1 Rise to Power of Ranjit Singh. 83
2 Mr. Metcalfe had already written to inform the
3 Governor-General that a satisfactory solution was
4 probable, when, without any announcement of his
5 intentions, the Maharaja broke up his camp and
6 marched his army across the Sutlej.'
7 Paying no heed to the remonstrances of the
8 British envoy, Ranjit Singh proceeded to seize what-
9 ever he could of Cis-Sutlej territory. Faridkot was
10 occupied, and then Ambala ; and tribute was exacted
11 from Maler Kotla, Shahabad, Thanesur, and other
12 towns of importance in the Patiala district. For
13 two months Ranjit Singh remained in Cis-Sutlej
14 territory, and then returned to Amritsar, where
15 he was speedily rejoined by Mr. Metcalfe. In the
16 meantime, news of a more reassuring nature had
17 come from Europe. The great struggle in the
18 Peninsula had commenced, and the danger of a
19 French invasion of India was no longer regarded
20 as imminent. It was now the turn of the British
21 to dictate terms ; and Ranjit Singh was informed
22 that the Government had definitely decided to
23 take the Cis-Sutlej chiefs under its protection. He
24 was also given to understand that he must abandon
25 whatever he had seized during his recent raid, and
26 withdraw all his troops to the north of the Sutlej.
27 Such possessions as he had held on the southern
28 side of the river previous to the commencement of
29 the negotiations he would be permitted to retain, but
30 on the same terms as had been granted to the Malwa
31 chiefs. For the rest, the river Sutlej would be recog-
32 nized as the boundary of his territory, and beyond it
33 he would be subject to no interference of any kind.