Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/166

162 Since that date many acts of tyranny and oppression had been proved beyond all doubt. The letter proceeded: — 'In case of delaying the execution of this policy, it has been determined by the Government of India to take the management of Oudh under their own authority.' Then, alluding to the King's inexperience, it further stated that the reform of such a bad system could not be expected to take effect at once. The first step would be to ascertain the rental of every estate and to fix a moderate assessment on each, so that the cultivators might know exactly their amount of taxation. This was to be effected in two years; and if the misrule had not diminished during that time, the Government would then feel justified in adopting extreme measures.

The above was the purport of the letter of warning. That it proved ineffectual may be gathered from what took place in 1854. Colonel Outram's report of that year proved that not only had no improvement taken place, but that Oudh was completely delivered over to anarchy and oppression. Thereupon Lord Dalhousie advised that, while the King should be permitted to retain his title, the whole of the administration should be transferred to officers of the Company. This was the more lenient course, but the Home Government adopted a sterner policy. The final orders for annexation were issued, and Oudh became in 1856 a British province.