200 
We were all totally difappointed ; 
no man even entertained a fuipicion of 
what was actually going forward. 
‘That the negociation to which I allude 
had the merit of fecrecy cannot be denied, 
but whether it had any other merit it 
might be prefuinptuous in me to deter- 
‘gine ; time will thew. 
On the 19th January, at fun rife, we. 
were infinitely furprifed by the firing of 
a royal falute; on enquity, we learnt it 
swas to proclaim Saadut Ali Khan, nabob 
of Oude. Saadut Ali Khan is the fon 
ef Sujah Dowlah, and brother of the 
Jate Afoph ul Dowlah ; his father defigned 
him for rule, but on his death he was 
difappointed#y the primogeniture of his 
brother, aided by the intrigues of his 
mother; and failing in an attempt to af- 
faffinate Afoph, he was obliged to aban- 
don his country and live a vagrant in 
Hindoftan for feveral years. At length 
©ur government interpofing, obtained his 
pardon and a -hand{ome penfion, and al- 
Jowed him a refidence in the vicinity of 
Banaras. 
Negociations had all this while been 
carrying on between him and Sir Jchn 
hore: he came up poft, incog. from 
Banaras to Cawnpore, where general 
Stuart was inftruéted to receive him with 
allthe honours due to a fovereign prince. 
He arrived about three o’clock of the 
morning of the roth, and made himfelf 
known to the officer on picquet, who im- 
mediately conducted him to general 
Stuart. ‘The general gave inftant orders 
for a ftrong efcort of artillery, cavalry, 
and infantry, to be formed for him ; and 
after being refrefhed by fome food and 
reft, he was placed in the centre of the 
efcort, and marched for Lucknow ; by 
nine A. M. the whole had pafled the 
bridge of the Ganges. 
_ Onthe 2rft, being joined by a rein- 
forcement of cavalry from the camp of 
Sir Alured, and he put on horfeback, the 
artillery and infantry were abandoned, 
and they galloped towards Lucknow, 1n 
the neighbourhood of which they were 
met by Sir John, Sir Alured, &c. who 
conduéted him ftraight to the palace, 
where he had the drefs of inveftiture con- 
ferred on him by the mother of Afopn, 
and was again proclaimed nabob of Oude 
by another royal falute. 
A guard was placed, on the evening 
of the 20th, over Vizier Ali; and of his 
gpumerous fervants and dependants not one 
remained with him to perform the moft 
neceflary office, infomuch that the olicer 
Revolution at Lucknow. 
[April — | 
of the guard was obliged to fupply him,- 
until it could be reprefented to the go-~ — 
vernor, who ordered him to be provided, 
Of all his adherents pofleffing ftations 
or power, there was one man only whe 
evinced the leaft appearance of fpirit, or 
fidelity. This was the grand mafter of, 
the ordnance, who declared he had {worn 
allegiance to Vizier Ali Khan, that 
while he Kved he could acknowledge no 
other mafter, and that he was refolved to 
defend the charge that had been commit- 
ted to him to the lai extremity. Ac- 
cordingly he.drew out about two hundred 
pieces of cannon, and prepared for the 
conflia. Our army moved towards 
them in three divitions; but before they 
had proceeded above half way, intelli- 
gence was brought that they were aban- 
dened; a party went forward to fecure 
them, while the army returned to the 
camp. 
Vizier Ali fent for fomethings to the 
palace, Saadut Ali fuftered them to be 
carried away, and fent at the fame time 
to let him know that. he was welcome to 
whatever elfe he chofe belides. Soon after 
this, he was permitted to vifit the gover- 
nor-general, whoreceived him very gra= 
cioufly, and endeavoured to mitigate his . 
affiiction by the moft foothing and confoia- 
tory expreffions. A penfion has been fettled 
on him, (to what amount is not known) 
and he has been conveyed: by a {mall ef- 
cort to Banaras ; but whether that is to 
be his refidence, as it was that of his 
fucceflor, I cannot fay. 
Affairs being fo far fettied, the troops 
began to be withdrawn ; I arrived here 
on the r9th, with the firft divifion of this 
ftation, and the fecend arrived on the 
26th. There only now remain at Luck- 
now with Sir james Craig, one Europe- 
an and one native regiment, a regiment 
of native cavalry, and a company of 
European artillery, and itis daily expeét- 
ed they will be withdrawn likewife. 
Sir John Shore and his fuite left Luck- 
now on the 21f and proceeded by poft to 
Calcutta: he embarks. immediately for 
Europe, in the Britannia Indiaman ; by 
which fhip I defign this letter to go. 
Sir Alured and his fuite left it on the 
23d, and coming by the way of Cawn- 
pore, arrived here to day ; he ftays to- 
morrow and next day, and then alfo goes 
poft for Calcutta to execute the office of 
locum-tenens during the interregnum be- 
tween the departure of Sir John and the ar- 
rival of Lord Mornington. 
Thus has this revolution, the reafons. 
for 
A 
