1 XXX INTRODUCTION.
2 as I ascertained from Colonels Mouton and Lafont; and
3 from Colonel Skinner who always had the best information,*
4 and from many natives at Lahore 5 I learnt that she had a
5 still-born male child soon after Sheer Sing- succeeded to the
6 guddee, the fact, however, is of little importance.
7 I have now only to apologise to my subscribers for the
8 great delay that has taken place in bringing this History
9 to a close ; and yet it is not by any means so complete as
10 I could wish, and had intended to make it, for having been
11 requested by Major Lawrence, when at Lahore, to send him
12 a portion of the work, I did so, on my return to Meerut,
13 the first week in May, but owing to that officer's being
14 constantly on the move, having great press of business, and
15 also suffering from ill-health, the papers were not returned
16 to me until the end of September; and, having previously
17 despatched several manuscripts to England, had I forwarded
18 the remainder of the work there, or recalled what I had
19 despatched, my subscribers would not have received their
20 copies for the next twelve months : I trust, therefore, I shall be
21 pardoned for' sending forth this work so imperfect ; and though
22 it was at Major Broadfoot's recommendation, as I have already
23 stated, that I first thought seriously of undertaking the task,
24 I ought here to mention, that it had been previously sug-
25 gested to me by my much valued and high gifted friend,
26 Dr. Archibald Gordon, who, I am confident (knowing the
27 great opinion entertained of him by Mr. Clerk,) had he
28 remained in the Political Department, would have succeeded
29 to the appointment of Envoy at Lahore.
30 Gr. C S.
31 Jullunder, 5th January, 1847.
32 * When I sent Mr. Clerk an account of the death of my ever to be lamented
33 friend, in answering me he observed :—
34 " Poor Skinner! No man knew the natives and every thing that took place at their
35 «' Courts, and their feelings towards us, so well as he did : we have no Secunder now."