King and Court of Oudh enjoyed immunity from the consequences of the misdeeds of their satellites. The narrow clan system or feeling had led, unfortunately, to the absence of any practical union of the chiefs, or of the clans; and though there were numerous chiefs or Tálukdárs of high character and repute and ability, there were also some of a baser sort, who made interest with the amils and joined with them in preying on their brethren. Had there been any reasonable unanimity among the Rájput clans, they could easily have ignored the amils, and made their own terms with the Darbár. As it was, their want of union made the Oudh Darbár feel safe from their retaliation, the more especially as the King was under the protection of the British alliance.
But the scandal of the anarchy and misgovernment that prevailed had caused Lord Dalhousie to call on Sir James Outram to make an exhaustive report on the subject; and as that report more than confirmed the impressions that had previously been current, the Government forwarded it to England with their own recommendations as to the fate of Oudh. Lord Dalhousie was not for entire annexation; like Sir Henry Lawrence, he was in favour of taking charge of the administration, but not of absorbing its revenues.
The Home Government however decided on complete annexation ; and Lord Dalhousie's last act, before he left India, was to annex Oudh and absorb it into British territory, under Sir James Outram's guidance and management.
