The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-30 00:00:00

possessing the confidence of the troops or their leaders.
The astrologers having recommended the Ranee to post-
pone her return to the city until the end of the month of
Kartick, the Court still remained at the gardens of
Shaleemar. A dui'bar was held here on the 7th, when it
was made known that intelligence had been received,
" speaking positively of the intention of the British
authorities to take possession of all the Seikh territory
belonging to the Sirkar on their side of the river ;" where-
upon a deputation front the troops was directed to be sum-
moned, in order to consult with the officers of State as to the
measures proper to be pursued. The deputation attended
the durbar the next day, when a three hours' ponference took
place. "The Sirkar," says the correspondent of the Delhi
Gazette, "represented to them_ that in consequence of the
varied nature of the intelligence received from the other side
of the Sutlej, from which it appeared that the British were
inclined to break the solemn treaty by which they had bound
themselves to the Seikhs,it was,necessary that the whole of
the troops should be prepared for any emergency. To effect
this it was absolutely necessary that responsible chiefs-should
be nominated by the Sirkar to the command of the troops.
and recommended that the following should be appointed
Commander-in-Chief, viz. :—Sirdar Tej Singh, SirdarJewun
Singh Toshekhaneea, and Raja Lall Singh. . The second
was declared "Lord Jungee Khoord," or junior commander-
in-chief," to whom were allotted twelve battalions, with
directions to proceed. towards Peshawur, and take military
charge of that district. Sirdar Tej Singh received
the title of "Lord Jungee Kalan," or senior com-
mander-in chief, under whom were placed all the
Aeen troops, with the command of Kussoor and
Phuloor, while Raja Lall Singh was declared " Lord
Moolkee," with charge of the cavalry' and the income and,
expenditure of the army. The Ranee undertook to discharge
the office of wuzeer herself, and to govern the country in
the name of the Maharitja. The aspect of affairs now
grew suddenly warlike. Some deserters from the British
camp were taken into service on, good pay, and some Zu-
meendars from the north bank of the Sutlej, who offered to
undertake a foray into the British' territories, received from
Dewan Deena Nath an assurance that their proposal would .
be laid before the Government. On the.9th.the cavalry were
informed that Lall Singh had been appointed their commander,
and this, it is said, "pleased some of them, but wag a source
of dissatisfaction to a considerable majority." Information
' arrived that Ghoolab Singh had returned to Jamoo, and that
owing to a reduction of the pay of his troops great numbers
of them bad quitted his service. This was deemed a favour-
able opportunity for the exercise of a little royal authority,
and a purwannah was accordingly issued directing the Raja
to repair forthwith to Lahore. It was not supposed, however,
that this order would be obeyed. The prospect of hostilities
at first greatly elated the troops, and they stated that "if
only permitted to cross the river, they required no pay or
gratuity from the Sirkar." The impression that war was
about to take place became at this time so general that
people actually began to remove their pioperty to safe
places, for fear of loss I The subjoined are the arrange-
ments said to have been agreed upon "in consequence of the
report ed advance of more British troops to the banks of the
Sutlej" .
" Twelve battalions of infantry, six regiments of cavalry,
and four battalions of artillery, to proceed to Kussoor. Six
corps of infantry, three of cavalry, and two of artillery, to
encamp at Phulloor. Further, that four battalions of infan-
try, two Zumboorkhanas, and 5,000 irregular troops, should
proceed to Murree ke Goozur. This would leave four corps
of infantry and two of cavalry available for service towards
Peshawur. The four battalions of infantry, with 2,500 ca-
valry, at Jesrowta, have been directed to hold themselves in
readiness to march to a place opposite Rooper as soon as they
should receive an order to that effect. The Sirkar has also
issued orders to the troops to the following effect I—first, that
they are to keep themselves ready to march; secondly, that
no demur of any kind is to be made when the order should
be given; and thirdly, that the whole, when on march from
the capital, were to obey the instructions of Sirdar Tej Singh,
who would be appointed commander-in-chief."
On the 10th some Zumeendars from the south side of the
Sutlej made their appearance at the durbar, and offered
to do their best "to invite the people to oppose the Bri-
tish." The Ranee is said to have replied that " for the pre-
sent it would be better to keep quiet, but as soon as their
services might be required their promise would be remem-
bered." On the next day the battalions of Mewa Singh,
annd Ghoolab Singh (not the Jamoo chief) with the Dhera
Court Sahib, were selected for the march to Kussoor ; and
considerable excitement appears to have prevailed amongst
the troops, some of them saying that as soon as the order
was issued they would proeeed with such celerity as to dine
in Lahore, and drink the customary draught of water after
the meal on the other side of the Sutlej. The order for the
return of the Jamoo Raja to the capital was now counter-
manded, and he was told that " there was now no imme-
diate necessity for his coming to Lahore, and that it would
be more expedient for, him to -remain in the hills and-keep
the people there in order.;,' , On, .the.. 12th further accounts
arrived of the-mutinous conduct-of the troops marching to-
wards lieshawari, who, it appeal-30.4d expelled. several ef
their officers and killed another of the number. The Rajah
of Pattialah, one of the "protected" states, sent to say that
he was being "greatly annoyed" by the British authorities,
and that troops ought to be sent to his assistance: it was be
Nyho had dispatched the last batch of Zumeendars, and "it
was certain that the moment the Sirkaree troops crossed,
the whole country would rise against the British." It does
not appear what notice was taken of this communication. Some
troops were to have marched on the 13th, but owing to an
eclipse of the moon, and the approaching close of the month of
Kartick, the movement was postponed. A little vacillation
and wavering, too, began now to be perceptible. A report
gained circulation that the order to march was a mere ruse,
to get rid of the troops while Raja Lall Singh should be pub-
licly declared vizier; and it was resolved that, should this be
the case, " they would nevertheless insist on having the
golden bracelets." The uncertainty of the soldiery as to the
arrangements actually in contemplation appears to have been
somewhat further increased by an attempt made by the Sir-
kar—but which failed—to get the Kites troops removed from
Lahore to Peshawur. Notwithstanding all this, an actual
movement took place on the 14th, in the direction of the
river, on the part of some cavalry who were formerly under
the command of the late Raja Heera Singh. We subjoin
the account given in the Delhi Gazette of the proceedings on
this day ;
" Nov. 14.—The battalions of Khan Singh, Man, of Ghoolab
Singh, Provindeea, of the Dhera Masran, Walee and of, the
Dhera Court Sahib, were ordered to send out their
standards this day to the encamping ground. The first and
last only obeyed, and prepared themselves in every respect
for a start. Similar orders were issued to a large body of
irregular cavalry, with assurances that they should receive
their pay the moment they had reached the Sutlej. As soon
as they should have been paid they were to cross the river
into the territory of the Sirkar Khalsajee, and there await
further orders. These preparations lead many people to be-
lieve that the war is actually impending, whilst others main-
tain that the real object is to get the army from Lahore, and
then make certain contemplated arrangements. In the after-
noon the cavalry of the late Raja Ileera Singh marched
from the capital in the direction of the river. The Aeen
troops have further resolved that, "although troops were
assembling in large numbers on the other side of the Sutlej,
yet there was no pretext for fighting: and that if any neces-
sity arose, they could easily reach Ferozepore in one day."
It will thus be seen that the troops are decided in opinion
as to the necessity of an immediate march against the
British forces; and we think, judging from the want of
unanimity, that no very formidable act of aggression is likely
to occur.

The British authorities appear to have acted with much
caution and vigilance. Owing to the threatening aspect of
affairs, ;the 63d Bengal Native Infantry were ordered to
halt until further orders. Four companies from other
Bengal Native Infantry regiments, two squadrons of the
Bth Irregular Cavalry, and two guns from the European
Foot Artillery, were sent from Ferozepore, in order to
meet and protect convoys which were expected to arrive
in charge of 20 lacs of rupees. Orders were issued to fill the
horse artillery ammunition waggons, and to serve pouch and
spare service ammunition at the shortest possible notice. One
thousand five hundred bearers were expected at Ferozepore
daily. The 33d, an their arrival, were to be stationed at the
ghaut, on the Sutlej, for protection, with a company of
Sappers and Miners of the bridge of boats. We may here
mention that there arc now nearly 52,000 troops (exclusive
of the police battalion), besides ten Horse Artillery batteries,
and nine light field batteries, on their way to the north-west
frontier, a force fully adequate to any object which Sir Henry
Hardinge may have in view.
The Governor-General left Delhi on the 19th ult. The
'1 camp, says the Delhi Gazette, will be at Kurnaul
;icereg,- _nd Umballah on the 2d December, and unless
on the 26th, a..
be occasioned by the Governor-General
any detention shoui,. the camp will be at Feroze-
and the Commander in
e Commander-in-Chief ar-
pore on the 20th December.
Ist, to see the troops
rived at Umballah—was there on the -
on brigade exercise, and resumed his march 4swards Kurnanl
on the 22d. The meeting of the Governor Getter...l and Com-
mander-in-Chief was to take place on the 26th.