1 The energy and
2 resolution displayed by
3 itg administrators,
4 The loyalty of t
5 he
6 Panjéb never over-
7 rated,
8 The divisions of Delhi
9 and Hiss&r incorporat-
10 ed with the Pan)
11 1858,
12 ab,
13 The generous views
14 of Sir Johny Lawrence,
15 They are fully shared
16 by Her Majesty the
17 Queen,
18 Her Majesty's
19 autograph letter to Sir
20 John,
21 Sir John Lawrence’s
22 opinion regarding the
23 Mutiny,
24 Rewards to tha
25 Panjab Chiefs for
26 services rendered,
27 Reward of the
28 Maharaja of Patiala.
29 Sri Satg
30 7
31 582 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
32 Never were the great virtues of energy and determination more signally
33 displayed than during that great crisis in the Panjab by its British ad-
34 ministrators. Never had such a spectacle of vigour and greatness of soul
35 been witnessed as was then displayed by its Government.
36 It has been argued by some that the Panjdb had been recently conquer-
37 ed, that the memory of the British victories was still fresh, that the
38 country was chiefly inhabited by antagonistic races, Mahomedans and
39 Sikhs, neither of which cared to see the other in power to the exclusion of
40 the British, who had given peace to both, and that there was no general
41 desire for change. It should, however, be remembered, that the first Sikh
42 war, though executed with much vigour and attended with brilliant success
43 for the British arms, was insufficient to overawe the turbulent Sikhs, who
44 preferred plunging into a second war, and that, although the Sikh power
45 had been crushed for the time, the military spirit of the nation was not
46 dead, that Mahomedans and Sikhs might have united on common ground
47 in pursuance of the same considerations which had weighed with the
48 Hindu and Mahomedan soldiers in the Company’s service, and that the
49 peaceful pursuits of life were of secondary importance to a nation inured to
50 war and active life. To keep the turbulent element of the population in
51 check and enlist the sympathy of the people in general on the side of
52 the rulers during the high tide of the Purbia mutiny deserved to be
53 reckoned among the most solid and brilliant achievements in Indian
54 history. Great praise is due to the administrative efforts of the statesmen
55 who faced and overcame the difficulties of the crisis. There is not perhaps
56 in the annals of India a grander page than that which records the sal-
57 vation of the Panjab, or one which more brightly illustrates the best
58 characteristics of the English race.
59 In February, 1858, the divisions of Delhi and Hissdr, having been separat-
60 ed from the Regulation Districts, were formally incorporated with the
61 Panjab and placed under the able administration of Sir John Lawrence.
62 After the restoration of peace there was a proposal to plough up Delhi
63 and to destroy the grand mosque; but, to his great credit, Sir John
64 Lawrence saved both. As regards the proposal to demolish the mosque,
65 he said, “ I will on no account consent to it. We should carefully abstain
66 from the destruction of religious edifices, either to favour friends or annoy
67 foes.” He advocated an open trial of all persons suspected of treason during
68 the late crisis, and, subject to the observance of due precautions, brought
69 back to the city of Delhi the starving citizens who had been driven from
70 their homes. His merciful views were fully shared by Her most Gracious
71 Majesty the Queen, who wrote to the Governor-General as follows :—
72 To the nation at large, to the peaceable inhabitants, to the many kind and friendly
73 natives who have assisted us, sheltered the fugitives, and are faithful and true, there
74 should be shown the greatest kindness. They should know that there is no hatred toa
75 brown skin, none; but the greatest wish on the Qucen’s part is to see them happy,
76 contented and flourishing.
77 The opinion of Sir John Lawrence regarding the Mutiny was that—
78 It had its origin in the army itself ; it is not attributable to any external or antecedent
79 conspiracy whatever, although it was afterwards taken advantage of by disaffected
80 persons to compass their own ends, The immediate cause was the cartridge affair, and
81 nothing else.
82 _For their services the Panjdb chiefs were munificently rewarded by the
83 British Government. The Narnaul division ofthe Jhajjar territory, valued
84 at two lakhs of rupees, was granted in perpetuity to the Mahardja, of Patidlé,
85 tra ytiajit Sitthhjjnekiicdiyn over the snivdnttithasibtbBhGoyNAichMHis High-