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PALACE AND FORT EVACUATED AND TAKEN. 299

telegraph, telling of our being in entire possession of the city, Palace, and Fort. All were evacuated this morning, or during the night, and we have now arrived at the conclusion of our labours here; but there must be a pursuing Column, which will still have something to do, but I am not aware what arrangement is to be made.

The King, unfortunately, has gone away, so I suppose the first thing will be to try and catch him; he is said to be either at Hamayoon's or Nizamoodeen's Tomb, and whether the mutineers are with him or not I don't know. I have just been all over the Palace, which is now occupied by us in large force. I went in first with George Hall, and there was an alarm of the enemy having returned and attacked the Delhi Gate. It was a small party of about twenty mutineers, who probably went, not knowing we were in possession; they wounded three of our men, and we came back to tell the General, and he sent me with such orders as he considered necessary to the officer commanding, Colonel Jones of the Rifles. All now is right and quiet everywhere and throughout the city, and all are as happy as possible.

I send you a small map of the city, which will give you an idea of our position when we first came in, and up to yesterday. Last night we took the Burn Bastion, and then the Lahore Gate, and after that all the other gates were abandoned; and we have not had a single man killed-only those three men in the place wounded.

Isn't it sad poor Greathed, the Commissioner, dying of cholera? I saw Hodson a little while ago, quite well. I hope to-morrow to tell you what day is fixed for my leaving here for Simla.

(Diary) 20th September.-Palace taken and occupied; visit it in afternoon. Selimgurh also ours, and all the town.

Brigadier CHAMBERLAIN to E. C. BARNES.

DELHI CITY, 20th September (9 A.M.). The Burn Bastion was assaulted yesterday evening, and six guns and one mortar captured without loss. The Lahore Gateway has been occupied this morning. The Ajmere Gate and outworks do not fire; they appear deserted, and our people are going to take possession. The townspeople are all leaving the city. The

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DEATH OF MR GREATHED.

mutineers blew up a magazine in their camp this morning; and our cavalry patrol, who moved out towards the southern face of the town, report that they saw no one in their camp. We hope to establish our line along the Chandnee Chouk in the course of the day. The mutineers offer much less resistance, and are

evidently decreasing in numbers.

No improvement in General Nicholson's condition.* Mr Greathed died at midnight of cholera. The whereabouts of the King and Royal Family still unknown.

TELEGRAMS received at SIMLA.

DELHI, 20th September (10 A. M.).

We have taken the Ajmere Gate and outworks without opposition, securing three heavy guns and one 8-inch howitzer. We are sending up heavy mortars to the Burn Bastion to shell the portions of the town not yet in our possession. A continuous mortar fire was kept up on the town last night. On our left we hold the same position as last evening; but we have just spiked the mutineers' gun in front of the Palace. We are going to form a Column to go into the Palace.

Noon. We have possession of the Palace, Jumma Musjid, and Ajmere Gate. Seven guns were found in position at the gateway of the Palace.

Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife.

HODSON.

DELHI, Monday, 21st September.

I have arranged to leave this to-morrow morning in a dâk carriage, and hope, by God's blessing, to have a happy meeting with you and the little ones at Simla on Thursday evening. I am just going down to the city to the telegraph-office to send off a message to you to say I'm coming, and to ask you to have a pony for me at Syree, where I ought to be, if all goes right, at two or three o'clock. Seymour or Congreve would lend a pony to bring me up from Syree, but if no other is to be had send down the little black pony of Doddy's. The pony must be saddled.

All is getting on very well here, and this morning a royal salute was fired by us. The King has not given himself up, but

* General Nicholson, as is well known, died of his wounds.

ARRIVAL AT SIMLA.

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is expected to do so in the course of the day. I hope, however, our soldiers will come across him, and save us further trouble with him.

(Diary) 21st September.-Yesterday asked the General, who says he didn't see why I shouldn't go to Simla; determine accordingly on leaving to-morrow morning. Ride up to camp and make arrangements; return with Arthur Becher. Send off things. Go to Palace, where all are, and say good-bye. King brought in by Hodson-see the old scoundrel!

22nd September.-Pack up, breakfast, and off just at 10 A.M. Very slow work in one of those heavy penny-a-milers, and didn't get to Kurnaul till after nine. Had some eggs and tea at the dâkbungalow, where Mackinnon pays me a visit, and then off again. At Piplee got into a doolie-slow work; a disgrace to Government that this road has not been completed.

23rd September.-Not in at Umballa till past ten. Enjoy a bathe and breakfast at the hotel very much. Ascertain that there is no horse dâk available, so lay a dâk of bearers, and on again at 1 P.M. in the doolie; rather hot work, but it seems the only way of getting over the ground without sacrificing another day, and I have promised to be at Simla to-morrow. About twelve, or nearly so, when I reach Kalka.

24th September.-Just as well that I went to Mrs Bain's, as the old lady was very civil-got up to make me a cup of tea, and had my doolie put to rights. About 1 A.M. I started; tedious work. At Kussowlie at sunrise, and at Kukree Huttee at ten, where I had breakfast. Reach Syree about half-past four, and there found Seymour's pony, which took me to Ellerslie; and then (thankful indeed ought I to be to God) I had a happy meeting with F. and the dear children.

CHAPTER XIV.

LETTERS RECEIVED AND DESPATCHED AFTER THE FALL OF DELHI.

Colonel H. B. HENDERSON to Colonel KEITH YOUNG.

LONDON, 9th September.

I have been nearly the whole day at the Mansion House, busy about the Fund collecting here for the sufferers by the late Mutiny. I say late, though I deeply fear it is incorrect so to describe it. It is the last and most absorbing subject here with all interested in India; and oh! how I wish I could hope that by the time this letter reaches you it could be so far quelled that it could truly be called the 'late' Mutiny by you all! But it is so spread in its consequences just now, and your means of punishing it are at present so scanty, I dread to think that its murderous course will be unchecked until the troops now on the way shall be fairly up the country and falling foul of the rascals. Unless there is a break up amongst them, meantime, with your limited means, you can scarcely get possession of Delhi and put down the numbers elsewhere.

I know not what you will all think in India of the exertions made to get up a Fund for the sufferers from this Mutiny, but it is wonderful the present excitement and sympathy in England. Even those who have no friends in India are deeply anxious for news from it. The Mutiny is the subject of conversation and intense interest with every one; the atrocities committed have roused the general feeling in Europe, and India was never so much thought of as at this moment of suspense. All are eager

for the mails, and all breathing vengeance on the cruel murderers of women and children.

The subscription list at the Mansion House is daily showing

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