The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-13 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF THE PUNJAUB.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE wished to put a
luestion to tha Noble Earl opposite on the subject of
udian affairs, which had recently, in consequence of
lie increased rapidity of communication with this court,

try, attracted in. ore' attention than they had hitherto
done. It Wai generally understood that a large army
was collected on the western frontier of our Indian tern-

tory. bordering on the Punjaub; that Sir Charles
N Tier was to take the command of that army; and
that the Governor-General was about to leave Calcutta
for the purpose of watching its operations. Now, it was
impossible to forget the results of the last operations of
an army of observation commanded by the same gallant
officer, and superintended by the Governor-General. He
did not wish to make any further allusions to a matter
on which their Lordships had agreed to suspend their
judgment, but he wished to ask whether the friendly
relations which had hitherto subsisted between the Go-
vernment of Lahore and the Government of British

India still continued, and whether there was any rea-
son to apprehend hostilities from that Government, or
from any of the other inhabitants of the Sikh country?
In the newly acquired territory of Sinde, the state of
affairs was such as to warrant great anxiety. Sir C.
Napier had thought it necessary to call together a meet-
in4 of the Beloochee Chiefs. He was not asking the Go-
vernment to tell them directly what were the instructions
that had been given to Sir C. Napier as to the negotia-
tionshe was conducting. But they should naturally
.be
very glad of any information the Government could give
them, and the more so, because it had been rumoured
that there was a desire on the part of the Indian Govern-.
ment.to extend their territorial possessions beyond the
hanks of the Indus and the Sutlej. He was not going
into the policy of the occupation of Sinde, but it ap-
' pearei that the Indian Government had entertained the
' idea of passing beyond the banks of the Indus, although
the best authorities had laid it down that we ought not
tnseelt to extend our territorial possessions beyond
thMa. He wished to know whether Sir C. Napier had
been instructed to acquire, by negotiation or otherwise,
any addition to tlir territorial possessions on the banks
of the Indus or the Sutlej. Sir Charles Napier
had conquered the province of Sinde with five thousand
men, but to keep it he required a force of 16,000 merf,-
in consequence of its disturbed state, the natives being
le s secure now than under a less powerful Government.
He was not about to question the whole policy, but it
was a grave matter, and one that did require the consi-
deration of Parliament. He hoped before the close of
the sesion some information would be given to enable
them to judge of the real state of Sinde. The expense
of the military establishment of India fell indirectly on
this country. But the expenses were not the only evil,
for there had been great loss of life. He thought that
Parliament might not to separate without full informa-
tion being laid before it upon the subject. He wished,
therefore, to ask whether tilp Goireriment 101414 be Ole
to lay before Parliament, during the present session,
airy statement of the financial affairs of
.Sinde, apd also..
of the amount of revenue the East India Company de-
rii-gcl from that country ?
Thq Earl Qf RIPON had not anticipated from his