sickening declamation about friendship, justice, and love of peace, all of which recognised Scinde as an independent power."1

Lord Ellenborough, in October 1842, ordered Sir Charles Napier to take the command in Scinde, where he was to inquire and report whether any Amir or Chief had evinced hostile designs against us during late events, which might have induced him to doubt the continuance of our power: as it was the intention of the Governor-General to inflict upon the treachery of such ally or friend a punishment so signal, as should effectually deter others from similar conduct.” 2 Outram's instructions peremptorily required him to lay before the General "the several acts whereby the Amirs or Chiefs might have seemed to have departed from the terms or spirit of their engagements. He was, therefore, obliged to enumerate any acts, more or less frivolous and inconsequential, into which two or three of them had been provoked by the demeanour adopted towards them, but none of which, in his judgment as Political Resident, warranted a conviction or any actual punishment. He added his testimony of the innocence of the majority, and reminded the Government at Calcutta of their collective fidelity to their engagements on the most critical occasions. He remonstrated, moreover, with Sir Charles Napier, who took a different view, and urged the expediency and duty of a policy of conciliation, and the wisdom of showing the chiefs a more excellent way of government than their own, by setting them a good administrative example. The grounds of complaint consisted chiefly of tolls levied, not upon the English, but upon the natives, which were said to have the construc1 In despatch, Lieutenant Eastwick, 26th January 1839. 2 Conquest of Scinde, by General W. F. Napier, p. 113. 3 Outram's Conquest of Scinde, part I. p. 40.

Shere Singh in this document, "to all good Sikhs, in fact, to all the world at large, with what oppression, tyranny, and undue violence the Feringhees have treated the widow of the great Maharajah Runjit Singh, and what cruelty they have shown towards the people of this country. In the first place, they have broken the treaty, by imprisoning and sending away to Hindustan the Maharanee, the mother of her people. Secondly, the race of Sikhs have suffered so much from their tyranny, that our very religion has been taken away from us. Thirdly, the kingdom has lost its former repute." After the arbitrary deed was done, the Resident himself acknowledged its mischievous effects on the native mind in a despatch to Calcutta, wherein is reported the disturbance it caused among the Khalsa soldiery at Rajah Singh's camp, and their declaration that, the Maharanee being gone, and the young Maharajah in our hands, they had no longer an inducement to oppose Moolraj, and would seize their officers and go over to him. Dost Mahommed, the friendly ruler of Cabul, also warned the British Resident, Captain Abbott, that the Sikhs were 'daily becoming more and more discontented," and he cited the treatment of the Maharanee as one of the chief causes of that discontent. The Sikhs were strongly possessed with the love of home and country; and banishment was regarded as a worse punishment for political offences than even death. "Such treatment," wrote the sovereign of Cabul, "is considered objectionable by all creeds, and both high and low prefer death." This incident affords another illustration of that want of equity in matters of State dealing with native powers, which is so often repeated in the pages of Indian history. It is not to be doubted or denied, that the widow of Runjit Singh was a steady opponent of British power in the Punjab; but, care

their intended effect, the General wrote, he would forthwith take possession of the provinces enumerated; and, as if to shut out the remaining possibility that his letter might not be published by the Chiefs, a proclamation was issued announcing that no new tax or existing impost should be levied after the 1st day of the year, then at hand, in the territories which were to be alienated. Discussion was thus rendered a mockery, when every semblance of regard for the rights of negotiation was set at naught. Though disapproving of the policy pursued, Outram felt it to be his duty to dissuade the Amîrs from ineffectual resistance, and he actually induced several of them to affix their seals to the humiliating treaty. When doing so, they avowed that their wild and turbulent followers would not easily be reconciled to its conditions, and that it would be impossible to hold them within bounds if the English army continued to advance towards the capital. If half the tales were true of domineering violence and ruthless lust, set forth invidiously as illustrating the prevalent plight of the people under their Native Chiefs, some sect or section, minority or majority, of them would assuredly have shown gladness at their approaching deliverance, if not love for their deliverers. But no class or tribe affected to regard the invading army with joy, to put any faith in the sincerity of our professions, or to feel grateful for our interference. The advance was not arrested, and the Beloochee soldiery, believing that Outram was the enemy who had insidiously beguiled their Chiefs into unworthy concessions, assailed the Residency, and compelled him to seek refuge in the General's camp. The victory of Mecane, on the 17th February, virtually decided the fate of the campaign. In the murderous combat no quarter was given, and the havoc on both sides

1 Eastwick, Dry Leaves, &c., p. 214.

demning the Maharanee in a proper investigation, which she herself demanded, is clear from the fact that when, at the Resident's order, her papers and effects were seized, nothing of a compromising nature was found among them. True to the habit of confiscating the property of those whom they first forced to quarrel and then to fight, the invaders of the Punjab stripped the deposed Princess of all her jewels and valuables and her allowance, which had been fixed by the treaty of Byrowal at £15,000 a year, and on her imprisonment in Shikapoor reduced to £4800, was now cut down to £1200.

The feelings of resentment thus engendered were further intensified by fresh arbitrary acts on the part of the British political agents. The young Maharajah, Dhuleep Singh, was betrothed to the daughter of Sirdar Chuttur Singh, Governor of Hazara, and sister of Rajah Shere Singh, the commander of the Sikh royal army; and it was agreed between the two chiefs that the acquiescence or objection of the Prince's guardians should be regarded as a test of their intentions with regard to the future. Formal application was accordingly made to the Resident at Lahore to fix a date for the marriage ceremony. Major Edwardes, who united keen diplomatic instinct with military skill, supported the application by a letter, in which he reported the tenor of a conversation with Shere Singh on the subject; and added, "there can be no question that an opinion has gone very prevalently abroad, that the British meditate declaring the Punjab forfeited by the recent troubles and misconduct of the troops. It would, I think, be a wise and timely measure to give such public assurance of British. good faith and intention to adhere to the treaty as would be involved in authoritative preparations for providing the young Maharajah with a queen. It would, no doubt,

triumphant chronicler of the war.

But three of the wounded

were found still living after Meeanee.1

The next morning Napier sent to demand the surrender of the capital. When asked what terms he would give, he replied, Only life." Not long afterwards six of the Amirs rode into camp and surrendered. In the treasury of Hyderabad £400,000, besides a varied store of curious. and precious booty, was found, the whole of which passed into the hands of the prize agents. In a few weeks Shere Mohammed had re-assembled an army of twenty-five thousand men; but he was attacked and defeated in a general engagement near the capital, and no further resistance of importance was made. Sheerpore and Omercote surrendered; Napier reported that the country was subdued; and its annexation having been formally proclaimed, he was rewarded with the appointment of Governor of Scinde.

Outram returned to England, where his narrative of events confirmed the impression on the minds of many that the invasion had been unprovoked, and that the annexation was unwarrantable. Thanks were voted by Parliament to the army, the Viceroy, and the General. Many who knew India well, and who appreciated keenly the difficulties of the situation, lamented Lord Ellenborough's policy, notwithstanding the success which apparently had crowned it. "Let it be remembered that all our treaties with the Amîrs were made after their warmest remonstrances against the intended honour of treating at all; that the mere circumstance of marching large bodies of troops through an independent country, contrary to the declared wish of its rulers, and cutting down timber, abolishing imposts, garrisoning forts, buying up grain and beasts of burthen therein, would

1 The Conquest of Scinde, by General W. F. Napier, p. 390.