1 HISTORY OF THi; SIKHS.
2 263
3 10 same time I have been equally anxious to
4 support his character in those striking points in
5 which this extraordinary man differs so widely from
6 his predecessors and contemporaries. Mis inter¬
7 course with the British lias effected a complete
8 change in his notions on the subject of war; he has
9 learned from some source the importance of many
10 minor details which had been formerly overlooked..
11 Encroaching years and ill-health have, however,
12 diminished the energies ol his mind, as well as the
13 activity of his body, and to those who knew him in
14 the prime of manhood, his present state conveys a
15 melancholy instance of the mutability ol human
16 life, Ilfs very existence is now precarious, and
17 may He extinguished by a repetition of paralysis.
18 When such an event does occur, there will be
19 plenty of blood shed before the British can even
20 reach Lahore. To prevent the chance of this, it
21 appears advisable to
22 have a
23 force as near that
24 capital as possible. The troops now stationed at
25 Lootlianah, were they sufficient in numbers, are
26 at too great, a distance; for after crossing the
27 Sutlej at Fhillour it would take them four days
28 to reach the Beas, and as many more to gain the
29 capital of the Punjab. On looking along the
30 bank of the Sutlej and Gharra, the point nearest
31 Lahore in our possession is undoubtedly Feerozpore,
32 and no obstacle could exist to the formation of a
33 large military station at this place, which is only
34 four days inarch from Lahore.* It is said that
35 * This has since been done.