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Transcriber's Note:

The following handwritten dedication and letter were included on the
front leaves of the original book. They were written by Miss M. A.
Garratt, sister of Mrs. R. C. Germon.

       *       *       *       *       *

  Given to
    Herbert Litchfield
    by Miss M A Garratt sister of
    Mrs Germon the Authoress


[Illustration]

[Illustration]

  You ask about the "Diary of Lucknow"
  My sister never intended publishing
  them--but she was so continually
  pressed to do so by a few friends who
  thought it such a pity the manuscript
  should get lost or injured--two in
  particular, M^r Burham a friend
  here, the one who wrote his Father's
  Biography which I gave you--& an
  old Admiral an old friend here
  (since dead) that at last she had
  it done, but only for private circulation--&
  only she and I had the
  copies--I shall send one to
  you ^{to}day by Post & hope it will
  reach you all right--she wrote it
  entirely for my dear mother & myself

  & the report of each day is perfectly
  correct--I suppose if nothing unforeseen
  occurs we shall be going to London
  as usual the end of May--but it
  depends upon the time of the "Lucknow
  dinner"--so as to bring that in during
  my sister's & Colonel Germon's stay in
  London--it is the old Garrison--the
  Officers who were shut in all the
  time--& year by year the party becomes
  smaller, partly from some being
  removed by death & others not able
  perhaps to be in London at the time
  When in London I shall hope to see
  something of you--& with kind love
  believe me your affec^{te} Cousin
  M A Garratt

  my sister & the Col. send
  kind remembrances

       *       *       *       *       *


[Illustration: Plan of the Defences of Lucknow]


 A DIARY

 KEPT BY

 MRS. R. C. GERMON,

 AT LUCKNOW,

 BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF MAY AND DECEMBER, 1857.




 LONDON:
 WATERLOW AND SONS, CARPENTERS' HALL,
 LONDON WALL.

 1870.




 ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL.




PREFACE.


The Writer of the following Diary has frequently been requested to
have a few copies printed for circulation amongst her friends; she has
now acceded to their request, but wishes it to be understood that the
Diary is in its original wording, as it was written by her day by day
at Lucknow, with no attempts at embellishment. The names of those who
were actors in the fearful scenes have been omitted, from a feeling of
delicacy towards some who are still alive.

The writer is also indebted to her husband, who commanded one of the
outposts throughout the siege, for the accuracy of the statements
of some of the events that did not come immediately under her own
observation.




THE SIEGE OF LUCKNOW.


1857. May 15th, Friday. I spent the day with the B----'s of the 71st
N.I., he acting Brigade-Major of Lucknow: while sitting at dinner he
told us of the horrible news from Meerut and Delhi; it was rather
alarming for one living alone as I was, my husband being on city duty.
Mr. B---- walked home with me about half-past 8, at 9 I went to bed,
taking good care to have a shawl and dressing-gown close to the bed.
Charlie's orderly slept in the verandah with the servants, as he had
done all the week; the B----'s had kindly offered me a bed, but I had
declined it. I had one door, as usual, open close to the bedroom at
which the punkah-wallah pulled the punkah; the other two were sleeping
by him; the watchman, bearer, orderly, and two doggies, forming quite a
guard round the door: the Ayah and her child slept in a room adjoining;
and, notwithstanding the alarm, I think I never slept sounder in my
life.

Saturday, May 16th. I rose soon after gun-fire, and sent off Charlie's
provisions for the day, bread and butter, quail, mango-fool, and a
few vegetables, and then sat in the garden and had my coffee; at 7
went into the house and prepared for a visit to the city, breakfasted
at 10, and started at 11. I found Charlie had been with Sir Henry
Lawrence, who was making admirable preparations in case of a rise here;
Charlie said the old man was resting by a watercourse in the garden
with quite a little party around him, he telling them all he knew, but
advising them to spread the bad news as little as possible; and then
consulting with them about precautionary measures, not objecting to a
suggestion from even a captain, but catching at anything he thought
good. I could see that Charlie felt perfect confidence in him; but I
also saw that he thought very seriously of the state the country was
in, for his remark was that we were in the position of a man sitting
on a barrel of gunpowder. I sat talking with him till 1 o'clock, and
then went over to the G----'s, as I had promised to spend the day
with them. I found them in an awful state of alarm--talking of these
murders at Delhi, and wondering if So-and-So had escaped. Miss N----
had a violent sick headache from the fright. At 2 Charlie came, and
at 3 we tiffed; but Mr. G---- was so busy he could scarcely stay
two minutes, and all the time was talking of the preparations. The
Residency was being turned out to form a place of safety for the ladies
and the sick. Charlie had to leave early to superintend arrangements
also. About half-past 5 I returned to his quarters, for I longed for
a little talk with him before I went home. The heat had been intense
all day, and the constant talking about these murders had made me feel
quite uncomfortable. Charlie was still with his guards and did not
return home for some time, so I lay down quietly on his bed. I felt
so nervous that, when he did return, I begged him to let me stay in a
chair by him all night. However, he talked and reasoned with me and
I got better. He told me two companies of the 32nd Queen's were just
coming into the banquetting house, and the sick from the hospital; also
a lot of women and children into some rooms under his quarters. He made
me a cup of tea and then would not let me stay any longer, as it was
getting dusk, and Sir Henry just driving up at the moment, I started,
as Charlie had to superintend the arrival of the troops.