Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/257

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Shameful Treatment of Mr Tayler.
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rejoicings. The Government acted precisely as governments without a backbone will always act. The action of the victorious Eyre was upheld. But his companion in pluck and energy, William Tayler, who had, despite, his transcendent services, become obnoxious to the Calcutta clique, was removed from his office and ruined, avowedly because at a critical period, before Eyre had redeemed Dunbar's disaster, and when it seemed certain that the rebels would overrun the province, he had advised concentration at Patná of the resources in men and money of the province. The same Government took the opportunity to reward an officer serving under Mr Tayler, Mr Alonzo Money, for a theatrical display which was really damaging to the interests of the country. This gentleman had left his station for Patná, but had repented and returned to it. Then taking advantage of the arrival of a company of British troops, he marched with them and the contents of the treasury, not to Patná, which was near, and where they were wanted, but to Calcutta, which was more than 300 miles distant, and where they were not wanted — this, too, at a time when Havelock was earnestly crying out for more soldiers.

Eyre left Árah for Allahábád on the 20th of August. The failure of the Government to disarm the three regiments had thus wasted a month at the most critical period of the operations in the vicinity of Kánhpur. But the mischief done to the British cause was not entirely represented by that loss of time. The disturbances in Western Bihár continued. They kept for some time in the province troops who were required in the North-west, nor were they entirely suppressed until a very late period of the following year.

But by this time fresh troops are pouring into Calcutta; a new Commander-in-Chief has arrived to displace Sir