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११ वा.] सब वाजिदअल्लीशहा. कर्नल स्लीमन ह्यांस अयोध्या संस्थान नबाबाकडे कायम ठेवून त्याच्या राज्यकारभाराची काहीतरी चांगली व्यवस्था लावावी अशी फार इच्छा होती. त्याप्रमाणे त्यांनी गव्हरनर जनरल ह्यांशी पष्कळ पत्रव्यवहार करून आपली साधक बाधक कारणे त्यांस सादर केली होती. त्यांच्या म्हणण्याप्रमाणे ह्या गोष्टीचा विचार होणार तोच त्यांची प्रकृति नादुरुस्त झाली. त्यामुळे त्यांनी रजा घेतली व त्यांच्या जागी जनरल औट्राम ह्यांची नेमणूक झाली. मत किती जोरदार व स्पष्ट शब्दांनी नमूद केले आहे, हे पुढील उताऱ्यावरून वाचकांच्या लक्ष्यांत येईल: "Were we to take advantage of the occasion to annex or confiscate Oudh, or any part of it, our good name in India would inevitably suffer; and that good name is more valuable to us than a dozen of Oudhs. We are now looked up to throughout India as the only impartial arbitrators that the people generally have ever had.........and from the time we cease to be sy looked up to, we must begin to sink. We suffered from our conduct in Sindh ; but that was a country distant and little known, and linked to the rest of India by few ties of sympathy. Our conduct towards it was preceded by wars and convulsions around, and in its annexation there was nothing manifestly deliberate. It will be otherwise with Oudh. Here the giant's strength is manifest, and we cannot 'use it like a giant' without suffering in the estimation of all India. Annexation or confiscation are not compatible with our relations with this little de pendent State. We must show ourselves to be highminded, and above taking advantage of its prostrate weakness, by appropriating its revenues exclusively to the benefit of the people and royal family of Oudh. We should soon make it the finest gard-c en of India, with the people happy, prosperous, and attached tor our rule."
