1 Continued.
2 Concluded.
3 The alarm at
4 Lahore.
5 The Sikhs at
6 Sobraon had
7 every advan-
8 tage on their
9 side.
10 Could never
11 meet the Bri-
12 dish again.
13 200 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
14 arrangements, as shall maintain a Sikh government
15 at Lahore, capable of controlling its army and -
16 protecting its subjects, and based upon principles
17 that shall provide for the future tranquillity of the
18 Sikh states—shall secure the British frontier from
19 a repetition of acts of aggression,—and shall prove
20 to the whole world the moderation and justice of
21 the paramount power in India.
22 “ If this opportunity of rescuing the Sikh nation
23 from military anarchy and misrule be neglected,
24 and hostile opposition to the British army be re-
25 newed, the government of India will make such
26 other arrangements for the future government of
27 the Punjab, as the interests and security of the
28 British power may render just and expedient.”
29 The terror and consternation produced at
30 Lahore, by the tidings of the signal and complete
31 overthrow of the Sikhs at Sobraon, may be readily
32 conceived. In this last battle, the Khalsa troops
33 had fought with every advantage that a strongly
34 fortified camp, defended by’numerous artillery on
35 the opposite bank and behind walls, where they
36 could safely assail their enemy, could bestow.
37 This complete failure proved to a certainty, that
38 the remnant of the Sikh force could never again
39 meet the British army. The existence of the very
40 kingdom was at stake, and it was felt that if the
41 British should cross the Sutlej, the flag of the
42 victors might in a few days be flying on the
43 citadel of Lahore.
44 ook