<Untitled> (By the bye, where...)
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<Untitled> (Poona - 29 June, 1879)
Mr. Wasudev Balvant Phadke, the alledged leader of the dacoits is thought to be ubiquitous. He is sup¬posed to lead the gang of the dacoits and at the same time supposed to be s present at the Russian Court. A letter has appeared in the columns of the Indu Prakash from the pen of Madam H. P. Blavatsky in which she says that a certain Indian Prince is said to be making a tour, in Russia. The Deccan Herald says perhaps the Prince in question is Wasudev Balvant otherwise known as Shivaji the second, why wont Government take up the suggestion and ransack the province the alleged leader is supposed to roam over. The letter in question runs as follows:—
Sir,—Ever since my arrival here, in February, with an hospitality and persistence worthy of a better cause, I have been hailed by every class of Society as a secret emissary of the Russian Government—-a “spy” to call things by their proper names. And yet, so poorly informed am I by the authorities of my Native country of the ways and doings of the Russian police, that, in my ardent curiosity, I have now to apply to you for help. Will you kindly put your head to¬gether with mine to try and “guess” who may possibly be a certain mys¬terious individual who has recently appeared in Russia? He calls him¬self a “Prince of India,” and provo¬king the greatest curiosity in the general public is, at the same time, received as an honoured guest by the St. Petersburgh “court”—though, as I am informed, secretly. This is what one of the numerous papers, I receive, says of him, mentioning his arrival. I translate verbatim:—
“A few days ago, arrived at Mos¬cow, on his way from Petersburgh to Samara the Hindoostanee Prince Ramchander Balajee of Rhetoor. Colonel and aide de camp on the General Staff, the Count N. Y. Rostovtzoff has been placed at the orders of the Prince, and now forms a part of his numerous suite.
Who is this Prince? He evidently belongs to the Native place, if he is not actually of kin to the famous Nana Saheb of course. Though news for your readers, this piece of information will be stale for the omniscient Police of India, who, for instance, have dis¬covered in a twinkling of the eye that I was a dangerous Russian spy. They must certainly know all about this mirific Prince. How provoking then, that they will not tell!
Respectfully,
Espionage in India
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Colonel H.S. Olcott
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Editor's notes
- ↑ By the bye, where... by B.R., Deccan Star, The, Sunday, June 22, 1879
- ↑ Poona - 29 June, 1879 by Blavatsky, H.P., Deccan Star, The, Sunday, June 29, 1879
- ↑ Espionage in India by Massey, C.C., London Times, Friday, June 13, 1879
- ↑ Colonel H.S. Olcott by unknown author, ......, London, Friday, June 13, 1879