1 130
2 APPENDIX.
3 wise to permit operations of the kind that must ensne to be
4 carried on in the Punjaub. On the other hand, Rimjeet
5 Singh, though he would have proved an useful auxiliary to
6 either party, was sensible of his inability to offer open re-
7 sistance. In this state of things the relations he maintained
8 with Juswant Rao Holkar were friendly, but not encourag-
9 ing, and that chief being disappointed in the hope of raising
10 the Sikh nation to a co-operation in hostility with him
11 against the British, yielded to the difficulties by which he
12 was surrounded, and made his terms with Lord Lake in a
13 treaty, concluded on the 24th December, 1805. Friendly
14 engagements were further exchanged by the British com-
15 mander with Bunjeet Singh, and the Aloowala Sirdar ; and
16 in the course of January, 1806, the two armies which had
17 inspired so much alarm in the Punjaub, returned toffin-
18 dostan.
19 In 1808, the alarm of an invasion of India being meditated
20 by the French Emperor, Napoleon Buonaparte, becoming
21 rife. Lord Minto determined to send missicms to ascertain
22 the condition of the countries intervening, and the feeling of
23 the rulers, chiefs, and people. The growing power of Bun-
24 jeet Singh, whose authority was now completely established
25 in the Punjaub, made it essential to include his court, and
26 the ccdlision threatened by the recent proceedings and known
27 designs of Bunjeet, east of the Sutlege, formed an additional
28 motive for deputing a British agent to Lahore. Mr. (now
29 Lord) Metcalfe, was the negotiator selected on this occasion,
30 and the announcement of the intended deputation was re-
31 ceived by Bunjeet Singh, while the Jheend and Eythul
32 chiefs were in attendance on him. To them the contents of
33 the despatch were communicated, and the matter formed the
34 subject of much anxious conference and deliberation. It
35 was determined to receive Mr. Metcalfe at Kasoor, whither
36 Bunjeet marched for the purpose in September, 1808. On
37 the envoy's arrival, he was received with the usual atten-
38 tion, but had scarcely found the opportunity to enter on the
39 subjects proposed for discussion with the Sikh chief, when