The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-06 00:00:00

OVERLAN! MAIL'

INDIA AND CHINA.

(From the Times.)
We have received by extraordinary express our dis-
patches in anticipation of the Bombay mails of the Ist of
January, containing the important news that the Seikh
army had crossed the Sutlej, and that they having thus
declared war against the British, the Governor-General
Lad issued tho following proclamation on the 13th of
December:—

"PROCLAMATION BY THE RIGHT BON. TEE GOVERNOR-
GENERAL OF INIA.
The British Government has ever been on terms of friend-
slhiP with that of the Punjaub.
"In the year 1809 a treaty of amity and concord was con-
cluded between the British Government and the late Maha-
raja Runjeet Singh, te conitions of hich have al
been faithfully observeh d d by the Brit shy Government,ways and
Were scrupulously fulfilled by the late Maharaja.
"The same friendly relations have been maintained with
the successors of Maharaja Runjeet Singh by the British
Government up to the present time.
" Since the death of the late Maharaja &sere Singh, the
disorganised state of the Lahore Government has made it
incumbent on the Governor-General in Council to adopt
Precautionary measures for the protection of the British
frontier • the nature of these measures, and the cause of
their
adoption, were at the time fully explained to the
Lahore Durbar.
"Notwithstanding the disorganised state of the Lahore
Government during the last two years, and many most un-
friendly proceedings on the part of the Durbar, the Gover-
nor-General in Council has continued to evince his desire to
maintain the relations of amity and concord which had so
long existed between the two states, for the mutual interests
atl, happiness of both. He has shown on every occsion the
utmost forbearance from consideration to the helpless state
of the infant Maharaja Dhuleep Singh, whom the British
Government had recognised as the successor to the late
kaharaja Share Singh.
" The Governor-General in Council sincerely desired to
lee a strong Seikh Government re-established in the Punjaub,
able to control its army and protect its subjects. He had
that important1 to the resent moment, abandoned the hope of seeing
object effected by the patriotic efforts of the Beikhs and people of that country.
the The Seikh army recently marched from Lahore towards
Durban,
British frontier, as it 11 as alleged by the orders of the
.."urhar, for the purpose of invading the British territory.
" The Governor-General's agent, by direction of the Go-
vernor-General, demanded an explanation of this movement,
Ind no reply being returned within a reasonable time, the
believe
and
i was repeated. The Governor. General, unwilling to
n the hostile intentions of the Seikh Government, to
Wich no provocation had been given, refrained from taking
th.Y measures which might have a tendency to embarrass
Cs, Government of the Maharaja, or to induce collision be-
^een the two states.
t,'W'hen no reply was given to the repeated demand for ex-
'unation, and while active military preparations were con-
'cued at Lahore, the Governor-General considered it neces-
,BarS ro order the advance of troops towards the frontier to
einforce the frontier posts.
v " The Seikh army has now, without a shadow of provoca-
ft, invaded the British territories.
ro." The Governor-General must, therefore, take measures
Pti
ch.effectually protecting the British provinces, for vindi-
ilubnkmg the authority of the British Government, and for
schpinegactel.ie violators of treaties, and the disturbers of
°Alla Governor General hereby declares the possessions
„e laharsja Dhuleep Singh on the left or British banks of
'4,,,Sutlej confiscated and annexed to the British territories.
all jTha Governor-General will respect the existing rights of
agheerdars, Zamindars, and tenants in the said posses-
fide!' who, by the course they now pursue, evince their
!t }rho,
to the British Government.
e Governor-General hereby calls upon all the chiefs
witeh rdars in the protected territories to co-operate cordially
tom the British Governmeet for the punishment of the
str_m_on enemy, and for the maintenance of order in these
th',ss Those of the chiefs who show alacrity and fidelity in
ritistaike
Zarscharge of this duty which they owe to the protecting
octr, will find their interests promoted thereby, and those.
ga contrary course will be treated as enemies to the
overnment and will b punished accordingl y.
The The inhabitants, of all thee territories on the left bank of
res„tlei are hereby directed to abide peaceably in their
ei„:.: by the `;‘ftive ;here they will receive efficient rotec-
i—n:British Government. All parties of men found
ehe7srlhed bands, who can give no satisfactory account of
I,eaee.ir proceedings, will be treated as disturbers of the public
b:4-1: subjects of the British Government and those who
faistates on both sides the river Sutlej, who by their
to '34,14t1 adherence to the British Govermuent may be liable
jast e.in lose, shall be indemnified and secured in all their.
fSata and privilege&
,ne2 '
i'ren,
tn, theo other hand, all subjects of the British Govern•
.Te shall continue in the service of the Lahore state,
turndisobey this proclamation by not immediately re-
o their allegiance, will be liable to have their pro-
l~rtY on this side the Sutlej confiscated, and declared to be
and enemies of the British Government.
indirieY order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of

" F. CURRIE,
•"Secretary to the Government of India with
u the Governor-General.
'MP; Lushkuree Khan-ke-Serai,
Dec. 13, 1845."

BOMBAY, JAN. 3.
Piain
,To understand the Seikh character, it is necessary to ex-
LTthat they follow the tenets of Nunok, who four centu-
ago formed a religion from Hindooism and Mahomedan-
i;"", Which suited the taste of the men of Lahore. Guided
.3' their " GoorGos " or priests, they fought and gained consi
-
derarse territories 'in the Punjaub, or Country of the Five
Rive.
Some of the troops, and especially those of Rajpoot descent,
avumed the appellation of Singbs, or Lions. Runjeet Singh,
180.ra liheadvien tzel,
hp hie bties, succeeded in placing himself at their head.
laBss3a9iseini eaeteedw. h 1 eh
time three of his succes-
and the troops refuse to obey his f
The Singhs resemble, in a Dhuleep Singh is but a boy,
treat me
at Constantinople; and they, too, assume the right of select-
ingeeble sasceuprtreet.he Janissaries
their own rulers. The Akhoaleaer areu.fli a tribe of the wildest
fanatics, who look upon all men as objects of hatred, unless
those who profess the Seikh faith. The Seikh troops are stated
to amount in number to about 70,000 men, collected from
the bravest of the land ; for, like the Janissaries, they admit
iternits of all classes, on those recruits adopting their tenets.
,The Seikh troops, inflated with vanity and desirous of
l',l,44dert came to the resolution of invading the British ter-
''''''Y ;- and they, notwithstanding the reluctance of their
G -
IPnino% ernment, marched in the end of November and the be-
g lift December to the banks of the Sutlej, a distance
p,?_ about fifty miles from Lahore. The forced the Queen-
liather's paramour, Lall Singh, to accompany therh as a
28th of
for her behaviour during their absence. On the
~u Of November one division of them reached Manihala,
... 440 n the 29th Behranna. The other divisions moved in
,ar Ilel routes, and on the Bth of December the whole force
?reached the banks of the Sutlej, forming a line extending
'ern 1(osoor opposite to Ferozepore, to the Ilurreeke Ghat
raroa ei Singh who was to be one of their principrl leaders, en-
tiureci by various excuses to delay his departure from
kt7;r:oceTedlieinPgi,r.nt or Couacil of officers guided the troops in
aed" 'oYernor-General left Delhi on the 19th of November,
t,_roached Rurnal on the 26th, when he had au interview
Ita the Commander-in-Chief, Sir 11. Gough, and with_
.
tor Rroadfoot, both of whom had come by dak from UM
1,..,2. It was at this meeting that the Governor-General ex-
wry.
-Z•i his disappravol of the measures adopted by the mili-
thutheritiEs in hastening troops to the river's bank. On
;',_7th the Governor-Gen.ral again began his march nd
tilait7e 2d of December he 'arrived at. Umballa, where herre-
that dayntil the 7th, busy in reviewing the troops; andzoen_
Pork „be moved out of the fort as. if to proceed to r
to L.,.,y11 the 11th he rode from his camp, 16 miles' distance,
tat.--eirinn,
on .to inspect the troops. On the 9th the determi•.
It4(1 ''' of tile Seikh soldiery to cross the Sutlej became known,
Vairee°rdere were issued for the assembly of the army,.and the
the of of the Lahore Government was desired to retire from
thee rattlthPany's teritolr7i proclamation Was issued on
General's camp was
etsl; thTehGeovernor
Lit blu.2 and on the _
ithin 5 miles of the
~,tl-ehrt.,,ao, Within 37 miles of the Seikhs. The Commander.
‘zol,.stationed on that day
27 ,e'4°r•General's camp
above
P '"rist crossed the . ford about 12 miles
Fe river by a
On the 12wth 10,000 Seikhs, with
etin er'Pore; and on the 13th they were about 7 miles from it,
Th;`)Png Men and guns by a bridge of boats.
osed of
11,0- .ritiah army w concentrating; it
w"
collils3 of foot
snilianlPlete troops of horse artillery, 11 companie Phaet7, with four light field batteries, a 12-pounder ele-
raort,__uttery of 13 guns, 14 24-pounders, 8 howitzers,. and
eataj" Preparing • three European with seven native light
eorp,'Y regiments ' including the body guard ; four complete
k:et and a wing of the sth irregular cavalry ; nine
other thew64in and 25 -n c regiments of infantry, and almost
,-,—,.',eorps of Bengal Sappers and Miners. There were
hut,%,' m movement to reinforce the army.
general states that Sir H. Hardinge was likely to have a
dt,4t,ted4attle
but this fact was
on the 20th of December,
eat, ‘nicias' teal-ally as his Supposed to be following the
power and
e`efletit to'
~stcriticlese
17- the_— 'Wellington school, and not to be dis-
fore ' .the Seilllll he can give a blow with
allele under sir Os were kept in check near Ferozepore by a
sap who used Littler, who commands at thgesltianteiouni
fat Red attack eld works to be thrown up on
the 15th, and
turf ii‘e had def by the Seikhs. Reports have been current
li, e had to eated a body of the Seikhs on
*4 non% St eight officers.
oho said t er of Seikha that crossed the river before the 14th
witk!t ppLa2l?unt to 30,000, with 70 gun
exs. Their great
vi,i'D.Oet an :'%03 be plunder, which theyt t pee.crteudwtnopfin_(-1
thet,4B for'rClueulty. They have brough . h.l
~ P.
sal Ilse a e camPaign, as they dread being poisoned it
is. 41, TIS food found in the Brltish territories. They are
tetiv_ --. to be al
b.- "ed by .t_ armed at taking Ferozepore, which is de-
Sadl-,'"e the.,;,lem.a being undermined, and to be blown, up in
M the enter it, They were vacillating before t ley i
rectiac th 9ritish territory, and appeared to be more sohon
tZnahiett !Ir. progress resisted. The Ranee, or
to° et
at Lahore, declaring she had opposed the march of
Queen-Moter,
Zee bap who refused to obey her. At her request a
',Pital. been sent back to Lahore to protect her and the
seilltPPrtheri.,_
attirate theZu.n_ vrer! entertained that the Seikh troops would
I:le:41 throu'i
_ es into plundering bands, and scatter t e
Lltt j.e great
aughethe British provinces to Susa, Hansee, &c.
k e Which ~.42 t3' prevailed as to the results of the pitched
ata,.oeltaa is .6
.expected on the 20th of December.
~_ iio4ed
t, a tributary p;ovince of Lahore, and the troops
" 4 .. "ere, to the nutnber of 30,000 men, were described
th, a in z
ki, eettria_4l°ved towards Bhawulpore. They were under
.I\°ltati. u'L of Dewan Moulraj, the Nazim or Governor of
Sir '''s °f the • -
it_.
„hale.
„... invasioa of the British territory had reached
'l47_!)re aGoi: ~N3.lr on the 24th of December, and her Ma-
ttiloi y, ax,a, Nunent and the 12th Regiment Native 1-1-
therttlY ordtr",l the other disposable forces there, were in-
,_. in; „.,7u to prepare for marching to the froaiers of
I;43estycl'.;.,_ The Ist egie By Europeans, her
fll.ng in the steamy itaN;!tent_s efloßeeimerit, and the 4th Rifles, 3d and 11th
ay dative Infantry, were under order 3 for
'nide, tr,
._
.11, mers from. Bombay for Kurrachee, en route
latest the Sinde army.
`tikEt ,na .
,ea s from Caubuldescribes a feud between Akbar
il":4t,orhane,,'',.4"t Tan, which induced the latter to excite
1-1:14,
ex'c'e,st Dos-.uMoinrned had grown suspicious of all
(ieti;)f his rroonplS
Att,:v eshora Sin no, to -whom alone he confided the coin-
h, who some time back raised a revolt at
'3°Ppe:' it is not f. ,
11.,!_ e hi__ a
r...0e n -ivhetlier he is dead or alive. Some
4,t_‘,. 2......iu,, prisoner in the fort of one of the chiefs.
Governo . • a
~?‘ arrival 44,.e steamer was delayed in consequence of the
(,- "oertt t .°, the
am
tra winch rook I... General's dispatches. The
k 0,4 ,p; ii,,,,i Bo , liP to Kurrachee the firs' detachment
a' Ill'rnio'' aiu;"64Y returned Yesterday
tomorrowno started
,lestv, !,,
_en.e.thers are to start with her
At
al
mill o.ltre,ent, and detachments of artillery.
vu dat Kurrachee that all engagemout had