Tempo:
— HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
124 1808-«.
The chiefs of Sirhind
taken
under protection,
and a close alliance sought with Ran jit Singh.
Mr. Metcalfe sent
as envoy to
Lahore, 18C3-9.
Aversion of Ranjit
Singh to a restrictive treaty,
and
his th.rd
expedition across the Sutlej.
British
troops
moved to the Sutlej, 1809.
CHAP. V
ing about the desired confederation. ^ The chiefs of and Kaithal were also verbally assured that they had become dependent princes of the British Government; for the progress of Ranjit Singh seemed to render the interposition of some friendly states, between his military domination and the peaceful sway of the English, a measure of prudence and Patiala, Jind,
foresight.-
Mr. Metcalfe was received by Ranjit Singh at his newly conquered town of Kasur, but the chief affected to consider himself as the head of the whole Sikh people, and to regard the possession of Lahore as giving him an additional claim to supremacy over Sirhind. He did not, perhaps, see that a French invasion would be ruinous to his interests; he rather feared the colossal power on his borders, and he resented the intention of confining him to the Sutlej.'^ He suddenly off negotiations, and made his third inroad to the south of the Sutlej. He seized Faridkot and Ambala, levied exactions in Maler Kotla and Thanesar, and entered into a symbolical brotherhood or alliance with the Raja of Patiala. The British envoy remonstrated against these virtual acts of hostility, and he remained on the banks of the Sutlej until Ranjit Singh recrossed that river.*
broke
The proceedings of the ruler of Lahore determined the Governor-General, if doubtful before, to advance a detachment of troops to the Sutlej, to support Mr. Metcalfe in his negotiations, and to effectually confine Ranjit Singh to the northward of that river. Provision would also be thus made, it was said, for possible warlike operations of a more extensive character, and the British frontier would be covered by a confederacy of friendly chiefs, instead of threatened by a hostile military government. body of troops was accordingly moved across the Jumna in January 1809, under the command of Sir David Ochterlony. The General ^'^
A
1 [Col. Malcolm was dispatched on a similar mission to Persia at the same time, and concluded a treaty (1809) which did away with the possibility of French interference in that quarter. Ed.]
- Government to Sir David Ochterlony, Cf. Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 65, 66.
3 IVJoorcroft
ascertained (Travels,
i.
94)
14th Nov.,
1808.
that Ranjit Singh
had serious thoughts of appealing to the sword, so unpalatable was English interference. The well-known Fakir Uziz-ud-din was one of the two persons who dissuaded him from war. * Murray, 5
Ranjit Singh
p.
66.
Government to Sir David Ochterlony, 14th Nov. and 29th
Dec, 1808.
124 1808-«.
The chiefs of Sirhind
taken
under protection,
and a close alliance sought with Ran jit Singh.
Mr. Metcalfe sent
as envoy to
Lahore, 18C3-9.
Aversion of Ranjit
Singh to a restrictive treaty,
and
his th.rd
expedition across the Sutlej.
British
troops
moved to the Sutlej, 1809.
CHAP. V
ing about the desired confederation. ^ The chiefs of and Kaithal were also verbally assured that they had become dependent princes of the British Government; for the progress of Ranjit Singh seemed to render the interposition of some friendly states, between his military domination and the peaceful sway of the English, a measure of prudence and Patiala, Jind,
foresight.-
Mr. Metcalfe was received by Ranjit Singh at his newly conquered town of Kasur, but the chief affected to consider himself as the head of the whole Sikh people, and to regard the possession of Lahore as giving him an additional claim to supremacy over Sirhind. He did not, perhaps, see that a French invasion would be ruinous to his interests; he rather feared the colossal power on his borders, and he resented the intention of confining him to the Sutlej.'^ He suddenly off negotiations, and made his third inroad to the south of the Sutlej. He seized Faridkot and Ambala, levied exactions in Maler Kotla and Thanesar, and entered into a symbolical brotherhood or alliance with the Raja of Patiala. The British envoy remonstrated against these virtual acts of hostility, and he remained on the banks of the Sutlej until Ranjit Singh recrossed that river.*
broke
The proceedings of the ruler of Lahore determined the Governor-General, if doubtful before, to advance a detachment of troops to the Sutlej, to support Mr. Metcalfe in his negotiations, and to effectually confine Ranjit Singh to the northward of that river. Provision would also be thus made, it was said, for possible warlike operations of a more extensive character, and the British frontier would be covered by a confederacy of friendly chiefs, instead of threatened by a hostile military government. body of troops was accordingly moved across the Jumna in January 1809, under the command of Sir David Ochterlony. The General ^'^
A
1 [Col. Malcolm was dispatched on a similar mission to Persia at the same time, and concluded a treaty (1809) which did away with the possibility of French interference in that quarter. Ed.]
- Government to Sir David Ochterlony, Cf. Murray, Ranjit Singh, pp. 65, 66.
3 IVJoorcroft
ascertained (Travels,
i.
94)
14th Nov.,
1808.
that Ranjit Singh
had serious thoughts of appealing to the sword, so unpalatable was English interference. The well-known Fakir Uziz-ud-din was one of the two persons who dissuaded him from war. * Murray, 5
Ranjit Singh
p.
66.
Government to Sir David Ochterlony, 14th Nov. and 29th
Dec, 1808.
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