sia had caused doubts
to arise as to British stability in India, where the native forces
were very large in comparison with the European. Other causes, among
which may be mentioned the legalising of the remarriage of Hindoo
widows, and a supposed intention to coerce the natives into
Christianity, were operating to foment dissatisfaction, while recent
acts of insubordination and symptoms of mutiny had been inadequately
repressed; but the immediate visible provocation to mutiny among the
Bengal troops was the use of cartridges said to be treated with
a preparation of the fat of pigs and cows, the use of which was
abhorrent, on religious grounds, both to Hindoos and Mohammedans. The
Governor-General assured the Sepoys by proclamation that no offence to
their religion or injury to their caste was intended; but on the
10th of May the native portion of the garrison at Meerut broke out
in revolt. The Mutineers proceeded to Delhi, and were joined by the
native troops there; they established as Emperor the octogenarian
King, a man of unscrupulous character, who had been living under
British protection.

Great cruelties were practised on the European population of all ages
and both sexes, at Lucknow, Allahabad, and especially Cawnpore; by
the end of June, the Sepoys had mutinied at twenty-two stations--the
districts chiefly affected being Bengal, the North-West Provinces,
and Oudh. To cope with this state of things, a large body of British
soldiers on their way to China were diverted by Lord Elgin to India,
and a force of 40,000 men was despatched from England round the Cape;
while Sir Colin Campbell was sent out as Commander-in-Chief. Meanwhile
reinforcements had been drawn from the Punjab, which had remained
loyal. Lucknow was for a long time besieged by the rebels, and
Sir Henry Lawrence, its gallant defender, killed. The garrison was
reinforced on the 25th of September by General Havelock; but the
non-combatants could not be extricated from their perilous position
till November, when the Garrison was relieved by Sir Colin Campbell.
Delhi was taken in the course of September, but a considerable period
elapsed before the rebellion was finally suppressed. Summary vengeance
was inflicted on the Sepoy rebels, which gave rise to some criticism
of our troops for inhumanity; but Lord Canning, the Governor-General,
was no less severely blamed for his clemency; and the general verdict
was in favour of the measures adopted by the milit