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HPB-SB-8-255: Difference between revisions
Уточнены цитатное оформление и редакторская заметка
(Убраны служебные номера и уточнены пометы и разделители) |
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Last February, there arrived at Bombay, from New York and London, a party consisting of American citizens and two English. They purposed to take up their residence in India with the chief object of studying the religious antiquities of that country. They were also members of a reformatory society recently established there by the energy of certain distinguished native scholars and philanthropists, who had conceived the idea of raising the people out of superstition and idolatry by spreading a knowledge of the purer religion of their ancestors, as disclosed in the Vedic Scriptures, in which some of their number were profoundly versed. Nothing could be more remote from their intentions or interests than political concerns; and, indeed, the leaders are attached to the English Government by the most mature conviction that it is the best one possible for India. Of the American party, one, Colonel H. S. Olcott, has occupied to my knowledge important public positions in the United States, held a commission from his Government to report upon commercial affairs in India, and was provided with a special recommendation, under the hand of the President, to the American Consuls in India and other States which he might have to visit. These documents I have myself seen. Nevertheless, this very innocent party had hardly landed at Bombay when a report, originating, it is believed, with an enemy (a native), whose character they have had occasion to expose, reached the police authorities to the effect that they were there for the purpose of spreading disaffection to the Government, and that one of them, a lady, who had become a citizen of the United States, was a Russian spy. I am at liberty to quote the following from a private letter of this lady, which will tell the rest of the story:— | Last February, there arrived at Bombay, from New York and London, a party consisting of American citizens and two English. They purposed to take up their residence in India with the chief object of studying the religious antiquities of that country. They were also members of a reformatory society recently established there by the energy of certain distinguished native scholars and philanthropists, who had conceived the idea of raising the people out of superstition and idolatry by spreading a knowledge of the purer religion of their ancestors, as disclosed in the Vedic Scriptures, in which some of their number were profoundly versed. Nothing could be more remote from their intentions or interests than political concerns; and, indeed, the leaders are attached to the English Government by the most mature conviction that it is the best one possible for India. Of the American party, one, Colonel H. S. Olcott, has occupied to my knowledge important public positions in the United States, held a commission from his Government to report upon commercial affairs in India, and was provided with a special recommendation, under the hand of the President, to the American Consuls in India and other States which he might have to visit. These documents I have myself seen. Nevertheless, this very innocent party had hardly landed at Bombay when a report, originating, it is believed, with an enemy (a native), whose character they have had occasion to expose, reached the police authorities to the effect that they were there for the purpose of spreading disaffection to the Government, and that one of them, a lady, who had become a citizen of the United States, was a Russian spy. I am at liberty to quote the following from a private letter of this lady, which will tell the rest of the story:— | ||
{{Style P-Quote|“Our party was dogged by two European detectives and by native spies through our whole journey of 3,000 miles (through India). Our steps were followed, letters intercepted, native friends cross-questioned and bullied in the hope of finding something against us; mounted policemen followed us when we went to post letters. Of course, there being nothing to discover, nothing was discovered, but we were subjected to insult and annoyance, though Colonel Olcott frankly exhibited our American passports, went to see the political agents of every city, and explained our object to no less than five of these police commissioners. Immediately upon our reaching the Bombay terminus upon our return after a month’s journey, we drove to the American Consul’s, and he officially demanded an explanation. The answer is a pitiable and cowardly evasion. The Consul has carried the matter up to the Viceroy, as he is determined that his law-abiding countrymen shall either be free to travel where they like or a sufficient reason be given. Some of the correspondence between you and us may have been tampered with, as other has been. The present is sent under the Consul’s seal, and until the Viceroy has settled our matter your English letters should all come under cover to the care of the American Consul, and be registered. The Viceroy in a recent circular enjoined the utmost and strictest economy to all his subordinates; yet at least several thousand rupees have been spent in this dirty and stupid business of following us.”}} | |||
A letter to another friend remarks that the bare suggestion against any one of being an agent of Russian intrigue is enough to make all the officials of India lose their heads. | A letter to another friend remarks that the bare suggestion against any one of being an agent of Russian intrigue is enough to make all the officials of India lose their heads. | ||