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Rh the death of a friend from an accident on horseback, exactly like the one which befell himself ten years before in the same neighbourhood, he exclaims — 'God spared me, but he is killed, — Be still, and know that I am God.'

In every public or national juncture he flies to Religion instantly. He writes that 'faith in God is the foundation of all true heroism.' Thus strengthened, he addresses himself to affairs with confidence and self-possession. In 1848 the revolutions, which overspread Europe, disturbed opinion in India. He refers to the Psalm — 'say unto God how terrible are thy works; through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee!', which text he had cited on hearing of the Kábul disaster ten years previously. At this time, 1848, his Provinces were denuded of troops for the war in the Punjab, and some fanatical plots were being hatched. But he made preparations to counteract them with the utmost vigilance and activity. Believing that émeutes and uprisings are often traceable to some remediable discontent — he would, after suppressing the disturbance, patiently remove the causes that might provoke a recurrence of it. Though merciful to all pardonable offences, he would treat inexcusable wrong with strict severity and energetic promptitude.

In taking a survey of his own position, he looked much to opinion in England. In his youthful years at Cambridge, he had been accustomed to observe eloquence in argument operating upon general opinion.