Tempo:
THE TREATY OF 1809
CHAP. V
127
apprehensions of remote foreigners had saved them 1809. from the arbiter of the Punjab. Protection, indeed, sir David had become no longer a matter of choice; they must ochterhave accepted it, or they would have been treated as lony
Wherefore, continued Sir David, the chiefs shows that expected that the protection would be gratuitous. The ^^gj^ed^^ Government, on its part, was inclined to be liberal to themselves its new dependants, and finally a proclamation was aione in issued on the 3rd May, 1809, guaranteeing the chiefs offering of 'Sirhind and Malwa' against the power of Ranjit protection.
enemies.'
Singh, leaving them absolute in their
own territories
exempting them from tribute, but requiring assistance in time of war, and making some minor provisions which need not be recapitulated.chiefs relieved of their fears J^^ '^!!f '+u No sooner were the tions Of the , . T^ r~,^ 1 of Ranjit Smgh, than the more turbulent began to prey protected upon one another, or upon their weaker neighbours; chiefs .
1
1
'
^
and, although the Governor-General
had not wished among
them to consider themselves as in absolute subjection themselves, to the 'British power,^ Mr. Metcalfe pointed out ^ that it was necessary to declare the chiefs to be protected singly against one another, as well as collectively against Ranjit Singh; for, if such a degree of security
were not guaranteed, the oppressed would necessarih' have recourse to the only other person who could use coercion with effect, viz. to the Raja of Lahore. The justness of these views was admitted, and, on the 22nd August, 1811, a second proclamation was issued, warning the chiefs against attempts at usurpation, and reassuring them of independence and of protection against Ranjit Singh.' Nevertheless, encroachments did not at once cease, and the Jodh Singh Kalsia, who avoided giving in his adhesion to the British Government on the advance of Sir David Ochterlony, required to have troops sent against him in 1818 to compel the surrender of tracts which he had forcibly seized.^' 1
1808.
See also Government
to Resident at Delhi, 26th Dec, Baron Hugel (Travels, p. 279) likewise attributes the
interference of the English, in part at least, to selfishness, but desire of benefiting by escheats, which the dissipated character of the chiefs was likely to render speedy and numerous! This appetite for morsels of territory, however, really arose at a subsequent date, and did not move the English in 1809.
with him the motive was the petty
Appendix XXVI. Government to Sir David Ochterlony, 10th April,
- See •"
1809.
Mr. Metcalfe to Government, 17th June, 1809. ^ See the proclamation. Appendix XXVII. 6 Resident at Delhi to Agent at Ambala, 27th Oct., 1818, mulcting the chief in the military expenses incurred, 65,000 •1
CHAP. V
127
apprehensions of remote foreigners had saved them 1809. from the arbiter of the Punjab. Protection, indeed, sir David had become no longer a matter of choice; they must ochterhave accepted it, or they would have been treated as lony
Wherefore, continued Sir David, the chiefs shows that expected that the protection would be gratuitous. The ^^gj^ed^^ Government, on its part, was inclined to be liberal to themselves its new dependants, and finally a proclamation was aione in issued on the 3rd May, 1809, guaranteeing the chiefs offering of 'Sirhind and Malwa' against the power of Ranjit protection.
enemies.'
Singh, leaving them absolute in their
own territories
exempting them from tribute, but requiring assistance in time of war, and making some minor provisions which need not be recapitulated.chiefs relieved of their fears J^^ '^!!f '+u No sooner were the tions Of the , . T^ r~,^ 1 of Ranjit Smgh, than the more turbulent began to prey protected upon one another, or upon their weaker neighbours; chiefs .
1
1
'
^
and, although the Governor-General
had not wished among
them to consider themselves as in absolute subjection themselves, to the 'British power,^ Mr. Metcalfe pointed out ^ that it was necessary to declare the chiefs to be protected singly against one another, as well as collectively against Ranjit Singh; for, if such a degree of security
were not guaranteed, the oppressed would necessarih' have recourse to the only other person who could use coercion with effect, viz. to the Raja of Lahore. The justness of these views was admitted, and, on the 22nd August, 1811, a second proclamation was issued, warning the chiefs against attempts at usurpation, and reassuring them of independence and of protection against Ranjit Singh.' Nevertheless, encroachments did not at once cease, and the Jodh Singh Kalsia, who avoided giving in his adhesion to the British Government on the advance of Sir David Ochterlony, required to have troops sent against him in 1818 to compel the surrender of tracts which he had forcibly seized.^' 1
1808.
See also Government
to Resident at Delhi, 26th Dec, Baron Hugel (Travels, p. 279) likewise attributes the
interference of the English, in part at least, to selfishness, but desire of benefiting by escheats, which the dissipated character of the chiefs was likely to render speedy and numerous! This appetite for morsels of territory, however, really arose at a subsequent date, and did not move the English in 1809.
with him the motive was the petty
Appendix XXVI. Government to Sir David Ochterlony, 10th April,
- See •"
1809.
Mr. Metcalfe to Government, 17th June, 1809. ^ See the proclamation. Appendix XXVII. 6 Resident at Delhi to Agent at Ambala, 27th Oct., 1818, mulcting the chief in the military expenses incurred, 65,000 •1
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