16 JULY 1859, Page 10

SEPOY OATH.

A motions question has been raised amongst the many that spring out of recent legislation touching India. The following is given by General Birch as the oath of the Sepoy regiments—" I, A. B., inhabitant of — village, — purgunnah, — subah, son of —, do swear that I will never forsake or abandon my colours; that I will march wherever I am directed, whether within or beyond the Company's territories ; that I will implicitly obey all the orders of my commanders, and in everything behave myself as becomes a good soldier and faithful servant of the Company ; and failing in any part of my duty as such, I will submit to the penalties described in the articles of war which have been read to me."

The East India Company is defunct: how far does not that fact release the Sepoys, as the demise is now admitted to have released the British soldiers ? The terms of the Native oath, we see, render this interpretation still more probable. But if the Native soldiers arc released, how are we to construe the act of those officials who have caused mutineers fro be blown from guns since the transfer of the government from the East India Com- pany to the Crown? Those who are fond of nice legal problems will regret that there is no coroner's inquest in India to determine by its verdict the nature of this execution, or the persons who may be liable.