i68 PATNA DURING THE MUTINY. 



gathering I find I am the sole survivor, and have to bear the brunt 

 of the charge subsequently brought against us, that this nolens, volens 

 change of the Wahabees' residence, without any " with your leave," 

 or "by your leave," was an act of treachery on our part. 



In the insurrection of 1799 at Benares, where, as I have shewn, 

 my grandfather took such a conspicuous part, he was subsequently 

 directed to capture certain Mohammedan nobles known to be con- 

 cerned in the insurrection, and the historian of that affair records 

 that " Anything like an attempt to allure them into our power by 

 civil invitations was justly spurned, as success itself only renders 

 such treacherous measures, however consonant with Asiatic practice, 

 the more disgraceful." 



Men with such sentiments as these enable a handful of English- 

 men to hold India. And no wonder when in after years my 

 grandmother received five volumes of Despatches, the following 

 autograph inscription appeared on the fly-leaf: — 



" A testimony of sincere respect and regard, and also a memorial 

 of attachment, founded on long intimacy, to the honourable and 

 virtuous memory of your deceased husband, from her faithful friend 

 and servant, 



" Wellesley." 



It was accordingly determined at Benares, to plan the seizure of 

 all the Mohammedan nobles by surprise, at the same hour, lest the 

 proceedings against one might alarm and enable the others to 

 escape. 



This plan was adopted, and it ended in the nobles being killed, 

 but not before they had killed and wounded several of the force sent 

 against them. 



And now for the Patna aifair : 



Without attempting to shield myself behind the proverbs, "All's 

 fair in love and war," and "Necessity knows no law," or pointing to 

 such precedents as leading the enemy into an ambuscade, masked 



