Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/187

178 be the utmost watchfulness and promptness; everywhere the first germ of insurrection must be put clown instantly. Ten men may in an hour quell a row which, after a day's delay, may take weeks to put down. I wish this point to be well understood. In preserving internal tranquillity the chiefs and people of substance may be most usefully employed at this juncture; many of them have as much to lose as we have. Their property, at least, is at stake. Many of them have armed retainers, some few are good shots, and have double-barrelled guns. For instance, (name illegible) can hit a bottle at 100 yards. He is with the ordinary soldiers. I want a dozen such men, European or native, to arm their own people, and to make thannahs of their own houses or some near position, and preserve tranquillity within a circuit around them.'

Sir Henry was at the same time supported and comforted by the warm approval he received from Lord Canning, who wrote thus on May 22: —

'I hope you will think that I have given you the best proof of the satisfaction and confidence with which all your proceedings during the last ten days have been viewed in the support which you have received. ... There is a lull to-day; every preparation, present and prospective, that can be made here being complete; and I take the opportunity to send you one word of earnest thanks for your invaluable service. I cannot express the satisfaction I feel in having you in Oudh.'

It seems to be absolutely certain that Lawrence was from the first left entirely to his own judgement for guidance in his actions and measures, and was quite unfettered and unhampered by orders.