1 Sir John’s reply,
2 Sir Robert Montgo-
3 mery succeeds him as
4 Lieut.-Governor of the
5 Panjab, February, 1859,
6 Opening of the Bari
7 Dodb Canal.
8 The Viceregal darbar
9 at Ambala, January,
10 The Hindore State
11 restored,
12 Concessions to the
13 Chiefs of Patiala, Jhind,
14 and Nabha,
15 Adoption of a sue-
16 cessor to chiefships
17 acknowledged, :
18 584 eS HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
19 imperilled and agitated by the disturbances in Hindostén, you, preserving a unison of
20 accord with the military authorities, maintained internal tranquillity and held your own
21 with our allies and subjects both within and without the border; how, when the fate of
22 Northern India depended on the capture of Dehli, you, justly appreciating the paramount
23 importance of that object, and estimating the lowest amount of Huropean force with which
24 the Panjab could be held, applied yourself incessantly to despatching men, material and
25 treasure for the succour of our brave countrymen engaged in the siege ; how, indeed, you
26 created a great portion of the means for carrying on that great operation and devoted there-
27 to all the available resources of the Panjab to the utmost degree compatible with safety.
28 ‘ . . And, lastly, all of us, of whatever class or profession, are conscious of the un-
29 tiring energy, unflinching firmness and unswerving honesty of purpose, with which you
30 have devoted yourself to promote the public service. We all believe from personal know-
31 ledge or common fame that you have been an instrument in the hand of Providence for
32 the preservation of British rule in Upper India, by your good management and resolute
33 bearing during a period of unexampled difficulty. Indeed, there are many who feel a
34 debt of gratitude to you for the preservation of themselves and their ‘families during
35 that terrible time.
36 Sir John Lawrence thanked the assembly for the genial terms in which
37 it had acknowledged his services in the Panj&b. Adverting to his services in
38 the Mutiny, he said :-— are
39 When the great mass of the native army in Hindostdn first gave signs of its
40 intentions to mutiny, when disaffection spread from station to station, until almost all the
41 Hindostdni troops in the Panj4b became infected, and only waited the opportunity for
42 rising in revolt, [ had to look with anxious eyes for the means of maintaining British
43 supremacy in the Panj&b. In the quality of the civil and military officers under my
44 control; in the excellence of the Panjd4b force which had been raised, trained and
45 disciplined under the civil Government ; in the general loyalty of the cliiefs and people,
46 as much as in the valour of our British troops did I find the means of securing public
47 tranquillity here and of rendering assistance in Hindostdn.
48 On the 26th of February, 1859, Sir John Lawrence left for England,
49 making over charge of the office of Lieutenant-Governor to his successor,
50 Sir Robert Montgomery.
51 The auspicious rule of Sir Robert Montgomery commenced with the
52 bringing in of water into the Badri Dodb ‘Canal, On the 11th of
53 April 1859, seven and a half years after the first sod had been turned,
54 water was for the first time admitted into its channel. The total length of
55 the canal and its branches as projected, from the head to the point, about
56 56 miles above Multdn, where it rejoins the Ravi, was 466 miles, and the
57 total estimate of cost amounted to 1,35,85,502 rupees.
58 On the 18th of January, 1860, Lord Canning held a darbar at Ambala,
59 which was attended by all the chiefs of the cis-Sutlej] States. At this darbdr
60 the Viceroy was pleased to restore the Hindore State, in the Simla hills, to
61 Ugger Singh, an illegitimate son of the late raja, in consideration of the ser-
62 vices of the head of the family (one of great antiquity) during the Gurkha War
63 of 1814. The State had lapsed to the British Government, but, in accordance
64 with the wishes of the home authorities, the Viceroy restored the sovereign-
65 ty in the person of the recognised heir, subject to the payment of an annual
66 tribute of Rs. 5,000. His Lordship also granted an increase of territory to the °
67 Maharaja of Patidlé and the Rajas of Jhind and Nabhé, in lieu of debts and
68 nazrand.
69 The year was memorable for the gracious concession, on the recommenda-
70 tion of the Governor-General, by the Queen’s Government to the independent
71 Sikh and Hindu chiefs of the Panjab, as well as to those of all India, of their
72 long-cherished custom—
73 That, on a failure of natural heirs, their adoption of a successor according to Hindu
74 law, and to the customs of their race, will be recognised, and that nothing shall disturb
75 the engagement thus made to them so long as their houses are loyal to the crown, and
76 Sri Satin Tatqit'sinelftiontebepe treaties whichyerpadheniBiitep@> untailleo British ‘Gov.