1 304 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 probably exceeded that number; to meet which
3 there was only a European regiment with a portion
4 of artillery, and a couple of mutinous corps at
5 Feerozpore, and something of the same kind at
6 Loodianah ; on the fortress-walls of which place
7 scrious intentions one night existed of planting two
8 " guns.
9 Though Major Broadfoot’s intelligence regarding
10 the strength of the Sikh army in January 1845,
11 may have been erroneous, yet in November of the
12 same year, before the invasion actually took place,
13 his estimate was correct, for he then describes it
14 at 50,000 or 60,000 men, or of seven detachments
15 of from 8,000 to 10,000 each.
16 On a review of the late campaign, we are hardly
17 justified in supposing that the Governor-general
18 wished the war to be carried on in the British pro-
19 vinces, or even on the left bank of the Sutlej; the
20 Deen thing was unavoidable. The weak government of
21 Sithvzny Lahore, glad to get rid of an unruly soldiery, which
22 across the .
23 Sutlej. had exhausted its treasures and obeyed no laws, was
24 anxious to force the Sikh army across the river, in
25 order that the spirit of anarchy which existed in it
26 might be broken by the British, and thus the power
27 of the Sikh government be again established.
28 Friendly in- The Governor-general and Major Broadfoot were.
29 tentions of the : : ; a
30 rontions oF ™° So convinced of the wishes and intentions of the
31 government. Y shore government, that so long as they believed
32 the latter capable of sustaining its power, they
33 would not credit the reports of an invasion, but the
34 Governor-general explicitly says, “ In the present