Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/206

Rh Thus died Henry Lawrence, a God-fearing, upright man ; a true king of men, resolute and brave, powerful in mind, noble and generous in heart. The epitaph on his tomb — by his own desire — ran thus: 'Here lies Henry Lawrence, who tried to do his duty.'

It need hardly be said that the courage and steadfastness which he had inspired in the garrison, the practical efficiency of the defences and the brilliant success of the mining operations at the numerous posts that were attacked, combined with the completeness of the arrangements for supplies and food, enabled the British to defeat all the efforts of the enemy, and to hold out till they were relieved by Havelock on September 25.

Although he was not to live to see this full fruit of his plans and efforts, still he was gladdened by the first success — the concentration from the Mutchi Bhown into the Residency — an omen to him, it may be hoped, of the ultimate result. But there can be no question of the exceptional influence which his arrangements and measures exercised on the issue of the struggle of 1857-8.

As to the Residency, it was entirely owing to his foresight and preparations that its successful defence became possible. It was in consequence of his pacification of Oudh, and his influence with the Tálukdárs and people, that those preparations could be made; and that in his efforts to relieve the Residency, Havelock was opposed only by Sepoy troops, and not by the people of Oudh; and also that on the