This Mutiny Relief Fund was administered by four committees—General, Financial, Relief, and Ladies’ Committees. The General Committee settled the principles on which the fund was to be administered, determined the amount and destinations of the remittances to India, and controlled the proceedings of the subordinate committees. The Financial Committee supervised the accounts, the investments of the money, and the arrangement of remittances. The Relief Committee decided on applications for relief, on the administration of relief by donation or by loan, and on the application of means for the maintenance and education of children. The Ladies’ Committee took charge of such details as pertained more particularly to their own sex. Each of these committees met once a week. The first remittance was a sum of £2000 to Calcutta, to relieve some of the families who had been driven by the mutineers to seek shelter in that city. This was followed by frequent large remittances to the same place, and to Agra, Delhi, Lucknow, Bombay, and Lahore. Committees, formed in Calcutta and Bombay, corresponded with the head committee in London, and joined in carrying out plans for the expenditure of the fund. The donations and loans to persons who had arrived in England were small in amount; most of the aid being afforded to those who had not been able to leave India. The money was put out at interest as fast as the amount in hand exceeded the immediate requirements. At one time the government made an offer to appoint a royal commission for the administration of the fund; but this was declined; and there has been no reason for thinking that the transference of authority would have been beneficial. It was soon found that there were five classes of sufferers who would greatly need assistance from this fund—families of civil and military officers whose bungalows and furniture had been destroyed at the stations; the families of assistants, clerks, and other subordinate employés at the stations; European private traders and settlers, many of whom had been utterly impoverished; many missionary families and educational establishments; and the families of a large number of pensioners, overseers, artificers, indigo-workers, schoolmasters, shopkeepers, hotel-keepers, newspaper printers, &c. To apportion the amount of misery among these five classes would be impossible; but the past chapters of this work have afforded examples, sufficiently sad and numerous, of the mode in which all ranks of Europeans in India were suddenly plunged into want and desolation. At Agra, when the fort had been relieved from a long investment or siege by the rebels, almost the entire Christian population was not only houseless, but the majority were without the most essential articles of furniture or clothing; nearly all were living in cellars and vaults. At many other stations it was nearly as bad; at Lucknow it was still worse.

India speedily raised thirty thousand pounds on its own account, irrespective of aid from England; and most of this was expended at Calcutta in providing as follows: Board and lodging on arrival at Calcutta for refugees without homes or friends to receive them; clothing for refugees; monthly allowances for the support of families who were not boarded and lodged out of the fund; loans for purchasing furniture, clothing, &c.; free grants for similar purposes; passage and diet money on board Ganges steamers; loans to officers and others to pay for the passage of their families to England; free passage to England for the widows and families of officers; and education of the children of sufferers. These were nearly the same purposes as those to which the larger English fund was applied. The East India Company adopted a wholly distinct system in recognising the just claims of the officers more immediately in its service, and of the widows and children of those who fell during the mutiny—a system based on the established emoluments and pensions of all in the Company’s service.

It will thus be seen that the news of the Indian Revolt, when it reached London by successive mails, led to a remarkable and important series of suggestions and plans—intended either to strengthen the hands of the executive in dealing with the mutineers, or to succour those who had been plunged into want by the crimes of which those mutineers were the chief perpetrators.

Note.

At the end of the last chapter a table was given of the number of troops, European and native, in all the military divisions of India, on the day when the mutiny commenced at Meerut. It will be convenient to present here a second tabulation on a wholly different basis—giving the designations of the regiments instead of the numbers of men, and naming the stations instead of the divisions in which they were cantoned or barracked. This will be useful for purposes of reference, in relation to the gradual annihilation of the Bengal Hindustani army. The former table applied to the 10th of May 1857; the present will apply to a date as near this as the East India Register will permit—namely, the 6th of May; while the royal troops in India will be named according to the Army List for the 1st of May—a sufficiently near approximation for the present purpose. A few possible sources of error may usefully be pointed out. 1. Some or other of the India regiments were at all times moving from station to station; and these movements may in a few cases render it doubtful whether a particular corps had or had not left a particular station on the day named. 2. The station named is that of the head-quarters and the bulk of the regiment: detachments may have been at other places. 3. The Persian and Chinese wars disturbed the distribution of troops belonging to the respective presidencies. 4. The disarming and disbanding at Barrackpore and Berhampore are not taken into account; for they were not known in London at the time of compiling the official list. 5. The Army List, giving an enumeration of royal regiments in India, did not always note correctly the actual stations at a particular time. These sources of error, however, will not be considerable in amount.

REGIMENTS AND STATIONS OF BENGAL ARMY—MAY 1857.
General Anson, Commander-in-chief.
European Cavalry.
6thCarabiniers (Queen’s),Meerut.
9thLancers (Queen’s),Umballa.
Native Regular Cavalry.
1stRegiment,Mhow.
2dRegiment,Cawnpore.
3dRegiment,Meerut.
4thRegiment,Umballa.
5thRegiment,Peshawur.
6thRegiment,Nowgong.
7thRegiment,Lucknow.
8thRegiment,Lahore.
9thRegiment,Sealkote.
10thRegiment,Ferozpore.
Irregular and Local Cavalry.
1stBengal Ir. C.,Jelum.
2dBengal Ir. C.,Goordaspore.
3dBengal Ir. C.,Jhansi.
4thBengal Ir. C.,Hansi.
5thBengal Ir. C.,Sonthal.
6thBengal Ir. C.,Moultan.
7thBengal Ir. C.,Peshawur.
8thBengal Ir. C.,Sultanpore.
9thBengal Ir. C.,Hosheapore.
10thBengal Ir. C.,Goordaspore.
11thBengal Ir. C.,Berhampore.
12thBengal Ir. C.,Segowlie.
13thBengal Ir. C.,Bareilly,
14thBengal Ir. C.,Jhansi.
15thBengal Ir. C.,Oude.
16thBengal Ir. C.,Rawul Pindee.
17thBengal Ir. C.,Shumshabad.
18thBengal Ir. C.,Peshawur.
1stGwalior Contingent Cavalry,Gwalior.
2dGwalior Contingent Cavalry,Augur.
1stPunjaub Cavalry,Dera Ismael.
2dPunjaub Cavalry,Dera Ismael.
3dPunjaub Cavalry,Bunnoo.
4thPunjaub Cavalry,Kohat.
5thPunjaub Cavalry,Asnee.
1stOude Irregular Cavalry,Secrora.
2dOude Irregular Cavalry,Lucknow.
3dOude Irregular Cavalry,Pertabghur.
Nagpoor Irregular Cavalry,Taklee.
European Infantry.
8thFt. (Qun.’s),Cawnpore.
10thFt. (Qun.’s),Wuzeerabad.
24thFt. (Qun.’s),Sealkote.
27thFt. (Qun.’s),Sealkote.
29thFt. (Qun.’s),Thayet Mhow.
32dFt. (Qun.’s),Kussowlie.
35thFt. (Qun.’s),Calcutta.
52dFt. (Qun.’s),Lucknow.
53dFt. (Qun.’s),Dugshai.
60thFt. (Qun.’s),Jullundur.
61stFt. (Qun.’s),Wuzeerabad.
70thFt. (Qun.’s),Ferozpore.
75thFt. (Qun.’s),Rawul Pindee.
81stFt. (Qun.’s),Lahore.
87thFt. (Qun.’s),Peshawur.
1stEuropeans (East India Company’s),Dugshai.
2dEuropeans (East India Company’s),Umballa.
3dEuropeans (East India Company’s),Agra.
Native Regular Infantry.
1stRegiment,Cawnpore.
2d[[39]]Regiment,Barrackpore.
3dRegiment,Phillour.
4thRegiment,Noorpore.
5thRegiment,Umballa.
6thRegiment,Allahabad.
7thRegiment,Dinapoor.
8thRegiment,Dinapoor.
9thRegiment,Allygurh.
10thRegiment,Futteghur.
11thRegiment,Allahabad.
12thRegiment,Nowgong and Jhansi.
13thRegiment,Lucknow.
14thRegiment,Moultan.
15thRegiment,Meerut.
16th[[39]]Regiment,Meean Meer.
17thRegiment,Goruckpore.
18thRegiment,Bareilly.
19thRegiment,Berhampore.
20thRegiment,Meerut.
21stRegiment,Peshawur.
22dRegiment,Fyzabad.
23dRegiment,Mhow.
24thRegiment,Peshawur.
25thRegiment,Thayet Mhow.
26thRegiment,Meean Meer.
27thRegiment,Peshawur.
28thRegiment,Shahjehanpoor.
29thRegiment,Jullundur.
30thRegiment,Agra.
31stRegiment,Barrackpore.
32dRegiment,Sonthal.
33dRegiment,Hosheapore.
34thRegiment,Barrackpore.
35thRegiment,Sealkote.
36th[[40]]Regiment,Jullundur.
37th[[40]]Regiment,Benares.
38th[[41]]Regiment,Delhi.
39th[[41]]Regiment,Jelum.
40th[[41]]Regiment,Dinapoor.
41stRegiment,Seetapoor.
42dRegiment,Saugor.
43dRegiment,Barrackpore.
44thRegiment,Agra.
45thRegiment,Ferozpore.
46thRegiment,Sealkote.
47th[[41]]Regiment,Prome.
48thRegiment,Lucknow.
49thRegiment,Meean Meer.
50thRegiment,Nagode.
51stRegiment,Peshawur.
52dRegiment,Jubbulpoor.
53dRegiment,Cawnpore.
54thRegiment,Delhi.
55thRegiment,Nowsherah.
56thRegiment,Cawnpore.
57thRegiment,Ferozpore.
58thRegiment,Rawul Pindee.
59thRegiment,Umritsir.
60thRegiment,Umballa.
61stRegiment,Jullundur.
62dRegiment,Moultan.
63dRegiment,Barrackpore.
64thRegiment,Peshawur.
65th[[41]]Regiment,Dinapoor.
66th[[42]]Regiment,Almora.
67th[[41]]Regiment,{Etawah.
{Minpooree.
68thRegiment,Bareilly.
69thRegiment,Moultan.
70thRegiment,Barrackpore.
71stRegiment,Lucknow.
72dRegiment,Agra.
73dRegiment,Jumalpore.
74thRegiment,Cawnpore.
Irregular and Local Infantry.
1stOude Irregular Infantry,Persadpore.
2dOude Irregular Infantry,Secrora.
3dOude Irregular Infantry,Gonda.
4thOude Irregular Infantry,Lucknow.
5thOude Irregular Infantry,Durriabad.
6thOude Irregular Infantry,Fyzabad.
7thOude Irregular Infantry,Lucknow.
8thOude Irregular Infantry,Sultanpore.
9thOude Irregular Infantry,Seetapoor.
10thOude Irregular Infantry,Mullaong.
1stGwalior Contingent Infantry,Gwalior.
2dGwalior Contingent Infantry,Gwalior.
3dGwalior Contingent Infantry,Gwalior.
4thGwalior Contingent Infantry,Gwalior.
5thGwalior Contingent Infantry,Seepree.
6thGwalior Contingent Infantry,Lullutpore.
7thGwalior Contingent Infantry,Augur.
1stPunjaub Infantry,Kohat.
2dPunjaub Infantry,Kohat.
3dPunjaub Infantry,Kohat.
4thPunjaub Infantry,Dera Ghazi.
5thPunjaub Infantry,Bunnoo.
6thPunjaub Infantry,Dera Ismael.
1stSikh Infantry,Hazara.
2dSikh Infantry,Kangra.
3dSikh Infantry,Khan.
4thSikh Infantry,Umballa.
1stNagpoor Irregular Infantry,Seetabuldee.
2dNagpoor Irregular Infantry,Chandah.
3dNagpoor Irregular Infantry,Raypoor.
Regiment of Guides (foot and horse),Peshawur.
Regiment of Kelat-i-Ghilzi,Shubkuddur.
Regiment of Loodianah (Sikhs),Benares.
Regiment of Ferozpore (Sikhs),Mirzapore.
Ramgurh Light Infantry,Dorunda.
Hill Rangers,Bhagulpore.
Nusserree Rifles,Simla.
Pegu Light Infantry,Myan Owng.
Sirmoor Rifles,Almora.
Kumaon Battalion,Deyra.
Assam Light Infantry, 1st,Debroogurh.
Assam Light Infantry, 2ndGowhatti.
Mhairwarra Battalion,Bewar.
Aracan Battalion,Akyab.
Hurrianah Light Infantry,Hansi.
Silhet Light Infantry,Cherrah.
Malwah Bheel Corps,Sirdarpore.
Mewar Bheel Corps,Khairwarah.
Sebundee Corps,Darjeeling.
Artillery, Engineers, Sappers and Miners.
Horse-artillery,1st Brigade:
3 European Troops.}
2 Native Troops.}Head-quarters:
Horse-artillery,2d Brigade:}Meerut.
3 European Troops.}Jullundur.
1 Native Troop.}Peshawur.
Horse-artillery,3d Brigade:}Umballa.
3 European Troops.}Cawnpore.
1 Native Troop.}Sealkote.
Foot-artillery,6 European Battalions.}Dumdum.
(4 Companies each.)}
Foot-artillery,3 Native Battalions.}
(6 Companies each.)}
Engineers, }Head-quarters:
Sappers and Miners,8 Companies,}Roorkee.
Mixed Corps—Cavalry, Infantry, and Artillery.
Shekhawuttie Battalion,Midnapore.
Jhodpore Legion,Erinpoora.
Malwah Contingent,Mehidpore.
Bhopal Contingent,Sehore.
Kotah Contingent,Kurrowlee.
REGIMENTS AND STATIONS OF MADRAS ARMY—MAY 1857.
Sir Patrick Grant, Commander-in-chief.
European Cavalry.
12thLancers (Queen’s),Madras.
Native Cavalry.
1stMadras Light Cavalry,Trichinopoly.
2dMadras Light Cavalry,Sholapore.
3dMadras Light Cavalry,Bangalore.
4thMadras Light Cavalry,Kamptee.
5thMadras Light Cavalry,Bellary.
6thMadras Light Cavalry,Jaulnah.
7thMadras Light Cavalry,Secunderabad.
8thMadras Light Cavalry,Bangalore.
European Infantry.
74thFoot (Queen’s),Madras.
84thFoot (Queen’s),Burmah.[[43]]
1stEuropeans (East India Company’s),[Persia].
2dEuropeans (East India Company’s),Burmah.
3dEuropeans (East India Company’s),Secunderabad.
Native Infantry.
1stRegiment,[[44]]Secunderabad.
2dRegiment,Quilon.
3dRegiment,Cananore.
4thRegiment,Burmah.
5th[[44]]Regiment,Berhampore.
6thRegiment,Burmah.
7thRegiment,Moulmein.
8thRegiment,Rangoon.
9thRegiment,Samulcottah.
10thRegiment,Rangoon.
11thRegiment,Cananore.
12thRegiment,Madras.
13thRegiment,Moulmein.
14thRegiment,Singapore.
15thRegiment,Burmah.
16th[[44]]Regiment,Mangalore.
17thRegiment,Madras.
18thRegiment,Madras.
19thRegiment,Bangalore.
20thRegiment,French Rocks.
21stRegiment,Paulghaut.
22dRegiment,Secunderabad.
23dRegiment,Russelcondah.
24th[[44]]Regiment,Secunderabad.
25thRegiment,Trichinopoly.
26th[[44]]Regiment,Kamptee.
27thRegiment,Vellore.
28thRegiment,Hosungabad.
29thRegiment,Penang.
30thRegiment,Cuddapah.
31stRegiment,Vizianagram.
32dRegiment,Kamptee.
33dRegiment,Kamptee.
34thRegiment,Trichinopoly.
35thRegiment,Hurryhur.
36th[[44]]Regiment,Madras.
37th[[45]]Regiment,Burmah.
38th[[44]]Regiment,Singapore.
39thRegiment,Madras.
40thRegiment,Cuttack.
41stRegiment,Secunderabad.
42dRegiment,Secunderabad.
43dRegiment,Vizagapatam.
44thRegiment,Burmah.
45thRegiment,Rangoon.
46thRegiment,Henzana.
47thRegiment,Bellary.
48thRegiment,Moulmein.
49th[[44]]Regiment,Secunderabad.
50thRegiment,Bangalore.
51stRegiment,Pallamcottah.
52dRegiment,Mercara.