like an English gentleman than most natives. His vice was hard drinking; but only at night. I speak of him as I saw him at Benares, and in the early part of his reign at Lucnow. I do not know what he was later in the day. He had good reason to be apprehensive of revolt, for his reign was new, and his natural parsimony, with the strict order and economy which he endeavoured to introduce into his provinces, were unfavourably contrasted with the profusion of his predecessors. The subsidiary force had been established by Mr. Hastings in 1775, and the augmentation now made had been agreed to before Saadut Ali left Benares.'-Mountstuart Elphinstone.

The resident at Lucnow communicated immediately by express with General Sir James Craig at Anopesher, and Colonel Russell at Cawnpore, with a requisition to the latter to march with his whole force to Lucnow. He likewise suggested to Sir James Craig the propriety of either returning without delay to that neighbourhood, or detaching such part of the army under his command as might suffice to crush all opposition; more especially as certain

intelligence had just been received of the retirement of Zemaun Shah from Lahore on his return home.

The nawaub was at the same time advised to issue circular orders to all his aumeels to be on their guard and seize the person of Vizier Ali, should he attempt to enter the territory of Oude; and as the detestation of his treacherous and bloodthirsty conduct seemed to be pretty general, it was hoped that he would soon be brought to the punishment due to his crimes. The city of Lucnow in the meanwhile continued in perfect tranquillity.

On the instant that it was ascertained at Benares that Vizier Ali had abandoned his defences and fled out from a gate at the back of the gardens, scouts were promptly despatched by the judge and magistrate to follow him if possible, and watch his movements. Nothing more was at first known of his flight than that it was in the direction of Azimghur, where it was not improbable that he might seek refuge, and meet with adherents. It subsequently appeared that he passed that place in haste, with only a few attendants, and after passing the Gogra at Doory Ghaut, retired towards Betaul,

a province belonging in part to the Nawaub of Oude, and the remainder to the Rajah of Nepal. Had General Erskine, at the moment of his flight being known, even possessed authority or deemed himself at liberty to pass the river and enter the nawaub's dominions, it still appeared problematical whether his following could be of any use until some certain intelligence could be obtained of the fugitive. It appeared that he fled from Mahdoo Doss's garden, when the field-piece opened against it, by a passage communicating from the back part into streets narrow and intricate; but the direction in which he passed through the town, and the road he afterwards took, were not known until late in the evening, by which time he must have been at a great distance from Benares. There was reason to believe that the ex-nawaub and most of his followers were mounted upon fresh horses; but had it been otherwise, there was no probability that any detachment which could have been sent in pursuit could have overtaken him before he was out of the British territory.

At the moment when General Erskine's column, in advancing to the attack on Mahdoo Doss's garden, entered the suburbs, it had been

suggested to Mr. Davis by a native that a detachment might be sent by another route to intercept Vizier Ali's retreat; but the way which he took being at that time quite unknown, and having in his mind the fate of a detachment which, in Cheyte Singh's insurrection against Warren Hastings, was repulsed and almost destroyed by getting entangled in the narrow streets, Mr. Davis declined giving any hint, the consequences of which, by subjecting a part of the General's force to a similar situation, might render doubtful the success of the principal attack; more especially as he knew the proposed route to be very circuitous through narrow streets in a large city, which had just given signs of general hostility. To have marched the troops from Benares would have been extremely imprudent; for though apparent tranquillity returned when Vizier Ali had fled, yet strong suspicions of disaffection and conspiracy remained against certain persons of rank, and there was reason for feeling certain that Vizier Ali had adherents in many parts of the district who only waited for a favourable occasion to discover themselves.

For the present protection of the city and

district of Benares, Mr. Davis thought it necessary to make a requisition to General Erskine in the following terms :—

From the evidence adduced before me, there is ground to suspect that some of the baboos distantly related to the Rajah of Benares had entered into the ultimate views of Vizier Ali, and that a zemindar in this neighbourhood actually collected armed men to second his operations. It is well known, and has been represented to government, that the city abounds with armed adventurers, who are ever ready to enter into any service at a moment's notice. There are in the district persons of rank who live and maintain their own guards without any limitation from government, and who are not under the same subordination to the laws as the other inhabitants ; and although the danger resulting from these indulgences to individuals residing here is apparent in the use made of them by Vizier Ali, yet the same system must remain in force until the supreme government shall think proper to reverse or correct it. Under these circumstances, and so soon after the late insurrection, it would be the height of imprudence

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