Page:The Garden of India.djvu/180

Rh had been proposed by Lord Dalhousie in his minute of the 18th of June 1855. Wájid Ali and his successors were to retain the title of "King of Oudh," and to receive an annual pension of twelve lákhs, in addition to which a body-guard was to be maintained for Wájid Ali himself, at a cost of not more than three lákhs yearly. All collateral members of the royal family who were at that time provided for by the King were in future to be maintained by the Company. Wájid Ali and his successors were to retain "full and exclusive jurisdiction" in the palace at Lucknow, and in his favourite parks of Dilkhushá and Bibiapur, but were not to inflict the punishment of death without the previous consent of the Governor-General in Council. The bitter pill of which the above provisions formed the sugared coating was that "the sole and exclusive administration of the civil and military government of the territories of Oudh shall be henceforth vested, for ever, in the Honourable East India Company, together with the full and exclusive right to the revenues thereof."

Not in vain was the confidence of the Honourable Court of Directors.

Two draft proclamations addressed to the people of Oudh were forwarded to the Resident along with his instructions. The first was to be issued in case the King consented to sign the treaty; the second in the event of his refusal. The difference between them consisted entirely in the recitals. In either case, it was proclaimed that the government of Oudh was henceforth vested in the East India Company, to whose officers all classes of the inhabitants were called upon to render obedience, under penalties. In conclusion it was declared that:—

"The revenue of the districts shall be determined on a fair and settled basis.

"The gradual improvement of the Oudh territories shall be steadily pursued.

"Justice shall be measured out with an equal baud.

"Protection shall be given to life and property; and every man shall enjoy, henceforth, his just rights, without fear of molestation."