The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-01 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

DEFEAT OF THE SEIKHS,

WITH
IMMENSE LOSS,

♦ND

TERMINATION OF
THE WAR.

OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.

"PROCLAMATION BY THE RIGHT HON. THE GO-
VERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA.

"Foreign Department, Kuesoor, Feb. 14, 1846.

" The Seikh army has been expelled from the left bank of
the river Sutlej, having been defeated in every action with
the loss of more than 220 pieces of field artillery.
" The British army has crossed the Sutlej, and entered the
Punjaub.
" The Governor-General announces by this proclamation
that this measure has been adopted by the Government of
India, in accordance with the intentions expressed in the
proclamation of the 13th of December last, as having been
forced upon the Governor-General for the purpose of effec-
tually protecting the British provinces, for vindicating the
authority of the British Government, and for punishing
the violators of treaties and the disturbers of the public
peace.'

" These operations will be steadily persevered in and vi-
gorously prosecuted until the objects proposed to be accom-
plished are fully attained. The occupation of the Punjaub
by the British forces will not be relinquished until ample
atonement for the insult offered to the British Government
by the infraction of the treaty of 1809, A.D., and by the
unprovoked invasion of the British provinces, shall have been
exacted. These objects will include full indemnity for all
expenses incurred during the war, and such arrangements for
the future government of the Lahore territories as will give
perfect security to the British Government against similar
acts of perfidy and aggression.
" Military operations against the Government and army of
the Lahore State have not been undertaken by the Govern.-
ment of India from any desire of territorial aggrandisement.
The Governor-General, as already announced in the procla-
mation of the 13th of December, sincerely desired to see
a strong Seikh Government re• established in the Punjanb
able to control its army and to protect its subjects.'
The sincerity of these professions is proved by the fact
that no preparations for hostilities had been made when the
Lahore Government suddenly, and without a pretext of com-
plaint, invaded the British territories. The unprovoked ag-
gression has compelled the British Government to have re-
course to arms, and to organise the means of offensive war-
fare, and whatever may now befal the Lahore State, the
consequences can alone be attributed to the misconduct of
that Government and its army.
" No extension of territory was desired by the Government
of India; the measures necessary for providing indemnity for
the past and security for the future will, however, involve the
retention by the British Government of a portion of the
country hitherto under the Government of the Lahore State.
The extent of territory which it may be deemed advisable to
hold will be determined by the conduct of the Durbar, and
by considerations for the security of the British frontier.
The Government of India will, under any circumstances,
annex to the British provinces the districts, hill and plain,
situated between the rivers Sutlej and Bees, the revenues
thereof being appropriated as a part of the indemnity required
from the Lahore State.

"The Government of India has friendly declared that it
did not desire to subvert the Seikh Government in the Pun-
jaub ; and although the conduct of the Darbar has been
such as to justify the most severe and extreme measures of
retribution (the infliction of which may yet be required by
sound policy, if the recent acts of violence be not amply
atoned for and immediate submission tendered), nevertheless
the Governor-General is still willing that an opportunity
should be given to the Durbar and to the chiefs to submit
themselves to the authority of the British Government, and
by a return to good faith and the observance of prudent
counsels, enable the Governor-General to organize a Seikh
Government in the person of a descendant of its founder, the
late Maharaja Runjeet Singh, the faithful ally of the
British Power.

" The Governor-General, at this moment of a most com-
plete and decisive victory, cannot give a stronger proof of
the forbearance and moderation of the British Government
than by making this declaration of his intentions, the terms
and mode of the arrangement remaining for further adjust-
ment.
" The Governor. General therefore calls upon all those
chiefs who are the well-wishers of the descendants of Run-
jeet Singh, and especially such chiefs as have not partici-
pated in the hostile proceedings against the British Power,
to act in concert with him for carrying into effect such ar-
rangements as shall maintain a Seikh Government at Lahore"!
capable of controlling its army and protecting its subjects,
and based upon principles that shall provide for the future
tranquillity of the Seikh states, shall secure the British fron-
tier against a repetition of acts of aggression, and shall
prove to the whole world the moderation and justice of the
paramount power of India
" If this opportunity of rescuing the Seikh nation from
military anarchy and misrule be neglected, and hostile oppo-
sition to the British army be renewed, the Government of
India will make such other arrangements for the future go-
vernment of the Punjaub as the interests and security of the
Governmentdient. of India,
British Power may renscleercjreutsatrayntdoetxhpee
the
eF . C
GovernmentU R R E
of India,
,
httrYle Governor-General."
" By order, &c.,(Signed)
with the Governor-General.
(True copy) " EDWARDS,
Under-Secretary

reecameivpd from his Excel-
lency ME VICTORY OF SOBRAON.
Kussoor, Feb. 14.
GENERAL ORDER.
Foreign
The Governor-General
the Commander-in-Chief the dispatch annexed to this
paper, announces to the army, and to the people of India, for
orei gn Department,
having
the fourth time during this campaign, a most important and
memorable victory obtained by the army of the Sutlej over
the Seikh forces in Sobraon on the 10th inst.
On that day the enemy's strongly entrenched camp, de-
fended by 35,000 men and 67 Pieces of artillery, exclusive
of heavy guns on the opposite bank of the river, was stormed
1)7 the British army under the immediate command of his
bey
Sir Hugh Gough, Bart-, G.C.8., and in twe hours
the Seikh forces were driven into the river with immense loss,
67 guns being captured by the victers.
The Gevemor-General most cordially congratulates the
Commander-in-Chief and the British army on this exploit,
one of the most daring ever aehieved, by which, in open day,
a triple line of breastworks, flanked by formidable redoubts,
bristling with artillery, manned by 32 regular regiments of
infantry, was assaulted and carried by the forces under his
Excellency's command.
This important operation was most judiciously preceded by
a cannonade from the heavy howitzers and mortars which
had arrived from Delhi on the Bth inst., the same day on
which the forces under 1)11&-General Sir Harry Smith,