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lightful biography OF rcmnrkaDle man. ana
an important contribution to our knowledge Of
momsntous epoch in tho history Of the Brit
Ish empire In India. John Lawrence like
Warren Hastings. was civilian. but ike
Hastings. no occupies a more distinguished
place In the annals OF British dominion in the
East than has been attained by any soldier.
with the exception OF Lord Give. He COM
manded no armies. but hc orgnnizod victory;
he was not General. but ruler whose infexi-
ble resolution and illimitable resources mado
war successful and conquest durable and
gave without help from home. the dcathblow
to one Of the most colossal and formidable In
surroctions that the world has seen. Had not
John Lawrence known how to mako OF the
Punjab-which. according to all forecast. should
have been the seat Of fatal weakness-the
stronghold the recruiting ground. and tho
arsenal Of the British forces, the whole Of Hin
dostan must have been lost long before tho
first English transports had finished the long
voyage round the Cape: and with the momen-
tum thus acquired the great mutiny would
have taxed and perhaps defed tho utmost
efforts OF Groat Britain for It's suppression.
The biographer. Mr.. Bosworth Smith. has had
the good fortune TO obtain from the family and
friends OF Lord Lawrence and the surviving
companions Of his official life a vast amount Of
interesting and precious material. consisting
Of personal "reminiscences communicated by
those who could speak aa eye-witnessos of mo-
mentous events. and innumerable letters
penned by the subject OF the memoir. Admi-
rablo use has been made Of this copious mat
ter for. although at first sight the narrative
may appear somewhat voluminous. 1t will be
found by tho reader that not a chapter or even
a page could we'll be spared. An account OF
Lord Lawrence necessarily involves u history
II British rule In tho Punjab. as we'll rs OF the
siege OF Delhi. for II was his sage and
matchlcss government OF the newly an
nsXed province which rendered practicable
The employment Of 1t as the main
instrument in the recovery Of India. And
very properly as We think the biographer hus
allotted much larger portion Of his space to
The years during which the subject Of his book
was laying the foundation Of his fame and per-
forming his great deeds than to the later period
when the value OF his services was popularity
and officially appreciated.
This book is written in careful. vigorous.
and pleasing way. and the creditable qualities
of the style are sustained throughout the narra-
tive. To some readers 1t may seem that the au-
thor discovers too strong pred Election for Latin
quotations. but the presence OF such extracts
10 scarcely Inappropriate in O work which con-
stantly recalls the striking analogy between
the tremendous empire achieved by British
arms in India and the Roman conquest OF the
Mediterranean world. In the character. In
deed. OF Lawrence himself. not few traits re-
mind US OF those Roman proconsuls who. by
heir moral force and the virile qualities OF
heir intellect. extended or upheld the domn-
ions OF their country. He was OF the stuff OF
which the elder Scipio and Marius were made.
Lawrence was not man Of wide culture he
had no artistic tastes. and. with the exception
II works bearing on military history. he know
not much OF books. He was never ready
speaker. nor was he fluent or special
ly effective with the pen. He made
up1 his mind deliberately. and he
announced his conclusions in acts. rather than
in words. But those who obeyed him or relied
on him soon learned that his judgment was
not the less far-seeing and unerring because 1t
was not commended by smooth and eloquent
expression. They discovered In John Law
renee the soundness and the strength rs we'll
ns the roughness OF granite. and perceived that
his indomitable courage and steadfast will
were guided and enlightened by capacious
intellect. He was in brief. pillar OF the State
which almost alone stood unshaken when the
whole fabric OF British dominance in India
seemed crumbling to the earth from the shock
OF an upheaval far moro redoubtable than tho
Social War; tho servie insurrection under Spar
tacus. the revolt OF Spain under Sertorius. or
any OF the catas.rophcs which convulsed the
Roman republic
The author makes no secret Of his ardent
admiration for the subject Of his narative-and
there seem to have been few OF those brought
into equally close contact with John Lawrence
who did not share the feeling-yet the attitude
maintained toward him Is ono of singular can
dor and discrimination. He speaks of him as
the hero Of the Punjab would have wished to
10 spoken OF. with sympathy and appreciativo-
ness. but without extenuation or Partially.
When he believes Lawrence to have been In the
wrong. he says so buntly. and such plain
speaking does Lawrence no harm. for his
errors OF judgment were few. and his conduct
sven when mistaken. was never prompted by n
moan or unworthy motive. What will seem
moro strange to those who know something Of
The temptations which boset the great British
sstraps In Asia. heseems to have hud no vicious
pr wayward appetites. or at all events mover to
have indulged them. There is not single
discreditabe incident In his private life not
IN act which his wifehnd daughters could have
wished to blot.
The equitable spirit In which this biography
Is written Is signally attested in the authors
treatment OF the unfortunate difference OF
opinion-it can hardly be called Quarrel-be-
tween John and Henry Lawrence in regard to
the settlement OF the Punjab. For some years
both brothers we're members Of tho Board Of
Commissioners intrusted with the government
OF that recently annexed and turbulent
province. and their Views Of the proper course
to be pursued in the readJustment of tho sys-
tenn Of land tenures wero widely at variance.
Henry Lawrence. who seems to have been tho
moro lovable person. felt a soldiers ardent
sympathy for the Sikh chieftians who had
fought SO gallantly ly..though'unsuccessfully. and
he warmly advocated maintaining at least
80 much Of the feudal regime OF tho
Punjab as would insure to the Sirdars or great
'eudal lords large measure Of local authority
and influence. But John Lawrence whose
characteristic love Of justice proved him to be
4 born ruler. set his face against privileged
,astes. and In the interest OF the general we'll
being insisted that the whole population Of the
province should be equal before the law. In
The end. although considerable pensions we're
bestowed upon the Sirdars. and sufficient defer
ance was shown to them to command their
idclity during the mutiny. the ideas OF tho
younner brOthpr eyercisel the In rpar control