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SIR HENRY LAWRENCE

modern polity. His was the spirit which inspired every act of the local government, which touched the hearts of his subordinates; all caught from him the sacred fire; his presence seemed all pervading, for the interests of the meanest were dear to him as those of the most powerful; and goodness and greatness were so natural wherever he came that other fruits seemed strange and impossible.'

On reaching Rajputana, he is said to have soon made himself as intimate and popular with the native chiefs there as he had been in the Punjab. He discovered whatever principles of good were lying latent, and reaped his reward in their admiration, esteem, and affection for himself. The Ráo Rája of Karauli, when he heard of his death, was so deeply grieved as to abstain from all food for several days.

A high official, whose personal acquaintance with Sir Henry was comparatively slight, wrote that it was impossible to know him without loving him — that

'The sway which he exercised over classes of men widely differing in every feeling was almost marvellous. There were the conquerors and the conquered — the European officials, and the Sikh sardárs — some of the best specimens of English gentlemen, and some of the roughest of Asiatic chiefs — all alike lamenting over the departure of the man who seemed to be the personal friend of each and all.'

He is thus described in another volume of this series: —

'Henry Lawrence, the friend of every one who was down, the loved, the generous, who got a little more for every one, who fought every losing battle for the old chiefs and jágírdárs, with entire disregard to his own interests, left the Punjab amid an outburst of universal lamentation.'