The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-29 00:00:00

THE PUNJAUB.

The news from the North West, which extends to the
14th ultimo from Lahore, and to the 18th from Ferozepore,
is of very serious consequence, the probability of a rupture
between the British and Seikh forces being now stronger
than has ever appeared since the departure of the Governor
General from Calcutta. Indeed, unless the courage of the
turbulent troops in the Punjaub should ooze out at their
fingers' ends on the prospect of hostilities, it is impossible
not to anticipate, before long, the commencement of a
" Lahore Campaign."
We have no space for a detailed narrative of the events
which have taken place in the country of the five rivers
since the date of the tidings sent home by the last mail.
The subjoined succinct account, however, will doubtless
prove interesting to the English reader.
The last intelligence from Lahore reached to the 25th of
October. Resuming the thread of the story at this date,
we find Raja Lall Singh, the paramour of the Ranee, in-
triguing against Sirdar Jewun Singh, the favourite of the
late brother, the murdered vizier, and prevailing on her
highness, on the plea of fraud, to suspend him from his
office, and impose on him a fine of a lakh of rupees
(10,0001.). The attachment of the troops to the Sirdar,
who had treated them with kindness and consideration,
prevented the execution of the mandate for his suspension.
With respect to the fine, he appears, Seikh-like, to have at
first thought of paying it out of the public treasury, but on
this design being frustrated he handed over a fourth of the
amount and demanded an examination of his accounts, de
daring that he was innocent of the offence imputed to him,
and was unable to give more. He was then, it is said, placed
under surveillance, and ordered to remain so until he should
prove the honesty of his transactions or pay the balance of the
rine. About this time news arrived that the troops at Pesha-
wur had become refractory, and that some regiments on
their way to that province had created great disturbances,
killing their commanding officer, and confining several others.
The flame of rebellion seemed also about to be kindled in the
neighbourhood of Jesrowta. It was affirmed too, that Raja
Ghoolab Singh had sent off his family and a great deal of his
treasure to the various forts beyond Yamoo, and that he had
himself proceeded in the same direction, with a view of in-
specting his strongholds.
On the 29th of October the Maharaja and the Ranee,
with their suite, took their departure for Umritsir, attended
by Sirdar Tej Singh, Raja Lall Singh, and other principal
officers of the state, and accompanied with a strong military
escort. On the following day a purwannah or royal missive
was dispatched to Ghoolab Singh, demanding payment of the
" eesafa" for somo territory near Wuzeerabad, and threaten-
ing the resumption of the land if the requisition were not at
once complied with. Several sepoys who had been dis-
charged by the Raja as untrustworthy, arrived on the 31st at
Lahore.
The Ranee had no sooner reached Umritsir than an at-
tempt was made to dispose finally of the vacant office of vi-
zier, and this was done—of all ways in the world—by lot !
The name of Lall Singh was drawn, as a matter of course—
the Ranee having taken especial care that matters should
not be managed fairly. Owing, however, to some representa-
tions made by Tej Singh, the khelut (or symbol of investi-
ture) was not immediately conferred upon him ; and the in-
telligence of his selection, on reaching Lahore, occasioned
great excitement amongst the troops there, who, as usual,
talked very loudly of golden bracelets and gratuities. The
Seikhs at Umritsir were also averse to his appointment,
chiefly on the score of his intimate connexion with her High-
ness. The Ranee, during her stay, visited Govindghur, md
naturall♦ enough wished to obtain some of the treasure se-
cured there, in which, however, she was opposed by the
officers and men in charge, who said that there was an order
by Runjeet Singh, prohibiting the removal of money from the
fort, except in case of necessity, such as " war against a pub-
lic enemy." Her Highness eventually obtained ten lakhs,
which were expended in completing the payment of the
troops.
The Court left Umritsir on the 4th, and arrived on the
next day at the Shaleemar Gardens. News awaited the
Ranee of a victory at Jesrowta, of which place the state
troops had succeeded in gaining possession. On the 6th a
polite commuication was received from Ghoolab Singh,
" assuring the Sirkar that his anxiety to make it worthy of
acceptance (I) was the sole cause of his not having as yet
sent his Dusserah nuzzilrana, and that he would not delay
the same much longer." Dewan Moolraj, the Nazim of
Mooltan, another defaulter, not having been shrewd
enough to forward a similar courtly apology, was ordered
to be threatened with unpleasant measures if he did not at
once send in his present to the durbar. Raja Lall Singh
now entered on the performance of the duties of vizier,
under the immediate sanction of the Ranee, but without
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 durbar 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 en their side of the river;" where-
upon a deputation from 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 dayorhen a three hours' conference 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,