1 A. D. 1808. BRITISH MISSION TO LAHOR. 65
2 he might endeavour to allay their fears. They accord-
3 ingly went to his camp at Umritsur, where they were
4 received with marked favor and attentions, and no effort
5 was spared in the endeavour to detach them from the
6 design of forming any connexion with the British Go-
7 vernment.
8 Pending these transactions, the alarm of an invasion of
9 India being meditated by the French Emperor, Napo-
10 leon Buonaparte, becoming rife, Lord Minto deter-
11 mined to send missions to ascertain the condition of the
12 countries intervening, and the feeling of the rulers,
13 chiefs, and people. The growing power ofRuNJEET
14 Singh, whose authority was now completely established
15 in the Punjab, made it essential to include his court, and
16 the collision threatened by the recent proceedings and
17 known designs of RuNJEET, east of the Sutlej, formed an
18 additional motive for deputing a British Agent to Labor.
19 Mr. now Sir Charles Metcalfe, was the negoci-
20 ator selected on this occasion, and the announcement
21 of the intended deputation was received by Runjeet
22 Singh, while the Jheend and Kythul chiefs were in
23 attendance on him. To them the contents of the des-
24 patch were communicated, and the matter formed the
25 subject of much anxious conference and deliberation.
26 It was determined to receive Mr. Metcalfe at Kasoor,
27 whither Runjeet marched for the purpose in September
28 1808. On the envoy's arrival, he was received with
29 the usual attentions, but had scarcely found the opportu-
30 nity to enter on the subjects proposed for discussion with
31 the Sikh chief, when the latter suddenly broke up his
32 camp from Kasoor, and crossed the Sutlej with his army.
33 Fureed-Kot was immediately occupied by him and made
34 I