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CHAPTER XIII. 



THE GREAT MUTINY — FIRST WEEKS OF THE 

 SIEGE OF DELHI. MAY- JUNE. 



Among Hodson's staunchest friends at this period 

 was the Rev. C. Sloggett, chaplain of Dagshai. As 

 early as April 1857 Hodson had laid before the rev, 

 chaplain a written statement of his case which 

 embodied Reynell Taylor's report. Mr Sloggett 

 was so greatly impressed by the force and clearness 

 of this document that he offered to show it to his 

 " dear friend Colonel Chester," with whom he was 

 going to spend a few days at Simla. 



"He kindly looked over it," says Mr Sloggett, 

 " at my earnest request, and while doing this the 

 judge advocate-general. Colonel Keith Young, came 

 into the room and took part in our conversation. 

 He too, like the many men who have made the 

 reputation and greatness of our Indian Government, 

 was possessed of the highest honour and integrity, 

 and at first he spoke to me with scorn respecting 

 the case. The whole matter, he said, had passed 

 under his own review ere it had been submitted 

 to Government, and the verdict of the court was 

 amply justified by the evidence produced. But here 

 Colonel Chester interposed by telling him of this 



