BOOK IX. Chapter I. 362 THE 7TH OUDH IRREGULARS MUTINY. It happened in this wise. The 7th Regiment of Oudh Irregular Infantry was stationed at Músá Bágh about three miles from the Residency. The The 7th Oudh adjutant of the regiment was Lieutenant Mecham 1857. April 30. Irregulars mutiny. of the Madras Army, a cool, determined, and resolute officer. On the 30th of April when he took his men to ball-practice, these suddenly showed a disinclination to use the new cartridge. Mecham pointed out to them that the cartridge was similar to that which they had been using the previous fortnight. This seemed to satisfy the men and they proceeded with the practice. But the next morning the sergeant-major reported that the men positively refused to bite the cartridge, that many even declined to receive or even to touch it. The day following was spent by the men in brooding over their grievances. They worked themselves to the state of fanaticism which will not hear reason, and at 10 o'clock, on the 3rd, they had arrived at the conclusion that they must kill their European officers. The latter, warned turn to their in time by the quartermaster-sergeant of the disposition of their men, nobly did their duty, and succeeded after a time in inducing the sepoys to return to their lines, though they refused to surrender their arms. duced to re lines. *It was related at the kill me but what good will time of Lieutenant Mecham my death do to you? You that he owed his life on this will not ultimately prevail. occasion to his coolness and Another adjutant will take presence of mind. Taken un- my place and you will be subawares by the mutineers and jected to the same treatment told to prepare to die, he you receive from me." The replied: "It is true you may mutineers did not injure him. But Sir Henry Lawrence was not content with this doubtful triumph. Having made preparations to suppress any attempt which the sepoys might make to display insubordination he sent that afternoon two officers with instructions how to act. The men of the 7th were paraded. The question was put to them whether they would continue to bite the cartridge or whether they would refuse. The men, in an insolent and sullen manner, promised to obey. The force organised by Sir Henry, consisting of the 32nd Foot, an European battery, three regular native regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, arrived soon after on the ground. Darkness had now set in. The 7th were at once formed up and ordered to lay down their arms. In the presence of this imposing force and of the lighted portfires of the gunners they had no option but to comply. Most of them indeed fled stricken by panic, but on being assured that no violence would be used if they would obey orders they returned, and before midnight all their muskets were secured. The next day the ring-leaders were seized, and it transpired from their admissions that a treasonable correspondence with the view to a general rising had been going on for some time between them and the men of the 48th Regiment of Native Infantry. BOOK IX. Chapter I. 1857. May 3. Sir Henry Lawrence detheir arms. prives them of Lakhnao. In the events which immediately preceded, The Darbár at and immediately followed the affair of the 7th Oudh Irregulars, Sir Henry Lawrence had received valuable information from native officers and others. In the crisis which he saw advancing BOOK IX. Chapter I. 1857. May 3-12. May 12. Touching ad. dress of Sir Henry Law. rence. 364 DARBA'R AT LAKHNAO. with rapid strides he considered that rewards should go hand in hand with punishment, that the justice, the truth in action-which had always been the maxim of the British Government, should at all hazards be maintained. He considered it advisable, moreover, that the bestowal of the rewards should be made the occasion for a solemn ceremony, at which he might speak the mind of the Government. With this view he invited the native aristocracy, the European and native civil officials, the European and native officers, and others to a Darbár on the evening of the 12th of May. Every arrangement had been made to give solemnity to the scene. At 6 P.M. Sir Henry Lawrence entered, followed by his staff. Near him were deposited in trays the presents and rewards to be bestowed upon the loyal native officers and soldiers. But before distributing these Sir Henry addressed in Hindustani the assembled company. He went straight to the point; spoke of the fears for their religion entertained by the Hindús; reminded them how, under the Moghol rule, that religion had never been respected; how Aurangzíb had imposed the jézia; and how the flesh of the cow had been thrust down the throats of unwilling converts. Turning then to the Mahomedans he reminded them that Ranjit Singh would never tolerate their religion at Láhor. Passing on from that he begged them to recall to mind the toleration which for a century the English Government had afforded to both religions. He adverted next to our power, to our exploits in the Crimea, to our BOOK IX. Chapter I. 1857. May 12. ships, our resources; pointed out how hopeless of ultimate success would be a crusade against the English. He next dwelt on the long and intimate connection between the sepoys and their officers, on the community of danger and the community of glory between them, and begged the men to cherish as their most precious heirlooms the deeds of their ancestors. He concluded an eloquent speech, delivered in the language of the people, by warning his listeners against becoming the dupes of designing men, and of the fate which would inevitably follow the neglect of his advice. He then caused the deserving native officers and soldiers to be brought up to him, and, in the name of the Government, delivered to them the rewards they had merited.* The speech of Sir Henry Lawrence had, un- Its effect His transitory. passing and doubtedly, some effect at the moment. earnest manner, his character so trusted and so respected, added weight to his words. When the Darbár broke up there was not probably a man present who was not loyal. But the opposite feeling was too deeply rooted to be dissipated by a passing sensation. The listeners went from the Darbár into the society of the plotters and intriguers against whom Sir Henry had warned them. The whispers, constantly repeated, of these men at first weakened, and ultimately deadened the effect which had been produced by the scene at the Darbár. * Strange contradiction! were shortly afterwards hangSome of the men who were ed for proved disloyalty! thus rewarded for loyalty BOOK IX. Chapter I. 1857. May 13. News of the arrives. 366 NEWS OF THE MIRATH MUTINY. That Darbár was held on the 12th of May. The Mírath mutiny had broken out on the 10th. A telegram conveying information that something serious had happened in the North-West reached Mírath revolt Sir Henry on the 13th. A second telegram giving fuller details of the Mírath revolt and an account of the seizure of Dehlí reached him on the 14th. Averse as he was from any measures which might show premature distrust of the sepoys Sir Henry felt that a crisis had come upon him which must be met by prompt action. His Prompt mea- plans had been arranged before-hand. During the 16th and 17th they were carried out. The morning of the last-named day saw a moiety of the 32nd Foot occupying the ground about the Residency and commanding the iron bridge. The second moiety were brought up from the city into the cantonments of Mariáon. The bridge of boats was moved nearer to the Residency and brought under control, whilst a selected body of sepoys was detached to occupy the Machhí Báwan, not yet sufficiently cleansed to be fit for occupation by European troops. sures taken by Sir Henry. A central position was thus secured for the Chief Commissioner, for his officials, and his European soldiers. Sir Henry had by one movement prepared himself to meet any emergency. He still longs But whilst prepared he had not altogether aban for "time." doned the hope that the emergency might not arise. He apprehended danger less from the native population than from the native troops. But with time he hoped that the difficulty might |