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Chapter 4

Sir Henry Lawrence one of the few good men in India – Ms charity, endurance, and earnest honesty – The garrison of Lucknow preserved by his forethought – May God have mercy on him who tried to do his duty

The death of Sir Henry Lawrence on the fourth day of the siege, is known to all who have taken any interest in the affairs of India. We, who knew him personally, will never cease to grieve for him. The State lost an able and most devoted servant, and the public a great friend and benefactor.

I knew him first in 1841, in which year he was assistant to Sir George Clerk, the Political Agent of the Sikh States, whose ability, activity, and prudence, at a very critical stage of our relations with the Lahore Durbar, obtained for him the reputation he has since maintained. I was a clerk in his office, and daily saw Sir Henry, who was then an impetuous and indefatigable officer, and so wholly absorbed by public duties that he neglected his person, and left himself scarcely any time for recreation. He had little of that gentleness of temper which afterwards grew upon him, and, although very accessible, was not always agreeable to natives. He was rather impatient, and not so

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practical a philanthropist as he subsequently became. A good straightforward native gentleman was sure to be treated with courtesy, and with a cordiality that filled him with pleasure; but woe to the intriguer or deceiver – these, Captain Lawrence met with a stern aspect, and sent sneaking away in fear and trembling. His brusque manner, grotesque appearance, and shrewd sharp look, attracted the notice of strangers at once, who always left him impressed with the feeling that he was no ordinary man. His mind and body were always in a state of tension, and both were alike denied proper rest.

When the Punjab was annexed to the British dominions, in 1849, he very kindly offered me the appointment of head clerk in the Revenue and General Department of the Board of Administration; which -I accepted, glad to be once more under an officer who knew how to encourage merit. In spirit, and in heart, he was as chivalrous as ever; and, in addition to the respect and honour which his talents, his honesty, and his great earnestness had earned, he was now revered as the founder and supporter of the Asylum in the Hills for Soldiers’ Children. He was somewhat less careless of dress, but not a whit more chary about the time devoted to public business. Indeed, his great indifference to health and comfort was destroying his constitution. The vigour which I thought his mind had lost, was not lost, but fused into his noble heart. He abhorred and perseveringly resisted the spoliation of the upper class of Indians; for, unlike most civilians, he would not make the interests of the subject subservient to the policy of the Government. His was a broad, capacious understanding, unsuited for the minutiae of an extensive province, and he bent under the weight

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of the prodigious correspondence on mere matters of detail, for which the training and experience of Sir John Lawrence were better fitted. He quitted the Province because he in vain opposed the severe policy pursued by his brother.

On the annexation of the fertile province of Oudh, in February, 1856, I was appointed Superintendent of the office of the Chief Commissioner, and here I again met Sir Henry. His policy towards the natives of India was known to be conciliatory, impartial, and generous; and he was, therefore, especially selected for Lucknow, where the benefit of his presence among the mean but haughty nobles was immediately felt, and the citizens gladdened by the visits of a man who actively studied their welfare, and encouraged them by frequent words of advice and kindness.

When the civilians were embodied into infantry and cavalry, two of the latter were daily attached to Sir Henry as orderlies. On the 26th of June, I was one of these, and followed his carriage to the Old Castle, where, mounting his favourite white horse, Ludaliee, he minutely inspected the works in progress, stopping once to observe some officers and civilians who were being taught gun drill. While here, a letter was put into his hands, and dismounting to rest on the edge of a well, he read aloud intelligence from Major Raikes, that Delhi had been captured by the British troops: which was, of course, believed at the time.

Sir Henry was then weak and careworn, and it was easy to see that he was over exerting his attenuated and exhausted frame. With failing health he strove to fulfil the hopes of the Government, but, alas I the feeble tenement which the cares of State had sadly

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reduced, could not endure the wear and tear to which his active and restless spirit subjected it; and, when the empire began to be convulsed by the great struggle for supremacy, his body rapidly yielded, and his great mind collapsed. I sorrowed, as I looked on the deep and drooping furrows of his intelligent face, and thought, on that morning, that the coming severe trial would hurry him to the grave. I was not in a position to be admitted to the intimacy of Sir Henry Lawrence, but my heart was open to the influence of goodness, and I loved and revered him for his noble qualities, which I had many opportunities of observing. To err is the destiny of all men, but it is reserved for noble natures like his to confess errors, and correct them. His faults were few indeed, and arose chiefly from impetuosity of temper, and never from the faintest depravity of heart, for his was transparently pure.

I saw him thrice afterwards, when he was visiting our posts in the dead of the night, attracting as little notice as possible, except when he stopped to admonish neglect, and suggest improvement. I was soon after fastened to my bed by sickness, and saw no more his manly face.

As he lay in the agonies of death, his thoughts were of us; and the instructions he then dictated for our guidance during the defence, evinced his wisdom and anxiety for our welfare. They were recorded in a diary by Major Banks, (an active and clever officer who soon followed him), and the book was recovered by me on the capture of Lucknow, in March, 1858. The following is a copy of his injunctions:–

1. Reserve fire; check all wall firing.

2. Carefully register ammunition in store for guns and small arms. Carefully register daily expenditure, as far as possible.

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3. Spare the precious health of Europeans, in every possible way, from shot and sun.

4. Organize working parties for night labour.

5. Entrench – entrench – entrench – erect traverses; cut off enemy’s fire.

6. Turn every horse out of the entrenchment except enough for four guns. Keep Sir Henry Lawrence’s horse, Ludakee – it is a gift to his nephew, George Lawrence.

7. Use the State prisoners as a means of getting in supplies; by gentle means, if possible, or by threats.

8. Enroll every servant as bildar or carrier of earth. Pay liberally – double – quadruple.

9. Turn out every native who will not work, save menials, who have more than abundant labour.

10. Write daily to Allahabad or Agra.

11. Sir Henry Lawrence’s servants to receive one year’s pay; they are to work for any other gentlemen who want them, or they may leave, if they prefer to do so.

12. Take an immediate inventory of all natives, so as to know who can be used as bildars, etc.

13. Take an immediate inventory of all supplies and food, etc. Take daily average of expenditure.

14. Put on my tomb only this: Here lies Henry Lawrence, who tried to do his duty. May God have mercy on him.

The effect of these instructions was felt to the end of the defence, and to his foresight in furnishing the garrison we owe our salvation. May God have mercy upon him, was his own humble and affecting prayer, for he did his duty.

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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