1 Mr. Macnaghten sent
2 ona poltical mission to
3 the Comt of Lahore,
4 Reception of the
5 party near Dinanagar
6 by Prince Partab
7 Singh.
8 Arrival iu the camp
9 at Dinanagar.
10 488 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
11 The scheme for the restoration of Shah Shujdé was matured in the first
12 four months of 1838, and, it being thought proper, in consideration no less of
13 the position of Maharajd Ranjit Singh than of his undeviating friendship
14 towards the British Government, that His Highness should be invited to
15 become a party to the contemplated operations, a mission was sent to the
16 Mahardjd, in May of that year, to unfold to him the views of the British Gov-
17 ernment. The mission consisted of Mr. Macvaghten, Political Secretary to
18 Government, Captain Wade, Political Agent at Ludhidnd, Captain the
19 Honourable W. G. Osborne, Military Secretary to the Governor-General,
20 Captain McGregor, Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General, and Doctor
21 Drummond, Surgeon to His Lordship. They left Simla in company with
22 several of the Mahardja’s chief officers and sardars. The embassy, escorted
23 by two companies of the 20th Regiment, two Horse Artillery guns and a
24 squadron of Hearsay’s Horse, crossed the Sutlej, on the opposite bank of which
25 it was met by Sardars Ajit Singh and Karam Singh. The Court was then at
26 Adinanagar, the summer residence of the Mahardjd. Two marches from the
27 city, the party was met by Prince Partéb Singh, a boy seven years of age,
28 the son of Prince Sher Singh and the grandson of the Mahardjd.* He is
29 described as a handsome youth, richly dressed, armed with a small ornamented
30 shield, sword and matchlock, all in miniature, covered with jewels and preci-
31 ous stones, and escorted by a body of Sikh Cavalry and some guns. The
32 horse on which he rode was white, but was dyed with henna to a deep
33 searlet.t One march from Adinanagar, this interesting boy took leave of the
34 mission, when Mr. Macnaghten presented him with a gold watch and chain,
35 as a token of remembrance on the part of His Excellency the Governor-Gene-
36 ral, The young prince expressed his thanks in most graceful terms, and con-
37 cluded by saying: “ You may tell Lord Auckland that the British Govern-
38 ment will always find a friend in the son of Sher Singh.” Then mounting
39 his horse, covered with plumes and jewels, he gracefully raised his hand to his
40 forehead and galloped off with his-escort curvetting and caracoling round
41 him in circles till he was out of sight,
42 Five miles from the Court, the party was met by Rajds Sher Singh
43 and Suchet Singh, seated on an elephant in golden howdahs, and es-
44 corted by a body of about 500 of the Mahardjé’s bodyguard, gorgeously
45 clad in chain armour and rich silk jackets of every colour and variety.
46 The tents of the deputation had been pitched ina grove of mango trees
47 * According to custom, Sher Singh ought to have come himself to receive the members
48 of the embassy, as the district of Adinanagar was that Prince’s jagir, but it was said he had been
49 a little overcome at a drinking party with the Maharajé the evening before, and was in conse-
50 quence too ill to travel.
51 _ +The Honourable Mr. Osborne gives the following account of this intelligent and good-look-
52 ing boy, Partatb Singh: ‘‘ He is oneof the most intelligent boys I ever met with ; very good-
53 looking, with singularly large and expressive eyes. ig manners are in the highest degree
54 attractive, polished, and gentlemanlike and totally free from all mauvais honte and, awkward-
55 ness so generally found in European children of that age. In the course of conversation, l asked
56 him if his matchlock was a real one and if he ever shot with it. He jumped off his chair highl
57 indignant at the question, and after rapidly loading his musket exclaimed, ‘ Now what shall
58 shoot’? I reuliee that I saw nothing in the camp at present it would be safe to shoot,at, and
59 asked him if he thought he could hit a man at a hundred yards’ distance, to which he replied,
60 without amoment’s hesitation, pointing to a crowd of Sikh chiefs and soldiers, that surrounded
61 the tent, ‘ These are all your friends; but show me an enemy to the British Government and
62 you shall soon see what lI can do.’ His father is said to be dotingly fond of this boy; and when
63 e was deputed last year by the Mahardajé to escort Sir Henry Fane to the frontiers of the
64 Panjab, took him with him: butsuch is Ranjit’s jealousy of Europeans that, before they had
65 got three marches, a regiment of cavalry was sent after them, with orders from the Maharaja to
66 Prine Partéb Singh back syith them in order that he might remain as a hostage ia his
67 ather’s return to t e Court.” During the whole of the march through the jagirs of Sher Singh
68 supplies for the entire camp of the British officers were furnished at the expense of that
69 Hance, Neha and Camp of Ranjit Singh, pp. 58-59. At Mukerian a grand feast was given to
70 1¢ members of the embassy, who were much delighted with the reception accorded to them.
71 Sri SatQurtryragtt Sih HielAbrenged. Namdhariclibrary@ gmail.com