What should he do but raise two regiments on his own mandate, a
usurpation of the sovereign rights. It occurred in this fashion. Bombay
had not taken the distemper, rife in such a large area of India. However,
Lord Elphinstone learned that a Bombay rising had been arranged for a
certain religious festival. He had not forces enough left him to overawe
the populace, or, failing that, to cope with an outbreak. He despatched
another express to Sir George Grey, at the Cape, to the effect: 'I know
you have already denuded South Africa of troops, but I am hoping you may
somehow manage to help us against this Bombay crisis.'
Sir George bethought himself of the men, formerly composing the German
Legion, who were settled in the Colony. He collected these with what
other recruits he could entice, formed them into regiments, and sent them
to Bombay. 'I signed the commissions for the officers,' he recalled, 'but
I'm afraid my signature would have meant nothing, after the ships were on
the high sea. In the event of the men creating a disturbance, the
officers would really have had no legal authority to quell it.' He
communicated with the East India Company, desiring that the regiments
should be put on a regular footing immediately they reached Bombay.
'For raising the regiments,' Sir George continued, 'I was charged at home
with a breach of the constitution.
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