Which kingdom was described by Governor-General Lord Dalhousie as 'A cherry that will drop into our mouth one day'?

In 1851, Governor-General Lord Dalhousie famously described the kingdom of Awadh (Oudh) as 'a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day' [1]. This remark reflected the British strategic and economic interest in the fertile and wealthy region of Awadh. While many other states like Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur were annexed under the 'Doctrine of Lapse' due to the lack of a natural male heir [2], Awadh's annexation in 1856 was justified on the grounds of 'misgovernment' [1]. Dalhousie deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, claiming the British were duty-bound to take over for the betterment of the province. This annexation caused widespread resentment, as the Nawab was popular among his subjects, and the move became a significant contributing factor to the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Annexed Lapsed States > p. 125
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 17: Effects of British Rule > Doctrine of Lapse > p. 268