THE INDIAN MUTINY IN PERSPECTIVE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have just had the pleasure of reading Dr. Thompson's review of my book, The Indian Mutiny in Perspective. I -would not for the moment combat any of his remarks, save one, and that I do reluctantly, for I know well how hard it is for a reviewer to penetrate the recesses of a book before him. The reviewer thinks that I, a soldier, might have spared a tear over the fate of so many of the mutineer soldiery:. In justice to my own sympathy for all men of my trade, I would crave leave to remark that that is the one point that does permeate my picture of the drama. On a dozen pages and more have I alluded to the tragedy of the beloved sepoy being carried away; and the fate which so often overtook the driven sheep with the guilty. At the bottom of page 202, for instance.
- One more point of more public interest. The reviewer says that I always seem to be suggesting the possibility of another mutiny. But such a possibility must always be there, and those behind the scenes now know the bitter insidious attempts being made to try and destroy the sheet- anchor of prosperity in India, the affection between the sepoy and his officer, and the former's veneration for the Crown. The hidden hand works to produce the same mass hysteria as we have lately seen at the unfortunate Cawnpore of evil memory. , Happily the present structure is built on such, a foundation of under- standing that the attacks of- the insidious bear little fruit.— I am, Sir, &c.,
•
East Grinstead, Sussex.
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