1 ~ THE FIRST SIKH WAR, 549
2 of twenty thousand, in the direction of Amritsar, but that they were not in a
3 position to offer battle to the victors. On thesame day the Governor-General
4 issued a proclamation, announcing, that the British army had crossed the
5 Sutlej and entered the Panjab, declaring that the occupation of the Panjdéb
6 by the British would not be relinquished until ample atonement had been made
7 for the infraction of the treaty of 1809, and the unprovoked invasion of the
8 British Provinces, full indemnity paid for all expenses incurred during the war,
9 and such arrangements made for the future government of the Lahore
10 territories as would give perfect security to the British Government against
11 similar acts of perfidy and aggression in the future; that military operations
12 against the Government and army of the Léhore State had been under-
13 taken by the Government of India from no desire of territorial aggrandize-
14 ment, though the measures necessary for providing indemnity and security
15 would involve their retention of a portion of the Léhore territories, the ex-
16 tent of which would be determined by the conduct of the Darbdr, and by
17 considerations for the security of the British frontier; that the Government
18 of India would, under any circumstances, annex to the British Provinces
19 the districts, hill and plain, situated between the rivers Sutlej] and Bias,
20 the revenues thereof being appropriated as a part of the indemnity re-
21 quired from the Lahore State; that the Government of India, as frequently
22 Proclamation of tl
23 Governor-General,
24 declared by it, had never desired to subvert the Sikh government in the ,
25 Panjdéb; that, although the conduct of the Darbar had been such as to
26 justify the most severe and extreme measures of retribution, nevertheless
27 the Governor-General was still willing that an opportunity should be given
28 to the Darbdr and to the chiefs to submit themselves to the authority
29 of the British Government, and by a return to good faith, and the observance
30 of prudent counsels, to enable the Governor-General to organize a Sikh govern-
31 ment in the person of a descendant of its founder, the late Maharaja
32 Ranjit Singh, the faithful ally of the British, The Governor-General
33 therefore called upon all those chiefs who were well-wishers of the des-
34 cendants of Ranjit Singh to act in concert with him, in carrying into effect
35 such arrangements as would maintain a Sikh government at Lahore, capable
36 of controlling its army and protecting its subjects, and based on principles
37 that would provide for the future tranquillity of the Sikh States, secure the
38 British frontier against a repetition of acts of aggression, and prove to the
39 whole world the moderation and justice of the paramount power of India,
40 The Proclamation concluded with the declaration that if the opportunity
41 then afforded ofrescuing the Sikh nation from military anarchy and misrule
42 were neglected by the Darbar, and hostile opposition ‘to the British army
43 renewed, the Government of India would make such other arrangements for
44 the future government of the Panjdb as the interests and security of the
45 British power might render just and expedient.
46 The Rani and the Darbdr now urged Raja -Guldb Singh, their chosen
47 minister, to proceed immediately to the British camp to implore mercy in
48 the name of the Darbdr, and endeavour to enter into negotiations. All the
49 chiefs, sirdars and panchayats of the army solemnly pledged themselves to
50 abide by such terms as the r4j4 might arrange with the British Government,
51 on the basis announced in the Proclamation, of recognising a Sikh -govern-
52 ment in Léhore. On the 15th, the Governor-General was visited at Kasur
53 by Rajé Guldb Singh, Dewdn Din Nath, Fakir Nur-ud-din and the Barakzai
54 chief, Sardar Sultdén Mohammad Khan. His Excellency received the Rajd
55 and his colleagues as the representatives of an offending government, the forma-
56 lities observed at friendly meetings being omitted and the -proffered masuis
57 refused, The Governor-General explained to the Sikh deputation how
58 The Lahore Darbar
59 sites for peace.
60 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com