CHAPTER XXXVI. THE INDIAN MUTINY. The Centenary of Plassey--Rumours of Rebellion--Causes of the Mutiny--The Annexation of Oudh--Lord Dalhousie’s Indian Policy--Its Disturbing Effect on the Minds of the Natives--The Royal Family of Delhi--The Hindoo “Sumbut”--The Discontent of the Bengal Army--The Grievances of the Sepoy--The Greased Cartridges--The Mystery of the “Chupatties”--Mutiny of the Garrison at Meerut--The March to Delhi--Sir Henry Lawrence at Lucknow--The Tragedy of Cawnpore--Death of the Commander-in-Chief--Who took Delhi?--Sir John Lawrence in the Punjab--The Saviour of India--Lord Canning at Calcutta--First Relief of Lucknow--Despatch of Sir Colin Campbell--Second Relief of Lucknow--Savage Fighting at the Secunder-baugh--The Queen’s Letter to Sir Colin Campbell--His Retreat to Cawnpore--His Management of the Campaign--Windham’s Defeat at the Pandoo River--Sir Colin Campbell’s Victory over the Gwalior Army. With the exception of the Sicilian Vespers, no revolt ever smote a great Empire so unexpectedly as the Indian Mutiny. Gaily was the centenary of Plassey celebrated at a banquet in London on the 23rd of June, though the sultry air of India was even then laden with rumours of a wide-spreading rebellion. A few casual allusions to these reports were made in both Houses of Parliament, but July brought with it the rush of rising waters in the dull ears of the nation, when news of the atrocities of Meerut and the rebel march on Delhi startled the country from its apathy.