80 CAW NPORE.,
necessary to take immediate measures. The incen- diary was put in irons, and an urgent application for aid telegraphed to Lucknow. Sir Henry Law- rence was roused from his bed at midnight, and by break of day all the available post-carriages in the station were rolling along towards Cawnpore, crammed inside and out with English soldiers.
But, in an hour of evil omen, Sir Hugh bethought himself of invoking the assistance of a more dubious ally. The Nana had lately paid a visit to the capital of Oude, under pretence of seeing the lions of the place. The arrogance of his manner, and the discourtesy of his sudden and unannounced departure, had attracted the attention of Mr. Gub- bins, the Financial Commissioner, who communicated to General Wheeler his suspicions, backed by the opinion of Sir Henry Lawrence. It may be that the fatal step was first suggested by the warning of wiser men. It may be that the idea had long been familiar to the mind of the infatuated veteran. At all events, the sole answer to the remonstrance from Lucknow was a message, dated the twenty-second of May, stating that “two guns, and three hundred men, “ cavalry and infantry, furnished by the Maharaja of “ Bithoor, came in this morning.”
On their march to Cawnpore, these scoundrels furnished a striking proof of their discipline and
