Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/142

Rh Whilst in Rájputána, he was offered by Lord Dalhousie the chief posts in Haidarábád and in Oudh, but he declined them, electing to stay where he was. In 1856 there is nothing in his memoirs or papers to show that any seditious action going on through the country was attracting his special attention. He was probably mainly interested in the good feeling which had sprung up in Rájputána itself.

In January, 1854, he had sustained an overwhelming blow in the loss of his wife — of whom personally it would be out of place to speak here. His thoughts had been every now and then turning to a visit to England, and he had been recently corresponding about it with Lord Canning. In April, 1856, when Sir James Outram was about to vacate Oudh temporarily. Sir Henry had offered to leave Rájputána and act for him; but another officer had been appointed to that post, and while he was now making definite arrangements to take furlough to England at the end of the year the war with Persia broke out. This led to an entire change in his plans. It may first be mentioned, as a point of interest, that John Lawrence, having been consulted by Lord Canning, strongly urged the appointment of Sir Henry to the command of the proposed expedition. But that command was settled in England and given to Outram, who would otherwise have been on his way back to Oudh. The rule in Oudh consequently again became vacant; and by this time, the discontent, disaffection and sedition there had become