1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 199
2 hitherto under the government of the Lahore Continued.
3 state.
4 “ The government of India has frequently de~
5 clared, that it did not desire to subvert the Sikh
6 Government in the Punjab; and although the con-
7 duct of the Durbar has been such, as to justify the
8 most severe and extreme measures of retribution,
9 (the infliction of which may yet be required by
10 sound policy, if the recent acts of violence be not
11 amply atoned for, and immediate submission ten- .
12 dered ;) nevertheless, the Governor-general is still
13 willing that an opportunity should be given to the
14 Durbar and to the chiefs, to submit themselves to
15 the British government, and, by a return to good
16 faith and the observance of prudent counsels,
17 enable the Governor-general to organize a Sikh
18 government, in the person of a descendant of its
19 founder, the late Maharajah Runjeet Singh, the
20 faithful ally of the British power.
21 “The Governor-general at this moment of a
22 complete and decisive victory, cannot give a
23 stronger proof of the forbearance and moderation
24 of the British government, than by making this
25 declaration of his intention: the terms and mode
26 of arrangement remaining for further adjustment.
27 “ The Governor-general, therefore, calls upon
28 all those chiefs who are the well-wishers of the
29 descendants of Runjeet Singh, and especially such
30 chiefs as have not participated in the hostile pro-
31 ceedings against the British power, to act in con-