1 THE LAHORE DARBAR. 5S7
2 States, as well as from British districts, and the number of visitors of all
3 classes was large,
4 Sir John Lawrence, who, on the death of Lord Elgin, had been appoint-
5 ed Governor-General and Viceroy of India, landed at Calcutta on the 12th j
6 of January, 1864. He was enthusiastically received by all ranks, European
7 and native. After remaining at Simla for the hot season, he arrived at
8 Lahore in October, and had the gratification of seeing himself once
9 more in the midst of his Panjdbf friends, after a separation of six years.
10 The accomplished biographer of Sir John Lawrence nas devoted an entire
11 chapter to his visit to Ldhore. It is full of interest and gives a vivid
12 account of the proceedings in that city during the week His Excellency
13 stayed there. At Amritsar he was greeted by his old friends and associates
14 in work, Sir Robert Montgomery, Lientenant-Governor, Mr., afterwards
15 Sir Donald, McLeod, Financial Commissioner, and Mr. Arthur Roberts,
16 Judicial Commissioner. On arrival at the Lahore railway station, the
17 chiefs, sardars, and notable men of the Panjdb gave their old chief a hearty
18 reception. There were present the young Maharaja of Patidld, blazing
19 with diamonds, the young Mahardj&é of Jhind and the Mahardja of
20 Kapurthald, who was to receive from his hands, a day or two afterwards, the
21 most exalted Order of the State of India, in recognition of his distin-
22 guished services as well as his personal worth.
23 “The friends of the Governor-General,” writes Mr. Bosworth Smith,
24 “saw at a glance—they never could have thought otherwise—that he was
25 quite unchanged by the change in his condition.” “He wore,” says an eye-
26 witness, the same simple dress. There was the same vigorous movement of
27 his limbs and head, and the same determined mode of expression enforced
28 by considerable action.”
29 On the evening of the 17th of October, the Lawrence Hall, erected by
30 his Panjdb friends to commemorate his services in the province, was formally
31 opened in the presence of an enthusiastic assemblage, and on the following
32 day, the 18th, a grand darbdr was held for the reception of the princes,
33 chiefs, and nobles of the Panjdb. It was attended by the Kabul envoy and
34 the ambassadors from Kokand. On the right of His Excellency was the
35 Maharaja of Kashmir, and, next to him, other rajds and princes, in order of
36 precedence. On his left were Sir Robert Montgomery, Sir Henry Maine,
37 Mr. Donald Mcleod and the Commissioners of various Divisions, As
38 the booming of the last gun ceased, Sir John Lawrence rose and ad-
39 dressed the assembled chiefs in Hindostdni as follows :—
40 Mahardjas, Rajas, and Chiefs,—Listen to my words. I have come among you after an
41 absence of nearly six years, and thank you for the kindly welcome you have given me,
42 It is with pleasure that [ meet so many of my old friends, while I mourn the loss of
43 those who have passed away. Princes and Chiefs, it is with great satisfaction that 1 find
44 nearly six hundred of you assembled around mein this darbar, I see before me the
45 faces of many friends; I recognize the sons of my old allies; the Mahardjis of Kash-
46 mir and Patidlé, the Sikh Chiefs of Malvé and the Manjha, the Rajput Chiefs of the
47 hills, the Mahomedan Maliks of Peshawar and Kohat, the Sardars of the Derdjat, of
48 Hazara and of Delhi. All have gathered together to do honour to their old ruler.
49 My friends, let me tell you of the great interest which the illustrious Queen of
50 England takes in all matters connected with the welfare and comfort and the content-
51 ment of the people of India. Let me inform you, when I returned to my native country
52 and had the honour of standing in the presence of Her Majesty, how kindly she asked
53 after the welfare of Her subjects of the Kast. Let me tell you, when the great Queen
54 appointed me Her Viceroy of India, how warmly she enjoined on me the duty of caring
55 for your interests. Prince Albert, the Consort of Her Majesty, the fame of whose great-
56 ness and goodness has spread through the whole world, was well acquainted with all con-
57 nected with this country, and always evinced an ardent desire to see its people happy and
58 flourishing. My friends, it is now more than eighteen years since I first saw Lahore, For
59 Sir' John Lawrence
60 pia as Viceroy,
61 His Excellency’s visit
62 to Lihore,
63 His reception at
64 Amritsar
65 And at Lahore,
66 Opening of the Law-
67 rence Hall,
68 Grand darbar at
69 hore,
70 Speech of Sir John
71 Lawrence,
72 Interest taken
73 by Her Majesty the
74 Queen in the welfare of
75 her Indian subjects.
76 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com