The Sun. — 1858-05-08 (London, England)

PROCLAMATION. "The army of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief is in possession of Lucknow, and the city lies at the mercy of the British Government, whose authority it has for nine months rebelliously defied and resisted. " This resistance, begun by a mutinous soldiery, has found support from the inhabitants of the city and of the province of Oude at large. Many who owed their prosperity to the British Government, as well as those who believed themselves aggrieved by it, have joined in this bad cause, and have ranged themselves with the enemies of the State. " They have been guilty of a great crime, and have subjected themselves to a just retribution. " The capital of their country is now once more in the hands of the British troops. "From this day it will be held by a force which nothing can withstand, and the authority of the Government will be carried into every corner of the province. " The time, then, has come at which the Right Hon. the Governor-General of India deems it right to make known the mode in which the British Government will deal with the talookdars, chiefs, and landholders of Oude and their followers. "The first care of the Governor-General will be to reward those who have been steadfast in their allegiance at a time when the authority of the Government was partially overborne, and who have proved this by the support and assistance which they have given to British officers. "Therefore the Right Hon. tne Governor-General hereby declares that " Drigliejjie Singh Ra ah of Bnlrampor , je; " Koolwunt Singh, Rajah of Pudnaha ; " Rao Hurdeo Buksh Singh, of Kutiaree; " Kasheepershaud, Talookdar of Sissaindee; " Zuhr Singh, Zemindar of Gopaul Kheir ; and " Chundeeloll, Zemindar of Moraon (Baiswarah) are henceforward the sole hereditary proprietors of the lands which they held when Oude came under British rule, subject only to such moderate assessment as may be imposed upon them, and that those loyal men will be further rewarded in such manner and to such extent as, upon consideration of their merits and their position, the GovernorGeneral shall determine. "A proportionate measure of reward and honour accord. ing to their deserts will be conferred upon others in whose favour like claims may be established to the satisfaction of the Government. " The Governor-General further proclaims to the people of Onde that, with the above-mentioned exceptions, the proprietary right in the soil of the province is confiscated to the British Government, which will dispose of that right in such manner as it may seem fitting. " To those talookdars, chiefs, and landholders, with their followers, who shall make immediate submission to the Chief Commissioners of Uncle, surrendering their arms and obeying his order, the Right Hon. the Governor-General promises that their lives and honour shall be safe, provided that their hands aro unstained with English blood murderously shed. " But, as regards any further indulgence which may he extended to them, and the condition in which they may hereafter be placed, they must throw themselves upon the justice and mercy of the British Government. " To those among them who shall promptly come forward and give to the Chief Commissioner their support in the restoration of peace and order this indulgence will be largo, and the Governor-General will be ready to view liberally the claims which they may thus acquire to a restitution of their former rights.  "As participation in the murder of Englishmen and Englishwomen will exclude those who are guilty of it from all mercy, so will those who have protected English lives be specially entitled to consideration and leniency, " By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of India.  "G. F, ' Secret Secretary to. the Government EDMONSTONE of India. " Allababad, March 14."