1 THE FIRST SIKH WAR. 555
2 Government, The Maharaja engaged never to retain the services of any
3 British subject, or the subject of any European or American State, without
4 the consent of the British Government, and acknowledged its supremacy,
5 > in token of which he was to present annually to the British Government,
6 one horse, twelve perfect shawl goats, and three pairs of Kashmir shawls.
7 ‘Thus was the independence of the Sikhs as a nation broken, the mon-
8 archy formed by the genius of Ranjit Singh reduced to insignificance, and a
9 contest brought to a close which, in its origin and results, has few parallels in
10 history. Major, afterwards Sir Henry, Lawrence who had accompanied to
11 Kabul the Sikh contingent attached to Pollock’s forces, and served as British
12 representative in the court of Katmandu in Nepal, was left in charge of
13 affairs at Léhore. The captured Sikh guns, 250 in number, with their equip-
14 ments, were sent to Calcutta-under a guard of British troops, and were
15 objects of interest to the inhabitants as they passed through the various
16 stations on their way to their destination, where they were publicly received
17 with all military honours,
18 For the tact, foresight, and judgment which characterised this memor-
19 able campaign the greatest praise is due to Sir Henry Hardinge, who com-
20 bined, in so uncommon a degree, the qualities of a statesman and a warrior.
21 The previous increase of the army and the conveyance of the pontoon bridge
22 to Ferozepur show that he was not unprepared for the contest, but that, while
23 he omitted no measures of wise precaution necessary for the protection of
24 the British frontier, he offered no provocation for the war, which commenced
25 on the side of the enemy. To a mind just and magnanimous he added
26 the utmost sagacity and wisdom, and his toleration and political honesty had
27 their just reward in the great triumphs won by him over the enemy. In
28 England the accounts of the British conquest were received with great en-
29 thusiasm. Both houses of Parliament passed votes of thanks to the army,
30 and Sir Henry Hardinge and the Commander-in-Chief were raised to the
31 peerage. Sir Henry Smith was created a baronet and the honour of the Order
32 of the Bath was profusely bestowed on officers who had taken part in the
33 campaign, while twelve months’ batta was conferred on the army by order of
34 the Government of India.
35 After the conclusion of the treaty, Rani Jinddn was recognised as regent
36 of the State, with Raja Lal Singh as executive minister, the advice and direc-
37 tion of Major Lawrence being available on all occasions. The choice of the
38 Rani, in selecting her own paramour for the office of minister, was another
39 great suicidal blow struck at the life of the Khdélsé kingdom. The perfidy
40 of Lal Singh soon became manifest. He instigated Sheikh Imdm-ud-din, the
41 Sikh Governor of Kdshmir, to refuse to surrender that country to Guléb Singh
42 according to the treaty by which the British had agreed to recognise him as
43 its independent sovereign, the country having been ceded to the British
44 Government by the Ldhore Darbar. Several actions were fought between
45 the troops of the insurgent Sheikh and those of Guldb Singh, and the Sheikh
46 ‘did not surrender until Major Lawrence himself went to Kdshmir at the
47 head of troops which had lately been fighting against the British forces.
48 Lal Singh was tried in open Darbér on the 8rd and 4th of December, 1846, in
49 a tent opposite the citadel, the Court of Inquiry consisting of Major-General
50 Littler, Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence, Lieutenant-Colonel Goldie, Mr. Currie
51 and Mr. J. Lawrence. The accused was defended by Dewdn Dind Nath, but
52 when the charge was read out to him, he said nothing in his own defence.
53 Sheikh Imém-ud-din produced the very letters, in the handwriting of Puran
54 Chand, the State Parwdéné Navis or clerk, signed by Lal Singh, which he
55 had privately sent to him enjoining him on no account to deliver up the
56 Major Henry Law-
57 rance is left in charge
58 of affairs at Lahore.
59 The captured Sikh
60 guns,
61 The services of Sir
62 Henry Hardinge as
63 Commander-in-Chief,
64 Rant Jindan acts ag
65 regent with Lal Singh
66 as wazir,
67 The rebellion of
68 Sheikh Inim-nd-din in
69 Kashmir,
70 He surrenders to the
71 British,
72 Trial of Lal Singh,
73 December, 1846,
74 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com