Your Lordship will observe the small item put down for the judicial establishments all over Oude.  Such as are really kept up are worthless, and are altogether without the confidence of the people.  The savings in the other branches of the expenditure will more than cover all the outlay required for good ones.

The King continues to show the same aversion to hear anything about public affairs, or to converse with any but the singers, eunuchs, and females.  At the great festival of the Eed, on the first appearance of the present moon, he went out in procession, but deputed his heir-apparent to receive the compliments in Durbar.  He does not suffer bodily pain, but is said to have long fits of moping and melancholy, and he is manifestly hypochondriac.  He squanders the state jewels among the singers and eunuchs, who send them out of the country as fast as they can.  The members of his family who have its interests most at heart, are becoming anxious for some change; and by the time the two years expire, it will not, perhaps, be difficult to induce him to put his affairs into other hands.  He would change his minister on the slightest hint from me; but it would be of no use:  the successor, pretending to carry on the Government under the King’s orders, would be little better than the present minister is, and things would continue to be just as bad as they now are:  they certainly could not be worse.

The Board, composed of the first members of the Lucknow aristocracy, would be, I think, both popular and efficient; and with the aid of a few of the ablest of the native judicial and revenue officers of our own districts, invited to Oude by the prospect of higher pay and security in the tenure of office, would soon have at work a machinery capable of securing to all their rights, and enforcing from all their duties in every part of this, at present, distracted country.  We should soon have good roads throughout the kingdom; and both they and the rivers would soon be as secure as in our own provinces.  I think, too, that I might venture to promise that all would be effected without violence or disturbance; all would see that everything was done for the benefit of an oppressed people, and in good faith towards the reigning family.

With great respect, I remain your Lordship’s obedient, humble servant.

(Signed) W. H. SLEEMAN.

To the Most Noble
the Marquis of Dalhousie, K.T.,
    &c. &c. &c.

P.S.—­I may mention that the King is now engaged in turning into verse a long prose history called Hydree.  About ten days ago all the poets in Lucknow were assembled at the palace to hear his Majesty read his poem.  They sat with him, listening to his poem and reading their own from nine at night till three in the morning.  One of the poets, the eldest son of a late minister, Mohamid-od Dowla, Aga Meer, told me that the versification was exceedingly good for a King.  These are, I think, the only men, save the minister, the eunuchs, and the singers who have had the honour of conversing with his Majesty since I came here in January last. 
                                   W. H. S.