1. wanton! CITY. 5. 3
greased with cow's fat. They were induced with some difficulty to return to their lines. On May 3, Sir Henry Lawrence resolved to deprive the muttnous regiment of its arms, a step which was effected not without serious delay.
On May 1:. sir Henry held a darltr'r, and made an impressive speech in Hindustani, in which he called upon the people to uphold the British Government. as most tolerant to Hindus and Muham- tnrtdans alike. Two days earlier, the tttassacrc at Meerut had taken place, and a telegram brought word of the event on the morning after the doer. On the "fill, Sir Henry Lawrence received the supreme military command in Oudh. He immediately fortified the Residency and the Machi Bhawan, bringing the ladies and children into the former building. On the night of the 30th May, the expected insurrection broke out at Lucknow. The men of the 7rst, with a few from the other regiments. began to burn the bungalows of their officers, and to murder the inmates. Prompt action was taken, and early next morning the European force attacked, diSpched, and followed up for to miles the retreating rnutineers, who were joined during the action by the 7th Cavalry. The rebels fled towards Sitzipur. Although Lucknow thus remained in the hands of the British, by the nth of June every other post in Oudh had fallen into the power of the mutinecrs. The Chief Commissioner still held the eantonments and the two fortified posts at the beginning of June, hilt the symptoms of disafl’ection in the city and among the remaining native troops were unmistakeable. in the midst of such a crisis, Sir Henry Lawrence’s health unhappily gave way. He delegated his authority to a council of fire, presided over by Mr. Gubbins, the Financial Commissioner, but shortly after recovered sufficiently to resume the command. On June the 11th, however, the military police and native cavalry broke into open revolt, followed on the succeeding morning by the native infantry. On the zoth of June, news of the fall of Cawnpur arrived; and on the 29th, the enemy, yooo strong, advanced upon Chinhat, a village on the Faizébéd road, 3 miles from the Residency. Sir Henry Lawrence marched out and gave the enemy battle at that spot. The result proved disastrous to our arms, through the treachery of the Oudh artillery, and a retreat became necessary. The troops fell back on Lucknow, abandoned the Machi Bhttivan, and concentrated all their strength upon the Residency. The siege of the enclosure began upon 15! July. On the 2nd, as Sir Henry Lawrence lay on his bed, a shell entered the room, burst, and wounded him severely. He lingered till the morning of the 4th, and then died in great agony. Major Banks succeeded to the civil command, while the military authority devolved upon Brigadier Inglis. On 20th July, the enemy made an unsuccessful assault. Next day. Major
Banks was shot. and the sole command was undertaken by Inglis. vet. VIII. 2 It
