ART. I.-A History of the Sepoy War in India, 1857-58. By J. W. KAYE. W. H. Allen & Co.
WITH a sagacity amounting almost to prescience, and founded on a large experience of mankind, Lord Bacon predicted the certain results that might be expected to ensue from that particular combination of circumstances which actually came to pass in British India many generations after the prophetic essayist himself had been gathered to his fathers. For to 'think,' he says, in his essay on Kingdoms and Estates, 'that an handful of People can with the greatest Courage and Policy in the World embrace too large extent of Dominion, it may hold 'for a time, but it will fail suddenly.' Again, with reference to Seditions and Troubles, he observes:
Shepherds of People had need know the Kalendars of Tempests in State, which are commonly greatest when things grow to equality; as natural Tempests are greatest about the Equinoctial. And as there are certain hollow Blasts of Wind, and secret Swellings of Seas before a Tempest, so are there in States Libels and Licentious Discourses against the State when they are frequent and open; and, in like sort, false News often running up and down to the Disadvantage of the State, and hastily embrac'd, are amongst the Signs of Troubles.'
And a little further on :
'If there be Fuel prepar'd, it is hard to tell whence the Spark shall come that shall set it on fire. The Matter of Seditions is of two Kinds; much Poverty and much Discontentment. It is certain so many overthrown Estates, so many Votes for Troubles. And let
no Prince measure the Danger of them (discontentments) by this, whether they be just or unjust; for that were to imagine People to be too reasonable, who do often spurn at their own good; nor yet