to observe the signs of the
times, and provide against the rising calamity, were those in high
authority. "There were," wrote the editor of an Indian paper, "deep
tokens of disaffection everywhere, suspicious looks and expressions
daily heard in the bazaar, and a belief that all was not sound in the
minds of Englishmen unconnected with the services. Every class, except
the members of the governing body, was impressed with a foreboding
of evil. No one, however, without the pale of authority dreamt of the
magnitude of the dangers by which we were about to be assailed; and
inside that potent circle not a soul had gained an inkling of the coming
horrors. The ship of the state was struck by a white squall, with every
sail set, and not a man at his post to warn the crew of their peril. On
the 22nd of January, 1857, Captain Wright, of the 70th native infantry,
brought to the notice of Major Bontein, commanding the depot of musketry
at Dum-Dum, the fact that there was a mutinous spirit among the
troops in connection with the greased cartridges." From that date the
conspiracy developed itself rapidly, but at no stage of its incipient
progress did the government show sagacity in detecting the causes of the
outbreak, or efficient means for its repression.

At Barrackpore and Berhampore indications of mutiny of a decisive nature
were made. General Hearsey, who commanded at Barrackpore, gave the
government explicit information, and foretold results. The government
would not be warned.

A mutiny of the 19th regiment led to the disbanding of that corps. This
regiment was by no means among the more disloyal sepoys; it had been
seduced into acts of insubordination, and regretted it. There was,
however, little discrimination on the part of the Calcutta authorities.
Some corps attempted to murder their officers, and were treated with
surprising leniency. General Anson, who commanded the forces in India,
was at Simlah, where the military records also were, and much loss of
time and great confusion resulted from the necessity of the government
at Calcutta carrying on a correspondence, with so remote a station,
on subjects of such vital moment. When at last the commander-in-chief
became convinced of the danger that existed, he hurried down to
Umballah, and issued a conciliatory proclamation to the army, which had
the effect of increasing the pride and self-importance of the sepoys.

Matters proceeded in this way until May, when the first