Tempo:
Brilish Annexation of Malwa
215
hand, the British were sending an envoy to Kabul to make an alliance with the Afghans, who were the traditional enemy of the Punjabis, particularly of the Sikhs. They were also sending an envoy to the Amirs of Sindh when the Durbar was considering expanding its territories in that direction to the sea. The instructions of the governor general to Metcalfe disclosed that he did not Lhink his government had any rights over the Sikh chiefs of Malwa. He stated categorically that the English would not interfere in the Durbar's plans regarding Malwa 'because it would invoJve the protection of states unconnected with us by the obligation of defensive alliance.· Nevertheless, the governor general wanted Metcalfe to use Malwa as a pawn. He instructed Metcalfe 'to avoid a declared concurrence in Ranjit's hostile designs against the states in question and until it is known in what degree the security of the British government may require a cordial union of its interests with those of Ranjit Singh, it is not easy to determine what sacrifices it may be expedient to make for the attainment of that object.... •~ Metcalfe received the Malwa chiefs at Patiala. Sahib Singh made a dramatic gesture by presenting the keys of his citadel to the Englishman, begging him to rerurn them to him to symbolize British protection over Patiala. 'The ceremony was quite unnecessary,' reported Metcalfe. Nevertheless he 'endeavoured to assure him [Sahib Singh} that the British government entertained the most friendly sentiments towards him. ,a The chiefs began to play off the British and the Durbar against each other. They told Ranjit Singh that the British meant to annex the Durbar's territories. They told Metcalfe that the Durbar was massing troops to fight the British. The fa-st meeting between the youthful Sikh monarch (27 years) and the even more youthful English ambassador ( age 23), took place at Khem Karan near Kasur on 12 September 1808. Some days later the Englishman infonned the Durbar that the French, who were trying to establish themselves in Persia, bad 5 SC 3 of 20.6.1808. 6 MeLcalfe No. 8, 24.8.1808.
215
hand, the British were sending an envoy to Kabul to make an alliance with the Afghans, who were the traditional enemy of the Punjabis, particularly of the Sikhs. They were also sending an envoy to the Amirs of Sindh when the Durbar was considering expanding its territories in that direction to the sea. The instructions of the governor general to Metcalfe disclosed that he did not Lhink his government had any rights over the Sikh chiefs of Malwa. He stated categorically that the English would not interfere in the Durbar's plans regarding Malwa 'because it would invoJve the protection of states unconnected with us by the obligation of defensive alliance.· Nevertheless, the governor general wanted Metcalfe to use Malwa as a pawn. He instructed Metcalfe 'to avoid a declared concurrence in Ranjit's hostile designs against the states in question and until it is known in what degree the security of the British government may require a cordial union of its interests with those of Ranjit Singh, it is not easy to determine what sacrifices it may be expedient to make for the attainment of that object.... •~ Metcalfe received the Malwa chiefs at Patiala. Sahib Singh made a dramatic gesture by presenting the keys of his citadel to the Englishman, begging him to rerurn them to him to symbolize British protection over Patiala. 'The ceremony was quite unnecessary,' reported Metcalfe. Nevertheless he 'endeavoured to assure him [Sahib Singh} that the British government entertained the most friendly sentiments towards him. ,a The chiefs began to play off the British and the Durbar against each other. They told Ranjit Singh that the British meant to annex the Durbar's territories. They told Metcalfe that the Durbar was massing troops to fight the British. The fa-st meeting between the youthful Sikh monarch (27 years) and the even more youthful English ambassador ( age 23), took place at Khem Karan near Kasur on 12 September 1808. Some days later the Englishman infonned the Durbar that the French, who were trying to establish themselves in Persia, bad 5 SC 3 of 20.6.1808. 6 MeLcalfe No. 8, 24.8.1808.
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