guns, were encamped in the Punjaub, at Kussoor, sixteen miles from the bank of the River opposite Feroze pore, and thirty-two miles from Lahore.

For the details of these important and decisive operations, I must refer you to the enclosures of this despatch.

I cannot, however, refrain from expressing briefly the pride and gratification with which I communicate to you these results so eminently evincing the energetic decision of the Commander-inChief's operations, and the indomitable courage of the British Indian army under his Excellency's command, and which will, I am convinced, be met with a corresponding feeling by the Home Government and the British Public.

I returned to Ferozepore from the field of Sobraon, on the afternoon of the 10th, within a few hours after the action had ceased, to superintend the passage of the Sutlej by our troops.

I joined the camp of the Commander-in-Chief at Kussoor on the morning of the 14th.

On the arrival at Lahore of the news of the complete victory of Sobraon, the Ranee and Durbar urged Raja Golab Sing to proceed immediately to the British camp, to beg pardon in the name of the Durbar and the Sikh Government for the offence which had been committed, and to endeavour to negociate some arrangement for the preservation of the country from utter ruin.

The Raja first stipulated that the Durbar and the chief officers of the army, as well as the members of the Punchayets, should sign a solemn declaration that they would abide by such terms as he might determine on with the British Government. This is said to have been immediately acceded to; and, on the 15th, Raja Golab Sing, Dewan Dena Nath, and Fakeer Nooroodeen arrived in my camp at Kussoor, with full credentials from the Maharaja, and empowered to agree in the name of the Maharaja and the Government, to such terms as I might dictate. The Raja was accompanied by the Barukzie Chief, Sooltan Mahomed Khan, and several of the most influential Sirdars of the nation.

I received the Raja in Durbar as the representative of an

offending Government, omitting the forms and ceremonies usually observed on the occasion of friendly meetings, and refusing to receive, at that time, the proffered Nuzzurs and complimentary offerings.

I briefly explained to the Raja and his colleagues that the offence which had been committed was most serious, and the conduct of the Chiefs and the army was most unwarrantable,—that this offence had been perpetrated without the shadow of any cause of quarrel on the part of the British Government, in the face of an existing Treaty of Amity and Friendship,—and that, as all Asia had witnessed the injurious conduct of the Sikh nation, retributive justice required that the proceedings of the British Government should be of a character which would mark to the whole world that insult could not be offered to the British Government, and our provinces invaded by a hostile army, without signal punishment.

I told the Raja that I recognized the wisdom, prudence, and good feeling evinced by him in having kept himself separate from these unjustifiable hostilities of the Sikhs, and that I was prepared to mark my sense of that conduct in the proceedings which must now be carried through. I stated, in the most marked manner and words, my satisfaction that he who had participated in the offence, and whose wisdom and good feeling towards the British Government were well known, had been the person chosen by the Durbar as their representative for negotiating the means by which atonement might be made, and the terms on which the Sikh Government might be rescued from impending destruction, by a return to amicable relations between the British Government and the Lahore State.

I told the Raja and his colleagues that Mr. Currie, the Chief Secretary to Government, and Major Lawrence, my Agent, were in full possession of my determination on the subject; that they were in my entire confidence; and I referred the Chiefs to those officers, that they might learn from them the principles and details of adjustment which I had determined to offer for their immediate acceptance.

The Chiefs remained the greater part of the night in conference

with Mr. Currie and Major Lawrence; but, before they separated, a paper was signed by them to the effect that all that had been demanded would be conceded, and that arrangements would be immediately made, as far as were in the power of the Chiefs, to carry out the details that had been explained to them.

The terms demanded and conceded are, the surrender, in full sovereignty, of the territory, hill and plain, lying between the Sutlej and Beas Rivers, and the payment of one and a half crores of rupees as indemnity for the expenses of the war,—the disbandment of the present Sikh army, and its re-organization on the system and regulations with regard to pay which obtained in the time of the late Maharaja Runjeet Sing,—the arrangement for limiting the extent of the force to be henceforth employed, to be determined on in communication with the British Government,-the surrender to us of all the guns that had been pointed against us, the entire regulation and control of both banks of the river Sutlej, and such other arrangements for settling the future boundaries of the Sikh State, and the organization of its administration, as might be determined on at Lahore

It was further arranged that the Maharaja, with Bhaee Ram Sing, and the other Chiefs remaining at Lahore, should forthwith repair to the camp of the Governor-General, and place themselves in the hands of the Governor-General, to accompany his camp to Lahore.

I had prepared, for circulation on my arrival at Kussoor, a Proclamation declaratory of my present views and intentions with regard to the Punjaub,-a translation of which was given to Raja Golab Sing and his colleagues, and a copy of which is enclosed for your information.

It was determined that the Maharaja should meet me at Lulleana on the 18th (yesterday), when the camp arrived at that place. On the afternoon of the 17th, it was announced to me, that the Maharaja, with Bhaee Ram Sing and other Chiefs, had instantly on receiving the summons from Raja Golab Sing, hastened from Lahore, and that they had arrived at Raja Golab Sing's camp,

pitched about a mile beyond our picquets, and that His Highness was ready at once to wait upon me.

I considered it right to abide by the first arrangement, and I directed that it should be intimated to the Maharaja and the Chiefs, that I would receive His Highness, on the day appointed, at Lulleana, eleven miles in advance, on the road to Lahore.

Yesterday afternoon, the Maharaja, attended by Raja Golab Sing, Dewan Deena Nath, Fakeer Nooroodeen, Bhaee Ram Sing, and ten or twelve other Chiefs, had an interview with me in my Durbar tent, where the Commander-in-Chief and Staff had been invited by me to be present to receive them.

As on the occasion of Raja Golab Sing's visit, I omitted the usual salute to the Maharaja, and curtailed the other customary ceremonies on his arrival at my tent, causing it to be explained that, until submission had been distinctly tendered by the Maharaja in person, he could not be recognized, and received as a friendly Prince.

Submission was tendered by the Minister and Chiefs, who accompanied the Maharaja, and the pardon of the British Government was requested on such conditions as I should dictate, in the most explicit terms; after which, I stated, that the conditions having been distinctly made known to the Minister Raja Golab Sing and the chiefs accredited with him, it was unnecessary to discuss them in that place, and in the presence of the young Maharaja, who was of too tender an age to take part in such matters, and that, as all the requirements of the British Government had been acquiesced in, and their fulfilment promised in the name of the Maharaja and Durbar, I should consider myself justified in treating the young Maharaja from that moment, as a Prince restored to the friendship of the British Government.

After some remarks, regarding the fame and character of the late Maharaja Runjeet Sing, and hope that the young Prince would follow the footsteps of his father, and my desire that such relations should henceforward exist between the two States as would tend to the benefit of both, I broke up the Durbar.

On his taking leave, I caused the customary presents to be made

to the Maharaja; and, on his retiring from my tent, the usual salute was fired from our 24-pounders, drawn up at the bottom of the street of tents for that purpose.

In the course of discussion, the Minister asked, if the young Maharaja should now return to the Ranee, at Lahore, or if it was my desire that he should remain at my camp, intimating that it was for me to dispose of the young Chief as I pleased, and as I might consider best for His Highness's interests. I replied, that I thought it advisable that His Highness's camp should accompany mine, and that I should myself conduct him to his capital, which I purposed reaching in two marches, that is, by to-morrow morning.

The remains of the Sikh army, under Sirdar Tej Sing, and Raja Lal Sing on retiring from Sobraon encamped at Raebam, about eighteen miles east of Lahore. They are variously estimated at from 14,000 to 20,000 horse and foot, with about thirty-five guns. They have been positively ordered by Raja Golab Sing to remain stationary; and the Mahomedan and Nujeeb battalions, in the interest of the Minister, have been placed in the citadel, and at the gates of Lahore, with strict orders to permit no armed Sikh soldier to enter the town.

It was intimated to me, late last night, that the inhabitants of Lahore and Umritsur were in great alarm at the approach of our army to the capital, and were under apprehension that those cities might be sacked and plundered by our troops. I therefore caused the Proclamation, a copy of which is enclosed, to be issued to the inhabitants of those cities, informing them of the result of my interview with the Maharaja, and assuring them of protection, in person and property, if the Durbar acted in good faith, and no further hostile opposition was offered by the army.

On our arrival at this place (Kanha Kutchwa,) about sixteen miles from the city of Lahore, and twelve from the cantonments), heavy firing for the best part of an hour was heard. This proved to be a salute of seven rounds from every gun in Lahore, in honour of the result of the Maharaja's meeting with me yesterday, and in joy at the prospect of the restoration of amicable relations.