English: Plate 3. The Residency from the Water Gate.

This is a view of the Residency from the Water Gate, so called from its being the entrance nearest the river. Shattered as it. was on the arrival of Sir James Outram’s force, it yet failed to give an adequate idea of the battering it had sustained, owing to the right verandah, which the reader will perceive is wanting, having been completely knocked away; and as this bore the brunt of the cannonading, the building does, not now present so desolate an appearance as it did while the outer works were in ruins. The verandah in its fall buried under it seven soldiers of Her Majesty’s 32nd Foot; two of whom were, after desperate exertions, brought out a liv e; but the remainder had expired before assistance could reach them. The rebels were not idle the while. The crash of the fall had put them on the alert, and the comrades of the poor sufferers, as they plied their willing spades, were subjected to a very heavy musketry-fire. Sir Henry Lawrence was in the room on the second story just above and a little to the left of the palisades in the foreground of the sketch, when he received his death-wound. Every survivor of the Lucknow garrison will remember the consternation and grief caused by that sad event; nor will anyone who stood by the bedside of the dying hero ever forget that trying and solemn scene. Notwithstanding the agony which he endured, he took no heed of himself, but his last hours and his last thoughts were devoted to directing, animating, and instructing his sorrowing and despairing subordinates, who stood around with those involuntary tears in their eyes which men can only shed under the sternest trials. He had a kind word of adieu to say to each, and his last request was that nothing should be inscribed upon his tomb except the. words, “ Here lies Henry Lawrence, who tried to do his duty. May the Lord have mercy on his soul.” When one considers all that. he did for his country, and how entirely the surviving garrison of Lucknow owe their lives to his prudence, energy, and foresight, perhaps there is nothing more touching on record than the humility of this great man, a purer Christian than whom never passed into the presence of God.

Sketches & Incidents of the Siege of Lucknow. From Drawings Made during the Siege, by Clifford Henry Mecham, Lieutenant Madras Army, with descriptive notices by George Couper, esq. late secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Oude. First edition, tinted lithographed title with vignette, 27 views on 17 tinted lithographed plates, folio, Day & Son, published 1 Oct 1858.