| Description | The telegraph has brought news of the fall of Dehli and of the relief of Lucknow. The 'Overland Englishman' will give them the facts, and referring to the numbers involved, William says that 'It is impossible not to see the hand of Providence in the whole course of this terrible lesson' as he gives an account of the stages of the Indian Rebellion which will have been thought of in the same way at home as from his perspective. The news is received locally by Indians with apathy, as their interests coincided with that of the Europeans, and he describes the ranks of Indians who actively supported the British. He does not think that 'lawyers & agitators' drawing up speeches represent Indian opinion, although he does not know what this is. He discusses Indian petitions, concluding that he believes that Indian feeling is against the British, if their reason is with them. Bengal is different from up-country, however. William describes the movements of his friends and acquaintances, including Watson, who has been seriously ill, driven into delirium by mercury and quinine. William describes him as a hard-working and conscientious officer and reproduces a report on his own work. There is a fine tank there where they swim, and William relates a near-drowning incident, a man from falling overboard from a ship nearing Calcutta [Kolkata]. He hopes that his mother has not disappointed [William] Waterfield of her promised letter and he requests a cap to be made for him, a gentlemanly fez. |