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76 felt aggrieved at the extinction of a dynasty, which, whatever its offences, had the merit of making Oudh a kingdom. When the order of effacement came, the shortcomings of the deposed Sovereign — his debased surroundings — the outrages of his officials — the reign of cruelty, impotence, and wrong — passed, no doubt, into a generous oblivion. A soldier, whom oppression scarcely touched and certainly did not shock, would feel but languid enthusiasm for the new and impersonal régime, which replaced the picturesque splendours of an Oriental Court by the dull preciseness of English administration; and which lowered his personal status by bringing within the reach of the community at large legal rights which had previously been the privilege of the soldiery.

In the army itself there was a serious deficiency of European officers. Lord Dalhousie's administrative system necessitated the free employment of European officers for civil work. A semi-military, semi-civil régime answered the wants of a newly-conquered Province. It was cheap; it was effective; it rendered the head of the organisation more completely master of the situation — to do what he pleased, unchecked by technicalities. But it involved a large reduction in the staff of European officers doing duty with their regiments. In April, 1857, Lord Canning had written to England an urgent request for an addition to the officers in each Infantry regiment — four for each European, two for each native regiment. He explained that the application was submitted in a