Page 454

Appendix – The Nana Sahib and Azim-ullah Khan

[The visit of the Nana Sahib to Lakhnao, in April, 1857, referred to at page 424, is thus described by Mr. Martin Gubbins in his history of the Mutinies in Oudh:]

“I must here mention a visit which was made to Lakhnao, in April, by the Nana of Bithur, whose subsequent treachery and atrocities have given him a pre-eminence in infamy. He came over on pretence of seeing the sights at Lakhnao, accompanied by his younger brother and a numerous retinue, bringing letters of introduction from a former Judge of Kanhpur to Captain Hayes and to myself. He visited me, and his manner was arrogant and presuming. To make a show of dignity and importance, he brought six or seven followers with him into the room, for whom chairs were demanded. One of these men was his notorious agent, Azim-Ullah. His younger brother was more pleasing in appearance and demeanour. The Nana was introduced by me to Sir Henry Lawrence, who received him kindly, and ordered the authorities of the city to show him every attention. I subsequently met him parading through Lakhnao with a retinue more than usually large. He had promised before leaving Lakhnao to make his final call on the Wednesday. On the Monday, we received a message from him that urgent business required his attendance at Kanhpur, and he left Lakhnao accordingly. At the time his conduct excited little attention; but it was otherwise when affairs had assumed the aspect which they did at Kanhpur by the 20th of May. His demeanour at Lakhnao and sudden departure to Kanhpur appeared exceedingly suspicious, and I brought it to the notice of Sir Henry Lawrence. The Chief Commissioner concurred in my suspicions, and by his authority I addressed Sir Hugh Wheeler, cautioning him against the Nana, and stating Sir Henry’s belief that he was not to be depended on. The warning was unhappily disregarded, and, on the 22nd of May, a message was received stating that ‘two guns and three hundred men, cavalry and infantry, furnished by the Maharajah of Bithur, came in this morning.’ ”

Many readers will smile at the statement that the Nana Sahib was in correspondence with Russia, and received an answer to his overtures. But it is by no means improbable that Azim-ullah Khan entered into communication with some Russian officers, responsible or irresponsible, and it is certain that at the time of the Crimean War nothing could have better served the interests of Russia than a revolt in India. That Azim-ullah visited the Crimea we know upon the best possible authority – that of Mr. Russell, who has given, in his “Diary in India,” an interesting account of his meeting with the Nana’s agent in the trenches before Sebastopol.

End of Volume I

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
hosted by ibiblio Support Wikipedia