enemy.

sick or wounded men, it would have been hazardous, if not impossible, to have attempted a retrograde march across a difficult country, harassed on all sides by an active and desperate Under these circumstances, sir James Outram, who had now assumed the chief command, determined on remaining at Lucknow, and awaiting the arrival of re-inforcements. His position, indeed, was critical, but events in another quarter were in the meantime operating in his favour.

33. Until the latter end of August, the British troops before Delhi are rather to be considered as an army of observation, than as a besieging force. Their inferiority in numbers and artillery was barely counterbalanced by their superior discipline, courage, and physical strength. These advantages enabled them, indeed, to maintain their ground, but not to assume the offensive.

34. Toward the close of August, however, a re-inforcement of European and Sikh troops, under brigadier Nicholson, arrived from the Punjab, and, on the 25th of that month, the rebels were defeated at Nujuffghur, with great slaughter and the loss of thirteen guns. A few days later a heavy siege-train was received from Ferozepore, and breaching batteries were constructed on the north side of the city. The siege may be said to have commenced on the 7th of September, and, by the evening of the 13th, the engineers reported two practicable breaches one near the Cashmere, the other near the Water bastion. Arrangements were, therefore, at once made for an assault to take place at daybreak on the following morning.

35. The first column, commanded by brigadier Nicholson, advanced under a tremendous fire, and, applying their scalingladders, carried the Cashmere bastion, and established themselves in the main-guard. Almost simultaneously, the second column, under brigadier Jones, stormed the Water bastion, and effected a junction with their comrades inside the walls.

36. A third column, under colonel Campbell, awaited the blowing open of the Cashmere gate to join in the assault. They had not long to wait. Lieutenants Salkeld and Home, of the engineers, accompanied by three sergeants carrying the powderbags, walked up to the gateway in broad daylight, and, while exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, coolly fastened the bags to the iron spikes of the gate. In the performance of this heroic exploit, lieutenant Salkeld was severely wounded, and two of the sergeants killed upon the spot; but the train was lighted, and the gate blown open with a tremendous crash.

37. As the smoke cleared away, the storming party sprang

through the ruins with a British cheer; and, the three columns uniting, made themselves master of the whole line of works, from the Water bastion to the Cabul gate; and before nightfall were in possession of Skinner's house, the Church, the College, and the adjacent grounds. This brilliant success, however, was not achieved without great loss of life.

38. Of the European soldiery, eight officers and 162 rank and file were killed, with fifty-two officers and 510 rank and file wounded; of the sepoys, 413 were placed hors de combat, of whom 103 were slain outright. The total number of casualties thus amounted to 1145, or one-third of the entire assaulting force. Among the mortally wounded was brigadier Nicholson, whose death was justly deplored as a national calamity.

39. Simultaneously with these main attacks, a diversion was made by a fourth column, consisting of Sikhs, Ghoorkas, and Cashmerians, on the suburbs of Kishengunge and Pahareepore. But, in spite of their most strenuous efforts, these troops failed to overcome the desperate resistance offered by the enemy, and, in the end, were compelled to retreat, though not ingloriously.

40. The day following the assault was consumed in shelling the palace, and in battering the magazine. A breach was effected, and, at daylight on the 16th, a storming party dashed forward with such impetuosity that the rebel artillerymen dropped their lighted port-fires and fled, leaving undischarged six guns of large calibre commanding the breach and loaded with grape. On the 17th, the British troops became masters of the Bank, formerly the palace of the Begum Sumroo, and, shortly afterward, of the Jumma Musjid, or principal mosque. Heavy guns were now brought to play upon the palace and the bridge of boats, and, by the evening of the 20th, the rebels entirely evacuated the city and its suburbs. Then was seen the extent of the damage sustained by the former capital of the Moghul dynasty. Whole streets had been laid in ruins; dead bodies tainted the air in all directions; the inhabitants, reduced to beggary, were crouching, terror-stricken, in obscure lurkingplaces. But the British soldier is merciful in victory, as he is irresistible in battle. To armed rebels, no mercy was shown; but women and children, and the defenceless citizens, were spared and protected.

had fled,

41. The venerable descendant of Timour-venerable only by reason of his gray hairs and extreme old age. with his principal Begum, two sons, and a grandson, to the tomb of his ancestor, Hoomayoon, son of the mighty Baber.

Here he was discovered and seized by captain Hodson, of the 2d European fusiliers. His own life, and that of his queen, were respected-but the princes were led out and shot, and their dead bodies publicly exposed at the kotwalee, or mayor's

court.

42. Gen. Wilson, whose health failed him in the hour of victory, now resigned the command to brigadier Penny, C. B., a veteran of approved gallantry. Colonel Burn, whose father so gallantly defended Delhi against Jeswunt Rao Holkar in 1803, was appointed military commandant within the city, and measures were successfully taken to re-establish order, and to afford protection to well-disposed and peaceful citizens. Two movable columns, consisting each of 1600 infantry, 500 cavalry, three troops of horse artillery, and 18 guns, were told off, and ordered to follow up the retreating enemy without delay. One of these, commanded by colonel Greathed, of the 84th, came up with a rebel force strongly posted near Bolundshuhur, and, after a spirited engagement, utterly discomfited them with the loss of two guns, a vast quantity of ammunition, and 100 men.

43. On the same day the other column overtook the mutineers at Muttra, and inflicted severe chastisement. The security of Agra was thus assured, and a direct road laid open into Oude. Re-inforcements from England were at the same time arriving at Calcutta, and each successive day fresh troops were rapidly pushed up the country. The tide had turned. The mutineers had lost their opportunity.

44. Since June, 1857, a large body of Europeans, including many women and children, had been held beleaguered in the residency at Lucknow. Towards the close of September, general Havelock attempted to relieve them. He had penetrated through the enemy's numerous forces to the residency just in time to prevent its fall. His force not being sufficient to protect the retreat of the women and children to Cawnpore, he remained at the residency, the garrison of which was strengthened by a portion of the troops, the rest falling back upon Cawnpore.

45. Lucknow was held by 50,000 rebels, who pressed the siege of the residency with great vigour, and the position of the defenders was extremely critical.

46. Sir Colin Campbell, the commander-in-chief, left Cawnpore with a strong force, on the 9th of November, to relieve Lucknow. He succeeded, by a well-conceived stratagem on

the 12th, in bringing away the garrison with the women and children, and marched for Cawnpore.

47. On the third day after leaving Lucknow, general Havelock died from the effects of dysentery, brought on by excessive fatigue and anxiety.

48. In December, Cawnpore was attacked by 25,000 rebels with 50 guns, and sir Colin Campbell was summoned from the neighbourhood of Lucknow for its defence. He arrived in season to save the place, after a severe action with the enemy.

49. Sir Colin remained at Cawnpore, collecting a large force for the final siege of Lucknow. During the time which was thus occupied, several actions of minor importance took place; but it was not till the 17th of March that Lucknow was recovered, after a short but active siege. After its fall, the kingdom of Oude, of which it was the capital, was speedily restored to obedience and comparative tranquility.

50. Since the fall of Lucknow, the war has assumed a guerilla character in various parts of India; and no other event of equal importance has transpired.

Questions for Examination.

1. What is said of the war with Russia? Of the Sepoy mutiny? 2. Of lords Dalhousie and Canning?

3. Of the Persian war?

4. Of the Mohammedans of Upper India? Of the king of Delhi? 5. Of the Mahommedans and Hindoos? Of the greased cartridges? 6. What took place in Oude? In Lucknow? At Meerut?

7. At Delhi? What was said by a writer in the Edinburgh Review? 8. What is said of the spread of the rebellion?

9. Of the situation of the British posts?

10. What took place at Lucknow ?

11. At Cawnpore? What is said of Nena Sahib?

12. What was occurring at Delhi?

13. At Calcutta?

14. In England?

15. What force was sent out to India?

16. Who was appointed commander-in-chief?

17. What was done by general Havelock? By Nena Sahib?

18. By Havelock at Bhitoor?

19. On the banks of the Ganges?

20. What took place at Arrah?

21. What is said of the native chiefs?

22. What took place in the Bombay presidency?

23. What is said of the Madras troops? Of the Assamese?

24. What is said of lord Canning?

25. Of the Mohurrum?

26. Of lord Canning's measures respecting the central provinces ? 27. Of sir James Outram?

Of Havelock?