Edward Henry Hilton

“ Though he accumulated so much wealth, he did not leave behind him the character of an oppressor. On the contrary, he seems rather to have respected the poor, and to have restricted his exactions to the rich. He reaped much as he had sown; his ability and management established a Sovereignty; his faithlessness brought him to a premature and ignominious end. He proved no exception to the rule, that they who are busiest in entrapping others are themselves the easiest deluded.
Sadat Khan was buried at Delhi. ”

“ Since the Government had lost faith in Wajid Ali Shah ever being able to bring about the desired reforms, the Governor-General, Lord Dalhousie, directed Colonel Sleeman, who was Resident at the Court of Lucknow in 1851, to make a tour through the country, and, after personal inspection, to report upon its actual state. The account he furnished was a continuous record of crime, misery, and oppression. Large tracts of fertile land were over-grown with jungle, the haunts of lawless characters, who levied blackmail at will on travellers and others. ”

“ There is hardly an acre of ground that is not capable of good culture. It is generally well timbered, studded with groves and fine solitary trees in great perfection. The soil is good, and the surface everywhere capable of tillage, with little labour or outlay. Considered generally, however, Oudh surpasses in natural advantages almost every other part of India—having the Ganges running along the whole of its southwest frontier, a varied and fertile soil, a genial though hot climate, and numerous facilities for irrigation and water carriage. ”

“ The Husainabad Imambara is the only architectura work completed by Mahomed Ali Shah, the third King of Oudh; and though inferior in grandeur to some of the works of his successors, it is the rival of many of them in beauty of detail. It contains the tomb of this monarch and his mother. The garden, which occupies the quadrangle, is somewhat disfigured by being crowded with a bad model of the Taj of Agra on the west, (in which is buried the King's daughter) and, on the east, there is a building of similar dimensions. ”

“ It will thus be seen that the annexation of Oudh, though thought at the time to be a fatal act, was rendered obligatory on the British Government in order to relieve the five millions of suffering inhabitants from tyranny and oppression, brought about by the natural indolence of the King, who permitted the administration to fall completely into the hands of worthless minions by whose misrule the condition of the kingdom grew worse. ”

“ On 10th August the enemy sprang a mine against this post, which fortunately broughtdown only a few out-houses, and "two European soldiers who had stood sentinel at one of the out-houses picquets were blown into the air, but both escaped with their lives. One, who fell within the compound, was slightly bruised, and the other was thrown into the middle of the road which separated us from the enemy. He no sooner found himself unhurt, than he got upon his legs, jumped over our wall and made his escape in perfect safety, notwithstanding the shower of bullets that whistled past his ears." ”

“ Extensive additions and improvements have been made to the building at a cost of more than one lac of rupees from La Martiniere "Female Education Fund," and it is now admirably suited to the requirements of a Boarding School. The situation is one of the healthiest in Lucknow, and the school grounds are extensive, affording the pupils ample scope for exercise and recreation. The instruction is in accordance with the new Code for the education of European children in India; and pupils are prepared for the Government High, or Final Standard Examination. ”

“ Such a scene as the Residency then presented was really sad to behold. Women's apparel, children's clothes, rich dresses, men's clothes, and all kinds of cooking utensils and plated-ware, bedding, &c., were left behind. The guns were removed from most of the batteries, and other guns, formerly the property of the King of Oudh, were burst. The ordnance stores and treasure, and State prisoners, were removed at the same time. Many delicate ladies had to walk six miles, over very rough ground, exposed at one place (between the Moti Mahal and Shah Najaf) to the fire of the enemy. ”

“ Seeing that it was hopeless to expect reforms from the native ruler, a treaty was proposed to the King, by which the civil and military authority of Oudh would be vested in the British Government solely and for ever, and the title of King of Oudh continued to Wajid Ali and his lawful male heirs; it provided for his being treated with due respect, and, under the treaty, he would have retained exclusive jurisdiction within the walls of the palace at Lucknow, except as to the infliction of capital punishment. ”

“ In the reign of this monarch, likewise, was founded the Aminabad Bazaar, so called after his Minister, Amin-ud-daula. It is, at the present time, one of the largest markets of the city. On the accession of Amjud Ali Shah, the British Government took opportunity of pressing the reforms requisite to place the kingdom in a state of tranquillity. A limited period was assigned for effecting the requisite changes, and, in default of performance, it was intimated that the territory of Oudh would be placed under British management. ”

“ The road over Bruce's Brigde, east of the Chutter Munzil, leads into the Badshah Bagh, which was a Royal Garden laid out by King Nasir-ud-din Haidar. In the centre of this walled enclosure is a substantial stone edifice having an open arcaded hall, well adapted for festive gatherings (such as picnics, &c.) , allowed to be held here by the kind permission of His Highness, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, to whom the property now belongs. On the left of the garden, and within the enclosure, is a large building which was sacred to the ladies of the King's harem ”

“ Nothing but the most resolute determination, the most complete soldierly obedience, the most untiring watchfulness, the most gentle care of those who from sex or age were unable to defend themselves, the most thorough reliance on himself and on those around him, could have enabled that gallant officer to bear up against the overwhelming difficulties which pressed upon him throughout the siege. ”

“ As the great ornament of the north-western quarter of the city, it forms an architectural view pleasing from its variety of detail, as well as from the proportions and general good taste of its principal features: excepting the galleries in the interior, no wood-work has been used in its construction, and the principal apartment is said to be the largest vaulted hall in the world. ”

“ The systematic oppression and misrule which had existed in Oudh ever since its ratification, the violation of all the solemn obligations which the rulers of Oudh had faithfully bound themselves to perform, as one of the high contracting parties to that Treaty, had necessarily caused its infraction, and rendered it imperative on the British Government to adopt a policy which should secure the lives and properties of His Majesty's suffering subjects. ”

“ People of consequence, on their elephants, had each a sowarree with shield, spear, and gun; and even the lounging people of the lower ranks in the streets and shop-doors had their shields over their shoulders and their swords sheathed in one hand."
4. The maladministration [2] of the kingdom under native rule was proverbial, but it grew more intolerable during the reign of the late King, Wajid Ali; and, after many remonstrances and much deliberation, the kingdom was made a province of British India. ”

“ The heroic defence of the Residency during the pro longed investment of the place by the rebels, forms an episode in Indian History as being connected with the memorable sepoy rebellion of 1857-58. It, therefore. possesses a peculiar interest to tourists and others who are attracted thither from all parts of the globe; and persons of every nationality may be seen walking through the extensive grounds of the place in contemplation of the ruins around where a death-like stillness pervades. ”

“ It appears, however, that in the last years of his reign, when Rohilkhand had been subjugated and most of it annexed to Oudh, he fixed his residence at Lucknow as being more central. He was a ruler of great ability and energy, and was, for a great part of his reign, engaged in wars. Shuja-ud-daula died suddenly on 26th January 1775, at Fyzabad, of which city his tomb, the Gulab Bari (rose garden) , is one of the chief ornaments. He is described as being extremely handsome and endowed with great strength. ”

“ Swarms of mendicants occupied every angle and the steps of every door. Of the remaining population, all were armed—a sure index of prevailing turbulence and general insecurity of life and property. Grave men in palanquins counting their beads, and looking like Mollahs, all had two or three sword-and-buckler lackeys attending on them. ”

“ Ommanney was struck by a cannon shot in the head, which caused his death. On the 20th July the enemy made an attack on this post, by springing a mine, but fortunately missed the right direction, and the battery remained uninjured. They advanced within 25 paces of the post, but were compelled to retire under a heavy discharge of musketry. No less than one hundred of the enemy were borne off the ground by their comrades from this post alone, so tremendous and precise was the fire. ”

“ As Nasir-ud-din Haidar had no legitimate son, his uncle, Naseeh-ud-daula, son of Sadat Ali Khan, succeeded him after a violent attempt on the part of the Padshah Begum, adopted mother of Nasir-ud-din Haidar, to get the above named illegitimate son, Moonna Jan, put on the throne. ”

“ Proceeding westward from the Rumi Darwaza, we have, on our right, the Daulat Khana, or old palace of Nawab Asuf-ud-daula, which is north of the Clock Tower, and to which you gain access through the gateway on the right of the Baradari facing the tank. Under this name (Daulat Khaua) is included a number of large houses, irregularly placed, which formed the residence of Asuf-ud-daula and his Court when he transferred the seat of Government from Fyzabad to Lucknow. ”

“ Polehampton was severely wounded, in one of the rooms on the south side, by a rifle ball fired from Johannes' house, by "Bob the Nailer," a nickname for the African Rifleman, who shot many a man in the early days of the siege, and who was stopped in his career by a mine begun from La Martiniere post, and passing under Johannes' house, blew up the latter, thus relieving the garrison of a most deadly fire from which we had suffered. ”

“ There was no cannon at this post, but one was obtained for three days, with the permission of the Brigadier-General, and directed towards the enemy's gun, near the Iron Bridge, which did considerable damage to the house as well as the Residency building. But our gun only served to increase the fire of the enemy, and the General ordered it to be withdrawn, as the post was greatly exposed, and it was feared the enemy might attempt to take possession of it. The 20th July was a memorable day to the beleaguered garrison, as on that day the enemy made a most desperate attack (see page 49) . ”

“ This graceful structure consists of three cast-iron arches, supported on piers and abutments of brick masonry, the centre arch having a span of ninety and a rise of seven feet, while the two side arches have spans of eighty feet and a rise of six feet. The iron-work was received from, England in 1798, during the reign of Nawab sadat Ali Khan, only twenty years after the erection of the first iron bridge in England, General Martin, who was then living at Lucknow, having, it is supposed, suggested the idea to the Nawab. ”

“ He was, on the whole, a good and just ruler; had mixed in the society of British Officers and had been well trained to habits of business. No Sovereign of Oudh conducted the Government with so much ability as he did. He never remitted his vigilance over the administration; and, in this way, and by a judicious selection of his ministers, he secured the prosperity of his dominions, which enjoyed almost uninterrupted tranquillity during his reign. He was the first to establish a reserve treasury in A. D. 1801, and, on his death, he left 14 crores of rupees (14 millions sterling) in it. ”

“ They sprang a mine at the Redan Battery, which was the signal for a general attack that lasted the whole day. About 2,000 of the enemy assembled towards Innes' post, which they endeavoured to storm, making every effort to burn down the barricade, but we kept up a galling fire from the out-offices and shot several of the leading men, when they were compelled to retire. ”

“ The heat proves most oppressive in the rainy season.
The average annual rain-fall is 89.37 inches.
Oudh, once a Hindu kingdom, became, under the Mogal dynasty, a Muhammadan Nawabship, then a Nawab-viziership, then, under British protection, a Muhammadan kingdom, and lastly an Anglo-Indian Province.
Lucknow, the capital of Oudh, is situated mainly on the right bank of the Gumti, [2] which is navigable for many miles above the town, and, downwards, through its Whole course to its confluence with the Ganges between Benares and Ghazipore. ”

“ The attendants of the more wealthy inhabitants included the various races from all parts of India; and the effect produced by their diversified costumes was extremely picturesque.
23. The Kingdom of Oudh, as has been shown, was annexed in February 1856; and British administration was scarcely established, and the chaos of the past reduced to order, when the revolt of the Native Army arrested progress, and ultimately plunged the country into a worse condition than it was before. The people were once more incited to lawlessness, and by June 1857 all authority was lost in the Province. ”