1 >
2 How the Viceregal
3 speech was received by
4 the hearers,
5 The district of Mont-
6 gomery constituted,
7 Advance of female
8 education,
9 Gardens laid out
10 around Lahore,
11 588 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
12 ‘thirteen years I lived in the Panjab. For many years, my brother, Sir Henry Lawrence, and
13 I governed this vast country. You all knew him well, and his memory will ever dwell
14 in your hearts as a ruler who was a real friend of its people. I may truly say that from
15 the day we exercised authority in the land, we spared neither our time nor our labour,
16 nor our health in endeavouring to accomplish the work we had undertaken, we studied to
17 make ourselves acquainted with the usages, the feelings and the wants of every class and
18 race, and we endeavoured to improve the condition of all. There are few parts of this
19 province which I have not visited, and which I hope that I did not leave in some degree
20 the better for my visit. Since British rule was introduced taxation of all kinds has been
21 lightened, canals aad roads have been constructed and schools of learning have been
22 established. From the highest to the lowest the people have become contented and have
23 proved loyal. When the great military revolt of 1857 occurred, they aided their rulers
24 most effectively in putting it down. The chiefs mustered their contingents, which served
25 faithfully, and thousands of Panjab soldiers flocked to our standards and shared with
26 the British troops the glories as well as the hardships of that great struggle. Princes
27 and gentlemen, if itbe wise for the rulers of a country to understand the language
28 and appreciate the feelings of its people, it is as important that the people should have
29 a similar knowledge of their rulers. It is only by such means that the two classes can
30 live happily together, ‘To this end, Iurge you to instruct your sons, and even your
31 daughters. Among the solid advantages which you have gained from English rule [
32 will now only advert toone more. It has given the country many excellent administra-
33 tors. Some of the ablest and kindest of my countrymen have been employed in the
34 Panjab, Every man, from the highest to the lowest, can appreciate a good ruler, You
35 have such men as Sir Robert Montgomery, Mr. Donald McLeod, Mr. Roberts, Sir Herbert
36 Edwardes, Col, Lake and Col. John Beecher, officers who have devoted themselves to
37 your service. : .
38 : I will now only add that I pray the great God, who is the God of all the races and
39 all the people of this world, that He may guard and protect you and teach you allto love
40 justice and hate oppression, and enable you, each in his several ways, to do all the good
41 in his power. May He give you all that is for your real benefit! So long as I live, [
42 shall never forget the years that I passed in the Panjab and the friends that I have
43 acquired throughout this province.
44 The words of the Governor-General went straight -to the hearts of his
45 hearers, who had been addressed in their own language. They were simple
46 and sweet, and told them in the plainest terms their duty towards their
47 rulers and towards themselves. They were replete with paternal admonition
48 and showed what genuine happiness the great speaker felt in seeing himself
49 surrounded by men for whose benefit he had laboured so long and officers
50 who had been associated with him in his great work. All gazed upon his
51 commanding form, his rugged face and steady bearing. The earnest
52 philanthropy and the genial courtesy displayed by him delighted all. His
53 thankful remembrance of glorious past events, his bright anticipations and
54 hopes for the future, and, lastly, his prayer for the happiness and prosperity
55 of those present, moved every heart. His addressing the chiefs assembled
56 in the vernacular was due to genuine feeling, not less than to high policy ;
57 and his speech will not soon be forgotten by those who heard it.
58 When the railway between Lahore and Multén was under construction,
59 ib was considered desirable to move the head-quarters of the Gugaird District
60 to some point on the line in regard to which Gugaird was not conveniently
61 situated. The place selected for the head-quarters of the district, together
62 with the district itself, was named Montgomery, after the Lieutenant-
63 Governor. ;
64 Under the administration of Sir Robert Montgomery female educa-
65 tion advanced in the Panjab. It was in his time that the beautiful
66 gardens which now surround the city of Léhore, were planted, and the
67 canal which flows on its margin was excavated.’ Lord Canning in, review-
68 ing the work that had been done in the Panjdb during the time of Sir John
69 Lawrence, said :—
70 Sri satg UidesaQHids inghidFeloorayiny man, in hid bandas Hipra@gr akoam country is