BOOKS.

SIR CHARLES NAPIER ON INDIAN GOVERNMENT.* Tins posthumous work of the hero of Scinde consists substan- tially of two parts ; one of which relates to his own personal grounds of complaint against Lord Dalhousie, his satellites, and the Directors at home ; the other takes a review of the Indian services, but chiefly of the military. This division is not always very dis- tinctly kept in view in the volume so far as regards formal classi- fication, general abuses finding a place in the first part and per- sonal complaints in the second ; but the matter is resolvable into one or the other class, and the story is mostly confined to the first section.

The exposition of military abuses and the suggestions for their reform is, of course, the most valuable part of the work. As al- most always happens, even with men whose trade is statement, the story of the grievance is overdone ; the detail of particulars somewhat fatigues the attention, while it overlays the actual point which caused the General's resignation. This was on so slight a matter that a foregone conclusion to "get rid" of him is evident. It had been a custom when provisions rose above a cer- tain price to make an allowance to the Sepoys, but this had been changed by a late order. Brigadier Hearsey, stationed at Wuzzeer- abed, wrote officially to the Commander-in-chief intimating his doubts of the propriety of then enforcing the order against the Sepoys at his station ; and the letter was countersigned by Sir William Gilbert. The time was critical: dissatisfaction and even conspiracy were known to be extensively rife among the Sepoys on account of a reduction of (what may be called foreign service) pay : some had refused the reduced pay ; the Sixty-sixth Regiment was on the verge of the mutiny which soon broke out ; and Lord Dalhousie's echoing replies to the letters of the Commander-in- chief show his anxiety. The opinion of the Adjutant-General on the matter was more plain than that of the other two officers. He declared that "to enforce it at Wuzzeerabad would be dangerous"; and spoke slightingly of the regulation itself, as having been "concocted by subordinates to save themselves trouble." Still Napier was cautious. He did not rescind, he only suspended the regulations, till he could get instructions from the Supreme Coun- cil at Calcutta. Lord Dalhousie was at sea, having left the Com- mander.in-chief to deal with the mutinous troops as best he could ; but an affronting letter arrived from the Ccuncil ; which was fol- lowed on Lord Dalhousie's return by an official reprimand, con- cluding in these terms- " But the Governor-General in Council, from a consideration of the papers before him, feels it necessary to intimate for the future guidance of his Ex- cellency, that the Governor-General in Council will not again permit the Commander-in-chief, under any circumstances, to issue orders which shall change the pay and allowances of the troops serving in India, and thus prac- tically to exercise an authority which has been reserved, and most properly reserved, for the Supreme Government alone. R. WYLLIE, Major, &c. "

If the details of the personal story are over minute, they at least afford indications to account for Napier's unpopularity among red- tapists, and all officials who love their ease or are swayed by their habits. Sir Charles had none of the prudent reticence of the court divine, who refused to tell the Queen of a second fault till she had reformed the first. On the contrary, his zeal was as active and pertinacious as Nelson's wherever he snuffed an abuse or saw op- portunity for improvement. Curses deep, and perhaps loud, doubtless burst from the whole band of officials as his censures on the past or troublesome suggestions for the future came to hand. Nor were the highest in station probably altogether pleased with propositions on which they might be unable to decide, and which to be thoroughly considered would take up a great deal of their time. "Away with him !" was the shortest course.

In reality, however, that was predetermined before he entered

upon his office, perhaps before he started for India. "He Olen live a man forbid.

Though his bark cannot be lost, Yet it shall be tempest-tost."

The Directors never forgave his attachment to Lord Ellen- borough. The Duke of Wellington's pertinacious recommendation might be another sin, notwithstanding that the Great Captain really did declare, "If you don't go, I must." Even before he formally accepted there were signs of unfriendly animus.

"Lord John Russell, at an interview, gave me to understand that doubts had arisen as to appointing me one of the Supreme Council, as all my pre- decessors had been. He intimated that the Directors were seeking for a pre- cedent, and would probably find one for denying it to me. Lord John was explicitly and peremptorily told on the instant, that I also would seek, and if I did notfind would make a precedent, for to India I would not go unless as one of the Council."

Here is another example, showing how the Directors preferred their own little spite to the public interest.

"A protracted warfare in the Punjaub was expected. That province ii traversed by many rivers, five of which are large and dangerous for troops ; to pass them is difficult, especially in face of an enemy ; and my business was to prepare in time for such operations : wherefore, having heard from Lord Ellenborough that Lieutenant Wood of the Indian Navy, an officer well ac- quainted with those waters, was in London, I sought him out. He was a very intelligent man, in the prime of life, knowing the rivers and speaking the languages of the tribes on their banks, and most anxious to go if he could be of service to the Company. My design was to enlist a body of English sailors at Calcutta, and so form a powerful bridge train ; but I could get no definitive answer from the Directors. After I left London, the Duke of Wel- lington, at my instance, also endeavoured to get Lieutenant Wood appointed, and was refused!"

*Defects, Civil and Military. of the Indian Government. By Lieutenant-General Sir Charles James Napier, G.C.B. Edited by Lieutenant-General Sir W. F. P. Na- pier, K.C.B. Published by Westerton.

There was the same indication in India. Indeed, Lord Dal- housie struck the key-note at once.

"At Simla, my first interview with Lord Dalhousie tended to confirm my suspicions that secret hostility was also at work in India. In ten minutes he told me in substance, nay, the words were, that in letters from England he had been warned against my endeavouring to encroach upon his power, and had answered, he would take damned good care I should not: This was said in a half-laughing manner, but the impression made by the letters was evident."

The observations on military evils and their remedy relate to public works, chiefly the building of barracks, the discipline and economy of the Native troops, their employment on non-military duties to spare the police or enable them to attend upon civilians as servants, and a long review of the position of affairs in the Punjaub : from which last both the writer and his editor the Peninsular historian forbade danger, as well to the Punjaub as to our empire in the East. The barracks are described as slaughter- houses—and no doubt truly ; but where in the Tropics do we hear any other story ? The Company do not stand alone in a bad site, stifling rooms, and bad construction ; though at Bombay they did manage to attain eminence.

"The Colaba and King's barracks at Bombay have destroyed whole regi- ments; commanding officers dreaded them as pest-houses; but it is said the Government has now been compelled by public indignation to put down or alter those of Colaba. It is full time. I walked through the men's sleeping- rooms there upon planks laid in water covering the floors ! An officer who knew them well thus speaks= The Colaba barracks, it would appear, are destined to be the slaughter-houses of more thousands of Jiritiah soldiers than would suffice for the winning of fifty battles ! The moment we landed, each shipload was at once attacked by cholera, and we buried ninety-seven men! * * * * * came to see us. I represented to him that disease must ever attack the troops stationed there, particularly in the monsoon season, while the barracks are so low and close to that mangrove swamp ; that if no more convenient site could be found on which to build new ones, the present ones should be raised upon strong arches fourteen feet from the ground, and the rooms above made high, ventilated, &c.' He promised to give all atten- tion; but it ended in draining and raising the roofs, and ventilating, which has indeed improved the barracks, but the evil is still there ! The men sleep and live on the ground-floor '—the floor walked over on planks ! "In 1848 I was Commandant of Bombay: sickness was at Colaba as usual, and the excellent officer quoted above recommended the construction of new barracks on firm ground, with a sale of the edifice in the swamp for a bond- ing warehouse; the purchase-money would have repaid many times the cost of the new construction. A committee, composed of myself, the Quarter- master-General, and the Executive Engineer, chose a very suitable site, and estimates were ordered ; but without result, and Death's maw continues to be overfilled at Colaba!"

The remarks on military matters are chiefly of a professional character; relieved, however, by that close observation and vivid depiction which distinguished the writer. Of the different services Sir Charles speaks well especially of the Artillery. The general defects arise from the system, and from the introduction possibly of newfangled notions. The following passage refers to a practice which seems to originate in the modern exclusiveness that has grown up with the greater external resemblances of different classes. Why it should spread to India is difficult to say, since complexion marks the distinction, unless the writer is referring to European troops.

"Some officers who would not let soldiers chew food in their own way have been gradually introducing bad customs. A private soldier is forbid to i

address h officer except in full-dress and accompanied by a non-commis- sioned officer likewise full-dressed! This is injurious and even dangerous ; it digs, as it were, a ditch between the Company officer and his men. When I was a captain any man could speak to me if so minded, at any time, about his affairs. If he complained, he was told to bring the opponent up ; and both stories were heard. When commander of a regiment, my rule was, that complaint must first be made to the captain ; and if satisfaction was not obtained, the aggrieved man came with his officer, dressed or undressed. "This new rule places men at the mercy of non-commissioned officers, who will oftentimes oppress. A soldier frequently wants advice, or to obtain indulgence, which enables the officer to discover his character and encourage or correct him. The new ceremony cuts them off from this beneficial fami- liarity, and confidence is checked, nay, changed for disgust. Except in mo- ments of great anger, when the private goes with a red-hot complaint, he will not speak to his officer at all. How are Company officers to study men's characters, when none dare address them but in full-dress and in presence of a non-commissioned officer ?"

The equality of the Natives with Europeans in the civil life has been often urged, and to some extent successfully. Napier re- commends it in the army.

"Returning to the social condition of the Native officers, it is to be ob- served that a certain class of Europeans in India treat them with a lightness and contumely which, exclusive of its vulgarity, is undeserved. They for- get what marvellously able men have been among these Eastern races : Akbar, Baber, Aurengzibe, Sevagee, Ryder Ali, Runjeet Sing, Goolab Sing, and many more ; such as the extraordinary Nanuc, who, if what is written of him be true, must have been one of the most perfect of human beings. The Eastern intellect is great, and supported by amiable feelings; and the Native officers have a full share of Eastern daring, genius, and ambition ; but to nourish these qualities, they must be placed on a par with European officers.

"The veteran soubadar (captain) and jemadar (subaltern) must not be oommanded by a fair-faced beardless ensign, just arrived from England with a gold-laced cap hanging over his ear, but entirely ignorant of military matters. This youngster will lead an assault like a devil incarnate, and under fire will stand like a rock, or go on like a rocket, exactly as he is ordered; he has the makings of a first-rate soldier; so have the Native Indian gentlemen at his age ; but to give him command over the dark veterans of thirty, forty, or fifty years' service, is the imposition of conquerors, one which the Native gentlemen feel deeply, and silently resent. • * *

" Although the Sepoy has not many evils to complain of, he has that great one already noticed—his officers do not take rank with ours. Those who would abolish the Native officers should consider that it will blast the hopes of two hundred thousand armed men; for every soldier in the Indian armies looks forward to be an officer. The abolition of the Native officers would go through the whole army like an electric shock ; every man in it would think he had lost the pension of a soubadar ; hope would fly and mutiny take its place. Equality between Native and European gentlemen is being ceded in the civil service; so it must be for the military. There is danger, but it is better to encounter that with justice than with a eoward conscience. It is true, that with Indian gentlemen as officers, ranking with Europeans, the seniors among the Ilavildars and the Sepoys could not easily get commis- sions ; but danger menaces every way. It may, however, be met by three important measures. "Enlist thirty thousand Goorkas: that will give force.

"Proclaim that no man enlisted after a given period shall be promoted for seniority, but may be for merit : that will be justice.

"Let every Havildar after a certain age and service have a liberal pen- sion, higher than that now given : that also will be just. "With these precautionary measures, Native gentlemen may be employed, taking rank with Europeans. There would still be danger, but nothing to what will be if Indian officers demand equality of rank, which is by no means impossible, with the active young non-commissioned officers, so greatly vaunted in the Bombay Army."