Page:History of India Vol 8.djvu/512

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454
INDIA UNDER THE CROWN

the older provinces. But the new territories, as they were annexed to the dominion, were placed by the Governor-General provisionally under his direct control by what was called the Non-Regulation system, reserving his power of extending discretionally the regular laws and procedure, with directions that their spirit rather than their letter should be followed, to be supplemented in doubtful cases by the guidance of equity and good conscience.

THE "SLAUGHTER-HOUSE," WHERE THE CAWNPUR MASSACRE TOOK PLACE.

When, therefore, after the final suppression of the mutiny and of the agitation that it had spread throughout the northern provinces, the permanent reconstitution of government became practicable and necessary, the task of the British authorities was. to deduce order out of this confusion, and to lay the foundations of a new