The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 21, 1858.

fittr a I ur t,

An Account of the Mutinies in Oudh, and of the
Siege of the Luchnow Residency. By Martin
R, Gubbins, B.C.S. London : Richard
Bentley.
Ox many accounts it is to be regretted that Mr.
;übbins's original narrative of the Oudh rebel-
lion was lost in the Ava. had the MS. reached
is country Sul due course," it would not only
hialve been plished at. a time when a more
'ively interest attached itself to everything ap-
pertaining to the heroic defence of Lucknow,
but it may fairly be supposed that the wondrous
tale would have been told with greater freshness
and vivacity. As it is, many portions of the
story of the siege h angheavily on hand, and the
general reader is irresistibly impelled to yawn
over the recital of events that have lost their in-
terest from frequency of repetition. In some
respects, however, Mr. Gubbins enjoys peculiar
advantages over all preceding historians of this
marvellous episode in the military annals of the
world. From his position as financial commis-
sioner of the province prior to the outbreak of
the mutinies, he has been enabled to throw a
strong, clear light on many points that were pre-
viously obscure and confused. He rejoices, also,
in a manly, nervous style, such as might be ex-
pected from a man of his stern and determined
:haracter. Unfortunately, however, we cannot
accept his explanation of the predisposing causes
shich collectively and finally eventuated in this
terrible insurrection, nor are we prepared to
re-echo his eulogy of the hybrid system intro-
duced into either regulation or non-reflation
provinces by the wisdom or ingenuity of British
officials. Our objections to Mr. Gubbins's
theories may, perhaps, be advantageously re-
served as a sequence to the extracts we are about
to make from his statements of facts, and thus we
magnanimously refrain from prejudicing our
readers against the opinions of a writer from
whom we happen largely to differ.
Mr. Gubbins expresses a very reasonable degree
of surprise that an officer of Sir Hugh Wheeler's
experience should have made choice of such a
miserable position at Cawnpoor, in preference to
the magazine :
The more the frightful catastrophe which befell the
itarupour garrison is contemplated, the more it fills one
nth astonishment. All persons who as myself have since
visited Cawnpoor. and sorrowfully gazed upon the miser-
able earth-bank which formed the only defence around the
ahot-pierceil barracks, have wondered how an officer of
air Hugh Wheeler's known ability could have trusted to
arch a place to protect the lives intrusted to is care.
The bank was not breast high. The two barracks were
cimmended on all sides. Tne treasure, the magazine, the
heavy guns were abandoned, without a blow, to the enemy !
This seems marvellous ! At the other end of the station
of Cawnpoor stood the magazine by itself: with ravines on
one aide of it, and not far from the river's bank on the
other. It contained numerous strong buildings, and was
aurrounded by a high masonry wall. Every muniment
of war was contained in it. The Treasury was near. It
seems surprising that this place was not selected as that
in which the last British stand should have been made.
Sir Hugh had, indeed, meant to destroy the magazine, and
an artillery sergeant had orders, in the event of mutiny, ti
bl.iw it up ; but the native guard prevented his so doing.
The explanation usually offered is to the effect
that the old general had such entire confidence
in the attachment of the sepovs to their officers,
that he never imagined anything worse would
happen than their desertion of their colours. The
pwibility of their committing such frightful and
wholesale murders he never for a moment enter-
tained, and it is probable that Nana Sahib is
chiefly, if not solely, answerable for the awful
atrocities perpetrated at that station. Sir Hugh,
it must be remembered, had passed the best years
of his life in India, and, through Lady Wheeler,
was connected with several native families of fair
standing and influence. He may thus naturally
have been led to commit an error of judgment,
fruitlessly expiated by patient and heroic en-
durance.

Of Sir Henry Lawrence Mr. Gubbins speaks
in the early part of his volume with a certain
degree of coolness and reserve. There is no
doubt that Sir Henry, from the characteristic
kindlineß4 of his disposition, shrunk from an
(xbibition of severity that, under the circum-
"Races, would not only have proved salutary,
but
i was positively necessary. He could not
be induced to order to execution men whose
Nit we/ beyond the shadow of a doubt, or even

to sanction the demolition of mosques and private
buildings which interfered with the defence of
the Residency. In less troublous times he was
eminently fitted to earn an honourable distinc-
tion, but in a trying emergency of such an excep-
tional character a leader was wanted of sterner
stuff. llis death, however, was that of a Christian
knight, and worth] of the best days of chivalry :

It has never fallen to my lot ( says Mr. Gubbins) to
witness such a scene of sorrow. While we were clustered
round Sir Henry's bed, the enemy were pouring a heavy
musketry fire upon the place; and bullets were striking the
outside of the pillars of the verandah in which we were
collected. Sir Henry's attenuated frame, and the severe
nature of the injury, at once decided the medical men not
to at. empt amputation; but it was necessary to stay the
bleeding by applying the tourniquet, and the agony which
this caused was fearful to behold. It was impossible to
avoid sobbing like a child. Sir Henry alluded to his having
nominated Major Banks to be his successor; and then
earnestly pointed out the worthlessness of all human
distinction, recommending all to fix their thoughts upon
a better world. He referred to his own success in life,
and askew what was it worth then? He enjoined on us
particularly to be careful of our ammunition, and often
repeated—' Save the ladies." He afterwards continued in
much suffering, and lingered until the morning of the 4th,
when he expired.
So far as relates to the actual events of the
siege, Mr. Gubbins affords but little additional
information to what has already been laid before
the public. His own residence was a highly im-
portant post, and sustained a terrible and persis-
tent cannonading, until the arrival of the first
relieving force under Generals Outram and
Havelock. At the time of Sir henry Lawrence's
death, there were nineteen ladies and gentlemen,
and thirteen children, enjoying the Financial
Commissioner's hospitality, which appears to have
been extended to the garrison of the post, and
likewise to the native attendants and followers.
On the whole, the inmates of " Gubbins house "
had reason to congratulate themselves that their
lines had not fallen in less pleasant places.
If they occasionally longed in vain for a glass of
Bass or Allsop, they could plume themselves on
their Champagne and Sauterne, and the rare
delicacy of a roly-poly pudding

:-

- - -
For some time before the siege our supplies had, how-
ever, been husbanded. We possessed some supply of
bottled beer. This, which was esteemed the greatest
luxury during the siege, had ceased for many dap; to
be served to the gentlemen, and was reserved for
the nursing lathes, of whom there were four among
our guests, and for the sick. Ode glass of sherry and two
of champagne or of claret was served to the gentlemen,
and less to the ladies, at dinner. One glass of light wine,
Sauterne, was provided at luncheon. It must be here
remarked that sherry soon came to be of higher value than
champagne, or the lighter French wines, which could nut
be kept after having been once opened. There was a good
deal of the latter description of wines in the garrison, and
the best never attained a higher price than sixty rupees :
the price of sherry rose to above seventy rupees per dozen.
Our regular meals had also been diminished from three
to two. A cold luncheon only was served, and we made
an early dinner at tour. By these timely precautions the
supplies which we had were husbanded, and the wants of
our nnmerous guests were provided for during the whole
siege. Besides, we were often able to render assistance
to persons in other garrisons who urgently needed aid,
and to the wounded in hospital. After the siege had
begun, and the commissariat arrangements got into train,
rations were issued of beef or mutton, with flour or rice,
and salt, to Europeans, according to a fixed scale. These
were made over to my servants and cooked by them, such
additions being made to the meal as our store-room
afforded. These, however, besides the daily addition of
spices, and sugar, were limited to a few canisters of
preserved salmon, and a few of carrots, which were produced
whenever we invited a friend from any of the other
gatrisons to dinner. The party invited did not bring his
rations, so that the meal demanded some addition.
When the sheep were all used up, beef only was served
out in rations, which was usually made into stews, in con-
sequence of our rarely getting a piece that could be boiled
or roasted.
At dinner oar chief luxury -were rice puddings, of which
two daily appeared on table. The eggs for these were
derived from a few poultry which we had managed to pre-
serve ; and the milk from goats and two cows belonging tf
our guests, which were half starved during the siege.
Occasionally a plum pudding or jam pudding was made,
and always caused great excitement at the dinner-table.
The demand for these delicacies was great; and there was
often none left for the lady of the house, who generally
helped them. One cup of tea was made fur each person
at six in the morning, our English maid, Chivers, presiding
at the tea-table. Another cup at the ten o'clock breakfast,
and another at night. We enjoyed both sager and milk in
our tea, a luxury which few possessed besides our garrison :
and this often attracted friends. During the blockade,
when our upper story was filled with sick and wounded, it
was our regular practice to help them first, both at break-
fast and dinner, before any one else. After they hail been
served, the rest partook.
As the siege dragged its slow length along,
articles of ordinary use became of extraordinary
value. Before the end of August, brandy readily
fetched 161. per dozen., and finally rose to 21.105.

799

per bottle. Beer and sherry were priced alike
at 71. per dozen, and cigars from 2s. to ss. each.
A small tin of soup was not too dear at 2/. 58.,
and a canister of sporting gunpowder found cus-
tomers at 1/. 128., while a flannel-shirt could
only be had as a particular favour for 3/. 12s.
Of the faithful few among the many faithless,
no one name is more frequently or favourably
mentioned than that of " Ungud," the cosaid
or native messenger, who, for some time, was the
only medium of communication between the be-
leaguered garrison and the outer world. At the
imminent risk of his life, this brave and loyal old
pensioner repeatedly carried messages from the
Residency to Cawnpoor or to the British camp,
and, on his return, cheered the drooping spints
of the heroic little band by tidings of approach-
ing deliverance. It is gratifying to learn that
his distinguished services were afterwards libe-
rally rewarded, and that there is at least one na-
tive who cannot complain of the mean, niggardly
gratitude of the Feringhees

:-

It is impossible (writes ➢lr. Gabbing) to overvalue the
importance of these visits of Ungud. Again he came, as
will presently be related, when hope deferred bad made
the heart sick; when Europeans doubted; when desertion
of natives had become more numerous, and yet more were
imminent: and again the certainty of approaching succour
revived and refreshed us, and reanimated the languishing
fidelity of our native friends. Nor could any picture more
characteristic of the siege be presented, than one which
should represent Ungud just after one of his midnight
entranced, recounting to our eagerly•listening ears the
events which he had witnessed. The low mom on the
ground fluor, with a single light carefully screened on the
outer side, lest it should attract the bullets of the enemy ;
the anxious faces of the men who crowded round and lid-
tened with breathless attention to question and answer;
the exclamation of joy as pieces of good tidings were given
out, and laughter at some of Ungud's jeers upon the
enemy. More retired, would be shown the indistinct forms
of the women in their eight attire, who had been attracted
from their rooms in hopes of catching early some part of
the good news which had come iu. The animated and
intelligent face of our messenger, as he assured us of the
near approach of help, occupies the foreground. All these
together Corm a scene which must live as long as life
remains in the memory of us all.

We have already intimated that this narrative
of the ever-memorable defence of the Lucknow
Residency lacks warmth and vivacity, like all
twice-told tales, and yet there are occasions
which still call into play the natural feelings of
the man. In describing the first relief of the
garrison our author becomes inspired as the
kindling recollections rise fresh in his memory,
and he portrays the touching scene in truly
graphic style :
The Bailey Guard-gate, then riddled with balls and
broken, was barricaded, and a bank of earth having been
thrown up on the inside, it could nut be opened for some
minutes, until the earth was cleared away. Generals
Outram and Havelock and their staff, and many of the
soldiers, entered by the embrasure. Ere long, however,
the gates were thrown open, and the stream of soldiers
entered, heated, worn, and dusty ; yet they looked robust
and healthy, contrasted with the rums and faces within.
Nothing could exceed their enthusiasm. The Highlanders
stopped every one they met, and with repeated questions
and exclamations of "Are you one of them ? " "God
bless you! " " We thought to have found only your bones,"
bore them back towards Dr. Fayrer's house, into which the
General had entered. Here a scene of thrilling interest
presented itself. The lathes of that garrison, with their
children, had assembled in the most intense anxiety and
excitement under the porch outside, when the Highlanders
approached. Rushing forward, the rough and bearded
warriors shook the ladies by the hand, amidst loud and
repeated gratulations. They took the children up in their
arms, and fondly caressing them, passed them from one to
another to be caressed in turn ; and then, when the IBA
burst of enthusiasm and excitement was over, they mourn-
fully turned to speak among themselves of the heavy Icsa
nhich they had suffered, and to inquire the names of the
numerous comrades who had fallen on the way.

But the most valuable portion of this very
readable volume a volume, moreover, illus-
trated by a few excellent engravings—are the
chapters relating to the causes of the mutiny
and the previous condition of Oudh. Mr.
Gubbins laughs to scorn the idea that the
rebellion was the result of a Mahommedan con-
spiracy, and in the ordinary acceptation of that
word he is perhaps right. But it is beyond all
denial that for many years past the Delhi
Mahommedans have been engaged in intrigues
hostile to British supremacy, though conscious
of their inability to act so long as the
Oudh family remained true to their alliance
with the English Government, and the Ilindoo
population continued faithfid, or at least sub-
missive. This opportunity, however, was
at hand when, in an evil hour, the annexation of
Oudh was perpetrated, and Sheeahs and Soonees
*AMC united by the baud of a common grie-

vance. The defection of the llindoo soldiery was
the result of several co-operating► causes, the last
of which was the alarm about the greased cart-
ridges. Mr. Gubbins candidly admits that the
natives had been for some time previously in a
state of painful excitement on the subject of caste
and religion :
Many public measures (ha says) had tended to this
result ; but perhaps none more so than the extreme ra-
pidity with which educational measures had of late years
been forced on. Local officers, with the approval of Go-
vernment, solicited contributions from the people for
the establishment of schools. These were set up not
only in cities, nor yet only in towns ; but villages were
grouped together into circles or unions to support a
school ; and every month brought out some ne w measure
to glee impetus to the educational mania. All public
servants were required to qualify themselves by literary
acquirements, for which examinations were instituted.
Not even au ordinary messenger, on the pay of eight
shillings a montb,could be entertained unless be could
read and write. Village accountants, and the headmen of
village communities, might be required to pass examina-
tions. In respect to the public gaols a perfect mania
prevailed. Reading, writing, arithmetic, were required ;
and sometimes geography and the planetary system were
taught. And murderers and burglars who distinguished
themselves as teachers were conveyed from one gaol to
another to educate the rest. The people looked on and
wondered, not without suspicion. Suspicion ever marks
the barbaric mind. Why were we doing all this ? Surely
not without some hidden purpose of our own. The
Brahmins fostered the suspicions. They beheld in
the enlightenment of the people, the certain downfall
of their faith and their power. And already they perceived
themselves to be treated with less consideration than
before. It was whispered, and extensively believed. that
the object of our Government was to destroy the Hindoo
religion, and to convert them to our own.

With equal candour does this distinguished
member of the Bengal Civil Service condemn the
system he has been engaged in administering
during the best portion of his life. The native
gentry, he acknowledges, have no reason to feel
much attachment for a Government that has
worked their ruin. The proprietors and culti-
vators of the land, also, can hardly be expected
to exhibit much gratitude for a land tax that is
assessed too high, or for a revenue system that
renders them perpetually liable to the chicaneries
and delays of the most abominable law courts.
Even the sepoys writhed under what they con-
sidered an act of spoliation, when the Govern-
ment caused their hereditary lands to be surveyed
and subjected to a direct impost. It is true
" the payment of a land tax is one of the oldest
"institutions of the country," but it was paid in
a very different manner. A village was assessed
to a certain amount, but each man's quota was
settled by the inhabitants themselves, and the
potail, or headman, stood between them and the
farmer of the revenue. No man was dis-
possessed of lands because he failed sonic
one year to pay up his whole share of
the aggregate impost. Under the present
system, however, he is called upon to pay his
own land tax, without reference to his village
brethren ; and, in the event of falling into
arrears, he is liable to be ousted, and to see his
paternal acres put up for public sale. " The
" tenacity with which the llindoo sharer (of the
"av illage lands) clings to his ancestral fields, and
" his affection for the soil which he inherits, is
" unsurpassed in any country." It may be
imagined, then, how intense was the dissatisfac-
tion felt by the Oudh population—from whom
the Bengal army was chiefly recruited—when
they found themselves no longer landed pro-
prietors, but the mere tenants of the Govern-
ment ; for it was in this light they viewed the in-
novation. No doubt after a little time the feeling
of exasperation would have become mitigated, and
the people of Oudh would have bowed their necks
to the yoke as patiently as their neighbours in
the north-western provinces. But the annexation
of that country was even a greater blunder than
a crime. It was effected at a time when only one
weak European regiment was available to
overawe five millions of people. For the sake of
Pegu and the Punjaub, the Upper Provinces had
been denuded of troops, and thus the sepoys were
led to form the most exaggerated notions of their
own power and importance, and to entertain a
sovereign contempt for the handful of "pale
facet," who assumed to rule over them. The op-
portunity was certainly very tempting, and it is
no matter for special wonder that they should
have availed themselves of it. One thing slime
was wanting, but that the most important of all.
They had no leader, no head. Consequently
their movements were spasmodic and without
eonc.ert or combination, and the mighty
,sepoy

likk..