The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-24 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

THE ANNEXATION

OF THE
P UN J AUB.

We have received dispatches from India, in antici-
pation of the mail, which left Bombay on the 17th
of April.
Although nothing was positively known at the
period of the last mail's departure respecting the long
delayed question of annexation, yet the public mind
has been long made up as to the most probable course
to he taken for the future government of the Pun-

jaub ; and the Governor-General's proclamation of
the 29th of March, annexing the country of the five
rivers, will cause no surprise. The dearly bought
experience of the last five years is the best answer
to all who feel inclined to cavil at the justice or
expediency of the step taken for the future tran-
quillity of the country. The proclamation in
question, which will be found elsewhere, is very
brief, very much to the purpose, and as plain as
a document could well be, slightly touching upon
the history of our connexion with the country,
and pointing out that, in spite of treaties and
the great desire for peace evinced by the British
Government, even after the battles on the banks of
the Sutlej, the Seikh people and their chiefs have
grossly and faithlessly violated the promises by which
they were bound. Having advanced thus far in de-
claring the kingdom of the Punjaub at an end, the
next question of paramount importance is the disarm-
ing of the Seikhs. The Governor-General in one part
of the proclamation touches upon this point, where he
declares that the defences of every fortified place not
occupied by British troops shall be totally destroyed ;
and further, that effectual steps shall be taken to
deprive the people of the means of renewing the war ;
but the means to be employed to carry out these pro-
mises are not touched upon. Both points will come
under the consideration of those to whom the future
government of this large territory has been entrusted
by the Governor-General. His Excellency has pro-
hibited the enlistment of any of the Seikhs who had
served in the rebel army; and a circular has been is-
sued by the Commander-in-Chief, calling the atten-
tion of commanding officers to this point, advising
great care and circumspection when men present
themselves with the view of being enlisted in the
native regiments.
Annexation appears to have become popular with
the people at Umritsir, where great rejoicing has
taken place in consequence of the announcement of
British authority being establised in the Punjaub.
By an extract of a letter which appeared in the
Telegraph and Courier, it would appear that the
people of the Punjaub are in earnest as regards their
delight at the turn matters have taken ; for the writer
of the letter says, when speaking of Umritsir, that
the city was illuminated by rich and poor, by flindocs
and Mahomedans, in token of their joy and approba-
tiod in ccming under British dominions. The Ak-
haiees and Seikhs are said to have vied with the
Khetrees in evincing their loyalty and allegiance to
the new state of things; and last, though not least,
the priests of the temple, in their sacerdotal dress,
chanted hymns of praise and thanksgiving in honour
of their country having come under British rule and
government. The question very naturally arises,
how long is this very happy state of things to last,
for later accounts from Lahore represent the inhabit-
ants as being in a state of excitement in consequence
of the annexation, so much so, that one of the Queen's
regiments, under orders to move towards Ferozopore,
was detained at the capital.
The news from General Gilbert's force is highly
satisfactory; everything that decision, good judg-
ment, great activity, and determination of purpose
could effect, has been achieved by the General during
his march upon Peshawur; few could have done as
much, no one more, than has been accomplished
under his orders • officers and men, European and
Native, all looked up to their General with the
greatest confidence, and would follow him anywhere ;
he will no doubt meet his reward. The Bombay
troops will remain at Peshawur under the command
of Brigadier-General Dundas, General Gilbert with
a small escort having made a move towards Lahore
with the view of assuming the command of the Pun-
jaub division, to which he is eminently qualified. As
most people anticipated, Dust Mahommed Khan has
made the best of his way home, being chased
ignominiously from the territories he invaded. It
was fortunate for the Ameer that the Kyberees proved
friendly and allowed him for a consideration to pass
to Caubul.

Thus, the war has been brought to a most success-
ful termination, and a most complimentary and well-
merited order was issued by the Governor-General,
after the receipt of General Gilbert's dispatch from
Peshawar, announcing the termination of hostilities.
This document will be read with general interest.
As to the future destination of the chiefs who have
played so prominent a part against us (Chuttur
Singh, and his son Shere Singh) nothing has trans-
pired, further than the confiscation of all their pro-
perty, in common with that of others who had joined
in the cause of the rebels. As regards Moolraj, whose
defence of Moulton excited a feeling of admiration
among his enemies, he appears just now very likely
to suffer for the part ho took in the murders of Messrs.
Anderson and Agnew ; be is said to have failed most
completely in the attempt to establish any point
implicating the Durbar or Ghoolab Singh as having
been in any way concerned in these acts, and the im-
pression at Lahore seems to be that he and the Narain
Singh will be hanged.
Dhuleep Singh has been promised a pension of
five lacs of rupees (40,0001.), and it is probable that
his future residence may be fixed at Poonah.
Report has it that Sir W. Cotton, the Commander-
in-Chief of Bombay, intended to send home his resig-
nation by this mail, rather than serve under a junior
—Sir C. Napier.
Rumours of an increase of the army were of course
current in India. An addition of no less than ten
regiments to the Bengal force was spoken of, as it is
alleged, "on good authority," while another report
mentions a very useful change, the appointment of a
sixth captain to all the Native Cavalry regiments. It
was hoped, however, that the assignment of a large
portion of the Bengal territory to the troops of the
Madras Presidency would dispense with the necessity
of any large augmentation. The latter Presidency
has long been in such profound tranquillity that its
army has been comparatively exempt from a partici-
pation in the stirring scenes in which the Bengal and
Bombay troops have been engaged.
The Meeanee, 84, and Melampus, 42, sailed for
England on the 4th of April; and the Cambria, 44,
sailed at the same time for Trincomalee. The
Meeanee carried no less than 493 invalids from the
army.
India generally remained profoundly tranquil.
The annexation of the Punjaub is thus an,
nounced

" NonFic ATION.
" Foreign Department, Ferozepore, March 30.
" The Governor. General is pleased to direct that the
accompanying proclamation, by which the Punjaub is
declared to be a portion of the British empire in India,
be published for general information; and that a royal
salute be fired at every principal station of the army on
the receipt thereof.
" By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General
of India.

" P. MELVILL,
" Under•Seeretery to the Government of India,
with the Governor. General.
"PROCLAMATION.

" March 29.
" For many years, in the time of Maharaja Runjeei
Singh, peace and friendship prevailed between the Bri•
ash nation and the Seikhs.

" When Runjeet Singh was dead, and his wisdom no
longer guided the counsels of the state, the Sirdars and
the Khalsa army, without provocation and without
cause, suddenly invaded the British territories. Their
army was again and again defeated. They were driven
with slaughter end in shame from the country they had
invaded, and at the gates of Lahore the Maharaja l)hu
leep Singh tendered to the Governor-General the sub-
mission of himself and his chiefs, and solicited the cle-
mency of the British Government. _

" The Governor-General extended the clemency of
his Government to the state of Lahore; he generously
spared the kingdom which he had acquired a just right
to subvert; and, the Maharaja having been replaced o❑
the throne, treaties of friendship were formed between
the states.
"The British have faithfully kept their word, and have
scrupulously observed every obligation which the treaties
imposed upon them.
" But the Seikh people and their chiefs have, on their
part, grossly and faithlessly violated the promises by
which they were bound.
"Of their annual tribute no portion whatever has at
any time been paid, and large loans advanc.-d to them by
the Government of India have never been repaid.:
" The control of the British Government, to which
they voluntarily submitted themselves, has been resisted
by arms.
"Peace has been cast aside. British officers have
WM murdered wheu acting Or tho state; 011eze