The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-06 00:00:00

THE LATE WAR IN THE PUIVJAUB.

The following is a copy of a memorial about to he
presented to the home authorities regarding the claim
of the Indian army to the confi6cated Dunbar pro-
perty taken by the Government at the conclusion of
the last war. It is ?aid that Lords Brougham and
Denman consider the army entitled to it as lawful
priz,.. But for our success it would never have been
at the disposal of the Government. Whet has been
set aside as prize property by the Government will
scarcely do more than cover the six months' batta
which has been already received, and which is to re-
imburse the State when the prize is divided :

"TO THE HON. THE C )CRT OF DIRECTORS OF THE

EAST INDIA COMPANY.

" The humble Memorial or respectfully showeth—
" 1. That your memorialist was employed as
wits the army of the Panjauh in the last campaign.
2. That in his own behalf and in behalf of his bro-
ths r officers who were employed on that occasion, he begs
to approach your Hon. Court with his and their request
that you may be pleased to offer to the favourable consi-
deration of her Yost Gracious Majesty the Queen in
Council the humble prayer of your memorialist in be-
half of the Army of the eunjaub,' that the property of
every description whatsoever captured by the army dur-
ing the campaign, and all property confiscated, or
atterwards made over to the British Government by the
Lahore Dunbar, may be declared prize,' and distributed
to the army according to the will and pleasure of her
Maje ity and your Hon. Court.
" 3. Your memorialist is well aware that the army has
not any original or inherent right of property in the
bo )ty take❑ from the enemy, or made over by the
Lahore Durbttr on the termination of hostilities; and
he knows that the right to prize money is entirely
dependent on the lilt and pleasure of the Crown; but
he would humbly beg to adduce the following in-
stances as those of most recent occurrence when prize
money was given to the troops:—
"First. Bhurtpore, defended by rebels in arms against
thar legitimate ruler, was captured by a British force
in January, 1526, and the who!e of the State property
and property of every description which fell into the
hands of the British authorities was admitted to be
prize, eni distribut, d accordingly.
" scoond. In like manner the State property and
jewels of which possession was obtained when Sinde
was annexed to the British territory as the fruits of
the b ,ttles of Meanee and Dubba were given up as
prize to the army under the command of Major-Ge-
net al Sir Charles James Napier, G.C.B.
" 4. Your memorialist would respectfully submit that
these cases, especially the last cited, are strictly analo-
gone to the caee of the army of the Punjaub. In Slade
two desperate general actions were fought. Hydrabad,
the capital, and all the property of the State were peace-
fully token possession cf, ana the entire province of
Sinde was annexed to the British territory. The army
of the Puejaub fought three fiercely-contested general
actions and is siege b -fore the SEelth empire was
thoroughly subjugated; and Zo these succeesee alone can
be attributed the quiet pwsession obtain( d of Lahore
and of the Dunbar je-o, ens end property confiscated to the
British Government.
" 5. In the humble but earnest hope that the services
of the army in the Punjeub, ueder General the Right
Hon. Viscount Gough, G.C.8., may be deemed deserv-
ing of the same lii,eral consideration extended to the
army emplo)ed against Bhurtpore in 1826 under the
eeresserstra of cieurral ViscQunt Combermere,
sad to the &roe in Slade, ogramancled by. General Sir