infantry skilful movements of its irregular cavalry," regiments were reduced from 3,000 to 700 are terms of renown earned in many a bloody men, so great was the mortality: they made field. Frederick the Great said he would kill, forced marches, carrying 16 days' bread, marchbut could not defeat them! When at Auster-in 12 hours a day in a burning sun, (lat. litz, Soult's able movement divided the Impe. 41 to 43, about the same as the Oxus)— rial forces, Sir W. Scott says, "a division of they afterwards suffered dreadfully from sickthe Russian guards made a desperate attemptness;-5 to 700 sick at once; the cavalry men were very sickly-the hoses in good working to restore the communication--the French infantry were staggered, but while the Russi- condition (forage plentiful)-the appointans were in disorder from their success, Bes-ments rough but in good order." Among the sieres and the imperial guard advanced; the encounter was desperate, and the Russians displayed the utmost valour before they at length gave away to the discipline and steadiness of the French veterans.-Their loss was 20,000." Again" at Eylaw, the advantage of numbers

*Murray's Excy. Geog

Russsian loss-45,000 killed and wounded, 2,000 prisoner: 13 guns.

French loss-30,000 killed and wounded, no prisoners: 10 guns.

sick the mortality was excessive owing to the disgraceful state of the commissariat and without efficient medical men that many of medical departments: so much were they ficers consulted the Pacha's physician, a mere quack. The state of the commissariat may be imagined," there were loud complaints against the Commissariat General, who was

accused of selling the wholesome provisions volves, I hesitate not in saying, be of vital received from Russia, and serving out in- importance.-The nearer their army approach ferior; "—again," previous to leaving Adri- India, the more irreparable would be its anople, the soldiers had been repeatedly diminished efficiency from ill-regulated supwithout food, and for a fortnight had not tasted plies of provisions;-the energies of the force wine or spirits, though selling for a far- would be cramped by the increase, and nething a pint."-The Russian rations are cessary provision for the security of its indiscribed by Major Kepple to be a small effectives; few of whom could be hoped to quantity of meat twice a week, biscuit of the be restored to duty from the deficiencies of the worst description, baked like cowdung, and a medical department, aggravated, in hot clilittle oatmeal.-Captain Alexander says mates, by the want of attention to personal black bread and salt, with a portion of spirits cleanliness. That there would be much sickdaily. This last officer thus compares the ness in a Russian force, perhaps above all other English and Russian soldier, &c. "The Europeans, may be easily imagined: the inevolutions are performed with precision, but termediate countries, through which their not with the rapidity of English manoeuvres. armies would have to move, are chiefly pasThe cavalry move slowly compared with the toral, or producing grain far different to that impetuosity of British dragoons; but the to which the soldier has been accustomed; Russian horse artillery are inferior to none. his diet would, however good the commisThe common soldiers are patient under fatigue sariat, be necessarily greatly changed, this and privation, and from their submission to and the effects of climate might safely be their superiors, they without hesitation follow calculated to sweep off its thousands. Upon wherever led and unflinchingly will stand ex- the whole, therefore, considering the present posed to the severest fire. Still in physical state of Europe and Asia, I should imastrength and reckless gallantry they are in- gine any sudden immediate attempt at ferior to our troops." Of the Cossacks, Sir invasion above the strength of the RusW. Scott remarks—“ As light cavalry they are sian empire, mighty though it be. When unrivalled; they and their horses have march- we recollect the revolt at the accession of Nied 10 miles in 24 hours without halting; with cholas; the consequences to be dreaded from them in front no Russian army can be liable the probable stagnation of all trade in the to surprise: in charging they spread out Baltic and Black seas; the forces to be kept like a fan, uttering their hourra, each man up on the Swedish and Turkish frontiers, with acting individually." The devotion to their those in occupation of Poland, we may officers forms a peculiar and valuable trait in conclude that without a single violation by us the character of the Russian soldier;-he is of Russian territory; but few forces could be said to look up to his colonel as a second spared for aggression by her, far less the nufather;-au interesting instance of this Cap-merous and efficient army that so great an entain Alexander narrates in an account of a terprise would demand. I have before shown passage in a Russian transport.-" Every even- that the supply of 270,000 men, as late as 1830, ing a party of men took their station at the sky- was under favorable circumstances nearly a light of the cabin, squatting on the deck with total muster of Russian disposable force; now their heads, looking down upon us to hear the with so many other defensive cares demandwisdom which issued from their Palkovnicht ing the utmost attention of its Government, a (colonel.)"There appears, however, to be no few thousands of these only could be consense amongst them either of public or per-sidered really available, and a few thousands, sonal cleanliness-"I know no people more on such a base of operations, we should laugh offensive from their unclean habits,”—“ the at. state of their camp was dreadful.”

To draw myself the comparison between the Russian and Indian soldier is, as I have before stated, foreign to my intention. To assist my brother officers in doing so, by giving one or two extracts referring to the sepoy and our Indian resources, is only doing justice to the subject.

The latest total of the Indian army I have by me is for 1830, when its numbers, including the King's and Company's troops stood thus: Engineers. 1,084 Artillery.. Cavalry.. Infantry. Invalids..

From these varied extracts we may gather that, on the field of battle the Russian soldier is inferior to none; his passive qualities rendering him an invaluable military material; of iron valour, patient of fatigue, capable of subsisting on the coarsest food, and devoted to his officers;-their light cavalry unrivalled; their light artillery inferior to none; their heavy cavalry only not so alert as the British; -and we have a military force, which if only supported by corresponding attention on the part of its Government to the efficiency of its medical and commissariat departments, would be truly formidable. Whatever may be the state of information among many of the lower grades of its officers, the general staff of the army has never been wanting; its quartermaster general's department is allowed to be Of these perhaps 28,000 are Europeans.-M. particularly effective.-The defects we have Jacquemont has given the following lively above noticed, if they still remained unreme- sketch of our force. "Know the Company's died, would, on such a peculiar and extensive army consist of 300,000 men, 30,000 of which line of operations as an attack on India in-are King's troops, 7 or 8,000 entirely European

16,962

19,539

1,69,617

10,496

Regular Troops, grand total...217,698

corps in the Company's service, such as al- great detail would too much swell the limits most the whole artillery; and lastly, the native I propose to myself. We will merely, there. army is commanded by European officers and fore, take a general view of the difficulties to non-commissioned officers, that is disciplined be overcome. Any route by Persia must be and drilled as well as the King's army, dres-greatly influenced by the state of Persian feelsed like it, fights very nearly equal to it, and ing; in fact, Persia hostile, however little to is commanded by officers in whom it has the be dreaded the nature of the force she could greatest and justest confidence:-that in a bring into the field, would, from the increased country like this intersected by deserts, and dangers of communication, the destruction in which the richest provinces, with the ex- of small posts and detachments, and the ception of Bengal, which is extremely distant necessity nearly impossibility of obtaining from Erzeroum, could not support the small-supplies, be almost alone sufficient to render est army; the smallest body of troops, in the success of any invasion based on her order not to die of hunger and thirst, would provinces, unless the force left to occupy have to drag along with it an immense number the country was overpowering, or Turkey of elephants, camels, and waggons; that the leagued with her enemies, doubly doubtCompany has 3,000 elephants, 40,000 camels ful. The naval supremacy in the Black Sea and matériel of all kinds and proportions, that also, which I trust au Englishman may be it is always ready to take the field, &c. &c." allowed to consider any thing but dubious, In conclusion, I feel I should not be doing if the Dardanelles were but free to his the sepoy justice did I not here extract Sir countrymen, must tend seriouly to augment to John Malcolm's favorable opinion. diminish the number of difficulties. With from Constantinople to Trebizond, the securiPersia hostile and an English fleet triumphant ty of this base of Russian operations would be too much endangered for any ruler of Russia to hazard the disposable force of his his sway, with communication likely to be empire hundreds of miles from the limits of entirely intercepted. The northern Persian

"The Bengal sepoys that were engaged in the attack of the French lines at Cuddalore behaved nobly,-it was one of the first times that European troops and the disciplined natives of India had met at the bayonet. The

tier and the Caspian Sea are the most producprovinces, those bordering the Russian frontive, and I might say the only valuable ones in Persia, Mazanderan and Astrabad in particular being exuberant in their vegetation. In case of hostilities, therefore, Russia to deprive her enemy of such a source of supply, and to gain such neighbouring granaries for herself, would immediately seize these provinces; and hence they become the base of all after-operations. Say that this done, and the invading army advanced some 300 miles

high spirit and bodily vigour of the Rajpoots of the provinces of Bahar and Benares (the class of which three-fourths of the army was then composed) proved fully equal to the contest. In a partial action which took place in a sortie made by the French, the latter were defeated with severe loss; and the memory of the event continues to be cherished with just pride both by officers and men of the Bengal Native Army. Had the result of this affair and the character of these sepoys been more generally known, some of our countrymen would have been freed from that excessive alarm which was entertained for the safety of our eastern possession. I trust that every event that can on its Indian route. Let us now suppose seriously disturb the peace of our Indian empire is at a great distance; but if an European the neighbouring provinces, and advancing an English and Turkish force, landed in army had crossed the Indus I should tremble for its fate. I well know that the ap-Russian reserves concentrate their detached through a country favorably disposed,-the proach of such a force would strike no terror into the minds of the men, of whom I am writ-posts throughout these provinces, and the ing, and that acting with British troops, and isolated and dependent on themselves. Recommunications of the grand army are left led by British officers, they would advance member that the natives are hostile; that the with almost as assured a confidence of victory best toffunchees of Persia are inhabitants of against a line of well disciplined Europeans, these provinces; that intelligence at any time as against a rabble of their own untrained is with difficulty procured, supplies still more countrymen. They might fail, but they are so, and without any action taking place betoo bold, and too conscious of their Own courage and strength ever to anticipate

defeat."

not

Leaving now the subject of the soldier, the next point of consideration is the routes by which a Russian force might advance upon India.

These resolve themselves into two grand suppositions; the one by Persia, the other by the Oxus. It is generally conceded that the countries north of the Paropanisan ranges would be the more favorable base of military operations; but for this recognized preference, in our inquiry, it will be necessary to show some cause; to do this, however, in any

gine that this difficulty of obtaining supplies, tween the regular armies, we may safely imainterruptions to convoys, and daily destruction of stragglers and petty posts, would tend in no trifling degree to augment the difficulties already attending the sufficiently severe march to the main army, by reducing it to depend on its own resources or the insufficient ones of the districts bordering the line of march, and still more by encouraging despondency from the unknown nature of the dangers it was advancing to meet, the certainty of annihilation in case of its success, and the prospect of destruction to all left behind sick. Thus far the picture is by no means flattering. When