1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 207
2 far superior to himself in energy, bravery, and
3 intellect, and in every way adapted to the control
4 of a fierce, disorderly race. This imbecile, fugitive
5 king had remained for nearly thirty years depen-
6 dent on the generosity of the government of India:
7 he had made"two unsuccessful attempts to regain
8 his throne, and was forced to return to his asylum
9 at Loodianah ; no aid was afforded him in either of
10 his attempts, and whether he had any right to expect
11 it, is a matter of doubt. But his right to the throne
12 of Cabul was as strong in 1812 as in 1839; and
13 when in the latter year, the army of the Indus took
14 the field, in order to re-establish Shah Soojah-Ool
15 Moolk, the plea was not stronger than it would have
16 been when he first took up his abode at Loodianah.
17 The invasion of Affghanistan was hardly sanctioned
18 on the principle of right ; it failed ultimately, and a
19 catastrophe befell the British which will be ever
20 memorable in the annals of British rule in India.
21 The annexation of Scinde, Mysore, the Carnatic ;
22 in short, of the whole of the British possessions in
23 India might, perhaps, be disputed on the same
24 principle ; but, not so, the annexation of a portion,
25 or even the whole, of the Punjab. A people maks war with the
26 . eae Se + Sikhs justifi-
27 ing an unprovoked aggression in defiance of treaties able,
28 of peace and alliance, justly subject themselves to
29 the loss of their territories; and if they suffer all
30 the horrors of war and bloodshed, they are alone
31 to blame for the issue. The victors have every
32 right to deprive them of the means of repeating
33 such outrages. The Sikhs did not annear to pn.