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himself, he placed his turban in the hands of the Resident, declaring that now his titles, rank, and position were all gone, it was not for him to sign a treaty, or to enter into any negociation. He was in the hands of the British Government, which had seated His Majesty's grandfather on the throne, and could, at its pleasure, consign him to obscurity."

"The Resident felt himself unable to act in any other way than up to the tenor of his instructions, and assured His Majesty that at the expiration of three days, unless His Majesty acceded to the wishes of the British Government, the Resident would have no alternative but to assume the government of the country."

"After some further conversation, and the expression of the unalterable reluctance of the King to sign the treaty then and there, the Resident intimated that no, further delay than the three days could be permitted, and then with the usual ceremonies and honours, took his leave of the King."

18. The King declined to accept the deposition[1] as a final act. He surrendered his rule to Sir James Outram, and enjoined on all his subjects to pay him due obedience; and then set out for Calcutta, ostensibly en route to England to plead his cause before Her Majesty, But he was not permitted to proceed beyond Calcutta where he settled down in Garden Reach.[2] A provision of twelve lacs of rupees ( £ 120,000) per annum was made for him (this he formally accepted in October 1859), and a separate allowance was sanctioned for his collateral relations. When the King's departure from Oudh was decided on, there was a great deal of controversy about the choice of an Agent to act for His Majesty. The King's advisers also immediately set about efforts for his restoration; and shortly after, with this object, the King's brother, H. H. Prince Mirza Sekunder Hashmat Bahadur, accompanied by the ex-King's mother, set out for England on a royal deputation to the Queen, but their mission having failed, they settled in Paris, where they both eventually died.[3]

19. A contemporary thus pathetically describes the departure of the ex-King from the capital :—

Departure of the King for Calcutta.

Lucknow, the 14th March 1856.

"The King left his Palace yesterday evening at eight o'clock on his way to Calcutta, whence he wishes to proceed


  1. Notice of his deposition was given on tho 4th February 1856 and Wajid Ali Shah ceased to reign from the 7th.
  2. Garden Reach is one of the suburbs of Calcutta.
  3. The Queen of Oudh went to England in the steamship Ripon. She arrived at Southampton on the 20th of August 1856.