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 THE DOWNFALL 
 
 DELHI. 
 
 MDCCCLYIL 
 
 Printed for Private Circulation. 
 
 ,19 5 
 

 PEEFACE. 
 
 The following lines,, written by a youth only 
 twelve and a half years of age, were com- 
 menced on the 14th of November, 1857, upon 
 the arrival of the mail from India announcing 
 the Fall of Delhi, and finished on the 22nd 
 of the same month, without interruption of 
 his usual studies. 
 
 January, 1858. 
 
 205449 
 '13 
 
THE 
 
 DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 T. 
 
 Oh fairest Calliope, sing! 
 
 Goddess first in Epic song ; 
 And tell what British heroes fell, 
 
 Noble, and brave, and strong : 
 All since the war began, 
 
 By haughty Moslems made ; 
 And warring nations fought, 
 
 In shining arms arrayed. 
 
 ii. 
 
 So fights the frantic steed, 
 
 Who his good master throws ; 
 And he, by former bounty fed, 
 
 Becomes the worst of foes. 
 Declare what people came, 
 
 By many leaders led, 
 Of India's sons rebellious, 
 
 Whose hands in blood were red. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 III. 
 
 Some came from rebel Oude, 
 
 From that fair land and wide, 
 Where rapid flowing Ganges 
 
 Rolls to the sea his tide. 
 Her fair and fertile plains 
 
 With graceful palms are crown'd : 
 Her plenteous fields of grains 
 
 Fair plenty spread around. 
 
 IV. 
 
 From Agra's fairest city, 
 
 Crown'd with royal towers 
 Of Mogul princes great, 
 
 Come vast rebel powers. 
 Arm'd rebel Hindoos come 
 
 From Gwalior's fortress grand, 
 And buildings fair to sight 
 
 On all the neighbouring land. 
 
 Fresh hosts from Bhopaul come, 
 
 And from the great Indore ; 
 From Lucknow next march some, 
 
 And from blood-stain'd Cawnpore. 
 All these to Delhi take their way, 
 
 And those they meet around 
 Of European race they slay, 
 
 Staining the redden'd ground. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 VI. 
 
 In Delhi's royal city 
 
 Twelve strongest towers shine, 
 By royal princes built 
 
 Of the haughty Mogul line ; 
 Here, in splendid gilded domes, 
 
 Mogul princes great abode, 
 In those great palaces, 
 
 By where the Jumna flow'd. 
 
 VII. 
 
 On September's twelfth day 
 
 The sun arose, and o'er our foes 
 His golden rays he sent 
 
 To where the Jumna flows : 
 Her waves he tinted with gold, 
 
 Mixed in azure hue : 
 And high o'er Delhi's towers 
 
 The skies were amber and blue. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Then to the Hindoo sight 
 
 Our advanced guard appear'd — 
 In straight lines and white 
 
 The pointed tents were rear'd. 
 The sight, with dread and awe, 
 
 The rebel Hindoos saw ; 
 They knew that they were doom'd 
 
 To suffer for Cawnpore. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 IX. 
 
 Within the city proud 
 
 Full many leaders lead, 
 Above the rebel crowd, 
 
 And rule both man and steed. 
 The king is first in name, 
 
 He of the Mogul line, — 
 His hair is white, but in the fight 
 
 His honour does not shine. 
 
 x. 
 
 His sons and nephews next 
 
 In that great town bear sway, 
 Whose commands the people all 
 
 With great respect obey. 
 Firm stood the British guns — 
 
 On the hills their fronts they show'd, 
 And firm the leaders rode 
 
 Before Britannia's sons. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Behind the hills the camp 
 
 From side to side was spread ; 
 And loudly sounds the tramp 
 
 Of those by Wilson led. 
 Harsh roar those cannons loud, 
 
 Heavy spheres they throw ; 
 And those walls so strong and proud 
 
 Downward in ruins go. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 7 
 
 XII. 
 
 The Cashmere fortress falls, 
 
 Xor stands the nearest wall, 
 But in a mound are strewn around 
 
 Her strong defences all. 
 Upon the ground the parts 
 
 Scatter'd lie in heaps, 
 And downward brick on brick 
 
 Down tumultuous leaps. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 But the door is guarded yet, 
 
 Unbroken walls there stand, 
 Well made, and hard and fast, they guard 
 
 Inside the rebel band. 
 Now in the west the sun to rest 
 
 Has sunken in the sky, 
 Behind the gilded mosques 
 
 And Hindoo temples high. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 The silver moon now rises 
 
 To chase the darkening night : 
 Over all the palaces 
 
 She sheds pale rays of light. 
 The night prevents the strife, 
 
 And stops the distant war ; 
 So fade awhile these scenes of life, 
 
 Stilling that sullen roar. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHT. 
 XV. 
 
 On each side the soldiers 
 
 Rest, except a few in sleep ; 
 But still the sentinels 
 
 Their weary watchings keep. 
 Now the sun arises high, 
 
 And by his ray he shows the day 
 When many shall in battle die 
 
 Ere he hides his golden ray. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Orders from the General 
 
 To gallant Salkeld come, 
 To clear the way for our array 
 
 With gallant sergeants some : 
 And then he call'd his men, 
 
 And fast they gather'd all, — 
 Undaunted fast they go 
 
 To attack the portal tall. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Twice ten muskets rattle, 
 
 And twice ten volleys roll ; 
 And they seem to threaten 
 
 To slay his forces whole. 
 A sergeant dropp'd down at his side, 
 
 And falling there expired ; 
 But faster, and still more fast, 
 
 Were their great volleys fired. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 XVIII. 
 
 His arm was pierced through ; 
 
 But onward and still faster 
 With his little band he flew, 
 
 Over them the master. 
 Thus flies the fierce tiger, 
 
 When first the shaft he feels ; 
 Right on man and elephant 
 
 Impetuously he wheels. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 So the mountain torrent, 
 
 Gaming still greater force, 
 Leaping from point to point, 
 
 Makes itself a deepen'd course ; 
 And now upon the door 
 
 Great powder-bags they bind ; 
 But Salkeld, 'midst the roar, 
 
 Falls wounded down behind. 
 
 xx. 
 
 A Sergeant lit the bags, 
 
 But then, shot through, fell down : 
 And around the portal's blown, 
 
 Before the Mogul town. 
 Meanwhile our heroes were 
 
 Drawn out in fair array, 
 For contest ready then, 
 
 And clear did Wilson say, — 
 B 2 
 
10 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 " Men and warriors, arise ! 
 
 To claim the justice due ; 
 Let our war-cries to the skies 
 
 Ascend with honour too : 
 Attack and slay our foes, 
 
 That 'gainst us weapons bear ; 
 But wheresoe'er our conquest goes, 
 
 The weak and helpless spare." 
 
 XXII. 
 
 As rushes a great river 
 
 That overflows the land, 
 Running fast and furious, 
 
 It whelms the neighbouring strand ;- 
 So goes the British army, 
 
 In firm ranks and close ; 
 And forth rush all unto the wall, 
 
 And storm the rebel foes. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Rattle loud the muskets, 
 
 The cannons roar like thunder, 
 And threat, with horrid noise, 
 
 To rend the earth asunder. 
 And in one dark, black cloud 
 
 Are extinguish'd all, 
 And hidden all the crowd 
 
 Who storm and who defend the wall. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 11 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 All is din, without, within, 
 
 And groans are heard and shrieks, 
 As when with the Persians 
 
 Fought well the patriot Greeks. 
 Some mount the ladders high, 
 
 And with the rebels fight ; 
 By hundreds shot they die, 
 
 But fight, and slay aright. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Warriors together pour, 
 
 And forth impetuous rush, 
 And in the din and roar 
 
 The opposing rebels crush. 
 Around brave Nicholson 
 
 Most furious raged the fray ; 
 And the gallant Bradshaw 
 
 Dead on the cold earth lay. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Then was Fitzgerald slain, 
 
 And he fell to the earth, 
 Dropping upon the plain, 
 
 A soldier brave of worth. 
 Ere his death in glory 
 
 He placed our flag on high : 
 Fighting in his fury, 
 
 It was his fate to die. 
 
12 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Then Nicholson, fighting 
 
 Bravely in the contest hard, 
 The foeman fierce smiting, 
 
 With his death-wound was scarr'd. 
 With a rush the Britons 
 
 On to the rebels flew, 
 And, with bayonets fixed fast, 
 
 Hosts of rebels slew. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Then were their leaders slain, — 
 
 One came from Agra's town, 
 And for the rebels fighting, 
 
 A swordsman cut him down. 
 Another Sahib fell, 
 
 Who was on the rebel side ; 
 And another great rebel 
 
 Under a bayonet died. 
 
 , XXIX. 
 
 The Moree gate is sought 
 
 By Britons brave in war ; 
 O'er the dying the flags were flying, 
 
 While Britons charge before. 
 The shaking earth beneath 
 
 Trembled under their firm pace ; 
 And hand to hand they fight 
 
 And strive, and strive to win the place. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 13 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Then on the rebel side 
 
 A valiant leader fell ; 
 A Persian he, the Moslem pride, 
 
 Esteemed by them well. 
 Sinking beneath the blade 
 
 By a British hand wielded, 
 Fell in glorious arms array'd, 
 
 Ere the blow was shielded. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 The Hindoo chief lies in his gore, 
 
 Who came from Oude to fight ; 
 And by a Briton slain, 
 
 Lies dead in clothing white. 
 One rush the Britons make, 
 
 Confusion spreads around ; 
 And next the batteries win, 
 
 Where rebels strew the ground. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 The Sepoys still retreat, 
 
 With fixed bayonets shining ; 
 Rank by rank they fight, 
 
 In deadly fray combining. 
 To the sound of trumpets 
 
 Each hostile army meets ; 
 They make a stand, and hand to hand 
 
 They fight throughout the streets. 
 
14 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Meanwhile at Lahore gate 
 
 Not such great deeds were done 
 Many heroes met their fate, 
 
 And not so much was won. 
 The night meanwhile her reign 
 
 Assumes, and sends the light 
 Of day from her far away, 
 
 Giving repose to wearied sight. 
 
 xxxiv. 
 
 Temples of Hindoo idols, 
 
 With pinnacles of gold, 
 Mosques by Moslems made, 
 
 And palaces of old, — 
 Under British arms they lie ; 
 
 And o'er the eastern side, 
 Fair wave our banners high, 
 
 And show our conquests wide. 
 
 xxxv. 
 
 The sun has risen high, 
 
 And by his light he shows 
 Where the long crowd of people 
 
 Retreating onward goes. 
 Crowds upon crowds arrive, 
 
 Through the gates they urge their way, 
 And in the crowd the trampings loud 
 
 Reign throughout that day. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 15 
 
 XXX VI. 
 
 "Tis night, — the scene is still, 
 
 And calmness in the sky ; 
 Dark, dark fall the shadows 
 
 Of Delhi's towers high. 
 Now is the moon arising, 
 
 Throwing forth her silvery light ; 
 Tired forces resting, 
 
 Bless the advancing night. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 The long line flashes far, 
 
 Of bayonets gleaming, 
 By bravest Britons borne, 
 
 In blue bright rows streaming. 
 The magazine is storm'd 
 
 By Britons brave in war ; 
 They rush like some fierce flood, 
 
 That sweeps the land before. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 Dying groans, dying moans, 
 
 They rend the sounding air ; 
 And horrid shrieks and callings 
 
 For mercy in despair : 
 But mercy 's known not here, 
 
 Nor is compassion due ; 
 But under foot they 're trampled, 
 
 Who the helpless slew. 
 
16 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 In the face of that rebel place 
 
 Were six great heavy guns, 
 Kept by some of Indian race, 
 
 From where the Ganges runs. 
 Loud sounds the musketry, 
 
 Rattling, bursting with fury : 
 Shrouding the place flies the smoke, 
 
 O'er the death-field that's gory. 
 
 XL. 
 
 Through the dark the flashing 
 
 Of firing muskets streaks : 
 The noise sounds in the din 
 
 Of rebels' dying shrieks. 
 Then loud the Britons cheer, 
 
 And loud the trumpets sound, 
 And far on each side and near 
 
 It echoes clear around. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 " Hurrah ! hurrah ! the place is won, 
 
 The place of rebel stores : 
 Hurrah ! hurrah ! we 've won, 
 
 Who have fought for Britain's cause." 
 The sound echoed to the wall, 
 
 And rang in the palace hall ; 
 Heavily the sound did fall 
 
 Upon the towers tall. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 17 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Full loud roars the thunder 
 
 Rolling from the British guns, 
 To rend the walls asunder 
 
 Built by Baber's sons : 
 But firm as some strong rock, 
 
 The palace's thick walls, 
 Withstand the dreadful shock 
 
 Of all the massive balls. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 Roaring loud and booming 
 
 The cannons 5 furious fire, 
 Nor cease, nor yield a piece, 
 
 But deal destruction dire. 
 Woe to the man or steed 
 
 That would pass that firing by, 
 For by some shot, upon that spot, 
 
 It shall be his fate to die. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 'Tis morn, — the Bank is ours — 
 
 Our flag is on its wall ; 
 It's held by British powers, 
 
 A band of heroes all. 
 Signal for the attack 
 
 On the Jumna Musjd's given, 
 And forth the rebels fast 
 
 From the place are driven. 
 
18 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Firm our guns are placed, 
 
 In ranges o'er the town, 
 And in a long straight line 
 
 Threat to hurl the rebels down : 
 The Lahore gate has fallen ; 
 
 Taken is the Ajmere gate ; 
 The Buree bastion 's ours, 
 
 And many rebels meet their fate. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 In long red lines our men 
 
 For the signal await, 
 That shall doom the palace to fall, 
 
 And seal the Mogul fate. 
 *Tis given, and on they rush, 
 
 Through fire, and smoke, and broad- 
 sword stroke ; 
 Before, behind, they pour — 
 
 Right on to the foes they broke. 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 The drums beat the charge, 
 
 And loud the trumpets clang, 
 And pike, and gun, and targe 
 
 Together furious rang. 
 Rattle here, and rattle there, 
 
 The muskets dealing death ; 
 And 'midst dust, and smoke, and flare, 
 
 Many warriors lost their breath. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 19 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 Horrid shrieks pervade the place, 
 
 And mercy is not known ; 
 But they who slew great Europe's race 
 
 Upon their death-field groan. 
 Fierce foes the fight maintain, 
 
 And rally here, and rally there, 
 And charge and charge again ; 
 
 Then die, shrieking in despair. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Well the gallant Ghoorkas fight, 
 
 They who faithful still remain, 
 And fight for Britain's cause, 
 
 And fight and charge amain. 
 The shots fell thick and fast, 
 
 But the Britons onward run ; 
 The guarded gate is past, 
 
 And our entrance now is won. 
 
 L. 
 
 The fighting echoes far 
 
 Within the Mogul halls, 
 And doth the sound rebound 
 
 To their furthest walls. 
 The foes still stand, and hand to hand 
 
 They fight till streams their gore ; 
 They know that die they must, 
 
 In justice for Cawnpore. 
 
20 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 LI. 
 
 A cheer gave the Britons, 
 
 And with one rush they drive, 
 With bayonets fix'd, the rebels, 
 
 And leave scarce one alive. 
 The green flag is lower'd 
 
 From the palace tower, — 
 The British flag on high 
 
 Shows far our warlike power. 
 
 LII. 
 
 Long may it wave in glory 
 
 Upon that tower high, 
 To tell the noble story, 
 
 While it doth exalted fly. 
 Long may our justice rule 
 
 This now our rightful place, 
 And plenty prosper long 
 
 The Hindoo subject race. 
 
 LITI. 
 
 In the great marble hall 
 
 Gather'd are the victors all ; 
 In fair lines ranged along, 
 
 From door to door, and wall to wall. 
 A banquet 's held, and here 
 
 In cups shines the wine : 
 Wilson their chief presides 
 
 O'er all the festive line. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 21 
 
 LIV. 
 
 Our Queen's health is drank, 
 
 And loud the Britons cheer, 
 And through the palace great 
 
 It rings both far and near. 
 The Ghoorkas at the gate 
 
 Shout out the loud hurrah ; 
 Arid its echoes rebound 
 
 Near the palace and afar. 
 
 LV. 
 
 The band in martial strain 
 
 The national anthem sounds ; 
 And sonorous again 
 
 It from the walls rebounds. 
 First loud, then softer notes, 
 
 Harmonious fill the place ; 
 Concord melodious floats, 
 
 With moving varied pace. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Thus the Britons triumph 
 
 Within the marble hall ; 
 The rebels who still live 
 
 Mourn for Delhi's fall. 
 Now let there triumph be, 
 
 And rejoicing in this land ; 
 For ours is the victory 
 
 Over all that rebel band. 
 
22 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 LVII. 
 
 Where Jumna rolls her tide, 
 
 Fast flowing to the main, 
 Over fair lands and wide, 
 
 Victoria rules again. 
 Then let us triumph hold, 
 
 For now are the rebels down ; 
 And let us praise the bold 
 
 Who won great Delhi's town. 
 
 LV1II. 
 
 Let us honour Wilson's name, 
 
 And Nicholson now dead ; 
 Long live Salkeld's fame, 
 
 Who ne'er from his foeman fled: 
 And may this rebel war 
 
 No longer last in fury ; 
 But be put down, to rise no more, 
 
 And give our heroes glory. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Long may Victoria reign 
 
 O'er Britain's plenteous isle, 
 Where Art abides in greatness, 
 
 And where doth Science smile ; 
 And o'er great Hindostan, 
 
 That place of rivers grand, 
 And deserts hot and scorching, 
 
 And fruitful plains of land. 
 
THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 23 
 
 LX. 
 
 And where the Ganges rolls, 
 
 And where the Indus runs, 
 May she long rule in peace 
 
 O'er India's bravest sons : 
 And may that land in richness 
 
 Produce her spice and grains, 
 Kipening and yielding their fruits, 
 
 Nodding on the yellow plains. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 Then shall plenty be and peace 
 
 Within that mighty land ; 
 Then shall the peasants reap 
 
 The labour of their hand. 
 Arts shall with commerce grow, 
 
 When the rebel war is o'er, 
 And hand in hand they '11 go, 
 
 And bless the people more. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 Delhi 's fallen — and slain 
 
 Are many of her princes great ; 
 And may the rebels all 
 
 Share with them their fate : 
 The king is in our hands, 
 
 He of the Mogul race, 
 From Baber descended, 
 
 Who in India won his place. 
 
24 THE DOWNFALL OF DELHI. 
 
 Now let there triumph be, 
 And rejoicing in this land ; 
 
 For ours is the victory 
 Over all the rebel band. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON : KNIGHT AND SON, I'RIXTEES, CLERKENWELL CLOSE.