1 Lord Ellen-
2 borough's
3 views regard
4 ing the Pun-
5 jab,
6 Feature of the
7 present cam-
8 paign.
9 Contrasted
10 with that of
11 Affghanistan.
12 206 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
13 by the Governor-general, were now conspicuous in
14 the completion of a war which could not possibly
15 have been confined to a few months’ duration, had
16 the British been aggressors, and the Punjab the
17 scene of the struggle.
18 It is highly probable that Lord Ellenborough
19 had resolved to invade the Punjab with a powerful
20 and overwhelming army, had any sufficient provo-
21 cation been offered; and if the Sikhs had been
22 taken unawares, conquest might have been rapid
23 and complete. But even in that case, had his
24 Lordship begun his campaign in October, instead’
25 of December, the triumph of his design would; in
26 all probability, have involved the necessity of re-
27 taining a strong force of Europeans in the Punjab,
28 thereby endangering their lives by exposure.
29 Under this view of the case, therefore, it is a matter
30 of congratulation that the campaign against the
31 Sikhs did not occur in 1843-44, instead of 1845-46 ;
32 but those who look to the entire subjugation of the
33 Punjab, as the only means whereby rule and order
34 can take the place of anarchy and confusion in that
35 country, would probably support the views of the
36 former Governor-general. There is, however, one
37 point connected with the present campaign that
38 throws the ‘balance into its favour, and forms a
39 pleasing contrast to the wars. formerly carried on
40 in India and other countries.
41 Our mvasion of Affghanistan was undertaken to
42 serve a political purpose, to replace a king on the
43 throne of Cabul who had been expelled by a man