१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
will see that, under this proclamation, no one, be he
guilty or innocent, can escape. Everything is written and
yet nothing is written. But one thing they have clearly
said, and that is that they shall let off no one who is
implicated ; and so, in whatever village or province our
army has halted, the inhabitants of that place cannot
escape. Deeply are we concerned for the condition of
our beloved people on reading this proclamation which
palpably teems with enmity. We now issue a distinct
order, and trustworthy, that all persons who may have
foolishly presented themselves as heads of villages to the
English shall, before the 1st of January, 1859, present
themselves in our camp. No doubt their faults shall be
forgiven. To believe in this Proclamation, it is only
necessary to remember that Hindusthanee rulers are al-
together kind and merciful. Thousands have seen this,
millions have heard this. No one has ever seen the Eng-
lish have forgiven an offence.
“ In this proclamation it is written that when peace is
restored, public works such as roads and canals, will be
made in order to improve the condition of the people !
It is worthy of a little reflection, that they have promised
no better employment for Hindusthanees than the mak-
ing of roads and the digging of canals !
“ If people cannot see clearly what this means, then, there
is no hope for them.
“ Let no subject be deceived by the proclamation ! ”
And therefore Oudh would not take advantage of the
unconditional amnesty granted therein. She was still
waving her sword, riding on horseback, fighting on the
field, bathing in blood, and leaping into the fire of sacri-
fice ! She wanted freedom or war to the end. She was
more used to jump at the neck than fall at the feet of
the enemy. She was still on the battle-fields of Shankar-
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