WILLIAM GEORGES SONSl 
 
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 VIZIEU ALl KHAN: 
 
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 BRITISH INDIAN HISTORY.
 
 
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 VIZIEll ALI KHAN 
 
 OR 
 
 TEE M-iSSACRE OF BENARES 
 
 A CHAPTEJi IN 
 
 BKITISII INDIAN HISTOIiY 
 
 ' I talk not of mercy, I talk not of fear ; 
 He neither must know who would serve the Viziek.' 
 
 Duron. 
 
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 SPOTTISWOODE .S: CO.. XKW-STREET SQUAIIJ^. LOXDUN 
 
 IS71.
 
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 PEEFACE 
 
 TO 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 The first appearance of this short History was 
 ^ in 1844, and the whole impression having been 
 ^ long- since exhausted, the present renewal, with 
 <^ some additions, in a limited number of copies, 
 g is chiefly for the supply of private friends and 
 relatives. The principal details were obtained 
 by me from ihe late Hon. Mountstuart Elphin- 
 stone, appointed on his first arrival in India 
 as assistant to my father the judge and magis- 
 trate of Benares, and present at the time of 
 the revolt. 
 
 There were episodes in the late Indian Mu- 
 tiny not unlike the events here recorded. Had 
 the first outbreak at Meerut, in 1857, been as 
 speedily quenched, and the mutinous regi- 
 ments prevented from marching to Delhi, the 
 perils of that crisis might have been greatly 
 diminished. 
 
 
 357120
 
 VI PKEFACE. 
 
 Vizier Ali was probably encouraged in his 
 attempt at Benares by the aspect of affairs on 
 the side of Mysore, where Lord Wellesley had 
 been summoned from Calcutta by the war with 
 Tippoo Siiltaun, terminated only by the defeat 
 and death of that Prince at Seringapatam in 
 the following May, about four months after the 
 failure of Vizier Ali. Had the latter not been 
 so speedily put down, the spread of revolt at 
 such a period might have taxed the resources 
 of the Indian Government. Lord Wellesley's 
 appreciation of the service rendered at Benares 
 is recorded at page 75, in testimonials from 
 himself. 
 
 J. F. D.
 
 VIZIEE ALI KHAN 
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 
 
 The kingdom of Oude is the only portion of 
 the great plain of the Granges that is not imme- 
 diately subject to the government of British 
 India ; extending from the banks of that great 
 river to the foot of the lower range of Hima- 
 laya, and surrounded on three of its sides 
 by the dominions of the Company. Lucnow, 
 the capital, though a large and populous place 
 in early times, became the residence of the 
 court as late as 1775, but soon grew to be one 
 of the wealthiest cities in Hindoostan ; rival- 
 ling those more ancient seats, 
 
 Where the gorgeous East, with richest hand, 
 Shower'd on her kings barbaric pearls and gold. 
 
 On the decease of the reigning sovereign, 
 
 B
 
 2 TIZIEE ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 Asoph ul Dowlah, in 1797, the rulers of 
 British India ' were compelled,' said Lord 
 Teignmouth, ' by an extraordinary concur- 
 rence of circumstances, to become the arbiters 
 of the disposal of a kingdom.' The claim to 
 succession lay between Vizier Ali, the reputed 
 son of the deceased nawaub, and the lineal 
 descendant of his father Sujah ul Dowlah, by 
 name Saadut Ali. After some deliberation on 
 the respective rights of these two claimants, 
 the decision was made in favour of Vizier Ali, 
 the presumptive eldest son and heir-apparent 
 to the deceased sovereign of Oude. The 
 ground of this decision was his acknowledg- 
 iment of that youth, now seventeen years of 
 age, as his own son, corroborated by a series 
 of corresponding acts and declarations, and 
 by the sentence of the Mahomedan law, which 
 supported the validity of such a claim. 
 
 The reign of the young nawaub was, how- 
 ever, destined to be short. Eeports and sus- 
 picions, at first so faint that they did not 
 prevent his succession, though they had em- 
 barrassed the counsels which confirmed it, 
 gained strength as to the spuriousness of his 
 origin. It was ascertained at length, on indu-
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 3 
 
 bitable evidence, that Asoph ul Dowlali, who 
 had no sons of his own, had purchased his 
 mother, tlie wife of a Fraush or menial person,, 
 a short time previous to the birth of Vizier 
 Ali, and adopted the child as his own. The 
 abandoned conduct of the youth after his un- 
 deserved elevation seemed to argue a spurious 
 and ignoble nature ; but he was not long able 
 to abuse the station to which he was so little 
 entitled. 
 
 The consciousness of his insecure position 
 probably led to his entertaining those hostile 
 and treacherous designs towards the English 
 which tended only to hasten his downfall. By 
 nature he was fearless, sanguinary, and uncon- 
 trollable ; in conduct debauched, and un- 
 bounded in profusion. His proceedings soon 
 showed that he was determined to maintain 
 his position at all risks — ^ et quccrere conscius 
 armaJ Immediately after Vizier All's suc- 
 cession to the musnud of Oude, and before 
 any question arose as to his right, the Grover- 
 nor-General of India had planned a visit to 
 Lucnow. Before his arrival, the letters from 
 the British resident at that court stated, what 
 was afterwards proved, the early determination. 
 B 2
 
 4 VIZIER ALI KHAN ; OE 
 
 of the young nawaub to establisli his own 
 power, if possible, by the subversion of the 
 influence of the Company. 
 
 On the morning when the intended visit had 
 been intimated through the resident, the state 
 of affairs at Lucnow wore a most alarming 
 appearance. Ten or twelve battalions of 
 troops were called in, the artillery was served 
 with ammunition, and a confederacy formed 
 with hostile designs. The result of his deli- 
 berations with his adherents was a letter, 
 described by the resident as requiring for 
 answer either the most implicit acquiescence 
 or the ultima ratio of the sword. Shief Ali, 
 the father-in-law of the nawaub, was with 
 difficulty induced to prevail on him to sub- 
 stitute one rather more temperate, and which 
 the governor-general received on his approach 
 from Calcutta. 
 
 The particulars communicated by the minis- 
 ter, Zehseen Ali Khan, the secret adherent of 
 the rightful claims of Saadut Ali, were very 
 unfavourable. He stated that the conduct of 
 Vizier Ali since his accession had exhibited a 
 course of meanness, profligacy, and vice. He 
 had avowed to the minister, who urged the
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. O 
 
 obligations of his predecessor to the Company, 
 that he would submit to no dependency. His 
 own expressions, in the letter received from 
 him, sufficiently confirmed this. ' I am con- 
 fident,' said he, ' that no one will dare to 
 annihilate my authority and dignity.' Tlie 
 minister added, as his own opinion, that it 
 Vizier Ali's power were at all equal to resist- 
 ance, he would oppose any interference on the 
 part of the British by force ; and that lie 
 meditated such a course might be inferred 
 from the fact of his exacting oaths from his 
 commanders to be faithful to him. 
 
 The measures of Vizier Ali, soon after his 
 accession, had been directed to the degrada- 
 tion of the minister, who was generally con- 
 sidered as favourable to the brother of the late 
 nawaub, and a friend of the English. He 
 repeatedly interdicted, under threats of severe 
 punishment, all persons from attending the 
 disgraced functionary. The official duties of 
 the minister were, by order, absolutely sus- 
 pended, while Vizier Ali assumed the entire 
 authority over the military, whom he conci- 
 liated with the most imbounded profusion. 
 The advice and remonstrance of the British
 
 6 YIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 resident were repeated without effect ; and the 
 governor-general was subsequently convinced, 
 that nothing but his determination to proceed 
 to Lucnow with a respectable force would 
 have prevented the subversion of the English 
 influence in Oude, or the alternative of hos- 
 tilities to preserve it. 
 
 The approach of Vizier Ali and the gover- 
 nor-general, from Lucnow and Juanpore 
 respectively, bore all the aspect of doubtful 
 friendship. The nawaub had at one time de- 
 termined to advance with a large force and a 
 numerous train of artillery ; but this measure 
 was relinquished at the advice of the mother 
 of the late sovereign, the Begum, or queen- 
 dowager, and he in consequence announced 
 that he should be accompanied by a very small 
 escort. The language of his letters to Sir 
 John Shore was civil and submissive, and such 
 it had been to the resident, at the same time 
 that he was secretly undermining his position. 
 Many respectable persons were deterred from 
 waiting on the governor-general by the fear of 
 offending the nawaub. 
 
 Some days after his arrival at Lucnow, Sir 
 John Shore was cautioned, through various
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES, 7 
 
 channels, not to put his person in the power of 
 Vizier Ali, under the impression that assassi- 
 nation was intended. Information was subse- 
 quently communicated that troops to a large 
 amount had been secretly introduced into the 
 town, and that orders had been sent to dif- 
 ferent battalions to march in. Two actually 
 approached from the neighbourhood ; the na- 
 waub admitted the fact, but denied that they 
 came by his orders, and remanded one of them. 
 These circumstances determined the governor- 
 general to quit his residence in the city of 
 Lucnow, and to occupy a garden-house of the 
 nawaub at the distance of about five miles 
 from his residence. 
 
 This removal had the apparent effect of 
 alarming the nawaub, who on the following 
 day quitted Lucnow, and encamped at a small 
 distance from the place occupied by the go- 
 vernor-general. He was here attacked by a 
 disorder which prevented his meeting Sir John 
 Shore for a considerable interval, during which 
 the latter had an opportunity of prosecuting 
 inquiries, the result of which led him to say 
 'that he had never been involved in a scene 
 of greater perplexity and profligacy.'
 
 8 VIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 Almas Ali Khan was a renter of Oude — that 
 is, farmer of the revenue of a large portion 
 of the nawaub's country He was one of that 
 class of persons common in oriental seraglios, 
 and had formerly been attached to Soojah ul 
 Dowlah's zenanah. Hitherto the great friend 
 and supporter of Vizier Ali, and second only 
 to himself in the kingdom of Oude, he had 
 been sedulously watching the progress of 
 things, and, when the house showed symptoms 
 of falling, he prepared to quit it, with the 
 sagacity of that small but astute animal which 
 has given a name to this species of desertion. 
 He called upon the minister, and surprised 
 him with strong complaints of the conduct of 
 the nawaub, whom he loaded with opprobrious 
 invectives. He spoke of him as being at once 
 spurious and profligate, and as calculated to 
 ruin the country by his vices and profusion. 
 He expressed his alarm lest a knowledge of 
 Ms conduct should reach the governor-general 
 and force him into violent measures. He 
 mentioned the entire approbation of the Be- 
 gum as to his conduct, and her earnest wish, 
 as well as his own, that Vizier Ali should be 
 deposed, and some one of the sons of Soojah
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BEXAKES. 9 
 
 ul Dowlali pluced on the musnud. The same 
 was successively repeated by Almas to the 
 governor-g-eneral, both alone and in com- 
 pany with the commander-in-chief. He de- 
 clared that the power of the Begum would 
 be sufficient, in the presence of the English 
 troops, to depose Vizier Ali, and promised 
 a considerable sum in compensation of the 
 acquiescence and aid of the British autho- 
 rities. 
 
 The opinion of Almas as to the defective 
 title of Vizier Ali was consistent with his de- 
 clarations immediately subsequent to his ele- 
 vation ; and the joint admission of both himself 
 and the Begum, as to his spurious origin, left 
 them without the shadow of a pretext for ob- 
 jecting to the claim of Saadut Ali on the 
 ground of right. 
 
 It was at this period that the governor- 
 general deemed it necessary to prepare for the 
 accomplishment of the event, by writing to 
 the resident at Benares, Mr. Cherry, who, as 
 chief judge of the Court of Appeal, was the 
 channel of communication with the foreigners 
 of rank at that city. As Benares was destined 
 to be the scene of the final catastrophe, it
 
 10 YIZIER ALI KUAN ; OR 
 
 becomes necessary to give some account of 
 that ancient Hindoo city. 
 
 The district in which it is situated was ceded 
 by the subsidiary treaty of 1775 to the British 
 power by the Nawaub of Oude, Asoph ul Dow- 
 lah, in compensation (as was alleged at the 
 time) of the aid which he had received in re- 
 ducing to subjection one of his tributary 
 chiefs.* The city is built on the north or 
 left bank of the Granges, as that great river 
 flows eastward, and presents a fine appearance 
 when viewed from the water. The eye rests 
 on a variety of noble buildings, some of them 
 highly ornamented, and with terraces on their 
 summits ; while the view is improved by the 
 numerous flights of stone steps which lead froni 
 the banks of the river to Hindoo temples, or 
 serve the crowds of devotees in the performance 
 of their frequent ablutions. 
 
 Mr. Macaulay has given the following gra- 
 phic description of ' Benares, a city which in 
 wealth, population, dignity, and sanctity, was 
 among the foremost of Asia. It was commonly 
 believed that half a million of human beings 
 
 * The compact in q\\estion was in reality a general treaty 
 for furnishing a force to protect him against all enemies.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 11 
 
 was crowded into that labyrinth of lofty alleys, 
 rich with shrines, and minarets, and bal- 
 conies, and carved oriels, to which the saQred 
 apes clung by hundreds. The traveller could 
 scarcely make his way through the press of 
 holy mendicants, and not less holy bulls. The 
 broad and stately flights of steps, which de- 
 scended from these swarming haunts to the 
 bathing-places along the Ganges, were worn 
 every day by the footsteps of an innumerable 
 multitude of worshippers.* The schools and 
 temples drew crowds of pious Hindoos from 
 every province where the Brahminical faith 
 was known. Hundreds of devotees came 
 thither every month to die ; for it was believed 
 that a peculiarly happy fate awaited the man 
 who should pass from the sacred city into the 
 sacred river. Nor was superstition the only 
 motive which allured strangers to that great 
 metropolis. Commerce had as many pilgrims 
 as religion. All along the shores of the vene- 
 rable stream lay great fleets of vessels laden 
 with rich merchandise. From the looms of 
 Benares went forth the most delicate silks that 
 adorned the balls of St. James's and of the 
 * Appendix A.
 
 12 A'IZIER ALI KUAN ; OR 
 
 Petit Trianon ; and in the bazaars, the mus- 
 lins of Bengal and the sabres of Oude were 
 mingled with the jewels of Grolconda and the 
 shawls of Cashmere. This rich capital, and 
 the surrounding tract, had long been under 
 the immediate rule of a Hindoo prince (the 
 Rajah of Benares) who rendered homage to the 
 Mogul emperors. During the great anarchy 
 of India, the lords of Benares became in- 
 dependent of the court of Delhi, but were 
 compelled to submit to the authority of the 
 Nabob of Oude. Oppressed by this for- 
 midable neighbour, they invoked the pro- 
 tection of the English. The English pro- 
 tection was given ; and at length the Nabob 
 Vizier, by a solemn treaty, ceded all his rights 
 over Benares to the Company. From that 
 time the rajah was the vassal of the govern- 
 ment of Bengal, acknowledged its supremacy, 
 and engaged to send an annual tribute to Fort 
 William.' 
 
 Benares was of old renowned as the prin- 
 cipal seat of Brahminical learning. Robert- 
 son, in his History of India, speaks of it as 
 the Athens of the East, the residence of the 
 most learned Brahmins, and the centre of their
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 13 
 
 science and literature ; and Sir Eobert Bar- 
 ker, an early visitor, has described an obser- 
 vatory there, said to have been erected by tlie 
 Emperor Akhbar,* in which were astronomical 
 instruments of larg'e dimensions, constructed 
 with great skill and ingenuity. Mr. Davis, 
 who was judge and magistrate of the district 
 about the period of this narrative, and who 
 will be found to perform a conspicuous part 
 towards the conclusion of it, protited by liis 
 residence there to investigate the astronomical 
 science of the Brahmins. He was the first 
 Englishman who applied a knowledge of their 
 sacred language to an examination of their 
 books. The results of his researches were 
 discussed by Mr. Cavendish, in the Philoso- 
 phical Transactions, and are known to all 
 who feel interested in the early history of the 
 science to which they relate. f A Hindoo 
 Sanscrit College, established in the year 1791, 
 and supported by the British government, has 
 continued to prosper to the present day. 
 
 * The observatory was really built by Jysingh, Kajah of 
 Jypore, about the year 1700. See Asiatic Researches, vol. v. 
 p. 177. 
 
 t Cited by Robertson in his History of India, Note LXVIII.
 
 14 VIZIER ALI KHAN ; OE 
 
 As the crowded streets of an Asiatic town 
 possess few attractions for Europeans, the re- 
 sidences of the English at Benares are chiefly 
 erected at Secrole, a short distance from the 
 city. In style they somewhat resemble the 
 villas and country seats of our English gentry, 
 with such modifications as may be demanded 
 by the climate. Insulated within their own 
 grounds, the four sides are open to the winds, 
 while a plentiful supply of Venetian blinds 
 serves to exclude the excess of the sun's rays. 
 The height does not generally exceed one 
 story above the ground floor ; but the flat roofs 
 afford space for extensive terraces with para- 
 pets, which in some cases are approached by 
 narrow winding stairs, surmounted by a trap- 
 door. This mode of construction is particu- 
 larised here, because it will be found to exer- 
 cise a considerable influence on succeeding 
 events. 
 
 Benares was the scene of one of the most 
 remarkable adventures of Warren Hastings — 
 one in which he rashly exposed himself to great 
 personal peril, but extricated himself with equal 
 resolution and skill. The transaction, which, 
 from its dubious character, formed one of the
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 15 
 
 principal charges against the British proconsul 
 on his return home, was briefly this. 
 
 The ffovernor-o-eneral had instituted a claim 
 against theEajahCheyte Singh of some hundred 
 thousands of pounds sterling, and he followed 
 up the excuses or evasions of the rajah by force. 
 He visited Benares, and there, notwithstanding 
 the personal submissions and protestations of 
 the unfortunate Cheyte Singh, had him arrested 
 by two companies of troojDS in his own capital. 
 This extreme measure, accompanied as Hast- 
 ings was by a mere handful of troops, soon led 
 to an insurrection among the subjects of the 
 outraged prince. ' The building,' relates Mr. 
 Macaulay, ' in which he had taken up his re- 
 sidence was on every side blockaded by the in- 
 surgents. But his fortitude remained unshaken. 
 The rajah from the other side of the river sent 
 apologies and liberal offers. They were not 
 even answered. Some subtle and enterprising 
 men were found, who undertook to pass through 
 the throng of enemies, and to communicate the 
 intelligence of the late events to the English 
 cantonments. It is the fashion of the natives 
 of India to wear large ear-rings of gold. When 
 they travel, the rings are laid aside, lest the
 
 1 6 TIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 precious metal should tempt some gang of 
 robbers ; and, in place of the ring, a quill or a 
 roll of paper is inserted in the orifice to pre- 
 vent it from closing. Hastings placed in the 
 ears of his messenger letters rolled up in the 
 smallest compass. 
 
 ' Things, however, were not yet at the worst. 
 An English officer of more spirit than judg- 
 ment, eager to distinguish himself, made a 
 premature attack on the insurgents beyond the 
 river. His troops were entangled in narrow 
 streets, and assailed by a furious population. 
 He fell, with many of his men, and the sur- 
 vivors were forced to retire. The hopes of 
 Cheyte Singh began to rise. Instead of im- 
 ploring mercy in the humble style of a vassal, 
 he began to talk the language of a conqueror, 
 and threatened, it was said, to sweep the white 
 usurpers out of the land. But the English 
 troops were now assembling fast. The officers 
 and even the private men regarded the go- 
 vernor-general with enthusiastic attachment, 
 and flew to his aid with an alacrity which, as 
 he boasted, had never been shown on any other 
 occasion. Major Popham, a brave and skilful 
 soldier, who had highly distinguished himself
 
 TEE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 17 
 
 in the Mabratta war, and in whom the governor- 
 general reposed the greatest confidence, took 
 the command. The tumultuary army of the 
 rajah was put to rout. His fortresses were 
 stormed. In a few liours about thirty thou- 
 sand men left his standard and returned to their 
 ordinary avocations. The unhappy prince fled 
 from his country for ever. His fair domain 
 was added to the British dominions. One of 
 his relatives indeed was appointed rajah ; but 
 the Eajah of Benares was henceforth to be, 
 like the Nabob of Bengal, a mere pensioner.' 
 
 Such was his condition at the period of this 
 narrative, to which we return. The decision, 
 as to deposing Vizier Ali, being once made, 
 there was no difficulty in fixing on the rightful 
 successor. Saadut Ali, as before stated, was 
 the eldest surviving son of Soojah ul Dowlah, 
 the late nawauKs father. When the treaty pro- 
 posed by the governor-general was communi- 
 cated to that prince, ' it was not the time,' as 
 Mill observes, ' to dispute about terms.' His 
 consent being obtained, he was conveyed 
 secretly to Cawnpore,* and once safely arrived 
 
 * There was something interesting in tlie mode of Saadut 
 All's journey to Cawnpore. Mr. Cherry ordered relays to be 
 C
 
 18' nziER ALi khan; or 
 
 there, was openly escorted by a large body of 
 European troops from Ciawnpore to Lucnow. 
 '•The governor-general committed the peace 
 of the city to the charge of the elder Begum 
 (the late nawaub's mother), whose influence over 
 the turbulent elements of discord now collected 
 within its walb he knew to be paramount ; and 
 he moreover enjoined her to be in readiness on 
 the following morning to bestow the khelaut of 
 investiture on the rightful heir to the throne ; 
 overcoming her reluctance to accept the two- 
 fold duty by threatening, in the event of her 
 refusal, to entrust it to other hands. Saadut 
 Ali, as he entered the city at the appointed 
 time, manifested considerable alarm ; and, to 
 quiet his fears, Sir John Shore placed him on 
 his own elephant. As they advanced through 
 the streets to the palace, the governor-general 
 amused the imimense multitude, assembled to 
 
 prepared as- for himself, and had his clothes packed in the 
 baskets which accompany a traveller on such occasions. For 
 these baskets, others belonging to Saadut Ali were afterwards 
 privately substituted ; he put on a travelling dress, and let it 
 be supposed, when he retired for the night, that he had set 
 off on his journey. Meanwhile Saadut Ali was introduced 
 into his palankeen, and in this he travelled night and day 
 through the territory of his rival as far as Cawnpore, without 
 guard or protection of any kind but his pistols.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 19' 
 
 witness the inaugural procession, by showering 
 rupees among them, while he did not neglect 
 the opportunity of inculcating on the nabob 
 advice respecting his future conduct.'* As 
 both the disposition of the natives and the 
 power of the British rendered resistance hope- 
 less on the part of Vizier Ali, the rightful 
 nawaub was proclaimed without opposition on 
 the 21st January, 1798.f 
 
 In his treaty with the governor-general, he- 
 agreed to allow an annual pension of a lac and 
 a half of rupees (^15,000) to the deposed! 
 Vizier Ali, whose future residence was to be at 
 Benares. It might perhaps even then, and 
 without any reference to succeeding events, 
 have been questioned how far the measure was 
 prudent of allowing the deposed sovereign to 
 fix his abode just on the frontier of his late 
 domain, and, as it were, ' within hail ' of it. 
 The shadow of power which he was allowed to 
 rejain, in a most numerous retinue, and certain 
 personal distinctions, was by no means calcu- 
 lated to diminish the risks of future trouble, 
 arising from those natural hankerings which 
 
 * Life of Lord Teignmouth, by his son. 
 t Appendix B. 
 
 c 2
 
 20 YIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 beset deposed sovereigns, and which (if we may 
 compare together things of very unequal mag- 
 nitude) so soon brought Napoleon back from 
 Elba. 
 
 India, besides, was at this time in a far from 
 settled or comfortable state. Zemaun Shah, the 
 king of the Afghans, and the remaining head 
 of the Mahomedan power in the East, was with 
 a powerful army at Lahore, hanging over our 
 frontier ; there were large bodies of French 
 troops with Scindia and the Nizam ; and the 
 war with Tippoo Sultaun, which ended in the 
 destruction of the kingdom of Mysore,was on the 
 eve of breaking out ; while, in addition to these 
 salient points, there was a general ferment in 
 the minds of the Mussulman princes and no- 
 bleSj many of whom had but very recently been 
 deprived of power. 'When one looks back,' says 
 a very distinguished Indian governor, in a letter 
 now lying before the writer of this narrative, 
 ' when one looks back on those times, one can 
 liardly believe in the panic (Afghanistan) lately 
 felt in India, which led to so many real dangers 
 and evils.' Sir John Shore, soon after created 
 Lord Teignmouth, had no sooner returned to 
 Calcutta from Lucnow than he embarked to re-
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 21 
 
 turn home, whei'e his measures regarding Vizier 
 Ali met with the entire approval of the British 
 Government and the Court of Directors. The 
 Marquis Wellesley( then Lord Mornington) ar- 
 rived in India in May, 1798, and his attention 
 was immediately occupied by the threatening 
 aspect of affairs on the side of Mysore. Three 
 weeks after reaching Calcutta, he received the 
 intelligence that Tippoo had solicited the aid of 
 the French in a contemplated scheme to over- 
 throw the British power in the East. 
 
 It was in such times that Vizier Ali, who, 
 during his short reign as sovereign of Oude, 
 had betrayed a disposition sufficiently restless, 
 found himself reduced to a comparatively pri- 
 vate condition at Benares, and under the sur- 
 veillance, if not the coercion, of the British 
 authorities. The house or palace allotted for 
 his residence was situated in an extensive in- 
 closure, which went by the name of Mahdoo 
 Doss's Garden, on the outskirts of the city of 
 Benares. He never issued out thence without 
 being attended by a numerous armed train of 
 adherents from Lucnow, and entertained as 
 many more on the footing of guards as he 
 thought proper. In addition to this, the ket-
 
 22 TIZTER ALI KHAN ; OTl 
 
 tie-drum or nackara, a mark of high rank, was 
 always carried before him when he went from 
 home. 
 
 The two chief civil authorities at Benares 
 were Mr. Cherry, the political agent of the 
 governor-general, and Mr. Davis, judge and 
 magistrate of the district and city court. The 
 natural disposition of Vizier Ali, joined to his 
 peculiar position, rendered him little inclined 
 to cultivate an acquaintance with the British 
 inhabitants of Benares ; but the peculiar func- 
 tions of Mr. Cherry, as the agent of the supreme 
 government in relation to that individual, ren- 
 dered some personal intercourse and an inter- 
 change of visits indispensable. With this ex- 
 ception, the deposed nawaub held no com- 
 munication with a single European. 
 
 Unhappily for Mr. Cherry, he was little dis- 
 posed to entertain any suspicions of sinister 
 designs on the part of his charge, or to appre- 
 hend that Vizier Ali was at all likely to abuse 
 that indulgence which permitted him to be sur- 
 rounded with the retinue and the forms of an 
 independent prince. Eecent disasters in the 
 East (since so well retrieved by the disciplined 
 valour of our troops) have exemplified the fatal
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 2^5 
 
 results of a similar confid-ence on the part of a 
 great public functionary, who unhappily paid 
 but too dearly for miscalculating the depths of 
 Asiatic treachery. 
 
 Opportimities had occurred to Mr. Davis, as 
 head of the civil government of Benares, to be- 
 come cognizant of the suspicious conduct and 
 disposition of Vizier Ali. He had warned Mr, 
 Cherry, as well as the supreme government at 
 Calcutta, of the consequences that might be 
 anticipated. ' One measure of precaution,' he 
 observed, 'might be to remove from the city 
 and district all the Mahomedans whose high 
 rank and ample incomes may be supposed to 
 inspire them with ambitious views, and who 
 might possibly be induced to throw their weight 
 into the scale of insurrection.' It was hardly 
 necessary (he added) to observe that he al- 
 luded in particular to Mahomedan pension- 
 ers, for whom the city of Benares, situated on 
 the frontier, and dedicated to Hindoo religion, 
 seemed, of all places in the Company's pro- 
 vinces, the least fitted as a residence. 
 
 In fact, should a struggle with the govern- 
 ment take place, there were many persons in 
 different parts of the district whose attachment
 
 24 YiziER ALi khan; or 
 
 to the British interests was not such as would 
 prevent their joining the side that possessed 
 any chance of being successful, especially were 
 money to be readily distributed. ' I should be 
 sorry,' observed the judge of Benares, in his 
 letters to Calcutta, ' to find that any observa- 
 tions of mine had tended to lessen the accom- 
 modations and indulgences afforded by govern- 
 ment to the parties in question ; though, at the 
 same time, I cannot refrain from avowing my 
 hearty wish that those accommodations and in- 
 dulgences were afforded to them in some other 
 place than Benares ; or at least that their armed 
 followers were reduced, and their cannon and 
 other warlike implements deposited among the 
 military apparatus of government,' 
 
 It could never have appeared to the native 
 inhabitants that Vizier Ali resided at Benares 
 in a private capacity. The external marks of 
 high rank which he always exhibited, the main- 
 tenance of guards, horse and foot, in his own 
 pay, without control or limitation, joined to the 
 demeanour of defiance displayed by himself 
 and attendants to the civil power on every 
 possible occasion, were circumstances which 
 served not only to cherish views of indepen-
 
 THE MASSACRE OF EEXARES. 25 
 
 dence in himself, but to impress others with the 
 probability of his acquiring it. They were, 
 moreover, calculated to induce certain persons 
 of rank residing within the British provinces, 
 but disaffected to the government, more readily 
 to enter into his views of re-establishment in 
 the dominion of Oude ; an object which subse- 
 quent occurrences proved he never had relin- 
 quished. He had sent a vackeel (or envoy) to 
 Zemaun Shah, he possessed an active agent at 
 Calcutta, and was, besides, in correspondence 
 with persons devoted to his interest in different 
 parts of Bengal. 
 
 It also appeared that he had looked forward 
 to the much talked of invasion of India by the 
 Afghans, under Zemaun Shah, as a favourable 
 opportunity for manifesting his designs, and 
 had engaged some of the principal people of 
 Benares to afford him assistance whenever he 
 should attempt open insurrection. Though 
 these intrigues were carried on with consider- 
 able diligence and success by Vizier Ali and 
 the two companions of his youthful follies and 
 vices, by name Izzut Ali and Waris Ali, there 
 can be no doubt that the ultimate execution of 
 their project was to depend on the expected
 
 26 TIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 operations of Zemaun Shah, and the employ- 
 ment which the British forces were likely to 
 find on the western frontiers of Oude in the 
 expected invasion. 
 
 The main army to the westward was under 
 the command of General Sir James Craig, 
 while, unfortunately for Vizier Ali and his 
 ambitious projects, there was a reserve, under 
 Major-Greneral Erskine, encamped within a 
 short march of the city of Benares. It would 
 be manifestly ill-timed in him to declare him- 
 self as long as such a state of things existed ; 
 but a crisis in his affairs arose, which hardly 
 left him the choice of deliberation. 
 
 The original error of placing the deposed 
 nawaub at Benares being repeatedly brought 
 to the notice of government, began, towards 
 the conclusion of the first year of his residence 
 there, to excite its serious attention ; and ]Mr. 
 Cherry was at length instructed to convey to 
 Vizier Ali the resolution of the governor- 
 general, Lord Mornington, to remove him to 
 Calcutta. This announcement, as might be 
 expected, fell like a thunder-stroke on one who 
 was engaged in organising schemes which, if 
 successful, would soon render him independent,
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 27 
 
 if not again a sovereign. To be compelled to 
 reside in the immediate vicinity, and under 
 the supervision of the supreme government, 
 was a death-blow to all chances of success 
 from insuiTectionary projects. His remon- 
 strances were loud and urgent, but they proved 
 vain. Thus it was that this youth (for he was 
 now only nineteen years of age), by nature 
 of a savage and impetuous temperament, be- 
 came hurried into the execution of a desperate 
 plot. 
 
 Unhappily for Mr. Cherry, he was but too 
 little inclined to suspect treachery or violence 
 on the part of the ex-nawaub, or to take those 
 precautions which the case required. As the 
 princely establishment and pretensions of 
 Vizier Ali, according to the prejudices of the 
 country, took him in some measure out of the 
 control of the civil magistrate, and placed him 
 under the immediate surveillance of the 
 governor-general's agent, Mr. Cherry was the 
 individual with whom the charge rested in the 
 first instance. On the thirteenth of January, 
 the native superintendent of police, who had 
 been warned to be vigilant, waited on Mr. 
 Davis, and reported to him that Vizier Ali
 
 28 YIZIEE ALI KUAN ; OR 
 
 was engaging a number of armed men in his 
 service, and seemed to make no preparations 
 for his departure to Calcutta. This was im- 
 mediately communicated to Mr. Cherry, and 
 the head of the police at the same time 
 desired to watch the further movements of the 
 parties. 
 
 Vizier Ali, when he had found all remon- 
 strances vain, avowedly acquiesced in his pro- 
 posed removal to Calcutta, and gave out that 
 he should jiroceed on the fifteenth or sixteenth 
 of January. Ou the night of the thirteenth, 
 a hurcarrah, or messenger, came to Mr. Cherry's 
 house and announced that the nawaub would 
 visit him on the following morning, at break- 
 fast. Early on the fourteenth another emissary 
 came, and after making some inquiries, imme- 
 diately returned. Some time afterwards Vizier 
 All's drum was heard, and he was seen to 
 approach with a train of horse and foot, con- 
 sisting in all of about 200 men. In numbers 
 this did not much exceed the retinue which 
 he had been accustomed to move with ; but a 
 jemmadar of Mr. Cherry reported to his 
 master, that this party, instead of coming in 
 their usual manner, were all armed, and with
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 29 
 
 matclies lighted. Mr. Cberry, in reply, told 
 the man that it mattered not, and that he was 
 a fool for his fears. 
 
 On Vizier All's arrival, his host, according 
 to custom, met and handed him in, accom- 
 panied by his friends, Waris Ali, Izznt Ali, 
 and another, father-in-law to the last. Mr. 
 Evans, a yomig private secretary, was also 
 present. The party were attended into the 
 breakfast room by four followers, armed with 
 swords, shields, and pistols. When the chief 
 persons had taken tlieir seats, Mr. Cherry, 
 calling for tea, handed it to Vizier Ali, who 
 did not touch it ; but, addressing himself to 
 liis host, said that he had something of great 
 consequence to communicate. Then raising 
 his voice, he began to complain of the treat- 
 ment he had received from Sir John Shore, 
 the late governor-general, who, he declared, 
 had at first promised him six lacs of rupees 
 per annum, but subsequently reduced it to a 
 much smaller amount. ' On his departure,' 
 continued Vizier Ali, ' Sir John Shore told 
 me that you would take care of my interests, 
 and attend to my representations ; but this 
 you have never done. On the contrary, at the
 
 30 TIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 suggestion of Saadut Ali Khan,* you now wish 
 me to go to Calcutta ; but Lord Mornington 
 is absent — what should I do there ? Saadut 
 Ali Khan wishes for my death, and the Eng- 
 lish are in league with him. They listen to 
 him ; but neither you nor any one else attends 
 to me. I shall therefore not proceed to Cal- 
 cutta, but go where I please.' 
 
 While he was speaking, Waris Ali came 
 round from his seat, and placed himself near 
 Mr. Cherry. This seemed to be a concerted 
 signal, for Vizier Ali, rising from his chair, 
 seized Mr. Cherry by the collar, while the 
 other held him behind, and, as he exclaimed 
 against this violence, the nawaub struck at 
 him with his drawn sword. The conspirators 
 now followed the example set them, and as 
 the unfortunate resident endeavoured to escape 
 through the verandah into the garden, they 
 followed him in a body, and cut him down 
 before he had gone many yards on the out- 
 side. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Izzut Ali had seized Mr. 
 Evans, and grasped at his dagger to stab him ; 
 
 * The actuid Nawaub of Lucnow.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 31 
 
 but that gentleman, holding the assassin's 
 hands, prevented his design. An attendant of 
 the resident's now came up, and made a cut 
 at Izzut Ali, which he received on his arm, 
 and let go his hold of Mr. Evans, who fled 
 into an adjoining field. There, however, he 
 was seen by some horsemen, who, firing two 
 or three shots, brought him to the ground, 
 upon which some others of the conspirators 
 ran up and dispatched him. Captain Conway, 
 an officer who was living with Mr. Cherry, 
 happened at this moment to ride up to the 
 house, attended by an orderly, and he also was 
 killed by the armed body.* 
 
 Mr. Davis, whose house was not much more 
 than a quarter of a mile distant, in returning 
 from his morning ride on an elephant, had 
 passed Vizier Ali and his whole train, as they 
 were proceeding towards Mr. Cherry's house ; 
 but their business was not with him yet — he 
 providentially escaped, to be the instrument 
 of saving many others. To him the train did 
 not appear more numerous, nor in any respect 
 different, from what he had often observed of 
 
 * See Appendix C;
 
 32 VIZIER ALI KUAN ; OR 
 
 tliem, except that they moved in rather closer 
 order than usual. On reaching home, how- 
 ever, he found the cutwal, or head of the 
 police, who stated that he had ascertained the 
 fact of Vizier AH having sent emissaries into 
 the neighbouring districts to summon armed 
 men, and that some mischief might be appre- 
 hended from his present visit to Mr. Cherry. 
 
 Mr. Davis immediately despatched a hasty 
 note to Mr. Cherry, and being anxious for the 
 return of his messenger, kept a look out in 
 that direction ; when presently he observed 
 Vizier Ali and his train returning with much 
 more haste than usual ; and that some of the 
 horse, instead of keeping the road, crossed 
 into his grounds, and began firing at a sentry, 
 stationed about fifty yards from the house, 
 whom they shot down. There was now no 
 time to lose. Mrs. Davis was told to repair, 
 with her two children* and their attendants, to 
 the terrace on the top of the house, while he 
 himself ran for his firearms, which were 
 below ; but observing, on his way down, that 
 an armed horseman was already in the door- 
 way, he bethought him of a pike or spear, 
 
 * Of whom the writer of this was one.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 33 
 
 which he liad upstairs, and of the narrow 
 staircase leading to the roof, which he con- 
 sidered defensible with such a weapon. The 
 pike was one of those used by running foot- 
 men in India. It was of iron, plated with 
 silver, in rings, to give a firmer grasp, rather 
 more than six feet in length, and had a long- 
 triangular blade of more than twenty inches, 
 with sharp edges. (Figured on this volume.) 
 
 Finding, when on the terrace, that the low- 
 ness of the parapet wall exposed them all to 
 view, and that they were fired at by the in- 
 surgents from below, Mrs. Davis was directed, 
 with her two female servants and the children, 
 to sit down near the centre of the terrace, 
 while Mr. Davis took his station on one knee 
 at the trap-door of the stair, waiting for the 
 expected attack. The perpendicular height 
 of the stair was considerable, winding round 
 a central stem. It was of a peculiar con- 
 struction, supjjorted by four wooden posts, 
 open on all sides, and so narrow as to allow 
 only a single armed man to ascend at a time. 
 It opened at once to the terrace, exactly like a 
 hatchway on board ship, having a light heading 
 of mat covered with painted canvas stretched 
 
 D
 
 34 YiziER ALi khan; or 
 
 on a wooden frame. This opening lie allowed 
 to remain uncovered, that he might see what 
 approached from below. 
 
 In a few minutes, hearing ah assailant 
 coming up, he prepared to receive him. 
 When full in view, and within reach with 
 his sword drawn, the ruffian stopped, see- 
 ing Mr. Davis on his guard, and addressed 
 him abusively. The only reply was — ' The 
 troops are coming from camp ; ' and at the same 
 time a lunge with the pike, which wounded 
 him in the arm.* The enemy disappeared, 
 and Mr. Davis resumed his former position, 
 when presently he observed the room below 
 filled with Vizier All's people, and heard some 
 of them coming up the stairs. At the first 
 who appeared he again drove his spear, which 
 the assailant avoided by warily withdrawing his 
 person ; but Mr. Davis, being by the action 
 fully exposed to view from below, was fired at 
 by the assassins. The spear, by striking the 
 wall, gave the assailant on the stairs an oppor- 
 tunity of seizing the blade end with both his 
 hands ; but the blade being triangular, with 
 sharp edges, Mr. Davis freed it in an instant, 
 
 * This proved to be Izzut Ali.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 35 
 
 by dropping' the iron shaft on the edge of the 
 hatchway, and applying- his whole weight to 
 the extremity, as to a lever. The force with, 
 which it was jerked out of the enemy's gripe 
 cut his hands very severely, as was subse- 
 quently observed from their bloody prints 
 being left on the breakfast tahle-clotU below, 
 where he had staunched them. There was 
 blood likewise on the stairs, and some dropped 
 about the floors of the rooms. 
 
 Though the present assailant disappeared 
 like his predecessor, the repeated firing from 
 below was discouraging, and Mr. Davis now 
 thought it necessary to draw the hatch on,, 
 leaving such an opening at the edge as still 
 admitted of his observing what was going on 
 below. He saw them for some time looking 
 inquisitively up, but not altogether liking the 
 reception that there awaited them, one of the 
 number went out to the verandah of the room, 
 to see if they could get at Mr. Davis from the 
 outside, while no further attempt was made on 
 the staircase. 
 
 They presently withdrew in a body from the 
 room, and were heard breaking the furniture 
 and glass wall-shades. To this a silence and 
 D 2
 
 36 TIZIER ALI KnAN ; OR 
 
 dreadful suspense succeeded ; for though Mr, 
 Davis could not quit his post for a moment to 
 look out, the two women assured him the in- 
 surgents still surrounded the house, and it was 
 a natural suggestion that they might be pre- 
 paring the means of ascent on the outside. 
 At length one of the women, venturing to look 
 over the parapet wall, was shot through the 
 arm by one of many who appeared like a guard 
 stationed to prevent escape. 
 
 They could now only remain where they 
 were, casting anxious looks for the cavalry from 
 General Erskine's camp, which, though Mr. 
 Davis doubted not it would hasten to his re- 
 lief, he knew could not arrive for some time, 
 not more than an liour having yet elapsed 
 since the attack began. He maintained, how- 
 ever, that they must be at hand, for the sake 
 of encouraging those whom he had to protect. 
 
 In about half an hour from this time, he 
 again heard the noise of many persons ascend- 
 ing the stair in haste, and when by the sound 
 they seemed near the top, he suddenly threw 
 aside the cover, and was on the point of 
 driving the spear into the head of the fore- 
 most, when most fortunately he recognised the
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 37 
 
 white beard and withered face of an old nati\'e 
 servant. The poor fellow, thinking himself 
 endangered by this unexpected reception, 
 roared out who he was, and that he had saved 
 the piece of plate which he held up towards 
 jNIr. Davis, adding that Vizier All's force had 
 all retired. Others behind in like manner 
 held up different articles they had brought 
 with them, to confirm his assertion ; but Mr. 
 Davis still hesitated for a moment to let them 
 come up, for fear of treachery, not knowing 
 but that they might have been tempted to save 
 their own lives by consenting to be the means 
 of putting him off his guard. 
 
 Presently, however, seeing the native officer 
 of his police and some sepoys, with their mus- 
 kets, enter the room, whose presence with their 
 arms was alone sufficient to convince him that 
 the enemy had retired, Mr. Davis gladly ad- 
 mitted this reinforcement to his post ; and at 
 length finding, on a muster, that he had fifteen 
 men with their firelocks, bayonets, and fifteen 
 rounds each, besides the cutwal with some of 
 his police, he considered the danger as over ; 
 for though intelligence was now brought from 
 the town by a police peon that Vizier AH 
 
 357120
 
 38 YIZIEE ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 intended to renew his attack on the house, 
 Mr. Davis had already found the roof of it 
 perfectly defensible, and that those opposed to 
 him understood better how to assassinate than 
 to fight.* 
 
 He posted the soldiers, and instructed them 
 as to the best mode of defence in case of 
 attack, and they seemed steady and attentive 
 to his directions. The sound of Vizier All's 
 drum was presently heard from the town, and 
 parties could be distinguished in motion about 
 the suburbs, wliere some places belonging to 
 Europeans were on fire. Intelligence was 
 brought in that numbers of the inhabitants 
 were joining the insurgents, but none of them 
 yet approached the house. 
 
 About eleven o'clock an advanced party of 
 cavalry appearing in view, every fear was dis- 
 pelled from this little garrison. Major Pigot 
 and Captain Shubrick, by whom it was brought 
 on with admirable celerity, proceeded first over 
 the bridge to Mr. Cherry's house. After 
 finding all was over, they next galloped to Mr. 
 
 * For Lord Valentia's account, see Appendix D, There is 
 also a succinct, but correct, statement in Thornton's History 
 of the British Empire in India. 1843.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 39 
 
 Davis's assistance. They there agreed that 
 until the infantry arrived this small force 
 would be best occupied by taking post in front 
 of the house, within view of which, towards 
 the town, great numbers were now beginning 
 to assemble. 
 
 Whether these were mere spectators, or 
 collected for a hostile purpose, remained un- 
 certain, until some of the nearest of them 
 began setting fire to a building attached to 
 the police department. Greneral Erskine, who 
 by this time had joined with the remainder of 
 the cavalry, sent out a few troopers to drive 
 off these depredators, and one of the men, 
 unfortunately falling from 'his horse, was set 
 upon and left for dead by a part of the armed 
 multitude, who by this proceeding evinced 
 that they were of Vizier Ali's party. The 
 cavalry were soon after fired at by some who, 
 emboldened by their success over the trooper, 
 came near enough for their shot to reach the 
 verandah ; and had not the column of infantry 
 at this juncture come up, the party there 
 assembled might have been much annoyed by 
 the assailants. 
 
 The troops, while forming in line, were some
 
 40 TIZIEK ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 of them wounded by matchlocks or musket 
 shot from a wood in their front, where Vizier 
 Ali was said to be in person ; but on the first 
 fire from a field-piece he and his adherents 
 withdrew towards Mahdoo Doss's garden, 
 where it was thought a desperate resistance 
 might be expected. Greneral Erskine with the 
 utmost promptitude pursued this column, 
 leaving Mr. Davis a guard of a company of 
 men, and from the verandah, where most of 
 the European inhabitants were now assembled, 
 they could see the smoke and hear the report 
 of the firing which in due tim'e succeeded. 
 
 At the first interval of breathing time the 
 astonished assembly of English inhabitants of 
 the neighbourhood felt and acknowledged that 
 the hour and half during which Mr. Davis 
 single-handed had kept the assassins at bay in 
 their fruitless attack, had been the means of 
 enabling some to conceal themselves, and 
 others to take refuge in Greneral Erskine's 
 camp. The unfortunate victims to Vizier All's 
 barbarous treachery, among the British, were 
 five in number ; for, in addition to Mr. Cherry, 
 Captain Conway, and Mr. Evans, they had met 
 jNIr, Robert Gfraham, a yoimg civilian, on
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 41 
 
 their way to the attack on the judge and ma- 
 gistrate's house, and cut him to pieces ; while 
 Mr Hill, a EurojDean, who had a shop in the 
 city, was also put to death. Some of the 
 English made the best of their way to the 
 camp, and others, especially those with fami- 
 lies, concealed themselves as they could, and 
 must probably have been discovered and mas- 
 sacred, if the attention of the insurgents had 
 not been occupied by Mr. Davis's defence. 
 One large party retired into a tall field of 
 maize, or Indian corn, and were completely 
 hidden for the time, though but a short dis- 
 tance from the residence of one of their 
 number. 
 
 The recovery of the city was not effected 
 without loss. The troops marched through 
 one of the suburbs, and though the streets 
 were wide, they suffered by the fire from the 
 houses and the narrow lanes on each side. 
 Among others killed, both of General Ers- 
 kine's orderlies were shot at his side. On 
 reaching Mahdoo Doss's garden, several shots 
 from field-pieces were directed against the 
 fortified house ; but the most effectual ope- 
 ration was blowing open the gate by which
 
 42 VIZIER ALT KUAN ; OR 
 
 the troops got admission to the principal court. 
 This was effected just as the sun set. Had 
 the contest lasted until dark, the tovm would 
 in all probability have been pillaged by the 
 numerous banditti and adventurers who were 
 now assembled within its precincts. 
 
 Time would also have been given for ad- 
 herents to have joined Vizier Ali from some 
 of the neighbouring districts, and the final 
 attack on his stronghold, at a later moment, 
 might have been attended with considerably 
 more loss than was actually experienced, si- 
 tuated as it was among narrow streets, and 
 rendered much more defensible of late by the 
 alterations made expressly for his accommo- 
 dation. 
 
 When the troops got possession of the 
 place, it was found that Vizier Ali had fled 
 northwards, by the way of Azimghur, towards 
 Betaul. He was accompanied by most or all 
 of his horsemen, and a nvimber of his armed 
 foot followed in the course of the night. The 
 next morning (fifteenth January) the Eajah of 
 Benares, the two sons of the late eldest Shah- 
 Zadah, or prince royal of Delhi, and many of 
 the principal inhabitants of the city, waited
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENAEES. 43 
 
 on the judge and magistrate to evince their 
 non-adherence to Vizier Ali ; while another 
 individual of the royal family, who for some 
 time past had been itinerant in Hindoostan, 
 sent an excuse for his having been seen with 
 the assassins after their return to town from 
 the massacre. 
 
 With respect to the Eajah himself, it soon 
 became clear, on evidence given before Mr. 
 Davis in court, that his attachment to the go- 
 vernment was unshaken. A native servant of 
 the collector of Benares being on his way to 
 Beetabur, on the 14th, to gi^e information to 
 the army of Vizier Ali's proceedings, fell in 
 with a party of the insurgent horse, headed by 
 their chief himself. Three of the horsemen 
 rode up to inquire who he was, and ended by 
 taking his horse from him by force. The man 
 being interrogated as to whom he served, re- 
 plied with great adroitness that he was a 
 servant of the Eajah of Benares, He then ex- 
 claimed aloud to Vizier Ali that he had come 
 to him with a message from the Rajah, and that 
 his horse had been taken from him. He added, 
 that the Rajah had sent to demand intelligence 
 concerning the present movement, and that if
 
 44 YIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 his horse was restored he would return with the 
 answer. 
 
 Vizier Ali upon this gave the man a sealed 
 letter, and told him to carry it to the Eajah of 
 Benares ; but, having thus cleverly escaped a 
 very dangerous predicament, the messenger 
 went straight to camp, and there delivered 
 Vizier All's letter to the collector, who sent 
 both the letter and the messenger to the judge 
 and magistrate. The communication was to 
 the following effect : — 
 
 ' FEOM VIZIER ALI KHAN TO RAJAH rD^VrUNT NARAIN SINGH. 
 
 ' By the grace and bounty of God, the life 
 of the worthless Cherry, who disturbed and op- 
 pressed you, the hereditary servant of my family, 
 has been terminated by the warriors of the army 
 of Islam. You, who are my hereditary servant 
 and ancient well-wisher, whose ancestors were 
 always ready with heart and soul for the service 
 of my family, must consider these joyful tid- 
 ings as the cause of your prosperity. 
 
 ' Be ready with your people for my service, 
 and guard well the roads about the city of 
 Benares. 
 
 'Enjoin your people to permit no individual
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BEXAKES. 45 
 
 of the British or other European nations to pass 
 the boundaries of Benares, and to put all in- 
 dividuals of these nations, whose hiding-place 
 they may discover, to death. Give also such 
 directions as may prevent any person from cross- 
 ing the river without my orders. 
 
 ' I intend to cherish you more than your 
 ancestors were cherished. The only wish of 
 my heart is to protect you and my other sub- 
 jects. Take care of your own places, and let 
 your mind be perfectly at ease. Your wealth, 
 honour, lands, and rank shall be increased 
 more and more.' 
 
 It was clear that the Eajah had been wholly 
 unconcerned in Vizier All's views, and that he 
 never received the above letter ; but as it soon 
 came to his knowledge that a letter to himself 
 from the ex-nawaub had falleitinto Mr. Davis's 
 hands, the latter thought it advisable to calm 
 his apprehensions by the subjoined note in 
 Persian : — 
 
 ' A letter from Vizier Ali Khan, directed to 
 you, was brought to me by Delia Singh, and 
 the examination of the said Deha Singh was 
 taken.
 
 46 YIZIER ALI KHAN; OR 
 
 ' Do not you be alarmed on this account, 
 for though the nawaub wrote a letter to you, 
 it is clear that you had no communication or 
 correspondence with him ; and I am well 
 assured that you are a friend to the Company. 
 I therefore write this to relieve you from any 
 uneasiness that you may have felt on hearing 
 the story of the nawaub's letter.' 
 
 It appeared from the evidence of a servant 
 of the Rajah, that on the morning of the insur- 
 rection he was absent to the west of Benares 
 on a hunting excursion, and that some horses 
 belonging to him had been taken, during his 
 absence, by force for the service of Vizier Ali. 
 On resistance being made by his servants in 
 charge, these persons had been severely mal- 
 treated by the insurgents, and fled for refuge 
 to the Eajah himself.* 
 
 As a strong report prevailed that several 
 baboos, or persons of rank, relations of the 
 Rajah, but on unfriendly terms with him, were 
 privy to the designs and confederates of Vizier 
 Ali, it became Mr. Davis's duty to obtain such 
 evidence as could be procured on the subject. 
 The principal testimony was given by a Brah- 
 
 * See Appeudix E.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 47 
 
 min -who had served Vizier Ali in tlie capacity 
 of astrologer. Four months previous to the 
 insurrection the ex-nawaub had said to this 
 individual, ' Gro to Juggut Singh (one of the 
 baboos), and in case you find liim well affected 
 to me, tell him on my part that I intend to 
 seize on the four zillahs (or districts) of 
 Benares, and to make war against the English. 
 Bequest him if he have any friendship for me 
 to join us.' 
 
 This message being communicated to Juggut 
 Singh, he replied, ' I am the slave of the 
 nawaub, and ready to serve him. I will extend 
 his dominions as far as Calcutta. Let me 
 assemble troops and raise money from the 
 bankers to defray the expense of massacring 
 the English. I will then seize the bankers, 
 extort money from them, and subdue the whole 
 province.' 
 
 This being reported to Vizier Ali, gave him 
 infinite satisfaction. He immediately delivered 
 a pair of shawls, a sword, and a ring to the 
 messenger, desiring him to convey them as a 
 khelaut (or present) to Juggut Singh, and tell 
 him that if he was the friend and confederate 
 of the ex-nawaub to prepare himself. The
 
 48 YIZIER ALI KHAX ; OR 
 
 other received the khelaut, aud declared that 
 he had prepared a list of sixty of his friends 
 who would be ready to join them and take an 
 oath of fidelity to the cause. 
 
 Expressing a wish at this time to have a 
 private interview with Vizier Ali, Juggut Singh 
 with some of his brothers was conveyed by 
 night to a secret door belonging to the women's 
 apartments. At this interview he gave a paper 
 to the ex-nawaub, which the latter signed and 
 returned, being probably some promise or con- 
 tract in the event of their plot succeeding. At 
 a subsequent meeting, the baboo declared his 
 resolution to bring a force of many thousand 
 men, well armed, and others undertook to do 
 the same. When some one objected to the 
 plot as hazardous, Juggut Singh exclaimed, ' I 
 cannot live for ever ; how can I lose my life 
 better than in the service of Vizier Ali.'* 
 
 The Brahmin who gave the above evidence 
 
 * Juggut Singh was a man of some talents, but of inordi- 
 nate vanity. He possessed an excellent Persian library, and 
 was proud of his poetical compositions in that language, 
 which Mussulmans only could appreciate. This was not 
 unlikely to have influenced him in relying on a chief of that 
 religion for his aggrandisement. His delight was to repeat a 
 compliment that had been paid him by a former nawaub, 
 who called him ' the nightingale of India.'
 
 TEE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 49 
 
 and who acted the internuuciary part in the 
 detail, being for some reason or other set aside 
 by Vizier Ali, resolved on giving- information 
 of the plot to Mr. Cherry ; but that unfortu- 
 nate gentleman, though he received a note from 
 the Brahmin requesting an audience, declined 
 seeing him, and took no further notice of the 
 matter. It seemed as if his fate had been sealed 
 from tlie first, and that no warnings could avail 
 to rouse him to a sense of his danger. 
 
 Among that portion of the population of 
 Benares which, immediately after the massacre 
 at Mr. Cherry's house, had accepted Vizier All's 
 pay, and joined him in a show of resistance to 
 the troops, some met the fate they deserved on 
 the spot ; but no informations were at first laid 
 that could warrant proceeding against particular 
 individuals. In the general consternation which 
 prevailed within the town, excited by the ne- , 
 cessary operations of the troops (many of whose 
 shot had entered it with fatal effect), as well as 
 by the conduct of Vizier Ali and his followers, 
 Mr. Davis deemed it most desirable to quiet the 
 inhabitants by proclaiming the return of tran- 
 quillity, and inviting them to open their houses 
 and resume their customary occupations. 
 E
 
 50 VIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 He preferred this course to that of adding to 
 their fears, and perhaps their disaffection, by an 
 inquest after suspected persons ; the more so, 
 as many striking instances had occurred of a 
 readiness to give information for the sole pur- 
 pose of gratifying private resentment. He had, 
 moreover, reason to believe, from the intelli- 
 gence brought in, that most or all of those who 
 had' accompanied Vizier Ali to Mr. Cherry's 
 house had by this time escaped from the town 
 and were with him on his way to the north. 
 For some days great alarm was kept up among 
 the English, by their ignorance of the extent of 
 the plot, and tlieir recollection of the violence 
 and duration of the former insurrection, in which 
 Mr. Hastings had been exposed to so much 
 danger. 
 
 By the 18th of January the public tran- 
 quillity seemed re-established, and as no appre- 
 hension remained of any further attempt to dis- 
 turb it, the courts assembled for the despatch 
 of business, and a circular letter was addressed 
 to the civil authorities of the neighbouring dis- 
 tricts, to obviate the ill effects of exaggerated 
 reports arising from the late circumstances. 
 Mr. Davis at the same time requested instruc-
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 51 
 
 tions from the supreme government in regard 
 to the symptoms of confederacy with Yizier 
 Ali, and of disaffection to the ruling powers 
 manifested by the individuals already noticed, 
 who, although nearly related to the rajah, were 
 on unfriendly terms with him. A considerable 
 quantity of evidence had likewise been obtained 
 against certain zemindars of wealth and influ- 
 ence in the neighbourhood. 
 
 In applying for instructions as to the disposal 
 of these, Mr. Davis strongly recommended that 
 a special commission should be appointed, as it 
 would carry the appearance of greater impar- 
 tiality, and prove generally more satisfactory, 
 were the trust committed to persons not re- 
 sident in the district. The same commission 
 miffht be authorised to decide the fate of cer- 
 tain of Vizier All's followers, who had been 
 captured, and their confessions obtained ; as 
 well as to consider the conduct of one person- 
 age of rank who had sent a written excuse for 
 having been with Vizier Ali in arms. 
 
 On the day following the insurrection, some 
 elephants, horses, and silver howdahs,* with 
 other articles of less value, which the insur- 
 
 * Seats on the backs of elephants. 
 s 2
 
 52 TIZIER ALI KnAN ; OE 
 
 gents could not carry off with them, were seized 
 and brought in by the troops and police. Ee- 
 specting the disposal of these articles, instruc- 
 tions were required from the government ; but 
 the elephants, meanwhile, twenty in number, 
 were sent into camp the morning after their 
 capture, Mr. Davis having been informed by 
 Greneral Erskine of his want of cattle to carry 
 the baggage and stores of the army. 
 
 In the plundering which succeeded to the 
 massacre of Mr. Cherry and the other English 
 gentlemen, some European inhabitants and a 
 few of their native dependents suffered in their 
 property, as the villains carried off everything 
 that they thought would be useful to themselves. 
 During the hour and a half in which they had 
 vainly assayed to dislodge Mr. Davis from his 
 stronghold, they had contrived to kill some of 
 his native attendants, destroy the furniture of 
 his house, carry away his serviceable horses, 
 and shoot two which were pensioners, one of 
 them having been a present from Warren 
 Hastings. 
 
 What would have been his own fate, liad 
 they succeeded against him, plainly appeared 
 from the following evidence and confession of
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 53 
 
 a follower of the ex-nawaub : — ' Vizier Ali 
 Khan and his friends were up and armed all 
 the night of the thirteenth. On the following 
 morning they went to Mr. Cherry, and I went 
 with them as far as the bridge, where I stopped. 
 In two hours they returned, and after they had 
 passed the bridge, an Englishman* coming 
 that way in his palankeen was murdered by 
 Vizier All's foot soldiers. When they came 
 near the judge's house. Vizier Ali called out 
 to his followers, that " he would give a horse 
 and a thousand rupees to any one who would 
 bring him Mr. Davis's head." ' This, however, 
 was not so easily to be had ; and Mr. Davis 
 happily lived to return the compliment with 
 interest, as will appear from the following 
 letter : — 
 
 ' Sir, — I am directed by the Vice-President 
 in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of the fifteenth instant, and to express to 
 you his deep concern at the melancholy events 
 which have occurred at Benares. It is with 
 the greatest satisfaction he learns tliat your 
 gallant exertions were so successful in pre- 
 
 * Mr. Robert Graham,
 
 54 TiziEE ALi khan; or 
 
 serving yourself and family from the attempts 
 of the assassins. 
 
 ' I enclose fol' your information copies of 
 the letters which have been written to the re- 
 sident at Lucnow and Major-G^eneral Erskine. 
 You are authorised to publish a reward of 
 20,000 rupees for the apprehension of Vizier 
 Ali, alive or dead. 
 
 (Signed) ' Gr. H. Baelow, 
 
 ' Secretary to Government.' 
 ' Fort William, 
 20th Jan. 1799.' 
 
 The wife, and other females of Vizier Ali's 
 family, amounting, with their attendants, to 
 nearly one hundred persons, were all left by 
 him at Mahdoo Doss's garden, his late resi- 
 dence and retreat. The women were treated 
 with consideration, and the privacy of their 
 apartments protected by the officer left in 
 charge of the place on its capture. On appli- 
 cation from Greneral Erskine, Mr. Davis caused 
 a daily allowance of provisions to be sent to 
 them for their present subsistence, waiting the 
 arrangements of government for their disposal. 
 
 One of the followers of the ex-nawaub, who 
 had been captured subsequent to the retreat
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENAEES. 55 
 
 of bis chief, gave in this evidence : — ' When 
 the Britisli army arrived, Waris Ali said to 
 Vizier Ali, that it was time to go to the gar- 
 dens. They accordingly went and took post in 
 the turret there. Subsequently, when cannon- 
 shot were fired at the place, one of them 
 bit the turret, and knocked down part of it ; 
 upon which Vizier Ali and Waris Ali came 
 down armed, mounted their horses, and went 
 througli a small gate towards the north.' The 
 conduct of Vizier Ali after the massacre, in 
 formally proclaiming his government within 
 the city, and his remaining there until forced 
 out of it, sufficiently indicated his expectation 
 of effectual assistance from the other conspi- 
 rators in the neighbourhood ; for under any 
 other circumstances it is reasonable to suppose 
 that he would not have risked the chance of 
 being captured by delaying at all, but have 
 fled at once. It was his rash experiment of 
 putting the spirit of his confederates to the 
 proof, at a time when the vicinity of the troops 
 under Greneral Erskine rendered it dangerous 
 for them to act, that hastened his ruin. Though 
 the baboos had proposed, with their followers, 
 to stop or impede the advance of any force
 
 56 YIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 that might be sent to the relief of the town ; 
 yet they, like others, stood aloof, waiting the 
 result of the massacre, when they might, ac- 
 cording to circumstances, join the insurgents, 
 or excuse themselves to government, under 
 the pretence of their armed men having been 
 entertained for their own security. This argu- 
 ment failed to avail them, since it appeared 
 that at Pinderah, the men in question were 
 assembled for some time prior to the four- 
 teenth of January, the date of the insurrection, 
 and that accordingly they must have been 
 privy to the design, and acting upon it.* 
 
 It was further ascertained, on good evidence, 
 that a nephew of Juggut Singh had come up 
 from Sarun to Benares at his uncle's desire, 
 and agreed to join him in the conspiracy, en- 
 gaging to raise 20,000 men in Chupra and 
 Barragong. The dissatisfied and restless dis- 
 position of this person had long been remarked 
 by the public officers, and the present was not 
 the first charge of a criminal nature in which 
 he had been implicated. It was also clear 
 that a chief, named Culb Ali Beg, otherwise 
 known as Mogul Beg, had attended Vizier 
 * Appendix F.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 57 
 
 All during the insurrection, and afterwards 
 fled with him. The evidence against the ze- 
 mindar, Bowannee Sunker, and his son Sheo 
 Deo Singh, was equally conclusive, and per- 
 fectly agreed with their previous characters 
 and conduct. 
 
 The extent and organization of the con- 
 spiracy were evinced by the statements of an 
 European inhabitant, by name M'Lean, resi- 
 dent at some distance from Benares, in the 
 country. Soon after hearing of the massacre, 
 about noon on the day of its occurrence, he 
 had walked with two friends to the top of a 
 large turret near his house, and was presently 
 followed by certain zemindars, or native land- 
 holders, unknown to him. In talking over the 
 melancholy event, the Englishmen reminded 
 these zemindars of the peace and security 
 which they enjoyed under the British Govern- 
 ment, unexampled under their own despotic 
 rajahs. Two other natives soon afterwards 
 ascended the place with their swords and 
 shields, joining in the conversation, and telling 
 them that letters had been sent off to many 
 persons of consequence, who might be ex- 
 pected that night with strong forces to join
 
 58 TIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 Vizier Ali. One of them added that he him- 
 self had received an invitation to support the 
 cause. 
 
 All these men talked in a higli and insolent 
 tone, blaming the British Grovernment, and 
 particularly the courts of justice, which they 
 observed, placed the great and low upon an 
 equality,* and with which all ranks were dis- 
 satisfied. The strange conduct and conver- 
 sation of these men, added to what had oc- 
 curred in the morning, naturally alarmed the 
 Europeans, and the interview terminated in a 
 demand of money on the part of the natives, 
 which was accordingly promised, but never 
 paid, as the speedy suppression of the insur- 
 rection rendered this needless. 
 
 After the flight of Vizier Ali, a number of 
 papers were discovered containing lists of the 
 forces which were to assist in his cause. One 
 
 * This very Oriental objection might almost lend a cast of 
 seriousness to the jocose irony of Mr. Sydney Smith — 'Every 
 political institution, then, is favourable to liberty, not accord- 
 ing to its spirit, but in proportion to the antiquity of its 
 date ; and the slaves of Great Britain are groaning under the 
 trial by jury, while the freemen of Asia exult in the bold 
 privilege, transmitted to them by their fathers, of being 
 trampled to death by elephants.' — Essays, vol. i. p. 25,
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENAEES. 59 
 
 of them ran as follows : — ' I present for your 
 information a list of those people whom I have 
 attached to yon, and bound by oaths to adhere 
 to you. Of these there are two sorts ; one 
 consists of men who are ready in time of 
 need to give up their lives in your service ; 
 the other is composed of persons who will 
 join your army within five or six days after 
 your first success.' The Writer then adds a 
 list of about four thousand eight hundred foot 
 and a hundred horse, who would join Vizier 
 Ali at once, with a further account of some 
 eighty thousand who would subsequently 
 espouse his cause. It appeared from all the 
 accounts, that between two and three thousand 
 actually composed the ex-nawaub's force on 
 the day of the massacre. Mr. Mill relates, 
 that 'the consternation of the reigning sove- 
 reign of Oude, when he heard that his rival and 
 enemy had broken loose, was proportionate 
 to the well-known weakness and timidity of 
 his character. He regarded the insurrection 
 at Benares as a conspiracy in which his sub- 
 jects might themselves be concerned to any 
 unknown extent. He suspected even his own 
 troops, and requested Mr. Lumsden, the Bri-
 
 60 VIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 tish resident at Lucnow, to call for the English 
 battalion at Cawnpore, under the command 
 of Colonel Russell, for the protection of his 
 capital and person. When invited to join with 
 his forces the British army, the effeminate 
 Saadut Ali pleaded an excuse which his avarice, 
 his timidity, his desire of ease and hatred 
 of exertion, all contrived in leading him 
 eagerly to adopt. He stated his suspicions of 
 his troops, and represented them as too void, 
 both of discipline and of fidelity, to be trusted ; 
 but he afterwards paid dear for this, when the 
 representations of the moment were brought 
 forward as reasons for quartering a British force 
 in his dominions.' * Such is the representation 
 of Saadut All's character, by the somewhat 
 prejudiced, and not always correct historian of 
 ' British India.' According to the testimony 
 of a much higher authority — ' Saadut x\li 
 might have been timid, but he was not weak. 
 He was a man of sense ; kept up a degree of 
 dignity and decorum in his court to which it 
 had long been a stranger, and in his regular 
 habits and application to business was more 
 
 * Mill's British India, vol. iii.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 61 
 
 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 sub- 
 sidiary 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 im- 
 mediately by express with Greneral Sir James 
 Craig at Anopesher, and Colonel Eussell at 
 Cawnpore, with a requisition to the latter to 
 march with his whole force to Lucnow. He 
 likewise suggested to Sir James Craig the pro- 
 priety 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
 
 62 YIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 intelligence bad just been received of the retire- 
 ment of Zemaun Sbali from Labore on bis re- 
 turn borne. 
 
 Tbe nawaub was at tbe same time advised to 
 issue circular orders to all bis aumeels to be on 
 tbeir guard and seize tbe person of Vizier Ali, 
 sbould be attempt to enter tbe territory of 
 Oude ; and as tbe detestation of bis treacberous 
 and bloodtbirsty conduct seemed to be pretty 
 general, it was boped that he would soon be 
 brought to tbe 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 de- 
 fences and fled out from a gate at tbe 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 fii^st known of bis 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 ap- 
 peared that he passed that place in baste, with 
 only a few attendants, and after passing the 
 Grogra at Doory Ghaut, retired towards Betaul,
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 63 
 
 a province belonging- in part to the Nawaiib 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 com- 
 municating from the back part into streets nar- 
 row 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 liim be- 
 fore 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
 
 64 TIZIER ALI KUAN ; OE 
 
 suggested to Mr. Davis by a native that a de- 
 tachment might be sent by another route to in- 
 tercept 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 de- 
 stroyed by getting entangled in the narrow 
 streets, Mr. Davis declined giving any hint, the 
 consequences of which, by subjecting a part of 
 the Greneral's force to a similar situation, might 
 render doubtful the success of the principal 
 attack ; more especially as he knew the pro- 
 posed route to be very circuitous through nar- 
 row streets in a large city, which had just given 
 signs of general hostility. To have marched 
 the troops from Benares would have been ex- 
 tremely imprudent ; for though ajjparent tran- 
 quillity 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 
 wlio only waited for a favourable occasion to 
 discover themselves. 
 
 For the present protection of the city and
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENAEES. 65 
 
 district of Benares, Mr. Davis thought it 
 necessary to make a requisition to Greneral 
 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 Eajah of Be- 
 nares had entered into the ultimate views of 
 Vizier Ali, and that a zemindar in this neigh- 
 bourhood 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 mo- 
 ment's notice. There are in the district per- 
 sons of rank who live and maintain their own 
 guards without any limitation from govern- 
 ment, and who are not under the same subor- 
 dination to the laws as the other inhabitants ; 
 and although the danger resulting from these 
 indulgences to individuals residing liere 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 insur- 
 rection, it would be the height of imprudence 
 
 F
 
 66 TIZIER ALI KAHN; OR 
 
 to leave the city of Benares destitute of a 
 respectable military force ; and six complete 
 companies with two field-pieces are, in my 
 opinion, the least that should be allotted for 
 its protection.' 
 
 The encampment of General Erskine's force 
 for some months in the im^^mediate neighbour- 
 hood of Benares, ensured the district from a 
 repetition of the late insurrectionary move- 
 ments. In the meanwhile the supreme govern- 
 ment of Calcutta sent instructions to Mr. Davis 
 to take measures for securing the persons of 
 certain Mahomedan nobles, known to be con- 
 cerned in the attempt of Vizier Ali. In 
 executing this service, two different modes pre- 
 sented themselves. The one by attachments in 
 the usual form ; the other by surprise with such 
 a military force as should discourage resistance. 
 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. 
 
 In the ordinary course of attachment, it 
 could not be concealed from them that they 
 were suspected persons, against whom infor-
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 67 
 
 mations had been taken, and concerning whose 
 seizure instructions might be expected. It 
 was most probable that they would have re- 
 course to evasion or resistance, and in either 
 case they might, with the assistance of their 
 adherents, easily effect an escape, while to se- 
 cure their papers would be impracticable. The 
 Baboo Juggut Singh occupied a house capable 
 of defence on the outskirts of the town, while 
 three others usually resided together in the fort 
 of Pinderah, distant about fourteen miles from 
 Benares, on the Juanpore road. Bowannee 
 Sunker and Sheo Deo resided in like manner 
 at Chetaypore, a small fort on the Chunar side, 
 until the former of the two disappeared, with 
 the intention, it was supposed, of joining Vizier 
 Ali, or remaining in concealment until his 
 offences should be forgotten. Sheonaut occu- 
 pied a small house in the town, with a few of 
 the bravos so well known in Benares by the 
 name of Bankas. They are of all castes, affect 
 a peculiar way of dressing, half bully and half 
 dandy, strut and swagger about the streets, and 
 are always ready to pick a quarrel or to engage 
 in any crime. 
 
 Under the circumstances it seemed advis- 
 
 F 2
 
 68 TIZIER ALI KUAN ; OR 
 
 able to plan the seizure of all these persons by 
 surprise, at the same hour, lest the proceedings 
 against one might alarm and enable another to 
 escape. It was highly important, likewise, to 
 secure possession of the two forts above men- 
 tioned, and especially that of Pinderah, which 
 was surrounded by the family lands and old 
 retainers of the proprietors, and, in case of 
 insurrection ensuing from the measures in 
 question, would afford a point of junction to 
 their adherents. 
 
 As a regiment of infantry was then on its 
 march from Lucnow to Benares, to join Grene- 
 ral Erskine's force, and must pass through 
 Pinderah on its route, Mr. Davis addressed a 
 requisition to the Major-Greneral to this effect: 
 ' In consequence of instructions I have this 
 day received from the government, I am in- 
 duced to request that you will be pleased to 
 hasten the approach of the first regiment of 
 native infantry, which I understand to be now 
 on its march from Lucnow to Benares. I have 
 also to request that the officer commanding the 
 regiment be directed to halt, as if by accident 
 rather than design, at Pinderah, on the Juan- 
 pore road, and that you will be pleased to in-
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 69 
 
 form me, as soon as it can be ascertained, on 
 what day we may depend on the arrival of the 
 corps at that place. It is advisable that this 
 communication, together with any instructions 
 which you may issue in consequence, be kept 
 as secret as possible.' 
 
 The Honourable Mountstuart Elphinstone, 
 then a very young man, and assistant to the 
 judge and magistrate of Benares, was deputed 
 to meet Colonel Eayne, in command of the 
 first regiment at Pinderah, and furnish him 
 with authority to capture the parties implicated, 
 in the event of their being in the fort ; while 
 that officer was instructed by the Major-Gene- 
 ral to use every exertion, not only in seiz- 
 ing the insurgents, but securing possession of 
 the fort on account of the government. 
 
 On the 18th of March, Mr. Elphinstone was 
 furnished by Colonel Eayne with four companies 
 of infantry and twenty-four troopers to assist 
 him in capturing the baboos. About daybreak 
 the troops marched to the fort, and surrounded 
 it in such a manner as to prevent any persons 
 escaping. The fort was then entered, and 
 every part of it searched, except the women's 
 apartments. A large quantity of papers was
 
 70 TIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 discovered, and sealed up, together with a 
 chest, said to contain money ; but those in the 
 fort declared that the baboos went out on the 
 plea of hunting two days before, and had not 
 returned since. A guard was placed over the 
 zenanah, but it ultimately proved that they were 
 not there. A seizure was made of fifty match- 
 locks, forty swords, and some powder and ball. 
 The fort had lately been strengthened ; and 
 new walls with loopholes had been built on the 
 side next the gate. 
 
 On the same morning, Mr. Sealey, another 
 gentleman of the civil service, supported by 
 two companies of infantry, proceeded at day- 
 break to the residence of Juggut Singh. On 
 the first intelligence of the arrival of the 
 troops, that delinquent retired to his zenanah, 
 from whence he refused to come forth and sur- 
 render himself, though furnished with the sum- 
 mons, and assured of immunity from all per- 
 sonal violence and disgrace. His papers were 
 secured with seals, and the officer in command 
 surrounded the place with troops to cut off the 
 means of escape. 
 
 The fate of another baboo, Sheonaut, was 
 tragical, but such as his own conduct rendered
 
 THE' MASSACRE OF BENARES. 71 
 
 inevitable. He shut himself up, witli five ad- 
 herents as desperate as himself, in a house, 
 which with firearms and other weapons he 
 rendered impregnable to the police. When one 
 of these had been killed and another wounded 
 with firearms from the windows and other 
 apertures, a party of infantry surrounded the 
 place, and stopped their supply of food and 
 water. A whole day and night were spent in 
 this manner, during which time every means 
 was adopted to persuade them to surrender, 
 and every assurance, both verbal and written, 
 offered that no personal disgrace should be in- 
 flicted, but all without effect. They at length 
 rushed out and attacked the assailants with 
 fury. The chief and one of his companions 
 were killed, but not before they had killed or 
 wounded several of the force. The term 
 Banka, by which this sect is distinguished, is 
 derived from the peculiar movement of their 
 swords, in the exercise of which they are 
 proficients. This class of people formerly 
 abounded in Benares, and were the terror of 
 the wealthy and timid, on whose contributions, 
 to avert enmity or secure regard, they were 
 supposed chiefly to subsist.
 
 72 YIZIER ALI KUAN ; OR 
 
 Such being the fate of those adherents of 
 Vizier Ali, whom he had left behind him in his 
 flight, it remains only to trace the leader him- 
 self through his future fortunes to his ulti- 
 mate destiny. The little resolution which he 
 had shown, when pressed by General Erskine's 
 force, probably discouraged many from join- 
 ing or following him. He sought refuge be- 
 yond tlie British frontier at Betoul, and the 
 forests under the first range of the Himalaya 
 mountains. He there found himself in a short 
 time at the head of several thousand men ; 
 descended with them into the plains of Gro- 
 ruckpore, the eastern district of Oude, and 
 threw that kingdom into alarm. A British 
 force was soon assembled to oppose him. 
 Some partial rencounters, in which they suf- 
 fered severely, and the narrow limits for sub- 
 sistence or plunder to which they were re- 
 duced, soon disheartened his followers, when 
 they abandoned him in great numbers, and 
 Vizier Ali himself fled into Kajpootana, and 
 took refuge with the Eajah of Jypore. 
 
 ' The laws of hospitality are held so sacred in 
 India,' observes Lord Valentia, ' that however 
 disgusted the rajah might be with the crimes of
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 73 
 
 Vizier Ali, and however much he might wish 
 to conciliate the British Grovernment, he did 
 not ventm-e openly to surrender him ; but on his 
 being given up to Colonel Collins, attempted 
 to throw the blame on his own minister. He 
 actually imprisoned that functionary for some 
 time for having, as he said, taken such a step 
 without his consent. In justice, however, to 
 the rajah, it would seem that he was influenced 
 by no offers of reward, or any other unworthy 
 motive, to give up the man who had claimed 
 his protection. He stipulated for the life of 
 Vizier Ali, and that he should not be confined 
 by fetters.' 
 
 By a somewhat singular coincidence he 
 passed the city of Benares as a prisoner on 
 the first anniversary of the memorable insur- 
 rection and massacre, and being taken to Fort 
 William, was lodged in a bomb-proof, divided 
 by iron gratings into three parts. The largest, 
 in the centre, was occupied by Vizier Ali, and 
 the other two by sentries, one English and 
 one native. In other respects, wherein secu- 
 rity was not concerned, he was well treated. 
 At length, after many years of captivity, he 
 was transferred to a more suitable prison in
 
 V4 VIZIER ALI KHAN ; OR 
 
 the palace built for Tippoo Sultaun's family, 
 in the fort of Yellore. There the females of 
 his family subsequently joined him, and there 
 he died.* 
 
 We may mention shortly the fate of the 
 principal conspirators. Several fled the coun- 
 try. Juggut Singh and Bowannee Sunker 
 were tried by a commission with unusual so- 
 lemnity and condemned to death. The last 
 named was executed ; but Juggut Singh's 
 sentence was commuted for transportation. He 
 was sent down the Ganges to be embarked ; 
 but when he approached the sea he took poi- 
 son, and escaped the loss of caste and other 
 degradations he expected to suffer. 
 
 Lord Wellesley, who was Grovernor-Greneral 
 of India at the period of the insurrection of 
 Benares, but absent for the time on a visit 
 to Madras, subsequently expressed his sense 
 of the defence made by Mr. Davis in a letter, 
 wherein he attributed the safety of the English 
 residents, and the salvation of the city from 
 pillage, to the ' successful issue,' as his lord- 
 
 * Lord Teignmouth, in the Life of his father, hitely pub- 
 lished, states that Vizier All died in rigorous confinement in 
 Fort William, but this is a mistake.
 
 THE MASSACRE OF BENARES. 75 
 
 ship termed it, ' of that arduous trial of his 
 prudence, activity and resolution.' The sub- 
 sequent removal of that gentleman to Cal- 
 cutta, the seat of supreme government, to fill 
 offices of higher trust and importance, led to 
 a personal friendship, which lasted through 
 life, and was acknowledged by Lord Wellesley, 
 shortly before his death, in a copy of the five 
 volumes of his official despatches, which that 
 distinguished statesman sent to the widow of 
 his late friend, with this autograph inscrip- 
 tion : — 
 
 ' To Mrs. Davis, as a testimony of sincere 
 respect and regard ; and also a memorial of 
 attachment, founded upon long intimacy, to 
 the honourable and virtuous memory of her 
 deceased husband ; from her faithful friend 
 and servant, 
 
 ' WELLESLEY.'
 
 SUPPLEMENT 
 
 BY THE 
 
 EEV. JOHN LOCKWOOD, 
 
 Rector of Kingham, Oxox. 
 
 In the year 1798 the East India Company deposed 
 Vizier Ali from the throne of Oude on account of 
 his vices and cruelty ; but gave him a splendid pen- 
 sion, and permitted him to take up his residence in 
 the large and beautiful city of Benares, where he 
 lived in almost regal splendour. It is said that he 
 spent whole days and nights with the lowest asso- 
 ciates, in revelry and drunkenness ; on one occasion, 
 enraged at a fall from a favourite horse, he ordered it 
 to be burnt alive. To his great profligacy and cru- 
 elty, as is often the case with Orientals, he added 
 great cunning ; and perceiving among the chiefs of 
 India a jealousy at the increasing power of the 
 English, he determined to make use of it to regain, 
 if possible, the throne from which he had been 
 deposed. 
 
 He carried on his intrigues with great secrecy, and
 
 78 SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 obtained promises from many of the most powerful 
 of tlie native princes, that they would render hini 
 assistance as soon as he should have commenced such 
 a revolt against the English as would hold out any 
 prospect of success. Relying on these promises, 
 he increased his troops and retainers, and watched 
 his opportunity to unfurl the standard of rebellion. 
 But notwithstanding the secresy with which he car- 
 ried on his plans, Mr. Davis, the chief magistrate of 
 Benares, discovered that he was engaged in plots 
 against the English, and wrote to the Governor- 
 General, to advise that he should be immediately 
 removed from Benares, where he was suiTounded by 
 chiefs and people of doubtful loyalty, and where he 
 ■was so near the kingdom from which he had been 
 deposed, as to be able to keep up a constant commu- 
 nication Avith it ; and that he should be ordered to 
 reside at Fort William, where all attempts to tamper 
 with the fidelity of the native princes, or to spread 
 discontent among the people, might be easily frus- 
 trated. 
 
 In consequence of this communication, an order 
 was dispatched to the Vizier to leave Benares and 
 proceed to Calcutta. He no sooner received this 
 communication, than seeing that there was no-^time 
 to be lost, he determined at once to put his plans 
 into execution, and to commence his long-meditated 
 rebellion ; for he knew that if he once left Benares,
 
 SUrrLEMENT. 79 
 
 the scene of action, and removed to Calcutta, he 
 would be watched, cut off from his friends, and lose 
 all hopes of success. 
 
 At that time there were many English residents 
 at Benares, either as officials of the East India Com- 
 pany, or engaged in different branches of trade and 
 commerce. The chief of these w^ere Mr. Cherry, the 
 resident, and Mr. Davis, the judge and first magis- 
 trate, whose houses were about a mile without the 
 city gates; and three miles, again, beyond them, 
 were large cantonments, containing a brigade of the 
 Anglo-Indian army. 
 
 On the 14th of January, 1799, soon after his 
 crder of removal, the Vizier commenced his revolt. 
 Leaving a large force in the city, he proceeded, with 
 200 chosen men, to the house of Mr. Cherry, under the 
 pretence of paying him a friendly visit, but with the 
 real purpose of putting him to death ; and on his way 
 thither he fell in with Mr. and Mrs. Davis, returning 
 from their usual morning ride on an elephant. The 
 instant he saw them he held a short consultation 
 with his friends, whether he should at once attack 
 and kill them on the spot, or should leave them for 
 the present; and it was decided that as they did not 
 appear to have any suspicion of his intentions, it 
 would be better to proceed first to the house of the 
 Resident, which was farthest from the city, and take 
 them in his way back.
 
 80 SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 Mr. Davis at once perceived that the Vizier was 
 engaged in some treacherous and hostile design, but 
 thought it best to conceal his opinion ; and having 
 received and returned the salutation of the party 
 with apparent indifference, he hastened home, and 
 immediately dispatched a messenger to Mr. Cherry, 
 to warn him of some impending danger. But it was 
 too late. Already had the unfortunate Resident and 
 his friends fallen beneath the swords of the Vizier 
 and his soldiers ; and before any escape could be 
 effected, or any preparation be made for defence, they 
 were seen hastening towards Mr. Davis's house. 
 What was be done ? Who were to be trusted ? 
 Were the native servants in the plot? Should 
 they resign themselves at once to despair, and perish 
 without a struggle ? Mr. Davis possessed a bold and 
 master spirit ; but what could the courage of one 
 man, however resolute, without a weapon, avail against 
 two hundred troops armed to the very teeth. It was 
 a moment of agony ; but Mr. Davis at once per- 
 ceived the only hope of safety, though that hope was 
 a forlorn one. 
 
 In India the roofs of the houses are flat, and 
 ascending to the roof of his own house was a narrow 
 spiral staircase, with a trap-door at the top made 
 with strong bamboo and thick matting, which let 
 down upon the entrance. Up this staircase he urged 
 his trembling wife and a Portuguese nurse, with
 
 SUPPLEMENT. 8 1 
 
 one of his two little children in her arms; — but 
 where Avas the other .' His wife ventured down to 
 seek for it, but was soon obliged to return, having 
 scarcely escaped the pursuit of armed men. But 
 what was her joy when she met, at the top of the 
 stairs, the child whom she had sought at the peril of 
 her life. Mr. Davis soon followed, taking with him a 
 long and formidable spear, which he had snatched from 
 the hands of a native servant, whose office it was — 
 according to Eastern custom — to wait with it before 
 his master's door, ready to accompany any of the 
 family in their palanquin. 
 
 The Vizier, after searching the lower part of the 
 house without finding the inmates, ordered some of 
 his men to mount the spiral staircase. On the roof, 
 at the top of the stairs, stood Mr. Davis, the trap- 
 door partially lifted up, and the spear in his hand ; 
 and the instant the first man turned the angle, with 
 a vigorous thrust — to which the fearful peril of his 
 position added energy — he threw him wounded down 
 the stairs. Another and another followed, forced on 
 by the Vizier, but with the same result ; firing their 
 pistols up the stairs in hopes of hitting the brave 
 defender. But fortunately the thick matting of the 
 trap-door proved to be bullet proof. Unable to gain 
 the roof, the Vizier now paused; but presently 
 ordered one of his strongest men to watch his oppor- 
 unity and seize the spear. He did so. But by 
 G
 
 82 SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 making a prop of the trap-door, Mr. Davis with a 
 sudden jerk drew it back, almost cutting in two the 
 man's hands with the sharp sides. Another pause 
 ensued ; and the nurse venturing to look over the 
 parapet to discover the cause, received a bullet in 
 her arm ; for men had been placed in different 
 situations, Avith orders to fire at anyone they could 
 catch sight of ou the roof. 
 
 Nearly an hour had now passed since the Vizier 
 had entered the house; when presently a well-known 
 voice was heard on the stairs, and an old grey- 
 headed native servant ascended with the news that 
 the Vizier and his men were gone. The first 
 impression upon Mr. Davis was, that the old man 
 had been forced to act a traitor's part, and that 
 from behind him Avould rush armed men; but being 
 convinced of his fidelity, he admitted him to the 
 roof, as well as some others who had come from their 
 hiding-places. It was noAV ascertained that the 
 Vizier had withdrawn his men to a little distance, 
 and had dispatched some of them to the city, no 
 doubt for the purpose of obtaining ladders to scale, 
 or materials to fire, the house. 
 
 The only hope now of the besieged was, that the 
 news of the revolt had reached the cantonment, and 
 that assistance would arrive before it was too late. 
 It was a state of fearful suspense ; but before long 
 they heard the distant trampling of horses. Was it
 
 SUrrLEMENT. 83 
 
 the Vizier returning ? or was it their friends 
 coming to their rescue ? Mr. Davis shut down the 
 trap-door, and approached towards the parapet ; 
 and a burst of joy proceeded from the whole party 
 as they perceived a regiment of cavalry, headed by 
 English officers, galloping towards the house. 
 
 It appears that Mr. Cleves, a deputy judge, seizing 
 the opportunity while the Vizier was at Mr. Davis's, 
 mounted his horse, and by a circuitous route, to 
 avoid meeting any of the conspirators, reached the 
 barracks in safety, just as a regiment of cavalry were 
 returning from their morning exercise. Not an 
 instant was to be lost. ]\Iajor Shubi'ick, who com- 
 manded, gave the order, and immediately the whole 
 force turned their horses' heads, and hastened to the 
 rescue ; leaving Mr. Cleves to make his communica- 
 tion to the general, who instantly ordered out the 
 troops ; and a considerable force soon marched from 
 the encampment, taking the road towards Mr. 
 Davis's house, where they left on their arrival a 
 guard, and then proceeded onward to the city. In 
 their way thither they were attacked by the Vizier, 
 who had been joined by his forces, and had taken 
 up his position in a wood to the left ; but being 
 dislodged by artillery, he retreated to the' town, and 
 proceeded to his own residence called Mahdoo Doss's 
 Garden, which had previously been fortified, and 
 prepared against attack. The English followed and
 
 84 SUrrLEMENT. 
 
 suffered considerable loss, from being fired at from 
 the houses. But they soon made a breach in the 
 walls, and the gates also being forced, they entered 
 the courts of the garden just as the sun set. 
 
 The Vizier made a precipitate retreat, accompanied 
 by a large body of troops. With these he entered 
 the district of Betoul, where he collected an army of 
 some thousands ; but being attacked by the English, 
 and defeated, he fled to Eajpootana, and took refuge 
 with the Rajah of Jypore. By the Rajah he was 
 given up to the English, on condition that his life 
 should be spared, and that he should not be bound 
 by fetters. He was brought down to Calcutta, and 
 was placed in what could hardly be called otherwise 
 than an iron cage ; from thence, after a time, he was 
 removed to the Fort of Vellore, where he died. 
 
 But to r';turn to Mr. Davis. On descending from 
 the roof of the house, he found the furniture of 
 the lower rooms destroyed ; the mirrors, which 
 were of considerable value, broken ; and the table- 
 cloth, which had been laid for breakfast, awaiting his 
 return from his morning ride, covered with blood 
 from the wounds of the discomfited invaders of the 
 roof. And without the house, to his great grief, he 
 found three faithful native servants, cither dead or 
 dying of their wounds ; with two old horses (which 
 had formerly belonged to Warren Hastings, but 
 were given to Mr. Davis, with a reqiiest that he
 
 SUPPLEMENT. 85 
 
 should take care of them, as old and favourite 
 servants) lying dead before the stables, where they 
 had been shot by the Vizier; the other horses being 
 conveyed away. 
 
 The painful task now fell upon Mr. Davis, as 
 judge and chief magistrate, to enter into an in- 
 vestigation of the conspiracy, and see how far it had 
 extended, ajid what native princes had been engaged 
 in it. He found that the plan of the Vizier had been, 
 first, to murder the Resident and the Judge, with 
 their households, so that none could escape to make 
 known the revolt to the English army ; and then to 
 massacre the English residing within the city, and 
 closing the gates, arm the townspeople ; and the city 
 once in a state of defence, and the English inhabit- 
 ants destroyed, he thought it would give such hopes 
 of success that the native princes would be induced 
 to fulfil their promises, and join his standard. But 
 the long delay at Mr. Davis's disconcerted all his plans, 
 and brought the English forces upon him before his 
 scheme was sufficiently well prepared. 
 
 Many native princes and nobles were found to be 
 implicated in the conspiracy, and long lists were dis- 
 covered of forces which were to have been sent to his 
 assistance; and had not Vizier Ali been prevented 
 carrying his plans into execution by the brave defence 
 of Mr. Davis, it is impossible to say what might have 
 been the result — with the French ready to take
 
 86 SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 every advantage, and the Mahomedan princes anxious 
 to regain their power and expel the infidel from the 
 land. But, as is often the case, because the rebellion 
 was so soon terminated, men looked not beyond ; and 
 he who by his bravery saved the settlement of 
 Benares, and arrested a conspiracy that might have 
 spread like wildfire and jeopardised the wliole of our 
 Indian possessions, only received (in the absence of 
 Lord Wellesley at Madras), a cold letter of thanks 
 h'om the Council at Calcutta. But to this day, among 
 the natives, the affair of Benares, and the disappoint- 
 ment of the Mahomedan princes, is still fresh in re- 
 membrance ; and when the natives would show the 
 effects of bravery, and that, however great the 
 odds, none should despair, they relate how Davis Sahib 
 and his spear kept at bay 200 armed men, with a 
 prince at their head. 
 
 And having now brought this history to a conclu- 
 sion, it only remains to give a brief sketch of the 
 career of the brave man who played so conspici^ous a 
 part in it. 
 
 Mr. Davis went out to India as an engineer officer 
 in the Company's service, but with the privilege, 
 occasionally granted in those days, of leaving the army 
 if he wished it, and becoming a civilian. The first 
 station he went to was Madras; and here he became 
 aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief, and went 
 with him to Calcutta, where, soon after his arrival, he
 
 STJrPLEMENT. 87 
 
 was appointed, from his known talents for surveying, 
 to accompany Mr. Turner in his embassy to Thibet. 
 During this expedition he made a large collection of 
 excellent plans and coloured drawings, the latter of 
 which are still valuable, not only as accurate repre- 
 sentations of that country, its temples and buildings, 
 but as beautiful works of art. 
 
 On his return to Calcutta, thinking that the civil 
 service afforded more prospect of advancement, he 
 left the army, and obtained the appointment of col- 
 lector of Burdwan ; and while in this situation he 
 married Henrietta, daughter of Mr. Boileau, of Dub- 
 lin, whose ancestor — of the ancient family of the 
 Barons de Castelnau, in Languedoc — had left his 
 native country at the Revocation of the Edict of 
 Nantes, and settled in Ireland. He had not been 
 long at Burdwan before he Avas removed to Benares, 
 to act in the position of judge and chief magistrate 
 over that district. And being an excellent linguist and 
 astronomer, he no sooner took up his residence in the 
 holy city of the Hindoos than he became acquainted 
 with the Brahmins of the highest caste; and particu- 
 larly with one who gave him much valuable infor- 
 mation respecting both the ancient religion and 
 astronomy of the Hindoos. This Brahmin was after- 
 wards proved by undoubted testimony to have been 
 actively engaged in Vizier Ali's rebellion, and was 
 brought up for judgment before Mr. Davis. The
 
 88 SUrPLEMENT. 
 
 judge, seeing his old friend, could not contain his 
 emotion, and the tears fell from his eyes as he heard 
 the proud Brahmin express his readiness to die, but 
 entreat that he might not be degraded, or anything 
 done to him unworthy of his high caste and station. 
 
 Shortly after this he was summoned to Calcutta, to 
 carry into execution some plans connected with the 
 public revenue ; and when he had accomplished 
 these, he left for England, having formed an intimate 
 friendship with the three most distinguished men con- 
 nected with India during his residence there — Warren 
 Hastings, Sir W. Jones, and the Marquis Wellesley, 
 The latter of these showed in what high esteem he held 
 his memory, by the autograph inscription — already 
 given at p. 75 — written in a copy of his Dispatches, 
 Avhich he presented to the widow of his friend. 
 
 Soon after his arrival in England he entered into 
 the direction of the East India Company ; and being 
 requested by a Committee of the House of Com- 
 mons to draw up a report upon the state of the reve- 
 nues of India, he wrote that very able treatise known 
 as The Fifth Report. But the labour of finishing 
 this in a perfect state, within a limited period, accele- 
 rated a disease already latent in his constitution ; for 
 not long afterwards he was taken ill, and gradually 
 growing weaker under the effects of a painful dis- 
 order, he died the ICth day of June, 1819, at his 
 house at Croydon, in the 59th year of his age.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A. Benares. 
 
 ' The city of Benares is so holy that several Hindoo 
 Rajahs have habitations there, in which their vakeels 
 (ministers or agents) reside, and perform for them 
 the requisite sacrifices and ablutions. The land is 
 extremely valuable, and lawsuits respecting it most 
 frequent. 
 
 * The mosque, with its minarets, was built by 
 Aurungzebe to mortify the Hindoos. Not only is it 
 placed on the highest point of land, and most con- 
 spicuous from being close to the river, but the foun- 
 dations are laid on a sacred spot where a temple 
 before stood, which was destroyed to make room for it. 
 This edifice violated the holy city, and proudly over- 
 looked all the temples, and, what was perhaps more 
 galling, all the terraces of the houses where the 
 females were accustomed to enjoy the cool of the morn- 
 ing and evening.' — Lord Valentia, vol. i. p. 105.
 
 90 APPENDIX. 
 
 B. 
 
 ' In the progress of this revolution many circum- 
 stances occurred to create doubt and anxiety. The 
 failure of the post, tlie interception of my letters, any 
 irresohition on the part of Saadut Ali, or accident in 
 the course of his journey to Khanpoor, might have 
 involved me in serious embarrassments. As it was, 
 I had a difficult task to amuse all parties, so as to 
 prevent the discovery of my plans. The confidence 
 ■which I was obliged to place in many was in no 
 instance violated; and the declaration of my intention 
 to place Saadut Ali on the musnud, after his arrival 
 at Khanpoor, was a surprise to all who were not in 
 my confidence. But, above all, I owe unbounded 
 gratitude to Providence, which enabled me to accom- 
 plish so great a revolution without the loss of lives, 
 and contrary to the expectations of almost all who 
 knew my plans. Assassination, contempt of the Eng- 
 glish, and the power of Vizier Ali to resist them, were 
 the common topics of conversation amongst the des- 
 perate crew who attended the confidential hours of 
 Vizier Ali. It was a surprise to all that they did 
 not succeed in instigating him to some act of despera- 
 tion, with a view to avail themselves of the confusion 
 to plunder the town. The Vakeel of Ambagee, a 
 Mahratta chieftain, who arrived at Lucnow on tlie
 
 ArrENDix. 91 
 
 15th of the month, had an opportunity of learning 
 the projects entertained by the adherents of Vizier 
 AH, viz. to raise a commotion, plunder the city, and 
 retire with the spoils into the Mahratta frontier. 
 They Avere heard to remark that if a single shot were 
 fired it would be sufficient, and that thousands would 
 be sacrificed. Every street in Lucnow Avas filled with 
 armed men ; and the accumulation of them on the 
 19th and 20th was observed by several Europeans. 
 During the three successive days from the 21st great 
 numbers were seen returning from the town, and 
 passing the English camp in the neighbourhood. The 
 consequence of an armed opposition in such a town 
 as Lucnow Avould have been shocking. It is com- 
 puted to contain 800,000 inhabitants ; and the streets 
 are, for the most part, narrow lanes and passages. 
 IV)rahim Beg had under his charge about 300 pieces 
 of ordnance, of which sixty or seventy were fit for 
 immediate use ; they were served by 1,000 Gole an- 
 dages, or native artillerymen ; and the number of 
 aitillery drawn out for apparent opposition consisted 
 of thirty pieces, so posted that they could not be 
 seized without great slaughter. Ibrahim Beg, the 
 commandant, was a violent and hot-headed Mogul, 
 regardless of any authority, fearless of his own life, 
 and careless of the lives of others. The single acci- 
 dent which happened had, in all probability, no con- 
 nexion with the revolution. The successful accom-
 
 92 APPENDIX. 
 
 plishment of it was to nie a relief from more anxiety 
 than I ever before experienced.' — Lord Teignmouth' s 
 Narrative. 
 
 C. 
 
 ' The massacre at Benares was by some supposed 
 to have been a mere ebullition of rage in Vizier Ali 
 on finding that he must go do-\ra to Calcutta ; and 
 that his resentment against Mr, Cherry was owing to 
 that gentleman having so ably arranged the journey 
 of Saadut Ali to Cawnpore, when summoned by Sir 
 John Shore to be placed on the musnud, that his 
 departure was not suspected by his own family until 
 they heard of his having reached his destination. 
 That this may have heightened his dislike to Mr. 
 Cherry may be believed ; but it is evident that his 
 plan of insurrection was arranged long before the 
 arrival of the order for his removal, Avhich in fact was 
 not issued until after repeated warnings had been re- 
 ceived by the government that he meditated mischief. 
 The Nawaub Vizier made strong representations on 
 the subject to the resident at his court, which were 
 communicated to I\Ir. Cherry. So convinced was 
 General Erskine of the danger, that he urged Mr. 
 Cherry to have a few companies of sepoys stationed at 
 Secrole, but without success. The massacre had been 
 evidently determined on when the assassins quitted
 
 APrENDIX. 93 
 
 Mahdoo Doss's garden, for, according to the Mussul- 
 man superstition, they carried with them their wind- 
 ing-sheets, which had been dipped in the holy well at 
 Mecca.' — Laid Valentin, vol. i. p. 113. 
 
 D. The Domestic Thermopylae. 
 * I examined the staircase that leads to the top of 
 the house, and which Mr, Davis defended with a 
 spear for upwards of an hour and a half, till the 
 troops came to his relief. It is of a singular con- 
 struction, in the corner of a room, and built entirely 
 of wood on a base of about four feet. The ascent 
 is consequently so winding and rapid that with diffi- 
 culty one person can get up at a time. Fortunately, 
 al.so, the last turn by which you reach the terrace 
 faces the wall. It was impossible, therefore, to take 
 aim at him while he defended the ascent with a spear ; 
 they, however, fired several times, and the marks of 
 the balls are visible in the ceiling. A man had at 
 one time hold of his spear, but by a violent exertion 
 he dragged it through his hand, and wounded him 
 severely. This gallant defence saved the settlement, 
 as it gave time for the cavalry, which were quartered 
 at Beetabur, about ten miles from Benares, to reach 
 Secrole, and oblige Vizier Ali to retire with his fol- 
 lowers to his residence in Mahdoo Doss's garden.' — 
 Lo7-d Valentia, vol. i. p. 108.
 
 94 APPENDIX. 
 
 E. 
 
 Among the papers of Vizier Ali was found this letter 
 from the brother of the Nawanb of Dacca to Zemaun 
 Shah, conjuring him to place himself at the head of 
 the Mussulman league, and free Indiafrom the British: 
 — ' From the beginning the decrees of Providence 
 have so ordered, that when the affairs of the world 
 are changed, and in a ruinous state, the divine great- 
 ness selects some one particularly favoured by heaven, 
 assists him, and extends his power over the world, 
 that mankind may prosper by his just administration. 
 In these times, when disorder rears her head to the 
 skies, and religion as well as worldly concerns are in 
 the greatest confusion, the Almighty Disposer of 
 Events has placed your illustrious majesty on the 
 throne, that you may give peace to mankind and 
 improve their condition. Considering your majesty 
 as the support and champion of the true faith, I am 
 happy to offer my services in the most zealous man- 
 ner, and rank myself among the propagators of our 
 holy religion. Such is the desire of my heart, and 
 my religious zeal, that I observe and presume to 
 represent, in an open and unreserved manner, the 
 evils under which this country labours, and to state 
 to your majesty my own Avishes. However great 
 were the obstacles to my submitting myself to your 
 majesty's protection, I have at length fortunately
 
 APPENDIX. 95 
 
 surmonnted them, and, trusting to Providence, liave 
 dispatched this letter to your majesty's court by Slieik 
 Ali, of Ami!, who will explain fully all circum- 
 stances relating to this country. I hope your ma- 
 jesty will be pleased to hear him. I beg leave to 
 observe, that owing to the imbecility of the house of 
 Timour, and the contempt into which it has fallen of 
 late years, the powerful have been weakened and 
 the weak become powerful. Worthless unbelievers 
 and ambitious villains have started up from every 
 corner, boldly conquered all these countries, and 
 established themselves here. As the poet observes, 
 ' When the lions leave the plain, the jackals become 
 bold.' For these reasons religion, which should be 
 so highly prized, is here lost and of no value ; no- 
 thing of Islamism remains but the bare name. They 
 have so stripped and reduced the principal Mussul- 
 mans, that they have no resource, and are obliged 
 implicitly to obey their orders. The Mussulmans 
 have become vile and wretched ; the honour of the 
 great men is gone. Christians seize and keep by 
 force the daughters of Syeds and Mussulmans. 
 Under these circumstances, when we cau no longer 
 act openly, it behoves us to exert ourselves secretly 
 in the cause of religion. If your majesty's victo- 
 rious standard shall be directed towards these parts 
 for the establishment of religion and destruction of 
 its enemies, by God's assistance your majesty will in
 
 96 APPENDIX. 
 
 a short time, and vvitliout any difficulty, conquer this 
 country and annihilate your enemies. I hope your 
 majesty -will be graciously pleased to number me 
 among your attached slaves.' 
 
 F. 
 
 ' On Sunday the 13th, when an hour and a half 
 of the day remained, I with my own eyes saw 
 Sheo Deo Singh and Bowannee Sunker going from 
 their house to the village of Koondnah, with two 
 hundred men armed with guns and swords. Sheo 
 Ruttan said to Hurdeal and me, " These men used 
 not to have above ten or twelve attendants ; where 
 and for what purpose are they now going with such 
 a crowd ? " On this Hurdeal and I went and mixed 
 with the multitude and accompanied them to a tank, 
 on the bank of which there is a temple of Mahadeo, 
 ■w here they sat down and conversed with twelve of 
 their companions, saying that they would halt there 
 for that day, and that on the night of the next day 
 they would surprise the troops at Beetabur. Then 
 the two leaders called their people, and said that 
 they had promised and engaged to Vizier Ali to 
 surprise the troops at Beetabur on the following 
 night. They then offered their people four rupees 
 apiece, but they refused them, and said, " You pro-
 
 APPENDIX. 07 
 
 mised us eight rupees apiece ; we will not take less." 
 When four or five hours of the night were past, five 
 or six horsemen came at a gallop. When they came 
 near, every person who was present rose up, and 
 Bowannee Sunker and Sheo Deo Singh joined the 
 horsemen, and went with them to the temple of 
 Mahadeo, on the side of the tank. These people 
 say that they consulted about attacking the camp at 
 Beetabur. After the conversation, the horsemen 
 went towards the city. I asked their servants who 
 they were, and they said that it was the nawaub 
 Vizier Ali. Afterwards the chiefs told their com- 
 panions of its having been settled, in their conver- 
 sation with Vizier Ali, that they should prevent any 
 forces coming while he was fighting the English 
 gentleman, and that they should engage the troops 
 from Beetabur. They besides said to their com- 
 panions, " Vizier Ali has given us money to assemble 
 troops, also khelauts and horses ; and if he conquer 
 the British he will do much for us, as well as 
 for you, and we will give you the employment of 
 jummadars." On Monday, after Mr. Cherry's death, 
 when the cavalry were approaching Nundaisur, one 
 horseman in galloping away was pursued by the 
 cavalry, vipon whicli he threw himself from his horse 
 and went and hid himself in the house of a servant 
 of Mr. Williams, who resides there. The horse- 
 man was delivered up to the cavalry, Avho carried 
 U
 
 98 APPENDIX. 
 
 him away. When the infantry arrived, Sheo Deo 
 Singh set off, with fifty horse, for Ramnaghur, and 
 Bowannee Sunker went I know not whither.' — 
 Evidence. 
 
 LONDO>f: !']1IM£D nV 
 
 SPOTTISWOODIi ANU CO., N liW-STlUiET SQL'ARE 
 
 AND PAUl.tAMICNT Sl'llKEl"
 
 Tie 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 
 
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 Form L-9 
 20m-l, '42(8519) 
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 
 
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