Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
214
chap, viii
Jammu Rajas.'
1841.
The British agent on the Sutlej did not think the Lahore empire so near its dissolution in that mode, and confident in his' own dexterity, in, the superiority of his troops, and in the greatness of the English name, he proposed to march to the Sikh capital with 12,000 men, to beat and disperse a rebel army four times more numerous, to restore order, to strengthen the sovereignty of Sher Singh, and take the cisSutlej districts and forty lakhs of rupees in coin as the price of his aid.- This promptitude made the Maharaja think himself in danger of his life at the hands of his subjects, and of his kingdom at the hands of his allies; nor was the Governor-General prepared for a virtual invasion, although he was ready to use force if a large majority of the Sikhs as well as the Maharaja himself After this, the disorders desired such intervention.^ in the army near Lahore gradually subsided; but the opinion got abroad that overtures had been made to the eager English; and so far were the Sikh soldiery from desiring foreign assistance, that Lehna Singh Sindhianwala was imprisoned by his own men, in the Mandi hills, on a charge of conspiracy with his refugee brother to introduce the supremacy of strangers."' The suspicions and hatred of the Sikhs were further roused by the proceedings of an officer, afterwards nominated to represent British friendship and moderation. Major Broadfoot had been appointed to recruit a corps of Sappers and Miners for the service of Shah Shuja, and as the family of that sovereign, and also the blind Shah Zaman with his wives and children, were about to proceed to Kabul, he was charged with the care of the large and motley convoy. He entered the •'
The military disorders subside,
but
the people
become suspicious of the English.
Major Broadfoot's passage across the
Punjab.
1 See especially Government to Sir William Macnaghten, of 28th Dec. 1840, in reply to his proposals of the 26th Nov. The Governor-General justly observed that the treaty was not formed with an individual chief, but with the Sikh state, so long as it might last and fulfil the obligations of its alliance.
Mr. Clerk to Government, of the 26th March 1841. When Sher Singh became aware of Mr. Clerk's propositions, he is said simply to have drawn his finger across his throat, meaning that the Sikhs would at once take his life if he assented to such measures. The readiness of the English to co-operate was first propounded to Fakir Aziz-ud-din, and that wary negotiator said the matter could not be trusted to paper; he would himself go and tell Sher Singh of it. He went, but he did not return, his object being to keep clear of schemes '
so hazardous.
Government to Mr. Clerk, 18th Feb. and 29th March The Governor-General truly remarked that Mr. Clerk, rather than the Maharaja, had proposed an armed interference. -'Mr. Clerk to Government, 25th March 1841. -
1841.
"»
214
chap, viii
Jammu Rajas.'
1841.
The British agent on the Sutlej did not think the Lahore empire so near its dissolution in that mode, and confident in his' own dexterity, in, the superiority of his troops, and in the greatness of the English name, he proposed to march to the Sikh capital with 12,000 men, to beat and disperse a rebel army four times more numerous, to restore order, to strengthen the sovereignty of Sher Singh, and take the cisSutlej districts and forty lakhs of rupees in coin as the price of his aid.- This promptitude made the Maharaja think himself in danger of his life at the hands of his subjects, and of his kingdom at the hands of his allies; nor was the Governor-General prepared for a virtual invasion, although he was ready to use force if a large majority of the Sikhs as well as the Maharaja himself After this, the disorders desired such intervention.^ in the army near Lahore gradually subsided; but the opinion got abroad that overtures had been made to the eager English; and so far were the Sikh soldiery from desiring foreign assistance, that Lehna Singh Sindhianwala was imprisoned by his own men, in the Mandi hills, on a charge of conspiracy with his refugee brother to introduce the supremacy of strangers."' The suspicions and hatred of the Sikhs were further roused by the proceedings of an officer, afterwards nominated to represent British friendship and moderation. Major Broadfoot had been appointed to recruit a corps of Sappers and Miners for the service of Shah Shuja, and as the family of that sovereign, and also the blind Shah Zaman with his wives and children, were about to proceed to Kabul, he was charged with the care of the large and motley convoy. He entered the •'
The military disorders subside,
but
the people
become suspicious of the English.
Major Broadfoot's passage across the
Punjab.
1 See especially Government to Sir William Macnaghten, of 28th Dec. 1840, in reply to his proposals of the 26th Nov. The Governor-General justly observed that the treaty was not formed with an individual chief, but with the Sikh state, so long as it might last and fulfil the obligations of its alliance.
Mr. Clerk to Government, of the 26th March 1841. When Sher Singh became aware of Mr. Clerk's propositions, he is said simply to have drawn his finger across his throat, meaning that the Sikhs would at once take his life if he assented to such measures. The readiness of the English to co-operate was first propounded to Fakir Aziz-ud-din, and that wary negotiator said the matter could not be trusted to paper; he would himself go and tell Sher Singh of it. He went, but he did not return, his object being to keep clear of schemes '
so hazardous.
Government to Mr. Clerk, 18th Feb. and 29th March The Governor-General truly remarked that Mr. Clerk, rather than the Maharaja, had proposed an armed interference. -'Mr. Clerk to Government, 25th March 1841. -
1841.
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