1 306 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 Forbearance We can, however, easily conceive, that the
3 justifiable on
4 HS eb Governor-general, knowing the disposition of the
5 neral. Lahore government towards the British, should be
6 averse to any hurried arrangements indicative of
7 war, confining himself to the means of movement
8 of a certain force detailed in his letter to the Com-
9 mander-in-chief.
10 Reasons why It is more than probable, that in its negotiations
11 Major Broad- .
12 foot should be with Major Broadfoot, the Lahore government
13 Daaires cautiously concealed its weakness, thereby leading
14 aves" him to believe, that it possessed the power of con-
15 trolling its army; and if the agent was so deluded,
16 we can understand how he should be incredulous
17 of any invasion from troops which belonged to a
18 government professing the most friendly feelings to-
19 wards his own.
20 Causes opera- SO long as the Vakeels of the Lahore govern-
21 duesatetier Ment received and transmitted the friendly corres-
22 apne war, pondence between it and the agent of the British,
23 the latter could not believe that a rupture would
24 take place. But when no answer was received to
25 his letters, demanding explanations regarding the
26 Jarge numbers of Sikh troops moving towards the
27 Sutlej, his suspicions were roused, and he then
28 learnt that a “ mutinous Sikh army had usurped
29 the functions of the government.”
30 Helpless con- Such being the humiliating and feeble nature of
31 Lahore go- the Lahore government, what answer could be ex-
32 MCE pected from it, unless to confess, what the Gover-
33 nor-general already knew, that it was helpless, and
34 in the hands of a lawless and mutinous soldiery ?