The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-28
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PLUNDERLNG THE PALACES AT LUCKNOW

Correspondence London Times
Our men were crashing through the of tho pal
aces, which yet filled with the evidence OF bar
barc nagncence and spendor and the cries of the dying
were not vet stiled when entered The Kaiscrbagh
cannot be described The place is series of palaces
kosks mosques, all of anciful Oriental architecture
light and graceful Others merely fantastic and curious
connected generally by long corridors arched and
in the front, by extensive WINGS which enclose the
courts and gardens contained within the outer walls In
every throughout the endless series there pro
fusion of mirrors in ponderous gilt fame universal
gliding cornices furniture and every thing that would
bear the process seemed the prevailing taste in the royal
court. From every ceiling hung glass chandeliers, of
every age form, color and design As to the furniture
in many instances it looked like collections from the lum
Der rooms Of all the old palaces in Europe Louis Qua
clocks and cabinets Renaissance mirrors and chairs
buhl worked ebony chests marqueterie tables solid
lumpy old German state chairs gilt all but these
relieved by the richest carpets by sumptuous dvans
by cushions covered with golden embroidery, by rich
of Cashmere shawls and by table ponder
Gus with pearls and gold In of the there
few good pictures said to be by Sir Joshua Rey
nolds Lawrence zoany and Bcrchey, but did not
any traces of Sir Joshua the walls when entered,
and there only picture which looked at all like
Lawrence There were numerous portraits Of the
present and former Kings of Dude, and oil copies OF
the portraits of governors general, of Wellington Mel
son. George ~ and Bonapartc many Chinese drawings
French crayons, and English engravngs of all sorts
even those from Williamson Wild Sports Of The Eat, old
and almost forgotten book tiger hunting in gorgeous
frames but the hand of the spoiler heavy among
them Those hung out of the reach of musket stock
and bayonet scarcely safe from bullet the leg of
a table. Down came chandeliers in tinkng, clattcr
ing rain of gass-crash crash crash! door and win
dow, and mirror and pendule! Sikh and soldier
reveinE in destruction and dcous with plumber and
mischief Those who could not get In at carry
on the work searched the corridos battered of the
noses legs and Of the statues in the gardens or
diving into cellars either made their fortunes by the dis
covery of unsspected treasure lost their lives at the
hands of concealed fanatics. There time guard
against ndiscrminate plumber inasmuch as it never
expected that the Kaiser bag and all its treasures
would have fallen that day into hands. 1t was
stormed at once
II WAS late in the evening when returned to camp
through ronts thronged with MT least 90 900 camp fol
lowers, all staggering under loads Of pundcrthe most
extraordinary and indcscribab spectacle ever behed
coolies sycss, kitmutgars dhooy bearers Sibhs grass
cutters food of men, covered with clothing not their
own carrying heads and shoulders looking glasses
mirrors, pictures, brass swords, frclocks rich shaws
scarf embroidered dresses all the loot Of ansachcd
palaces The noise the dust the shoutinx the excite
ment were almost beyond endurance. Lucknow was
borne away pieccmea to camp, and the wild Goorkas
and skhs, with open mouths and glaring eyes, burning
with haste to get rich contcndng erccy against
the current they sought to get TO The sources OF such
unexpected wealth.