Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/143

134 serious, besides being more or less apparent elsewhere. So Lord Canning, mindful of Sir Henry's former application and of his pacification of the Punjab, offered him the post — the charge of Oudh — which he at once heartily accepted, foregoing his furlough, and setting aside the claims of health and rest.

He was now about to undertake the crowning task of his career — a two-fold task — the pacification of an exasperated Province, and a pre-eminent part in the defence of the British Empire of India against revolt and the mutiny of its native army. Before entering on these two tasks, it will be well to describe more fully the personality and character, the views and principles, which enabled him to do this so successfully.