operations of Zemaun Shah, and the employment which the British forces were likely to find on the western frontiers of Oude in the expected invasion.

The main army to the westward was under the command of General Sir James Craig, while, unfortunately for Vizier Ali and his ambitious projects, there was a reserve, under Major-General Erskine, encamped within a short march of the city of Benares. It would be manifestly ill-timed in him to declare himself as long as such a state of things existed; but a crisis in his affairs arose, which hardly left him the choice of deliberation.

The original error of placing the deposed nawaub at Benares being repeatedly brought to the notice of government, began, towards the conclusion of the first year of his residence there, to excite its serious attention; and Mr. Cherry was at length instructed to convey to Vizier Ali the resolution of the governorgeneral, Lord Mornington, to remove him to Calcutta. This announcement, as might be expected, fell like a thunder-stroke on one who was engaged in organising schemes which, if successful, would soon render him independent,

if not again a sovereign. To be compelled to reside in the immediate vicinity, and under the supervision of the supreme government, was a death-blow to all chances of success from insurrectionary projects. His remonstrances were loud and urgent, but they proved vain. Thus it was that this youth (for he was now only nineteen years of age), by nature of a savage and impetuous temperament, became hurried into the execution of a desperate plot.

Unhappily for Mr. Cherry, he was but too little inclined to suspect treachery or violence on the part of the ex-nawaub, or to take those precautions which the case required. As the princely establishment and pretensions of Vizier Ali, according to the prejudices of the country, took him in some measure out of the control of the civil magistrate, and placed him under the immediate surveillance of the governor-general's agent, Mr. Cherry was the individual with whom the charge rested in the first instance. On the thirteenth of January, the native superintendent of police, who had been warned to be vigilant, waited on Mr. Davis, and reported to him that Vizier Ali

was engaging a number of armed men in his service, and seemed to make no preparations for his departure to Calcutta. This was immediately communicated to Mr. Cherry, and the head of the police at the same time desired to watch the further movements of the · parties.

Vizier Ali, when he had found all remonstrances vain, avowedly acquiesced in his proposed removal to Calcutta, and gave out that he should proceed on the fifteenth or sixteenth of January. On the night of the thirteenth, a hurcarrah, or messenger, came to Mr. Cherry's house and announced that the nawaub would visit him on the following morning, at breakfast. Early on the fourteenth another emissary came, and after making some inquiries, immediately returned. Some time afterwards Vizier Ali's drum was heard, and he was seen to approach with a train of horse and foot, consisting in all of about 200 men. In numbers this did not much exceed the retinue which he had been accustomed to move with; but a jemmadar of Mr. Cherry reported to his master, that this party, instead of coming in their usual manner, were all armed, and with

matches lighted. Mr. Cherry, in reply, told the man that it mattered not, and that he was a fool for his fears.

On Vizier Ali's arrival, his host, according to custom, met and handed him in, accompanied by his friends, Waris Ali, Izzut Ali, and another, father-in-law to the last. Mr. Evans, a young private secretary, was also present. The party were attended into the breakfast room by four followers, armed with swords, shields, and pistols. When the chief persons had taken their seats, Mr. Cherry, calling for tea, handed it to Vizier Ali, who did not touch it; but, addressing himself to his host, said that he had something of great consequence to communicate. Then raising his voice, he began to complain of the treatment he had received from Sir John Shore, the late governor-general, who, he declared, had at first promised him six lacs of rupees per annum, but subsequently reduced it to a much smaller amount. On his departure,' continued Vizier Ali, Sir John Shore told me that you would take care of my interests, and attend to my representations; but this you have never done. On the contrary, at the

suggestion of Saadut Ali Khan,* you now wish me to go to Calcutta; but Lord Mornington is absent what should I do there? Saadut Ali Khan wishes for my death, and the English are in league with him. They listen to him; but neither you nor any one else attends to me. I shall therefore not proceed to Calcutta, but go where I please.'

While he was speaking, Waris Ali came round from his seat, and placed himself near Mr. Cherry. This seemed to be a concerted signal, for Vizier Ali, rising from his chair, seized Mr. Cherry by the collar, while the other held him behind, and, as he exclaimed against this violence, the nawaub struck at him with his drawn sword. The conspirators now followed the example set them, and as the unfortunate resident endeavoured to escape through the verandah into the garden, they followed him in a body, and cut him down before he had gone many yards on the outside.

In the meanwhile, Izzut Ali had seized Mr. Evans, and grasped at his dagger to stab him ;

The actual Nawaub of Lucnow.