to take root in their minds and to grow into disaffection, insubordination, and mutiny, their punishment would be sharp and certain.
18. All attempts to restore the regiment to obedience having failed, Sir Henry Lawrence resolved to disarm them. This was necessary, for the mutineers lost no time in seeking the aid of the 48th Native Infantry in Cantonments. A seditious letter, addressed to that regiment, was intercepted and delivered to the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Palmer. It ran: "We are ready to obey the directions of our brothers of the 48th in the matter of the cartridges, and to resist either actively or passively." Without any delay the European Infantry and Artillery, two regiments of Native Infantry, and the 7th (Native) Light Cavalry, were ordered to proceed to the lines of the mutineers, distant about 7 miles from Mariaon Cantonment. Darkness had set in, but so prompt had been. the movement that the 7th O. I. Infantry were taken by surprise. They were instantly ordered to form up in front of their lines. In the presence of a force so imposing they were overawed into obedience. Just then the Artillery portfires[1] having been lighted, a sudden panic seized the men. Mad with terror, they rushed frantically away. The ring-leaders and most of their followers, however, were secured and put in irons pending trial. On the following day the prisoners were tried and discharged. Sir Henry Lawrence publicly rewarded those sepoys of the 48th Regiment, who had not only resisted the temptation to mutiny, but had loyally apprised their superior officer of the attempt by surrendering the letter addressed to the regiment by the men of the 7th O. I. Infantry. Having thus vigorously put down the first overt act of mutiny, Sir Henry Lawrence applied himself to conciliate the native soldiery by every means in his power.
19. In the early part of May the news of the mutiny of the native regiments at Meerut, and the massacre of Christian people in several stations in Upper India, were current among the boys in the College. This intelligence was indeed alarming; we all felt that a great calamity was at hand, in which Oudh was almost sure to be a sufferer. Sir Henry now began to consider what was to be done in the event of an insurrection, as he was not certain what effect the intelligence would have on the minds of the native community when it became known.
20. The Treasury in the Residency, containing several lacs of rupees, besides a large amount deposited in
- ↑ Portfire is a composition of nitre, sulphur, and mealed powder, driven into a case of strong paper, cloth, and the like, used for firing cannon, now superseded by the friction tube.
