The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-13 00:00:00

EVENING, MAY 13, 1858.

however do nut much !rouble me, if even they carry on
their gambols close to me" Itao run between the ratters
over the ceiling like so many cart•horses, and, by the
time I beat a retreat, may be heard oati.el 41,4 briskly
' the keys of the pianoforte. Lsst week tWo them
jumped jumped out of it, anti on some of the notes of this on-
. fortunate instrument seorning rather more out., f temper
I than usual, we investigated the matter, and Apple-ittos-
corn find precipiwely from a huge old rat, who bounced
out in her face, leaving a comfortable nest lined with
bones and other delicacies behind him, which no doubt
he had been preparing for a very happy family. The
numerous wily-cats sit upon the housetop, ant howl,
scream, and quarrel, but do not seem to think of inter-
fering with either rats or mice, after the fashion cf
respectable Western fel nes ; they, only unite with all
the other creatures in making night terrible. It is quite
tragi-cosoic to see us all meet in the morning, corn,
feverish, and dispirited. At first we lamented and
bemoaned with each other loudly, but have now become
less lachrymose on the subject, merely bestowing a
glance of pity on the last languid arrival a; the break-
fast-table, or an inquiry as to the particular species of
enemy from which the patient may have suffered most.
" Fleas ?'—' No, worse.'—' Dreadful ! Another cup
tea ? What is to be done l'—'D igs?' (to my cousin
Henry, who is really ill). 'No, mice ; and a rat, who
would sit on my bed dressing, his whiskers.'—' Was that
you, walking the garden like a ghost in a white sheet ?.
Were you sitting on the doorsteps at sunrise this
mornirg ?' 'The mosquito season is coming on soon,'
—with a deep sigh ; we seem about as unequal to it as
they say France is to a continuance of the war.' How-
ever, we have hopes of getting rid of our worst enemies,
the fleas ; for while I am away, Edmund goes on a visit,
and Vassili promises to have all the matting taken up
and every room well washed. The matting is very old,
and it is no longer of any use merely to wash its surface ;
no doubt the habitation of the multitude is uni erneath.
I have often been puzzled at the contradictory accounts
of travellers on this subject; many speak of torments
they have endured, and yet all agree about the perfect
cleanliness of Turkish houses. The explanation is, that
in Turkey no really good houses are ever let furnished,
or are acc-seible to strangers. There are no Turkish
hotels, no refuge for travellers but the caravanserais
of the 'Arabian Nights' and the peasant's hut."
The descriptions of her visit to the harem, of her
conversations with Turkish ladies, and all the lit-
tle incidents that serve to enliven an extended resi-
dence in a foreign country are full of entertainment;
and the reader, who wishes for a light and unpre-
tending picture of Constantinople and its environs
at that busy and exciting period, without seeking
much solid information, or deep research, will fiud
this work a pleasant and intelligent companion.

A Lady's Diary of the Siege of Lucknow. John

M uyi:ay .

This affecting memori4l of all the sufferings en-
dured by the heroic defenders of Lucknow was
itten for the perusal of friends at home. The writer
arrived at Lucknow with her husband, a chaplain, in
March, 1857, only a few weeks before the outbreak.
Throughout all that terrible time she and her hus-
band devoted themselves to the amelioration of the

sufferings around them, and by their cheerful and
ready self-devotion to animate them with their own
earnest faith and Christian kindness. The intro-

ductory letter is written on the day on which the
news of the insurrection and murders in Delhi have
reached them, and expresses their consternation
and alarm. Fearful rumours go on, which add to
their terror, though they cannot ascert tin their
truth. " Almost every hour we hear rumours of
fresh horrors, God only knows what the end will
be, or if the lives of any English in the country
will be spared. All this discontent and mutinous
spirit among the Sepoys has been going on some
time, but Government has shut its eyes to, and
laughed at it, till now it may be too late." What
a b.tter reproof to those iu authority these few
words convey. "It is very awful," she writes
again, "to feel this terrible danger hanging over us;
it may come at any moment. It would be impos-
sible to describe the state of apprehension we are
in, and thegloom that hangs over us."
" "Lucknow, June 30, 1857, Tuesday.
A most disa,trous day. Early this morning we
were awoke by the sound of guns passing the house,
and found that a small force of 300, with seven guns,
were going out to meet the advanced guard of the
enemy, which was reported to be at a place called
Nawab Gunge, in hopes, by driving them back, of pre-
venting the rest from coming on. When theyreacbed the
village of Chinhut, about five miles from Lucknow, in-
stead of a small force they found the whole rebel army,
amounting to between 12,000 and 15,000. Our unfor-
, tuoate troops were taken at a disadvantage, completdy
surrounded, and obliged to fly back in terrible disorder,
leaving nearly 200 killed and wounded, and five of our
guns, ono of them a howitzLT, in the hands of the
enemy. It was little less than miraculous that any of
them came back alive. Poor Colonel Case, Captain
Stevens, Mr Thompson, and Mr. Brackenburv, and
Captain M'Clean, of the 71st N. 1., were killed. Sir
Fleury Lawrence and Colonel Inglis returned all
safe. At nine o'clock we were in a state 01 siege,
cimpletely invested by the enemy, and tremendous
firing commenced. A very fierce attack was made
on the Bailey Guard Gate at the back of this house.
No sooner was the first gun fired than the ladies
and children were all hurried down stair: into an under-
ground room, called the Tye Khana, damp, dark, and
gloomy as a vault, and excessively dirty. Here we sat
all day, feeling too miserable, auxiou4, and terrified to
speak, the gentlemen occasionally coming down to re-
, assure ua and tell us how things were going on. James
was nearly all the day in the hospital, where the scene
was terrible : the place so crowded with wounded and
dying men that they bad no room to pass between them,
and everything in a state of indescribable misery, di:-
comfort, and confusion. The Polebamptons have left
the Residency, and got a little room in the hospital to
live in. Mrs. Polebampton will make herself usEful
there in nursing. - I wish I could go too, but there is no
room for us, and James says is is too great risk for me
going backwards and forwards under fire each time, so I
must try to be of use here instead."
A few days later Sir Henry Llwrence is
shot, and dies after great suffering, and after a
little time a division of labour is made among the
ladies. The Mr. Ommaney alluded to was the
judicial commissioner, who came there to see Sir
Henry Lawrence, and was wounded on his way
home.

"July 5, Sunday.
"We had service, and all received comfort in the
Holy Communion downstairs iu the Tye Kbana. Work
was portioned out to each of us who are strong enough
to do any, by James this morning. My stare is to act
housemaid, and keep the rooms we inhabit tidy and
clean : I am also to nurse Mr. Lawrence, and any sick
or wounded who may be brought to this h, use. We all
sleep, (that is seven ladies and seven children) on the
floor of the Tye Khana, where we spread mattrasses and
fit them tato each other like bits in a puzzle, so as best
to feel the punkah. The gentlemen sleep upstairs in
*lung verandah sort of ro ou the side of the house
least exposed to fire. My bed consists of a purdah and
a pllow. In the morning we all roll up our bedding,
and pile them in heaps against the wall. We have only
room for very few chairs down there, which are assi tied
to invalids, and most of us take our meals seated on the
floor, and our plates on our knees. We are always
obliged to light a candle for breakfast and dinner, as the
room is perfectly dark. Our nsu +I fare c .nsistis of stew,
as being easiest to cook ; it is brought up in a large
decliger, so as not to dirty a dish, and a portion ladled
wit to each person. Of course we can get no bread or
butter, so chupatties are the disagreeable substitute. We
have large stores of beer, wine, tea, arrowroot, sugar,
&c., which will last a long time. Our rations of meat,
rice, wheat, dhol, &c., we draw from the commissariat.
We are all kept close prisoners in the dismal Tye Khana,
only Mrs. D. and Igo upstairs at all during the
day—she to see her husband, and I to look after Mr.
Lawrence. For about half an hour in the evening we
are permitted to sit in the portico and breathe a little
fresh air. After sunset the firing generally slackens
considerably for a time, and it is supposed' the sepoys
are engaged just then in cooking their ninner. Mr.
Ommaney died this evening : what a dreadful blow it
must be to his poor wife and daughters 1"
Further on, the entries become briefer and sadder.
Death and sickness are busy all around, and hope
is growing dim. Sometimes a single line tells us
of many troubles, such as—
" July 14.—Very heavy firing all day ten
Europeans wounded: five buried this evk rung."
The other chaplain, Mr. Polehampton, died of
cholera, and double work fell upon the survivor,
who ran many risks. The intense heat added to
their troubles:—

" Since Smith was wounded I have undertaken, in
addition to my other work, to wash up the cups and
saucers for the early tea; and I find every hour of the
day fully occupied. It is a great comfort to have so
much to do, and to feel onese►f of some little use, and
helps one to keep up one's spirits much better than would
otherwise be possible under the circumstances. Dear
James is very hard worked, and does not spare himself
the least, so we don't see much of each other."

" August 4.
"One of the gunners was shot dead in the verandah
this morning. When I came upstairs to drass, I saw
the poor fellow lying there in a pool of blood."
"August 5.
" A soldier of the was shot in hospital this morn-
iag, while sitting on a comrade's bed."

"August 6.
" Mr. Studdy, a 32d officer, htd his arm shot off by
an 18-pounder."

"August 7.
" Unget returned last night with another letter.
General Havelock's force was obliged to return to
Cawnpore to oppose the rebels, who were gathering
in their rear, ar,d will not be able to come to the
relief of Lucknow till they get more reinforcements.
Dear James is very poorly t -day, and indeed we are
none of us feeling well. Hard work and want of fresh
air, together with hope deferred, are beginning to tell
upon most people."
The mortality among the children al.ie describes as
a:t.pyrad of i
ra eyd i
li Yesterday very great. One by 0.,e the poor litt one, dropped
off, and almost every p.ige tells of one droJping or
demi. At length relief came :
eveninglookea on the a n eighty
s o
often-
eighth
" September
ddet S
u
: ouresterdloayn
long -looked
aiege
'relief' arrived. Never shall I forget the moment to
the latest day I live. It was most
overpowering, We
bad no idea they were so near, and ware breathing
lir in the portico as usual at that hour, specu-

claotul 'whey thuey. mfoigrht,,leve:raiin,
daysexpectingwthheeny
1t
u idenly, just at dark, ee heard e very etiarp fire of
tmr,:sraty quite
urmsant close by, au
totser,the t
s:,a.'o-d b a
ot tremendousLagptpest beenhesoetr-
iliere i ueeing op !be roe 1, our coepound slid verandah
tilled with our deliverers, and all of nit shaking hands
frantically, sad exchanging f. rvent •' God b'eue you's"
t%ith the gaitaet men and officers of the 78th Highlan-
ders. Sir James Comma] and staff were the next to
come in, and the state of joyful confusion and excite-
ment is beyond all description. Tne hie, rough-bearded
soldiers were seizing the little children out of our arm',
kissing them with tears rolling down their cheeks, and
thanking God they had come in time to cave them from
the fate of those at Cawripore. We were al rushing
tabbeeu..tyte Rogthvaentah, eofpoorf.,lloawaladrrginekpsnor .yfwater, for they
mere p perfectly exhausted
which'• and tea was made down in
of tired and
thirty officere partook, without milk or sugar,
t feceshose of ef
dearestugtr teeert!esd t ra
b friendsnger
and we had nothing to give them to eat. Every
like one's toegue seemed going at cnce with 'so' much
tb.:ansekd
uponandtoeacteh of bned r l
e' a
and brothers, In the crowd I suddenly found mysel
caught h. lit a by both bands and warmly
el 1 friend Walter Birob. Two old Peshawur friend: my
e
al o
tinned up, C ptaiu C. and Mr. B. From the latter we
heard the terrible fete of poor E !ward aod.Maggie 11, at
Hi-ear. They were both murdered in May soon-after the
disturbances first began at Delhi. Edward was shot on
the parade-ground, and Maggie cut to pieces in the
house. Will eB. has eqsaped to the hills from.-BareiPy
Tee
►
to t,e vigorous and eteru policy of Sr John Lawrence."
—P
uhnej suband baa sl‘rierininnuetdeirpoite hisquiet thank,,regiw' regiment
tnhl yN.I.)
St.ll the siege went on, -and, among other escapes,
a bull-..,t struck the leg of the chair the writer was
sitting on, and the following alarming visitor in
truded one day . •

" October 30.
"We havlbeen besieged four months to-day.. This
morning an 18-pounder came through out ut..firtunate
room again, which we flattered ourselves was se safe,
and whic'a we had made so comfortable. It broke the
panel cf the door, an,i knocked the whole barrio .de down,
upsetting everything. My dressing-table was sent flying
through the door, and it the shot had come anal@ earlier,
my hea 1 would have gone with it. The be .x where Emily
u.ull:y sits to nurse baby was smashed flit; fortunately
she was spending the day with Mrs. Brydon, or she
would probably have been in the room. There was a
sale to-Jay of Colonel Halford's preperry, and James
biugat some plated dishes a great bargain ; they will be
very useful to us if we ever set up house again in
India."
The litile domestic records and anniversaries of
birth-days, wedding-days, and family . meetings
come in mournfully, and so much that is: grim and
ghastly. The writer is evidently of a warm heart
and affectionate di4positiou as her care of the nick
amid suffering about her, and her unwearied tend-
ing of the poor negleoted children, amply testify.
The rec )rd of what she had seen and done during
those weary months must indeed have been a trea-
sure to her distant friends. To all who were
sharers in those days of gloom and terror the little
volume will bring moving reco!lections ; and to
those more happily circumstanced, who have neither
had to tremble for themselves or others in that
epoch of suspense, it will afford some idea of the
prolonged anxiety, the patient endurance, the
hairbreadth 'stapes, and protracted sufferings of
their countrymen and countrywomen in Luckuow.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)