New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MIRON JOHN.n

On the morning of May 10. 1857, stalwart man.
with a deeply lined face and stern gray eyes 10y
reading in an Indian town telegram from
that was for many days TO cloud that siiii'ns en-
for him and all other EnglIshmen IN tne h"s''
Sepoys Mt ran "haye come in from Meetu' an" az
burning everything Mr.. Todd Is deau' anu w
hear several Europeans. We must smut up ino
Mutny had broken out. and 1t was Kheii vi ue".,,
that sounded along the wires. Not one worn s"'"
John Lawrence as he read-not then' nor III INC 7,
,rhols Of that day-to the friend and high Official
who was with him. Silently he pondered on INC
,rov,tv Of the crisis and the methods by which he
might meet the disaster. For once the hour anu
the man came together. Out of all the Engllshmen
in The Queens Eastern possessions, his mind his
character and his training fitted hun to be what ne
has often been called" the Saviour OF indla'
John Lawrence was born of vigorous race oil
Scotch and Irish blood, Puritan, Presbyterian Cal
whistle to the last degree. His mother was
ed from John Knox and had the strong ana ster-
ling qualities which such descent guaranteed; HIS
father was heroic soldier whose services were as
tinguished but almost unrequIted, ana VINO hSu a
lifelong struggle with poverty, disease ana wouhu-
cd nrde Colonel Lawrences sturdy sons were born
into home which was without lux
uries sometimes even without COMFORTS ana
in which the rule. if just, was solhe"n"
hard. All the tenderness when Attle JUDI
perienced came from his eldest sister, sni VI
strong and sweet character. and from MS olu nui
Margaret who served On occasion TO call out IN
tbe how the bravery and sense of justice which the
man always displayed. The story, which IN atter
veors be was fond of telling, is characteristic
Gone dav. when was about four or five years Old,
md was stayinp with my father and mother ri Us
tend my nurse Margaret was sent to market 10 pur-
chase food for the day. She was sent WIN 10
note and ordered 10 bring back the change Nneh
heard that my nurse was going TO the Market a'
pnce went to my mother to get PERMISSION 10 20
with her. When we got to the market
she purchased several things. NOW IL nap
nen.d that though Margaret had often been there
before, and was we'll known, she had never haa 80
much money with her before. This excited suspi-
cion She could not get her note changed, many
limiting she had come by it unfairly. AT last there
was a great hubbub, the shop-peope accusing her'
while she maintained her innocence. 1t Was lnally
settled nv their taking her before the magistrate 10
he examined. He asked her who she was, who was
her master and what was her occupation. ohe was
dreadfully confused and frightened ana couio
hardly say a word. All she could get out was that
her master was Colonel Lawrence, and that
his little boy was with her' oh
hearing my name l began to feel very
impor ;ant and thought would now come 1orward
and speak up for my nurse, so out came from oo
hind her-fcr had chung 10 her all the tlme-ahu
said. in as loud voice as could manage, why
sir it's our old nurse Margaret; she is very good
woman and all that she saws is quite true; came
tn the market with her to buy our food, and papa
cave her the money think that if you will let her
60 Won will do right as my father knows that what
I say is unite true' The magistrate saw quite
clearly now that everything was abOveboard, so we
were allowed to 60 home in peace. He said TO me
before we went away, We'll done, nv little man {;
Won spoke up for your nurse bravely' was ire
mendously stuck-up by this and walked home with
nv nurse feeling immensely important, and thinK-
ing that must now take care OF Margaret, and not
she of me-"
Lawrence's school life was short, but as boy and
vounp man he read much history and biography,
and was especially fond and wise In military an
nails. Of the campaigns of the generals OF ancient
and modern times he had thorough and accurate
knowledge, and as he grew out of babyhood all bis
bopes and wishes turned to a military career His
father and his three elder brothers were soldiers,
and his high-strung and aggressive nature could
not but lead him that way. But it was not to be.
An appointment In the Indian Civil Service was
offered him, and though he exclaimed "A soldier
was born and a soldier l will beW the domestic
authorities conquered, and the gaunt, rugged, I'M
couth lad, after the necessary study at the East
India College, sailed for Calcutta, and entered, at
eighteen, upon the work which was to make MIN
famous
He was first sent to Delhi as assistant magistrate
and collector and there he remained for four years
gaining the practical experience which at the end
of that time so well served him in his work as col
Iector-magstrate of the Paniput district. Here he
had nat only to manage the collection Of the reve-
nue 10 hear and decide all criminal cases large and
petty TO direct the police, to attend to the making
of roads. the construction of buildings ard the I'M
movement of the agricultural systematic was gen
era adviser, ruler physician and friend OF popu
lation of 400 900 scattered In large villages through
an area of 500 900 acres. lifelong friend write,
of him at this time that he was despot full OF
kindly feelings and devoted heart and soul TO hard
work He was always accessible to the people OF
His district when out with his dogs and gun he
had no end Of questions to ask every man he met
After a gallop across country, he would rest on
a charpoy, or country bed and hold an impromptu
ler6e of all the village folk, from the headman to
the barber Jan Ldrens,' said the people, sub
5anta.' that is knows everything. For this very
reason he was powerful magistrate, and brill
liant and invaluable revenue Officer" He went
about hearing and seeing everything for himself
shaking off the tribe of svcophants aterers and in
formers who dog the Indian ruler and he made
himself terror to evidoers. In his determination
10 reform every abuse the youths health broke
down, and one day friend riding over to see hin
from an adjoining district found him in bed
Nothing seemed to interest or arouse him. In The
course of a talk, which was all on one side his
friend happened to mention that at place where he
had changed horses that morning he had found the
stand of fakir, and entering into conversation
with him had asked whether there was anything
new stirring in the neighborhOod. In
deed there u.s. replied the fakir, 'Sahil
Is gone, and everybody regrets him
Tor one Larens Sahib, has come in his place who II
quite different sort of man and he then went Oh
10 draw dismal picture of the way in which rules
were enforced. rognes punished. and revenue ar