Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
204 18-50.
chap, vii:
of their mutual enmity and secret design of grasping supremacy, but they were even more averse to th( presence of a British army in the heart of the Punjal than to one hovering on a distant frontier. It migh", be used to take part with one or other claimant, or ii| might be turned against both in favour of the con temned Kharak Singh but the passage of the troop; could not be wholly refused, and they therefore urgec a march by the difficult route of Dera Ismail Khan, anc they succeeded in fixing upon a line which prudentlj avoided the capital, and also in obtaining a prematun assurance that an English force should not again marcl' through the Sikh country. ^ The chiefs were pleasec^ with the new English negotiator, as all have ever beerwith that prompt and approved functionary. Something is always expected from a change, and when ei return mission was deputed to Simla, it was whisperec' that Col. Wade had made himself personally objectionable to those who exercised sway at Lahore; and th{ complaint was repeated to Lord Keane, when ht quitted his army for a few days to visit the Maharaja. '
:
In the month of November (1839), Col. Wade was himself at the Sikh metropolis on his way from Kabul but Kharak Singh was kept at a distance on pretenc?' of devotional observances, lest he should throw himself on the protection of one believed to be ill-disposec towards those who sought his life, or his virtual relin-^
quishment of power.'' ]
The relief
A portion of the British army of invasion had'
Lh S-o^ps
eventually to be left in Afghanistan, as it was thought that Shah Shuja could not maintain himself without support. The wants of regular forces are manifold,
in Kabul.
that the bulk of the army should return to India, leaving an army of occupation to maintain Shah Shuja upon his throne
—Ed.]
iMr. Clerk to Government, 14th Sept. 1839. The Governor-General was not satisfied that a kind of pledge had been given that British troops should not ' again cross the Punjab. (Government to Mr. Clerk, 14th Oct. 1839.) - See, particularly, Government to Col. Wade, 29th Jan. 1840, and Col. Wade to Government, 1st April 1840. ' Cf. Munshi Shahamat Ali, Sikhs and Afghans, p. 543, &c., and some remarks in a note, p. 545, about the English policy generally towards Kharak Singh, which note may safelyj be held, to be Col. Wade's own. Doubtless had Col. Wade conti-i nued to enjoy the complete confidence or support of the Governor-General, the subsequent history of the Punjab would have been different from, if not better than, that which all have witnessed. So much may the British representative effect at an Indian court, without directly interfering, provided he is at once, firm, judicious, and well-informed.
204 18-50.
chap, vii:
of their mutual enmity and secret design of grasping supremacy, but they were even more averse to th( presence of a British army in the heart of the Punjal than to one hovering on a distant frontier. It migh", be used to take part with one or other claimant, or ii| might be turned against both in favour of the con temned Kharak Singh but the passage of the troop; could not be wholly refused, and they therefore urgec a march by the difficult route of Dera Ismail Khan, anc they succeeded in fixing upon a line which prudentlj avoided the capital, and also in obtaining a prematun assurance that an English force should not again marcl' through the Sikh country. ^ The chiefs were pleasec^ with the new English negotiator, as all have ever beerwith that prompt and approved functionary. Something is always expected from a change, and when ei return mission was deputed to Simla, it was whisperec' that Col. Wade had made himself personally objectionable to those who exercised sway at Lahore; and th{ complaint was repeated to Lord Keane, when ht quitted his army for a few days to visit the Maharaja. '
:
In the month of November (1839), Col. Wade was himself at the Sikh metropolis on his way from Kabul but Kharak Singh was kept at a distance on pretenc?' of devotional observances, lest he should throw himself on the protection of one believed to be ill-disposec towards those who sought his life, or his virtual relin-^
quishment of power.'' ]
The relief
A portion of the British army of invasion had'
Lh S-o^ps
eventually to be left in Afghanistan, as it was thought that Shah Shuja could not maintain himself without support. The wants of regular forces are manifold,
in Kabul.
that the bulk of the army should return to India, leaving an army of occupation to maintain Shah Shuja upon his throne
—Ed.]
iMr. Clerk to Government, 14th Sept. 1839. The Governor-General was not satisfied that a kind of pledge had been given that British troops should not ' again cross the Punjab. (Government to Mr. Clerk, 14th Oct. 1839.) - See, particularly, Government to Col. Wade, 29th Jan. 1840, and Col. Wade to Government, 1st April 1840. ' Cf. Munshi Shahamat Ali, Sikhs and Afghans, p. 543, &c., and some remarks in a note, p. 545, about the English policy generally towards Kharak Singh, which note may safelyj be held, to be Col. Wade's own. Doubtless had Col. Wade conti-i nued to enjoy the complete confidence or support of the Governor-General, the subsequent history of the Punjab would have been different from, if not better than, that which all have witnessed. So much may the British representative effect at an Indian court, without directly interfering, provided he is at once, firm, judicious, and well-informed.
©
2026
Lehal.net