Page:The Lucknow album 1874 by Darogha Ubbas Alli.djvu/41

 rebels in 1857-58. The tremendous amount of battering necessary to dislodge the mutineers from tliis position, before it could be taken, would hardly be believed by any one that was not actually present with Sir Henry Havelock's force. The largest of the buildings is now the United Service Club, a most elegant restaurant, delightfully cool in the summer months and offering the best accommodation, such even the clubs of Pall Mall might envy : it may also be considered the Town Hall of Lucknow, since public meetings, balls, soirees, and committees are held there. The other buildings, all four- storied, are used as public offices ; the Small Cause Court, and Civil Court &c.

Close by, on the same road, is the—

The common name of this building, Kasrool Khakan, or King's house, conveys no description of what it was used or intended for. Leaving religion out of the question, it may be considered the " Westminster Abbey" of Oudh. It was the Throne Room, the Coronation Hall, and Grand Durbar, or Hall of Assembly, of the monarchs of Oudh. It takes its name from the colour of the stone, with which it is built, or the plastering with which it is covered, being red. From the time of Saadut-Ali Khan, all coronations took place in the great hall of this " Lal Baradurree."

As will be seen from the view, the plan of the architects was to make the building colossal ; in keeping with the purpose for which it was intended, but although a fine structure, it falls far behind the Athenian or Roman Models.

From the history of Oudh, it will be remembered that a dispute to the succession took place between Moonna Jan, the pretender, and Naseer-ood-dowlah ; the people were in