TRIAL

OF

RAJA LAL SINGH

* r PUNJAB GOVERNMENT RECORD OFFICE PUBLICATIONS.

MONOGRAPH No. 16.

TRIAL OF RAJA LAL SINGH (THE LAHORE MINISTER)

Edited zuith notes and introduction

BY

R. R. SETHI, M.A. (Eco. & Hist.), F. R. Hist. S., F. R. G. S.

LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT PUNJAB 1971 Reproduced By Director, Languages Department Punjab, Through Deputy Controller, Printing & Stationery Department

Punjab,

First Published 1932 Reprinted 1971

Printed at Punjab National Press, Delhi.

Price Ri. 2-45. TRIAL OF RAJA LAL SINGH z 525

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-

*

Publisher's Note

It may look unprogressive to bring out another reprint of a book which was first published as far back as the later years of the nineteenth century. It is possible that lot of further research might have taken place in this subject during the succeeding years, yet these works maintain their own reference value. The idea behind the present venture is to make available these rare works to most libraries and readers.

The British and other Western scholars rendered great service to this land and their works still have great bearing on the Language, Culture and History of the Punjab* The Languages Department has planned to bring out reprints of the most valuable works, including the present one, for the benefit of most readers, scholars and research worker^.

LAL SINGH Director Patiala Languages Department 1971 Punjab.

FOREWORD.

THIS is the third of a group of the Monographs which closely resemble one another in that they are records of what are practi­ cally State Trials. The offence for winch Lai Singh was tried and condemned was one of the many sequels of the first Sikh War. There seems no doubt of the guilt of the accused, indeed the defence was a very weak one. Apart from the details of the trial it is an interesting record as it introduces so many individual who had played and were to play an important part on the stag of the Punjab.

H. L. 0. GAKRETT, Keeper of the Records oj the Government of the Punjab. Lahore, 31st October 1932. CONTENTS.

Introduction • • • •

Table of dates - • • *

List of witnesses • •

The Trial

Mr. Frederick Currie's Opening Speech • •

EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION.

(3rd December 1846.)

Shaikh Imam-ud-Din

Lala Rattan Chand of the long beard

Lala Puran Chand

Diwan Hakim Rai

EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.

(4ih December 1846.)

Diwan Dina Nath

Prosecution witnesses' reply

The "Remarks and Decision of the Court of Inquiry..

The Report to the Government

p 11

APPENDICES. PaGulab Singh, concluded at Amritsar, on March 16, 1846 ...... vi (HI) Copy of the Final Receipt for the purchase of Kashmir signed by the Board of Administration .. .. viii (IV) Copy of the translation of a letter, dated the 22nd Sep­ tember 1846, from Lieutenant Edwardes to Sheikh Imam-ud-Din ...... ix (V) Copy of the translation of a parwana, dated the 15th October 1846, from Lieut. Edwardes to Sheikh Imam- ud-Din ...... x (VI) Copy of the translation of a letter, dated Camp Hoshiar- pur, the 23rd November 1846, from the Governor- General of India to Maharaja Dalip Singh .. xi (VII) Copy of the translation of a letter, dated Lahore, the 9th December 1846, from F. Currie to Maharaja Dalip Singh ...... xii (VIII) Copy of the translation of a letter, dated the 30th Maghar, 1903 (corresponding with the 14th December 1846), from Maharaja Dalip Singh to F. Currie .. xiv (IX) Copy of the translation of a letter, dated the 14th Decem­ ber 1846, from F. Currie to Maharaja Dalip Singh .. xviii (X) Note of the Conference with the Chiefs and Sardars of the Lahore State at a meeting held in Darbar at Lahore on the 15th December 1846 .. .. xix (XI) The Treaty of Bhyrowal or the Second Treaty with Lahore of 1846 (Articles of Agreement concluded between the British Government and the Lahore Darbar on December 16, 1846) Glossary ^ • » mm XX11 • • • • • « - XXV ILLUSTRATION. Raja Lai Singb ., ...... _ Frontis­ piece. Note on ^J^^-r^L?u irft«f' he,*°\ armlets, etc., are of French manufacture, and were brought to IndiL a in 1838 by General Allard. The Cairo* had the arms of the French Monarchy surmounted by a Gallic Cock on it* front. INTRODUCTION. PART I.

REVOLT IN KASHMIR. BY the terms of the Treaty, which in March, 1816, closed the First Sikh War, amongst other things,* the Sikhs ceded to i.lie British all the hilly country between the rivers Beas and Indus, " including the provinces of Kashmir and Hazara "f ; and, " in consideration of the services rendered by Raja Gulab Singh of Jamrnu to the Lahore State towards procuring the restoration of the relations of amity between the Lahore and British Governments," the British agreed to recognise 41 the independent sovereignty of Raja Gulab Singh in such territories and districts in the hills as may be made over to the said Raja Gulab Singh, by separate agreement between him­ self and the British Government, with the dependencies thereof, which may have been in the Raja's possession since the time of the late Maharaja Kharak Singh." Further, the British Govern­ ment, " in consideration of the good conduct of Raja Gulab Singh," agreed " to recognise his independence in such terri­ tories, and to admit him to the privileges of a separate treaty with the British Government." A week later, on March 16, 1846, was signed the aforesaid Treaty*, with Gulab Singh, by which the British Government " transferred and made over, for ever, in independent possession, to Maharaja Gulab Singh and the heirs male of his body, all the hilly and mountainous country, with its dependencies, situated to the eastward of the river Indus and westward of the river Ravi, including Chamba and excluding Lahoul, being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State." In consideration of this transfer Gulab Singh was to pay the British Government seventy-five lacs of rupees (nanakshah i) ,— fifty lacs to be paid on ratification of the Treaty and twenty-five

* For full text of the Treaty, see Appendix I. t The Lahore Government being unable to pay the one-and-a-half crores of rupees as an indemnity for the expenses of war, or to give security satisfactory to the British Government for its eventual payment, the Maharaja ceded to the Honourable Company, as an equivalent for one crore, his possessions in the hilly countries between the Beas and the Indus, including the provinces of Kashmir and Hazara, engaging to pay the remaining fifty lacs on or before the ratification of the ireaty—Appendix I. 18ee Appendix II. B 2 RAJA LAL SINGH.

Octobel 1, 1846*; and, in token of the sup- imacy of the British Government, was " to present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve perfect shawl-goats of approved breed x male and six female), and three pairs of Kashmir shawls." He further engaged " to join with the whole of his military forces the British it oops when employed within the hills, or in the territories adjoining his possessions " ; and on their part the British Government engaged " to give its aid to Maharaja Gulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies." Thus it was that Gulab Singh, the great-grandfather of the present Maharaja, became the ruler of Kashmir. But he did not acquire actual possession of his new province without much difficulty. One can easily imagine the jealousy which would be felt by a poiver at giving over, " in sackcloth and ashes," a rich tract of its territory to one who, only lately, was a subject of its own—a powerful subject, all but independent, but still a subject, acknow­ ledging, perhaps, a more perfect allegiance than he actually paid. Hence began intrigues, and month after month passed by without Gulab Singh getting possession of Kashmir. We shall examine concisely what this was due to. Kashmir had been annexed to the Sikh dominions in 1819, and was thenceforward administered by Governors from Lahore who were frequently changed.f In 1846, the Governor, in charge of Kashmir affairs, was one Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, who is described as under by a contemporary writer:— " The Shaikh is, perhaps, the best mannered and best dressed man in the Punjab. He is rather under than above the middle height ; but his figure is exquisite, ' as far as it goes,' and is usually set off with the most unrivalled fit which the unrivalled tailors of Kashmir could achieve for the Governor of the Province. His smile and bow are those of a perfect Courtier, whose taste is too good to be obsequious ; his great natural intelligence and an unusually good education have endowed him with considerable conversational powers ; and his Persian idiom would do no dis-

•The first instalment and about Rs. 1,50,000 of the second were paid by April 14. 1847. The last instalment was paid to the Lahore Treasury on March 14, 1860. The final receipt for the purchase of Kashmir signed by the Board of Administration is dated March 29, 1850.— Bee Appendix III. tTheae wero (1) Diwan Moti Ram, 1810 ; (2) Surdar Hari Singh, 1820; (3) Diwan Moti Ram. 1822 ; (4) Diwan Chuni 1^1. 1826 ; (5) Diwan Kirpa Ram, 1827 ; (6) Bhamma Singh Ardali. 1831 ; (7) Prince Sher Singh, 1832 ; (8) Colonel Mian Singh. 1834 ; (9) Ohulam Mohy- Tid-Din. l«il ; (10) Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, 1846.—Tarikhi-Haatan, Hassan Malik, pages 6t 6 —34 ; and QautUtr of Kashmir, Bate?, page Hi. INTRODUCTION. 3

honour to a native of, Shiraz. Beneath this . »oth suiface of accomplishment and courtesy lies an ill-assorted and incongruous disposition: ambition, pride, cruelty and intrigue, I mgely mixed up with indolence, effeminacy, voluptuousness and timidity.* " From such phizes and minuses what result can be expected but a moral cypher. Deeply engaged in the intrigues and revolutions of Lahore, Shaikh Imam-ud-Din was never to be found at the crisis of any of them ; and so completely were all his aspirations negatived by indecision that he spent, the six months of his Kashmir gov­ ernment in wavering between three different schemes for his own personal aggrandisement: doubtful whether to accept Gulab Singh's offer and continue as Governor on a salary of one lac per annum ; to oppose the transfer of the Province to that Prince, which Raja Lai Singh told him should be a receipt in full for his Kashmir accounts ; or to try to buy over the British and mate himself independent sovereign of the loveliest valley in the world. We shall see presently that he chose the worst of the three. In his choice he was urged, it is said, by the influence of a wife, the daughter of the Khan of Kohistan, " proud of her kin and blood, " and bigoted in her Mohammedan faith.* Imam-ud-Din, with the aid of feudatories, took up arms to oppose the entry of Gulab Singh, and his troops obtained some advantages. Gulab Singh could not himself drive the recalcitrant Shaikh out by force of anns. The British Government had to intervene and coercive measures were resorted to. Without an hour's hesitation, the Governor-General declared that the clause of the Treaty of Lahore by which Kashmir was to be transferred to Gulab Singh must be enforced and that •' the British Government would give every possible support to Maharaja Gulab Singh in compelling the servant of the Darbar, Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, to evacute Kashmir, holding the Darbar responsible for the acts of their officer, in this gross violation of the Treaty." f The Lahore Darbar was asked to place at Maharaja Gulab Singh's disposal from one-half to two-thirds of the forces at any, or all, of the stations between the Ravi and the Attock and to instruct their Officers Commanding within that tract, on receipt of Maharaja's requisition, to move instantly, on to such points as

'Life of Sir Henry Lawrence.—Edwardes & Merivale, 1872, volume II, page 72. f Punjab Government Records, Preea List Volume IX, Serial No. 217, dated Simla, the 26th September, 1846 ; from Frederick Currie, Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General, to H. M. Lawrence Agent, Governor-General, North-West Frontier.

B2 4 RAJA LAL SINGH. he might desire and to act on his instructions.* The Darbar was further instructed to proclaim to their border subjects that the property of persons taking up arms against Maharaja Gulab Singh would be confiscated.* The Maharaja was advised to combine mercy with energy in coercing the rebels and to offer an amnesty for submission up to a certain date.")" In the meantime a letter was addressed to the Sikh officers and soldiers in Kashmir, informing them that the British army had been ordered to support the Maharaja.J " As it was the practice of the English," wrote Henry Lawrence, " I warn you that if on receipt of this order you separate from the Shaikh and return to the Punjab, your lives will be spared and your arrears will be paid."t The Governor-General on September 15, 1846, ordered six Ke- giments of Native Infantry, two Regiments of Irregular Cavalry, and twelve Field guns, under Brigadier Wheeler, commanding the Jullundur Doab, to be held in readiness to move fully equipped for field service from Jullundur towards Jammu, for the purpose of protecting the Maharaja's rear in his absence.§ The Maharaja did not wish British troops to go to Kashmir but was anxious that they should hold Nowshera (above Bhimber) for him for the double reason, that it was a troublesome country, and that by so forward a movement people might be led to sup­ pose that troops would advance into Kashmir. || Accordingly, the Governor-General on September 22, 1846, addressed the Commander-in-Chief, requesting him that the Brigadier might be ordered to advance. j[ " The object of the movement, " the Govern or-General wrote, "is to enable Maharaja Gulab Singh to move all his disposable forces on Kashmir, by protecting his rear from the confines of our frontier up to Jammu, a distance probably of between 60 and 70 miles,

•Punjah Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 193, dated the 12th September, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. tPunjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 899, dated the 151b. September, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to Lieut. H. R. Edwardes, on deputation to Jammu. tPunjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 439, dated the 24th September. 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to the Sikh officers and soldiers in Kashmir. §Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 200, dated the 17th September, 1846 ; from the Adjutant-General of the Army to the Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department. ||Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 213, dated the 24th September, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. ^Punjab Government Records, PICBS List Volume IX, Serial No. 205, dated the 22nd btptemher. 1616 ; from the Govcrnor-Ctiucral to tbe Commandcr-in O'ef. INTRODUCTION. 5 in the country between the Ravi and Chenab rivers at the foot of the hills which divide the Maharaja's territory from the plains. "* The troops selected by the Lahore Darbar for the Kashmir expedition were :— Under Sardar Sher Singh.—His own troops, the Kohis- tanis (mountaineers), about 5,000 in mumber, four guns. Under General Doab Singh.—Two regiments. Under General KaJian Singh.—Two regiments. Lahore Troops, under General Imam Singh.—Two regi­ ments, two guns. Moreover ten other guns and all necessary munitions were got ready at Lahore under the direction of Captain Brind.f Various officers were despatched to collect carriage and supplies in Rawalpindi, Jhang, etc.J And then was seen the very remarkable spectacle of the British Agent marching at the head of the Sikh troops, supported by British forces, to wrest Sikh territory from Imam-ud-Din in order to hand it over to the last of those Rajput brothers, who had always inspired the Sikhs with intense jealousy. These vigorous measures had the desired effect of showing not only to Gulab Singh, but also to the Shaikh in Kashmir, and the Wazir in Lahore, that no difficulties which could be created by hostile combinations, or intrigues, would be allowed to stand in the way of carrying out the Treaty. The very first fruits were the disclosure of Raja Lai Singh's treachery. No sooner did PuranChand, the Shaikh's Vakil, find that the British were in earnest, than, with admirable decision, he chose his side, and deter­ mined to save his master by throwing Raja Lai Singh overboard. Lieut. Herbert Edwardes, the Assistant Political Agent,— who had been deputed by the Governor-General to keep Gov­ ernment informed about the proceedings in Kohistan and

* Punjab Government Records, Frees List Volume IX, Serial No. 205, dated the 22nd September, 1846 ; from the Governor-General to the Commander-in-Chief. •{•Captain James Brind, Bengal Artillery, Deputy Commissary of Ordnance. J Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 237, dated the 29th September, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. At the request of Diwan Jowala Sahae (Maharaja Gulab Singh's Vakil) the following officers were asked to go with the Sikh troope to Kashmir:—Sardars Tej Singh, Sher Singh and Mangal Singh; Generals Kahan Singh, Lai Singh Moraria, Amir Chand Topi and Cortlandt ; and Colonels Khan Ali Khan Gobarchi and Qardana.—Ibid. 6 RAJA LAL SINGH

Kashmir and to advise the Maharaja ' at the present juncture,' * reporting the substance of conversations he had with Puran Chand, the Shaikh's Vakil,—in a letter, dated the 17th Septem­ ber, 1846, observed that the Vakil repeatedly asserted that his master, the Shaikh, had been secretly instigated, in his resistance to Maharaja Gulab Singh in Kashmir, by communications sent to him by the Wazir Baja Lai Singh, and that the Shaikh possessed letters to that effect, written by his Vakil and signed by Kaja Lai Singh at Lahore.f " If these suspicious circumstances shall subsequently bo verified," wrote F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence, " Lieut. Edwardes may assure the Shaikh that if he (as his Vakil declares, he can) does prove the truth of the Vakil's declarations, the British Govern­ ment will visit the offence of a Lahore servant, acting under the orders of his Government, upon that Government, and not upon him, and will ensure his personal safety, if without further re­ sistance he abandons his desperate enterprise and delivers himself up to the British Political Agent."J Negotiations were then opened between Lt. Edwardes and Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, and the latter expressed his willingness to evacuate the valley and come over to Lahore, but he was afraid that his Jullundur Jagirs would be confiscated and that he would be charged for the arrears of his troops. Hence he waver­ ed and sought assurances before he finally gave it up§. He was assured that if he left Kashmir immediately with the property he possessed, either with or without his troops, his life would be spared and his past conduct forgiven ; and that if he could prove that he had resisted at the instigation of the Lahore authorities, he would retain his property and would be exempted from render­ ing any accounts to the Darbar||. But he was told that his Jagirs in Jullundur could not be restored, for, as a resident in the British

* Punjab Government Records, PresB List Volume IX, Serial No. 878, dated the 4th September, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to Lieut. EdwardcB. t Punjab Government Records, Preea List Volume IX, Serial No, 217, dated the 25th September, 1846 ; from F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence. It must be noted here that the Waztr, Raja Lai Singh, up to this time had by public letters and assurances led the Agent of British Government to believo that ho was takiDg every measure in his power to cause the Shaikh to withdraw from Kashmir —Ibid. X Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 217, dated Simla, the 25th September, 1846 ; from F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence. § Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 1156, dated the 30th September, 1846 ; from John Lawrence, Officiating Agent at Lahore, to F. Currie. || Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume XI, Serial No. 1156, dated the 30th September, 1846; from John Lawrence, Officiating Agent at Lahore, to F. Currie. INTRODUCTION. 7

territory and as a Jagirdar under the British Government, he had disobeyed its orders.* This caused the Shaikh to pause. On October 6, Her Majesty's 62nd Begiment, three regi­ ments of Native Infantry, two regiments of Cavalry and twelve guns were ordered to march from their station—Ferozepore—to Lahore and Her Majesty's 80th Kegiment, three regiments of Native Infantry and twelve guns were ordered to march to Sialkotf. Lieut. Lumsden was to join the Sikh troops, which had already left Lahore, at Rajouri, lest they should halt short of their destination-^ On October 11, Brigadier Wheeler was ordered to move the Field Force under his command to Bhimber, but was instructed on no account to proceed beyond that§. He, however, received instructions from General Littler, on October 19, ordering him to cross his forces to the right bank of the Chenab,|| the force under Littler being stationed on the left bank, ready to form a junction with Brigadier Wheeler to advance on Bhimber or Nowshera, when required. This mobilisation of troops further proved to the Shaikh the hopelessness of his resisting any longer, and detached from him some of his staunch adherents. Reports, from different quarters, now confirmed the news that the Shaikh was yielding to the persuasions of his deputies and had made preparations for his departure to Lahore. J Puran Chand and Fateh Khan arrived in Kashmir on October 1, and delivered the written pledge of Lieut. Edwardes to Imam-ud- Din.** No sooner had the Shaikh read this encouraging letter,

"* Lieut. Edwardes will not encourage the Shaikh to believe, because the British Govern­ ment do not visit upon him offences committed by him, in consequence of orders received from hk own Government, that he is to be reinstated in his jagirs and property in Jullundur. The Shaikh must be aware that he holds that property as a subject of the Company and is consequently responsible so far to the British Government that by acting in defiance of their injunctions and in violation of a Treaty he has justly subjected himself to the penalties which have already been ordered to be inflicted by the preliminary act of attaching all his property within their territory."—Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX. Serial No. 217, dated Simla, the 25th September, 1846 : from F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence. f Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 050, dated the 11th October, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to Brigadier Thomas Reed, Commanding at Fcrozopore. X Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 259, dated the 7th October, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. § Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 951, dated the 11th October, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to Brigadier Wheeler. ||Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 982, dated the 19th October, 1846 ; from Major-General Sir John Littler, Commanding the Punjab Division, to H. M. Lawrence. 11 Punjab Government Records, Press List, Volume IX, Serial No. 1132, dated the 10th October, 1846 ; from Lieut. Edwardes to H. M. Lawrence. ** i'ide Appendix IV for the written pledge of Lieut, Edwardes. 8 RAJA LAL SINGH. than, trusting entirely to the leniency and generosity of the British Government, he raised the siege of Hari Parbat, called in his men to their respective camps, exhorted the Kings of the Kohistan to put down the rebellious spirit they had raised and set himself to work in earnest to write similar orders to every part of the country,* Maharaja Gulab Singh's servants, im­ prisoned in Kashmir, were released and Mirza Faqir Ullah was ordered to set free those in confinement at Rajourif. Before leaving Kashmir. Imam-ud-Din wanted to make sure of the action which the British Government would take against him, and sent Fat eh Khan and Puran Chand and two of bis con­ fidential agents, Rattan Chand and Mirza Ahmad, with a letter J to Lieut. Edwardes, whom they met at Seyouth, ten kos from Rajouri, on October 15.§ Edwardes had already promised to meet the Shaikh on his way to Lahore. Imam-ud-Din requested him to come up to Bairamgulli; Edwardes offered to meet him at Thana, 8 or 9 miles from Eajouri. and wrote to him not only promising to spare his life but also assuring him that the British Govern­ ment would not interfere with his Kashmir property, nor allow the Lahore Darbar to call him to account, if he could prove the complicity of the Lahore Darbar in the rebellion)). Arrange-

* Punjab Government Records. Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 1132, dated the lOtbe October, 1846 ; from Lieut. H. B. Edwardes to H. M. Lawrence. t On October S3, 1846, the Governor-General informed the Secret Committee that " Shaikh Imam-ud-Din has put a stop to all hostile operations against the fort of Hari Parbat, occupied by the Maharaja's troops ; he has formally declared his submission to the Lahore Government and his intention of surrendering himself to Lieut. Edwardes who is accompanying the troops of Maharaja Gulab Singh "—Parliamentary Papers relating to the Punjab (1844—47).. % Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 1133, dated the 15the October, 1846 ; from Lieut. Edwardes to H. M. Lawrence. § Ibid. || Vide Lieut. Edwardes' jtanvana to Sheikh Imam-ud-Din, dated the loth October, 1846, under Appendix V— This particular promise of Lt. Edwardes gave rise to controversy. E. Currie writing to H. M. Lawrence, in a letter dated Simla, the 12th October 184C, observed—* His Lordship does not think that he (Lieut. Edwardes) was warranted in promising to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din that, under any circumstances, we would interfere to prevent the Lahore Government from demand­ ing from him a settlement of the accounts of his administration for the period1 that the pro­ vince has been under his management. This is a question with which v>e can have no concern. The Governor-General observes, moreover, that this promise of indemnity from the Government demand and settlement of the accounts of his Revenue administration is made in the event of his proving the delinquency of Raja Lai Singh*— but the misconduct and underhand intrigue of Raja Lai Singh (assuming it to be capable of proof) may not necessarily involve the Lahore Government itself, and the redemption of Lieut. Edwardes'e promise to hold Shsikh Imam- ud-Din free from all claim by the Government on account of his long administration (notori­ ously a most dishonest one in the matter of rendering accounts) may be found embarrassing.' Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 269. The Governor-General, however, agreed to 'maintain the terms and conditions offered by Lieut. Edwardes to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din aa far as possible, if he shall establish satisfactorily the facta upon which these promises were founded, and upon the establishment of which the conditions rest.—Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 326, dated the 2nd November, 1846 ; from F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence. INTRODUCTION. 9 ments would also be made to avoid any possibility of a collision between Imam-ud-Din's troops issuing from Kashmir and the Maharaja's and the Sikh forces marching into the valley. Meanwhile, on October 12, Mirza Faqir Ullah of Rajouri, the mainstay and ally of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, had written an humble letter of submission to'Edwardes, wherein he declared his readiness to submit as soon as the latter reached the Rajouri border. The Mirza wrote another letter to the Maharaja's Moulvi, offering to submit, provided the Moulvi got him " the Maharaja's necklace as a pledge of good faith." Taking upon himself the responsibility of his safety, Edwardes asked Faqir Ullah to Come at once, and the Maharaja, too, agreed to the request of the Mirza. On October 18, at 10 A.M, attended by about thirty followers, this master mechanician of the Shaikh's plans, the firebrand of the rebellion, the ' lord and leader ' of the insurgents, and the deadly enemy of His Highness, came and made his submission to Maharaja Gulab Singh.* The army still advanced, and had reached the fort at the Bairamgulli Pass leading into Kashmir. Soon it was reported that the Shaikh was getting ready for departure, having promised to start on the 9th Katak 1808 (Octr. 28, 1846). He hoped and also believed that no crime would be " proved against him."* " The British had ordered him to leave and leave he would," he gave out; " he would not stay another moment in that place, though he-might be forced, in consequence, to halt a day or two on the road to collect coolies."! On October 23, the Shaikh finally communicated—" I have this day departed from the city of Kashmir, though my preparations for the march were far from complete."J He proceeded about three miles out of the city, where it took him a day or two to complete his arrangements. He wrote to Maharaja Gulab Singh:— " My Lord, I have ever been your servant and son. The reply which you sent to my humble epistle has inspired me with con­ fidence. May Go'd keep you on your throne to all eternity ! • Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 1134, dated the 18th October, 1846 ; from Lieut. Edwardes to H. M. Lawrence. This event was not only valuable as a key to the intentions of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, hut also with reference to the effect it was likely to produce on the Kohistan and the countries at the foot of the hills, throughout which his name was famous for enterprising courage and deadly enmity to Maharaja Gulab Singh—Ibid. t Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 443, dated the 28th September, 1846 ; from Malik Fateh Khan and Rattan Chand to Lieut. Edwardes. % Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 444, dated the 23rd OctoDer, 1846, or 9th Ratik, 1903 ; from Shaikh Imam-ud-Din to Lieut. Edwardes.

V 10 RAJA LAL SINGH.

You tell me to come and make my submission. I am honoured by receiving your commands and I hasten to obey them You have taken me by the hand, now deal with me as you think I deserve My good and bad qualities I have confided to you. It is for you to estimate the sum of them."* Leaving the valley on October 25, and proceeding via Shopian, the Shaikh, worn out by a forced mountain-march of forty miles, in the course of which he had been drenched in a snow storm, reached Bairamgulli on October 31, and surrounded by his officers made his submission to Lieut. Edwardes, who, on the following day, conducted him to the camp of Henr}r Lawrence at Thana, the latter having a few days earlier come up with his army. On the next day the forces under the command of Major-General Sir John Littler were ordered to withdraw, and Brigadier Wheeler's followed soon after.f Thus ended this bloodless rebellion. 'Maharaja Gulab Singh entered the city of Kashmir about 8 A.M. on November 9, 1846—it had been declared the auspicious time by the astrologers—and found his sowars in entire possession of the Palace, Sardar Sujan Singh with the garrison of Shergurhi, about 3,000 men, and the family of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din having moved off two days previously. To avoid their line of march, the Maharaja made a detour on the road from Shopian, and fell in with Henry Lawrence at Pampur on the evening of the 8th. It was thought that His Highness would prefer entering his capital by himself, and, therefore, he was given the opportunity of domg so, but the meeting at Pampur led the British Agent to imagine that the Maharaja was willing to sink his dignity in the increased opinion of the British support which his formal accom­ paniment would afford His Highness.J Maharaja Gulab Singh having been established in power, Henry Lawrence, " with his usual energy " as Lord Hardinge describes it, returned at once to Lahore.§ The next thing to be done was to bring Raja Lai Singh to solemn trial and exposure before all the Sikh Chiefs, for secretly instigating Shaikh Imam-ud- Din in the treacherous opposition to Gulab Singh; the defeated Shaikh, having turned "King's evidence" against his late ac­ complice. He placed in Henry Lawrence's hands at Thana three

• Punja emrncnt Record*, I'HHS List Volume JX, Serial No. 440, dated the 23rd October, 184o ; from Shaikh I mam-ud Din to Maharaja Gulnh Singh. | .ernmeiit I roV, 1'resH Lint Volume IX, Serial No. 1001, dated the 2nd November, J846 ; from II. If, Lai o to Sir John Litilcr. X Punjab Government I'reasLiHt Volume X, Serial No. 33"», dated the city of Kashmir, the 12th November, 1846 ; from If. M. Lawrence to ]' { The Govemor-C il to tho Secrel Committee, dated the 1th of December 1846.-*- Parllamentary Papers (IH44—47). INTRODUCTION. 11

original documents, purporting to be instructions from Lai Singh to the Shaikh to oppose Gulab Singh; and to the officers and soldiers in Kashmir, to be faithful and obedient to the orders of the Shaikh.* These papers were put in as evidence at the subsequent trial of Raja-Lai Singh for his complicity in this affair. We shall vow examine all these in detail.

PART II. TRIAL AND DEPOSITION OF RAJA LAL SINGH. Mr. Frederick Currie, Secretary to Government of India in the Foreign Department, was deputed by the Governor-General • 4( to investigate, in conjunction with Lieut.-Col. H. M. Lawrence, the conduct of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, in resisting, by force of arms, the execution of the Lahore Treaty, relating to the cession of the Province of Kashmir to the British nominee." f He . was instructed by the Governor-General that if it was proved, •as maintained by the Shaikh, that Raja Lal Singh did en­ courage him to violate the Treaty, which the Lahore Dar- bar was bound faithfully to carry into effect, the immediate •consequences of this betrayal of duty to Maharaja Dalip Singh, and of good faith to the British Government, were to be the depo­ sition ol* the Wazir. If, however, the authenticity of the docu­ ments produced by the Shaikh, in palliation of his own criminal conduct, was disproved, he was to take the consequences of his own misdeeds ; but it was apparent, from the nature of the papers which he had put forth, that the investigation was to be in reality the trial of the Wazir Raja Lal Singh and the Darbar. The Governor-General's further instructions to Currie were : "" The conviction of the Lahore Government in being implicated in a gross and violent infraction of the Lahore Treaty might, if pushed to the extreme limit of our right, lead to very serious con­ sequences ; but it is not my intention to make the Lahore State responsible for, the misconduct of one or more individuals when there is every reason to believe that the misconduct is to be attri­ buted to personal hatred of Maharaja Gulab Singh, and not to any political combination to violate the Treaty with the British Gov­ ernment. The individuals, however, who may be implicated must Tbe held responsible for their conduct in this transaction, whatever may have been the original object to intrigue .... In the event

-_•_.. ii ~ *~ "• * Punjab Government Records, Pre+s List Volume IX, Serial No. 322, dated Camp Thana, the 1st November, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F-Currie. t The Governor-General to the Secret Committee, dated Camp, Sham-Chourasi, the 4th December, 1846 (Parliamentary Papers, 1844—47). 12 RAJA LAL SINGH. of the Shaikh succeeding in exonerating himself, by proving that he acted in obedience to the orders of the Wazir, the Raja's depo­ sition from wazarat and hia immediate exile from the Punjab into the British Territory will be demanded, under such arrangements as may be determined upon, after the whole case has been fully investigated. " In the latter case it is probable that the interposition of the Eani in his favour will be attempted, and that Her Highness will not consent to his exile without great reluctance. 11 Facilities may be afforded, arising out of this state of things, to deprive Her Highness of power. The great scandal which Her Highness' intercourse with the Wazir has caused, has rendered her government as Begent odious to the people ; and her deprivation of power would be justified, on the ground that the notoriety of her profligacy has been carried to an extent which disqualifies her for the duty of acting as the Regent of the Lahore State during the minority of her son."* Charged with these instructions and with the ' Kharita 'f from the Governor-General to Maharaja Dalip Singh, Currie proceeded forthwith to Lahore and arrived on December 1, 1846. He was met at Bhyrowal by Sardar Shamsher Singh Sindhan- wala, Rai Kishan (.'hand, Vakil, and a few others, who had been deputed by the Darbar to accompany him to his camp through the Lahore District and provide supplies. Carrie entered Lahore with the usual ceremonies, having been met, some miles from the city, by Raja Lai Singh, Sardar Tej Singh, and the other Chiefs of tho Darbar who escorted him. to his tents.J It was no longer doubted that an inquiry into the causes oi Kashmir insurrection was to take place.§ The Raja

• The' leneral to F. Cume, dated Camp Hosltiarpur, the 23rd November, 1846,— Parliamentary Papers (IJS44-47). In the Article* of Agreement, xi^ned on Deer. 16, 1846, as we shall inserted ft provision <>t K*. 1,90,000 a year for the Hani,— a sugur plum to help down the bitter ]>ill oi exclusion from th* Regency and nil political power. tC'oi f the translation of this letter, dated up Hoshiarpur, the 23rd November, 1846 ; from tl ICI jl of India to Maharaja Dalip Singh appearft under Appendix VI. {Punjab ' irnment da, Pn List Volume IX, Serial No, 865, dated the 9th December, iMjti , from K. Currie to II. M. Lawrence, § Henry Lawren. <• ai • to P. Currii in thin connection »>«y» •. ''On my return to Lahore from Kashmir on tl th November, I found ri "• afloat that when Shaikh Imam-ud-I)in mad< I iibmi n to DH at Than* on the I month, be had given up to m"' in | iminating the Kaja. Those membi f the Mil y, wl were moM* in the Haj; Bdenee, seem up to the lae menttohavel norant or at least affected to l-e unawn f the existenee of an1 such papers, and scarcely a day panned in which they did not q >n him on the subjei' and ad\ i . him, if he tiilty, to acknow­ ledge if and throw himself on thi nerositj of 11 nt. To nil i a» h adTii e ho obstinately replied I othil f the papers, and had n* held any secret eorre- spondenee on the subject.' Punjab Govt t I' ds, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 369, dated the 17th I Member, 1K40, from II. M Lav to I Currie. INTRODUCTION. 13

•and the Eani were in great distress; the former holding private interviews from morning to night, the latter consulting the astrolo­ gers, and offering sacrifices to the Gods in favour of the Raja.* On December 2, a grand Darbar was held to receive the rep­ resentative of the Governor-General who then delivered the Persian letterf to the young Maharaja. On the same evening the Ministers and the Sardars paid him a visit of ceremony in his tent, and it was then that Faqir Nur-ud-Din read aloud for general information the contents of the letter received from the Governor- General. It congratulated His Highness on the happy and peace­ ful termination of the Kashmir rebellion, which at one time threatened to disturb the friendly relations then existing between the Lahore and the British Governments, by violating the terms of the Treaty so lately concluded at Lahore. It proceeded to inform the Maharaja that Shaikh Imam-ud-Din had, at last, given him­ self up to the British authorities only on their promise that the causes of the rebellion should be investigated ; for he solemnly declared that he had acted under orders from Lahore in resisting the transfer of Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh. Finally, it pointed out the necessity of such an investigation to prove the truth or falsehood of the Shaikh's allegations-! The Ministers and the Sardars were accordingly informed that on the following day, December 8, at 8 A.M., a Court of Inquiry would assemble in the Darbar tent. The Court was to be open to all, and the Sardars of all ranks were invited to attend. At the appointed hour next day the Court assembled, consti­ tuted as follows J : — President Mr. Frederick Currie, Secretary to the Government of India

* Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 365, dated the 17th December, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. t Vide Appendix VI. X The Governor-General's directions to F. Currie : " so to arrange the inquiry into the Shaikh's conduct, in concert with the Lahore authorities, that there should be no ground for suspicion in any quarter as to the fairness of the proceedings " (The Governor-General to F. Currie, dated Camp Hoshiarpur, the 23rd November, 1846- -Parliamentary Papers, 1844—47) show that His Lordship contemplated the possible necessity of associating borne members of the Darbar toi as judges. But Currie did not think this to be fair and wrote to the Governor-General on December 2, expressing his opinion :—" I have consulted with Litut.-Col. Lawrence and Mr. John Lawrence upon the subject, and we have determined that it is impos­ sible to associate any members of the Darbar with us as judges of the conduct of Shaikh Imam- ad-Din (continued on next pa$e). 14 RAJA LAL SINGH.

Members. Lieut.-Colonel H. M. Lawrence, C. B., Agent to the Governor- General. Major-General Sir John Littler, K.C.B., Commanding the- Garrison. Mr. John Lawrence, C.S., Commissioner, Jullunddr. Lieut.-Colonel Andrew Goldie, Commanding the 12th Native Infantrv. Raja Lai Singh, Diwan Dina Nath, Sardar Tej Singh, Khalifa Nur-ud-Din, Sardar Attar Singh Kalehwala, Sardar Sher Singh Aftariwala and a large assemblage of other Sardars attended, as also did Shaikh Imam-ud-Din and his officers. The Shaikh, being called on to make his statement, boldly denounced Raja Lai Singh as the instigator of the rebellion in Kashmir ; and three papers (two to his own address, and one ad­ dressed to the Sheikh's troops) were produced in evidence—all signed by the Raja. The most significant of these papers, viz., that addressed to the troops, was acknowledged by the Raja, and the other two, though denied, were, in the opinion of the Court, fully established to be genuine as well. The evidence, indeed, was. most conclusive, the defence, miserably 'weak ; and, after two sittings, the Court, on December 4, pronounced sentence of * guilty ' against the Raja. When this was communicated by the President of the Court to the rest of the Ministers and the principal Sardars, they ack­ nowledged, more candidly than might have been expected, the

" His plea and grounds of defence are known to all, and they directly implicate the Darbar the matter at issue being, whether he was, or was not, acting in accordance to their instruction, in forcibly opposing the occupation of Kashmir by Maharaja Gulab Singh, and in raising the rebellion in that Province. Neither could we associate with us other Chiefs not members of the Darbar. In the first place this would be calling on the subjects of the Lahore State to sit in judgment on the acts of their Government ; and in the next, it would be impossible to find any Chief who is not a friend or enemy of the Wazir, and interested either in his conviction or acquittal. 14 The only mode of fairly redeeming the promise under which the Shaikh surrendered and of doing impartial justice to all, appears to us to be, that the Shaikh's conduct and defence should be investigated by a tribunal of British officers in the presence of the parties interested in the result of the trial. I haw, therefore, requested General Littler to join us in thin inquiry, and to nominate another intelligent officer of high rank also to act as a member, and we propose that the Court shall consist of myself aw President, Major-General Littler, and Lieut.-Col. Law- rence, Mr. John Lawrence and Lieut.-Col. Goldie (the Officer General Littler seems to desire to name) as members ."—Punjab Government Records, Preaa List Volume IX, Serial No. 355, dated the 9th December, 1M4*> ; from F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence. 'to this the Governor-General agreed and wrote thus to the Secret Committee on December 1846 :—"The course which has been determined upon by Mr. Currie, in consultation with Lleu+.-CoL Lawrence and Mr. John Lawrence, has my full approbation, as being the best adapt* ed to remove many of the objections which would have attended a mixed Commission of Sikh Sardars, associated with British officers, for the investigation ; or, on the other hand, the selec­ tion of a tribunal entirely composed of Sikh functionaries." (Parliamentary Papers, 1844- 47).. INTRODUCTION. 15

impossibility of the Raja continuing any longer as the Wazir* and his deposition once determined on, he seemed to pass altogether from their minds, only to be remembered as a largejagirdar, whose income must be credited to the State without delay. Diwan Dina Nath, the most practical man in the Ministry, who had singlehanded defended the Raja in the face of facts to the last moment, as soon as the verdict was pronounced, passed on without a remark to the necessary arrangements for securing his relatives, Misr Amir Chand and Misr Bhagwan Das, who held extensive districts in the Province and were defaulters to a large amount.| This indifference to the Raja's fate is to be accounted for by his policy in the Wazarat. Instead of trying, as any sensible man in his position would have done, to make himself popular with the Sardars, and ' win -golden opinions from all sorts of men, by attending to the interests of the Khalsa and adminis­ tering the revenues with liberality, he took the first step towards his downfall, by acting as if he considered it certain and laying up ill-gotten gains against the evil day. He discharged as many of the old Sikh soldiers as he could ; and entertained in their places foreigners from his own country and Hindustan, and while, re­ ducing the jagirs of the Sardars on the plea of public poverty, he appropriated enormous giants to himself or lavished them on his relatives and servants. His brothers, relations and servants were all largely provided for at the expense of the State ; though, when he found, by orders from Henry Lawrence from Simla in July and August 1846, that Government would not permit him openly to appropriate ten lacs of rupees of jagirs for the payment of his own 4 Body-guard,' he denied all intention of so doing. He refrained from having the Sanads, which had been prepared, issued; but by private orders he regularly received the proceeds of these jagirs and paid Cortlandt's and other battalions, as also some

* Punjab Government Recorde, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 366, dated the 17th December, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. The Governor-General entirely concurred in the decision of the Court and confirmed the same. The Goyernor-General writing to F. Currie in a letter, dated Bhyrowal Ghat, the 7th De­ cember, 1846, SHVS :—" You selected the best form and mode of proceeding, and the invitation given to the leading Chiefs-to attend the examination of fhe witnesses in open Darlar was well calculated to satisfy all partiew that the inquiiy would be conducted in a fair and impartial manner; and I am gratified to find by your report of the 5th instant received this morning that the Chiefs had unanimously assented to the mode of investigation as being satisfactory to them. You further state that all the Chiefs were unanimous in assenting to the immediate deposition of the Raja from the Wazarat. I have attentively perused the whole of these docu­ ments. I concur in the decision, which is clearly justified by the evidence, and I confirm it" Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 355, dated the 9th December 1846 ; from F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence. t Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 365, dated the 17th, December, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. 16 RAJA LAL SINGH.

others as his own personal retainers.* As a minister, therefore, the Eaja failed to conciliate either the Chiefs or the army ; and in Jhis private character, he was odious to the Sikhs for his intrigues with Ranjit Singh's widow. One of his favourite projects was the entertainment of the 1 Body-guard ' (abo.ve referrred to), which was to prove faithful when all others might desert him. It was composed of about 2,000 Afghan saioars under Sardar Sultan Mohammad Khan, of Barukzai, brother of Dost Mohammad Khan of Kabul, and four infantry regiments of Hindustanies with two troops of Horse Arti- Jery, under the command of General Cortlandt. His two brothers appear to have had similar bodies of men at their disposal. The anxiety of the Raja during the few days preceding the trial had made him draw most of these guards around him within the Palace walls ; and the absurdity of relying on such anti-national support was strongly exemplified on the occasion of his deposition—when if ever—their devotion should have been shown. To General Cortlandtf orders were given to withdraw his infantry and guns; to the Barukzai Chief to retire with his sawars, and both orders were tamely and unhesitatingly obeyed.^ On December 4, on the termination of the investigation into the conduct of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din and after the sentence of " guilty " had been pronounced, Henry Lawrence, attended by the rest of the Darbar, went to the Palace, and the result of the investigation and the removal of Raja Lai Singh from the Wazarat were communicated to the Maharani by Faqir Nur-ud-Din and Diwan Dina Nath.§ The charge of the Palace was, at this time, made over to Sardar Sher Singh Attariwala, brother-in-law of the Maharaja, who had gained considerable credit lately by his spirited administration at Peshawar, and active co-operation with Maharaja Gulab Singh in suppressing the Kashmir rebellion. Meanwhile, the Raja himself was oonducted by Lieut. Edwardes from the tent, wherein the Court was held, to his OAvn house with­ in the city, escorted by a detachment of his own ' Body-guard.' To prevent even the slightest hindrance of public business, the powers of Government were, as a temporary arrangement, vested in a Council of four, viz., Sardar Tej Singh, Sardar Sher • Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 365, dated the 17th December, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. t Henry Charles van Cortlandt, in the military service of the Sikh Government. See Dictionary of Indian Biography, by C. E. Buckland, 1906, page 434. \ Pnnjab Government Records, Press List, Volutno IX, Serial No. 885, dated the 17th December, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to P. Currie. 8 " On the newa being communicated, as could be exp. I, the Maharani became greatly outrageous."—Pnnjab Government Records, Preen Lis! Volume IX, Serial No. 357, dated the 10th December, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. INTRODUCTION. 1?

Singh, Diwan Din a Nath and Faqir Nur-ud-Din ; and circular orders were immediately issued by the Darbar to all the Kardars in the kingdom, informing them of the Wazir's deposi­ tion for treason to his sovereign, and that DO parwanas were to be obeyed which did not bear the seals of the four members of the Council.*

After the deposition of the Kaja from Wazarat, it was re­ solved to remove him also from the Lahore State. Thi3 was rendered necessary by his intimacy with the Queen-Mother, who, laying aside even the last appearances of matronly modesty, had abandoned herself to alternate ravings and iDtrigues—now im- precatiDg, now imploring the Sardars, the British Resident, in • fact anybody, to restore her lover. But it was considered quite incoDsisteDt with the peace of the Puujab that the Rani and the late Wazir should both remain in it. Accordingly, the Raja was sent into a merciful banishment to Ferozepore, en route to Agra in British territory, where he lived upon a pension of Rs. 2,000t a month from the Lahore StateJ till October 1852, when he was allowed by the Governor-General in Council to reside at Dehra DUD in winter and at Mussoorie in summer,§ of course under strict surveillauce as before.|| ID Juue 1862, the Raja petitioued prayiDg to be permitted to return to the Punjab, but his request was not complied with.^f It was in September 1867, after his death, that his son Ranbir Singh was allowed to come to the Punjab.**

* Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 366, dated the 17th D e- oember, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. f In April, 1849, this amount was reduced by half—Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume XI, Serial No. 31, dated the 23rd April, 1849 ; from the Secretary to the Board of Administration, Punjab, to H. M. Elliott, Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General. % Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 139, dated the 25th August, 1847 ; from W. Edwardes, Under-Seoretary to the Government of India with the Gover- nor-General, Foreign Department, to H. M. Lawrenoe, Resident at Lahore and Agent, Governor- General, North-West Frontier. § Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume XI, Serial No. 2035, dated the 29th October, 1852; from the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India to the Board of Administration for the Affairs of the Punjab. || Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume XI, Serial No. 2070, dated the 7th December, 1852 ; from the Secretary to the Government, North-West Frontier Province, to the Secretary to the Board of Administration, Punjab. Tf Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume XX, Serial No. 1789, dated the 7th July, 1862 ; from tbe Seoretary to Government, Punjab, to the Commissioner of the MM rat Division. •* Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume XXI, Serial No. 1763, dated the 21st September 1867 ; from the Seoretary to Government, Punjab, to the Seeretarr to Gov. ornment, North-Western Province. 18 RAJA LAL SINGH.

PART III. TREATY OF BHYROWAL. The Kashmir insurrection and the treachery of Baja Lai Singh led to a revision of the Treaty of Lahore, in a. direction which the Governor-General had for some time past been contemplating. Lord Hardinge's dispatches of September 1846 and of the following months to the Secret Committee of the East India Company show clearly his views of the past management of the Punjab ; of the conduct of the Council and others ; the necessity for a change ; the ground for the new arrangements, and the steps by which they were introduced.* Some extracts from these are worth reproducing here. In a dispatch to the Secret Committee, dated Simla, the 19th September, 1846 (No. 39), after referring to such success as- had been achieved, and dealing with the question of the retention of British troops in the Punjab, his objections to the continued presence of British troops under the same administrative arrange­ ments as Heretofore, Lord Hardinge discusses the advisability of continuing the occupation of Lahore by British troops under modified arrangements. His suggestions for modified arrange­ ments—which resulted in the new Treaty—were thus explained :— " The other course which it may be open to the British Govern­ ment to take, and which has constantly occupied my attention, would be to carry on the Government at Lahore in the'name of Maharaja during his minority, a period of about eight years, placing a British Minister at the head of the Government, assisted by a Native Council .... " The marked difference between the system of having a British Minister residing at Lahore, conducting the Government through native agency, and that which now prevails would amount to this : that in the one case, our troops are made the instrument for supporting misrule, and in the other, by British interposition, justice and moderation are secured by an administration through native executive agency, in accordance with the customs, feelings and prejudices of the people. If, therefore, the proposal of the Regent and Darbar should lead to an offer to carry on the Lahore Government by a British Minister, during the minority of the Maharaja—and the proposal should be confirmed by the in­ fluential Chiefs, publicly convoked for the deliberation of such a measure—I should be disposed to give the experiment a favour­ able consideration."f

• See Parliair entary Papers (1844-47). f The Governor-General to the Secret Committee, dated Simla, the 19th September 1846 (No. 39).—Parliamentary Papers (1844-47). INTRODUCTION. l9

The contingency contemplated above had now arrived. On December 9, 1846, on the termination Of the investiga­ tion into the conduct of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, F. Currie laid before the Darbar a letter embodying the instructions of the Governor- General,* reminding them of the time being fast approaching for the departure of the British troops from Lahore, and asking them what arrangements they had made for the future. The receipt of this letter caused the greatest excitement at the Court, the majority 01 the Sardars got alarmed at the prospect before them on the withdrawal of the British troops from Lahore. Till within the last few days, no one had expressed a more anxious desire for the British to stay in Lahore than the Maharani; and, even on the day following that on which Raja Lai Singh was de­ posed from the Wazarat, and her grief was at the worst, she de­ clared to Henry Lawrence, when he called on her, that she would leave the Punjab when they (the British) did.f A very short peri od had given her a more active—perhaps, a more vindictive—turn to her inclinations, and during the last few days her whole energies had been devoted to an endeavour to win over the Sardars of high and low degree, and unite them all together in a scheme of independent Government, of which she herself was to be the head. In this, her chief support and counsel­ lor had ostensibly been Diwan Dina Nath, ever ill-disposed to the English, and then probably contemplating with alarm the possi­ bility of the British becoming the guardians of the young Maha­ raja, and—what he would still like less—the guardian of the ex­ chequer. He had survived many revolutions in which kings and families, old masters and old friends had perished ; but it was doubtful if the Chancellor of the Punjab could long survive one which should altogether do away with peculation. Calculating therefore on having, when the British withdrew, the whole manage­ ment of affairs in his own hands, he had apparently preferred to run all risks, and had joined heartily in the intrigues of the Maharani.

* See Appendix VII. fH. M. Lawrence writing to F. Currie on the subject in a letter, dated the 10th December; 1846, says —" On the 5th evening, I went and was received in full Darbar by the Maharaja, the Maharani being behind a cloth screen. All was decorum. Hearty thanks were offered to the Governor-General, Mr. Currie and myself for past kindness and care, and hopes expressed of the same being continued. The Maharani expressed herself personally pleased and anxioui only to meet the Government wishes. She concluded by begging that as the Governor-Genera had, on a former occasion, takrn her son's hand, I would now do so. I accordingly took th« Maharaja's hand, and expressed my anxious desire to do all in my power to carry out the order* of Government for the sustainment of the Sikh Sovereign and the happiness of the Maharaja and his people. I remarked that I hoped I had already proved such to be my desire, and that as His Highness was now so formally made over to me, my endeavours on behalf of the Raj should not be relaxed."—Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 367. c2 20 RAJA LAL SINGH.

The Sardars, however, showed great steadiness and per­ severance in this matter ; and, headed by Sardar Tej Singh, the Commander-in-Chief, and Sardar Sher Singh, the Maharaja's brother-in-law, (hey stoutly refused the Queen's proposal to sign and send a letter to the British declaring her the head of the Government and their readiness to obey all her orders. The discussion that e_nsued lasted for nearly a week (till De­ cember 14), eliciting strange philippics and recriminations, and even abuse, within the Palace, and usually ending in the Sardars rising and retiring in a body, saying that the Queen wished to bring ruin on her son and all the Khalsa ; that she might act as she pleased ; but, for themselves, the Palace was no longer for res­ pectable men ; and that they would cross the Sutlej with the British troops.* Accordingly, the Sardars seemed to have left Diwan Dina Nath to write an answer to the Governor-General's letter,! in what terms he chose; and, no sooner had it been sent, than, messages from various Sardars came to disown all participation in its composition. " Sardar Sher Singh," wrote H. M.Lawrence toF. Currie in a letter, dated the 17th December, 1846, "whose near relationship to the Maharaja makes it his strongest interest to do what seems best for the stability of the Punjab as an inde­ pendent kingdom, applied to me for a private interview on the subject and sent me a paper explanatory of his wishes. Standing studiously aloof from the intrigues of the Court, I declined the private interview, but perused the paper, and, strange to say, it proposed the unreserved committal of the kingdom to British guardianship, till such time as the young Maharaja comes to matu­ rity ; pointing out, with much good sense, the necessity of review­ ing fairly the whole resources of the kingdom, and portioning out the jagirs, establishments, and expenses accordingly."J It was evident, therefore, that in the written answer§ to the Governor-General's letter||, an honest expression of the wants, wishes, and opinions of the great body of the Chiefs who, during the boyhood of the Maharaja, were the natural representatives of the State, was not expressed. It was thought best therefore to assemble all the Sardars together and give them an opportunity

• Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 365, dated the 17th December, 184(5 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. t Vide Appendix VII. J Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 365, dated the 17th December, 1846. \Vide Appendix VIII. \\Vide Appendix VII. INTRODUCTION. 21 of speaking out their mind, unbiassed by the Maharani'a persu­ asion and abuse.* On December 15, a Durbar was held for this purpose in F. Currie's camp, and was fully attended ; the momentous importance of the occasion to the Khalsa having, in addition to the Ministers and principal Sardars, drawn many petty Chiefs, officers, and yeomen to the spot. An Akali, in the full costume of his order, with high blue turban, wreathed with steel quoits and cre­ scents, was quite a new figure in this deliberate assembly, and showed that all ranks took an interest in the business of the day. F. Currie explained to the assembly that His Lordship would be best pleased could they assure him of their ability to carry on the Government alone, unsupported except by the sincere friendship of the British ; but, if they thought it was im­ possible, and they called on the Governor-General to interfere and actively assist them, they must understand that his inter­ ference would be complete, i.e., he would occupy Lahore or any other part of the Punjab, with whatever force he thought advisable ; a stipulated sum of money being paid monthly into the British Treasury for the expenses of the same ; and, further, that the whole civil and military administration of the Punjab would be subject to the supervision of a British Eesident, though conducted by the Darbar and the executive officers appointed by them. This arrangement was to hold good till the maturity of the young Maharaja when the British troops would retire from the Punjab, and the British Government would recognise its perfect indepen­ dence, f This proposition being communicated to the assembly, Diwan Dina Nath expressed a wish to adjourn in order that they might take the opinion of the Maharani; but F. Currie informed him that the Governor-General was not asking the opinion of the Queen- Mother, but of the Sardars and pillars of the State ; and to enable them to discuss the matter amongst themselves and come to an unbiassed opinion, Currie and Henry Lawrence retired to another tent. The fixed sum proposed by F. Currie to be paid yearly for the expenses of the British troops was twenty-four lacs of rupees, and he was soon informed by messengers that this was the only point on which there was any debate ; presently a deputation of fivQ

* Copy of the translation of a letter from F. Currie to Maharaja Dalip Singh, dated th» 14th December, 1846.—Appendix IX. iVide Note of Conference with the Chiefs and Sardars of the Lahore S'tate, at a meeting held in Darbar at Lahore on the 15th December. 1846, under Appendix X. 22 RAJA LAL SINGH. or six oi the principal Sardars came to propose reduction of this sum, as a point of friendship, and after canvassing the matter "with reference to the resources of the country, it was at last agreed to fix it at twenty-two lacs per annum. The consent of each member of the deputation was then asked separately and written down by the Mir Munshi (Clerk of the Court) in presence of Henry Lawrence and Lieut. Edwardes. F. Currie and Henry Lawrence then returned to the assembly in the other tent, and the same form was observed in the case of every Sardar and officer of high or low degree, fifty-one in number, considered eligible to vote.* There were not a few in that Darbar who were fore­ most among the army on the banks of the Sutlej in December, 1845, and it was a great achievement on the part of the British Government, that on that occasion, hardly a year later, there was not one dissentient voice—not one who did not prefer British protection to a short-lived anarchical independence. In order to afford full time for further deliberation it was re- Solved that the Sardars and the Chiefs should reassemble on the following day when certain individuals should be selected by them to draw up the Articles of Agreement, in conjunction with F. Currie and Henry Lawrence. Tin Chiefs accordingly reassembled in F. Currie's Darbar tent Hi 8 o'clock on Dei ember 16, 1846. The Articles of Agree­ ment were drawn up, each Article having been discussed separately; the contribution was fixed at twenty-two lacs ; and every Sardar present signed and sealed the paper.f All the Chiefs, on the conclusion of the meeting, expressed their satisfaction that the Maharaja would be under the protec­ tion of the British Government during his minority, which would continue until the 4th of September, 1854.J On December 26, 1846, Maharaja Dalip Singh attended by a large number of Chiefs and Sardars paid the Governor-General a it at his camp at Bhyrowal, when the Articles of Agree- rneiii. dated the loth December, 1846, were ratified by the Maha- raj; ad the Governor-General with the usual ceromonies.§ After this the Governor-General addressed the Chiefs assembled in

• Punjab Government Records, Press LiBt Volume IX, Serial No. 365, dated the 17th December, 1846 ; from H. M. Lawrence to F. Currie. t For Articles of Agreement, ace Appendix XJ. t The Governor-General to the So ret Committee, dated Camp Bhyrowal Ghat, the 21ft December, 1846.—Parliamentary Papers (1844—47). J The Governor-General t.. the Secret Committee, dated Camp|Lahore, the 2nd January, 4847.—Parbamentary Papers (1844—47). INTRODUCTION. 23

the following terms, the add* 9 being translated, sentence by sentence, by the Secretary to the Government of India, Mr. P. Currie* :— " The sentiments which I expressed on the occasion of rati­ fying the Treaty of Peace last March at Lahore have undergone no ohange. The British Government desires that peace and friend­ ship may subsist between the two States. " The notification which f have caused to be published o' the recent transactions at Lahore contains a statement of the ciroumstances which have led to the modification of the Treaty. The Articles of Agreement have been inserted in that document. The Sardars and Chiefs, in coming to this decision, have exercised their own judgment, influenced, no doubt, by the conviction that the interests of the Maharaja and the welfare of the people can best be secured by cultivating the friendship of the British Gov­ ernment. " Acting on the same principle, of maintaining the Lahore Treaty, and of strengthening the bonds of amity and peace, I have undertaken, on the part of the British Government, to carry the terms of the Agreement into effect. No permanent altera­ tion has been made in the Treaty of Lahore ; every Article remains in full force, with the exception of the temporary suspension of Article XV during the minority of the Maharaja. " The interposition, of British influence will be exercised for the advantage of the people, and the success of this interposition will be assisted by the confidence and cordiality with which the Sardars will co-operate with the British Resident. " That Officer, Lieut.-Colonel Lawrence, is well known to the Chiefs, by his energy, talents, and integrity ; by these qualities he has conciliated their good-will and respect " The Agreement ratified this day, as well as the recent events at Lahore, will, I trust, impress upon every State in India the conviction that, whilst the British Government will, by just means, firmly consolidate its Eastern Empire, it will omit no efforts to improve the condition, and promote the properity, •of all classes of the-people. " I also trust, that when His Highness shall have arrived at the age prescribed by law for assuming the government of the country, he will establish his rule on the firm basis of making his people happy, by his equity and justice. * Note of the Proceedings of a Darbar held at the Governor-General's Cimp at Bhyroiral Ghat, on the left bank of the Boas, dated the 26th December, 1846—ParliunenUrr Papers 1844—47). 24 RAJA LAL SINGH.

" In the interval, the British Government will feel a cordial Solicitude in all that regards His Highness' personal welfare." How short-lived were the hopes of the durability of the system of protection thus established in the Punjab is now a matter of history. A contemporary writer defending the Treaty of December, 1846, thus expressed the alternative that was present to the Gov­ ernor-General's mind :—" If the time arrives when the Darbar and the Army grow weaiy of our honesty, then no voice will be louder than ours for punishing the State by complete annexa- ation."* When that time did arrive, Lord Hardinge's voice joined in approving the policy which was forced upon his successor. In a letter from England to Sir HeDry Lawrence, dated March 24, 1849, he wrote :—" The energy and turbulent spirit of the Sikhs are stated by one section [ of politicians here ] as ground for not annexing. In my judgment, this is the argument which would dispose me, if I were on the spot, to annex I should be ashamed of myself if I would not depart from a line of policy which was right at the time, because I might be charged with in­ consistency."

* Viscount Hardinge. Charles, Second Viscount Hardinge, 1900. (Rulers of India Scries), page 152 Relevant dates in the Trial of Raja Lai Singh. March 9, 1846 Treaty between the British Government and the State of Lahore. March 16, 1846 . Treaty between the British Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh.

April 1, 1846 t # Appointment of H. M. Law­ rence as Governor-General's Agent, North-West Frontier. October 16, 1846 .. Departure of H. M. Lawrence for Kashmir to secure the transfer of that Province to Maharaja Gulab Singh.

October 18, 1846 .. • » Submission of Mirza Faqir Ullah of Rajouri to Ma­ haraja Gulab Singh and to Lieut. Edwardes.

October 23. 1846 .. • • Departure of Shaikh Imam- ud-Din from Kashmir. October 81, 1846 Arrival of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din at Bairamgulli and his sub­ mission to Lieut. Edwardes.

November 1, 1846 * * Submission of Shaikh Imam- ud-Din to H. M. Lawrence at Thana.

November 9, 1846 • • Entry of Maharaja Gulab Singh in Kashmir.

December 1, 1846 9 • Arrival of P. Currie, Secre­ tary to the Government of India, at Lahore.

December 2, 1846 • 0 Darbar at Lahore to receive F Currie.

December 8, 1846 • • Assembling in Darbar Tent of Court of Inquiry to investi­ gate the conduct of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din. 25 26 RAJA LAL BINGH.

December 4, 1846 • # Reassembling of Court of In­ quiry in the Darbar Tent. Removal of Raja Lai Singh from the Wazarat on his being found ' guilty' and making over charge of the Palace to Sardar Sher Singh Attariwala.

December 13, 1846 • • Removal of Raja Lai Singh to Ferozepore under charge of Lieut. Wroughton.

December 15, 1846 • • Holding of a Darbar in F. Currie's Tent to enable the Chiefs and the Sardars to ex­ press their views re removal of British forces from Lahore. December 16, 1846 Articles of Argeement between the British Government and the Lahore Darbar.

December 26, 1846 • 1 Ratification of the Articles of Agreement by the Governor- General and Maharaja Dalip Singh at Bhyrowal. Appointment of H. M. Law­ rence as Resident at Lahore, as well as Agent to the Governor-General for the North-West Frontier. List of witnesses in the Trial of Raja Lai Singh. Prosecution witnesses. (1) Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, Governor of Kashmir. (2) Lala Rattan Chand of the long beard, confidential agent, of Shaikh Imain-nd-l)in. (8) Lala Puran Chand, Vakil oi Shaikh Imam-ud-Din. (4) Drwan Hakim Rai, confidential snvant of the Lahore Darl

J itn (1) Drwan Dina Nath. THE TRIAL IN Mr. Currie's Darbar Tent at Lahore

3rd December 1846.

COURT OP INQUIRY. President. Mr. Frederick Currie,, Secretary to the Government of India. Members. Lieut.-Colonel H. M. Lawrence, C.B., Agent to the Governor- General. Major-General Sir John Littler, K.C.B., Commanding the Garrison. Mr. John Lawrence, C.S., Commissioner, Jullundur. Lieut .-Colonel A. Goldie, 12th Native Infantry. Recorders oj Proceedings. Captains Broome and Edwardes and Ensign Hodgson—in English. Diwan Dina Nath, Vakil Rai Kishan Chand (on behalf of the Darbar); Mir Munshi of Mr. Currie ; and an official attached to the establishment of Mr. John Lawrence—in Persian.

28 First Day, 3rd December 1846. The Court of Inquiry assembled in the Darbar T«nt of Mr. Currie at 9 o'clock in the forenoon. The following Chiefs, Sar- dars, officers of the Darbar and its various departments, Muhnids, Agents of British Government, etc., etc., were present. Shaikh Imam-ud-Din and Raja Lai Singh also appeared with their sup­ porters :— Amir Raja Lai Singh, Sardar Tej Singh, Sardar Slier Singh Attariwala, Sardar Ranjore Singh Majithi Bhai Nidhai ingh (nephew of the late Bhai Ram Singh), Bhai Puroman Singh, Sardar Attar Singh Kalewala, Sardar Sultan Mohammad Khan, Sardar Khwaja Mohammad Khan (son of Sardar Sultan Mohammad Khan), Sardar Shamsher Singh Sindhanwala, Sardar Kehar Singh Sindhanwala (son of Sardar Attar Singh), Sardar Ranjore Singh Sindhanwala (son of Sardar Bisawa Singh), Sardar Kahan Singh Attariwala (son of Sardar Sham Singh), Sardar Kahan Singh Majithia, Sardar Lai Singh Moraria, Sardar Arjan Singh Ranghar Nangulia, Sardar Ram Singh Jhillawalia, Baba Mian Singh, Sardar Attar Singh (brother of the slave girl), Sardar Jawahir Singh (son of Sardar Hari Singh), Sardar Chanda Singh Kalalwala, Sardar Partap Singh Mahass. On behalf of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, Governor of Kashmir.— Karam Bakhsh, Sindhe Khan, Nurilahi, Ghulam Rasul, Lala Mittha Mai, Shaikh Sahib-ud-Din, Nizam-ud-Din Khidraatgar, Lala Purari Chand, with Bhola Nath, Wazir Singh, Dewan Dattu Mai, Kanhiya Lai, Jan Mohammad, Sadique Khan, Colonel Samund Khan, Colonel Basant Singh, Mirza Ahmad Beg, Kahan Singh, Jafar Ali Khan, Lala Ratan Chand, and Gurdit Singh, officers of the Kashmir Army. On behalf of Maharaja Dalip Singh.—Nihal Singh Chhachhi, Shams-ud-Din Khan, Sham Singh Dhanurawala, Jawahir Singh Bastni, Bhai Amir Bakhsh Dhanurawala, Malik Fateh Khan Tiwana, Ishar Singh Sad, Chanda Singh Zargar, Bhola Singh Orderly, Sawan Singh (son of Bhai Mahan Singh), Malik Sher Mohammad (son of Qadir Bakhsh), Ramji Mai Commandant, Bal Singh Major, Sadhu Singh, Sodhi Hazur Singh, Sodhi Narain Singh. Officers of the Darbar and Departments.—Diwan Dina Nath, Faqir Nur-ud-Din, Bakhshi Bhagat Ram, Rai Kishen Chand, Rai Bhag Singh, Lala Rattan Chand Duggal, Lala Rattan Chand (of the long beard), Diwan Hakim Rai, Diwan Jawahir Mall, Misr Sahib Dyal, Kidar Nath (brother of Diwan Dina 29 80 KAJA LAL SINGH.

Shaikh Imam-ud-Din (P. W. 1). Nath), Bhag Mai, Nand Gopal (brother of Lala Rattan Chand), Matrudi Mai (brother of Drwan Hakim Rai), Boota Singh, Lala Hem Rai (son of Kahan Chand), Jai Kishen Munshi. Motmids (confidants), Chiefs and Sardars.—Mul Singh, of Sardar Tej Singh ; Makhan Mai. of Misr Bhagwan Singh ; Kazi, of Sardar Sultan Mohammad Khan ; Jawahir Singh, of Sardar Ranjore Singh Majithia; Gainda Singh, of Sardar Shamsher Singh Sindhanwala ; Hira Nand, of Sardar Sher Singh Attariwala ; Lala Mangli Lai, of Rai Kishen Chand ; Narain Singh, of Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala; Jowala Nath Matsudi, of General Cortlandt; Ghulam Mohy-ud-Din, of Sardar Kehar Singh; Kanhiya Lai, of Raja Maun ; Asa Nand, of Sardar Ranjore Singh Sindhanwala. Officers of Maharaja Dalip Singh.—General Gulab Singh Povindia, General Cortlandt, General Gulab Singh Bhagowala. Agents on behalf of British Government.—Lala H&r Saran Das, Munshi Bakhshi Ram.

MR. CURRIE'S OPENING SPEECH. MR. CURRIE opened the proceedings by informing the Sardars present that an inquiry would now take place into the causes of the late Kashmir rebellion, which had so nearly threatened to infringe the Treaty between the Lahore and British Governments. He then turned to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, and said that as he had come in, and submitted to the British authorities, on a pro­ mise that his conduct would be fully inquired into, and the causes of the rebellion brought to light, this Court was now assembled for that purpose, and the opportunity was offered him of vindi­ cating his conduct, and explaining fully the causes and origin of the late rebellion.

EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION. Shaikh Imam-ud-Din (P. W. 1)— Shaikh Imam-ud-Din being called upon stated :— " Puran Chand, my Vakil, wrote twice to me from Lahore, to say, that if through my means Kashmir should still remain with the Lahore Darbar. and did not VIDBNCE FOR PROSECUTION 31

Shaikh Im.m-ad din (P. W. 1). p; into the pi Lieut. Edwardes, who re­ ceived them at Thana from Colonel Lawrence ; and they are identified by Shaikh Imam-ud-Din as those he gave up to Colonel Lawrence, and which he received originally from Lahore.]

No. 1. Translation oj a parwana jrom the Lahore Government to the Officers and Soldiers under the command oj Shaikh Imam-ud-Din. " By the Grace of God."

Sign manual of Raja Lai Singh.

To THB OFFICERS AND SEPOYS AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE GOVERNOR SHAIKH IMAM-UD-DLN KHAN BAHADUR IN KASHMIR.

Seal of Maharaja Dalip Singh.

THIS order is now sent to you, and after receiving it, you will remain with the Governor Shaikh Imam-ud-Din Khan Bahadur, doing the work oj 32 RAJA LAL SINGH.

Shaikh Imam-ud-Din (P. W. 1). the State ; and whenever he returns to the presence, you shall be kept on in the service as before. Have no fear, therefore, but remain with the person in question. This is an imperative order Consider your welfare as my care. Dated 15th of Sawan, 1903 (or 2»th of July, 1846). (N.B.—The original MS. la in the handwriting of Munshi Rattan Chand of the long beard. The last sentenoe " consider, etc.,M and the date, are in a different hand.)

No. 2. Translation of an Ikrarnama, or Deed of Promise, accompanying letter No. 1. " By the grace of God."

Sign manual of Kuja Lai Singh.

I HEREBY promise that if my friend Shaikh Imam-ud-Din Khan Bahadur, with good-will and fidelity to his proper masters, duly performs the task imposed upon him in a separate letter, my whole interest shall be exerted to secure Kim from being called to account by the British Government. Whatever allowance either he, or his jagirdari horsemen, or the Shaikh, his late father, received from the Lahore Government, the same jagirs, and something added to them, as a reward for service, shall be assigned to him in the Lahore territory. By the grace of God I will not fail to fulfil this that I have written. Dated Lahore, 12th Sawan, 1903 (or 25th of July, 1846). [N.B.— The original MS. is in the handwriting of Lala Furan Chand.)

No. 3. Translation of a letter from Raja Lai Singh to Shaikh lviam-ud-Din. DOUBTLESS you will have perused the contents of my former letter. My friend, you are not ignorant of the ingratitude and want of faith which Raja Gulab Singh has exhibited towards the Lahore Sar/car. It is indeed sufficiently glaring. I now write, therefore, to request you, my friend that you will not set before your eyes the example of your late father's former relations with the aforesaid Raja, and consider both your duty and your interest to he this way, and inflict such injury and chastisement upon the said Raja that he shall have reason to remember it. It is to be hoped that if the Raja takes but one false step, he will never be able to re-establish himself again. For your security and confidenoe, my friend, I have sent you EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION. 88

Shaihh Imnn-ud-Din (P. W. 1). a separate written guarantee, that you may have no misgivings as to the oonsequences. Let me hear often of your welfare. P.S.—Tear up this paper when you have read it. Dated 18th Sawan, 1903 (or 26th of July, 1846). (N.B.—The original MS. is in the handwriting of Lala Puran Chand. The envelope in whiob the letter in enclosed in separate ; and separate from tha t again is a slide of paper which cloaea the envelope ; and on this letter is, on one side, part of the direction to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, and on the other, the sign manual of Raja Lai Singh.) The Court adjourned.

Examination of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din resumed. Q.—What did you understand to be the meaning of this parwana? A.—I considered that this paper was to assure the soldiers that they were to obej' all my orders in an affair, the nature of which was explained more fully to me in a separate paper (No. 8). Q.—That separate paper—is it this now before me, marked No. 8. A.—Yes, that is it. Q.—Who do 3rou suppose the writer of No. 3 to be ? A.—Puran Chand. Q.—Did it accompany No. 1, or come subsequently ? A.—It came along with it. (The paper is read in the Court; see the translation above.) No. 2 is then shown to the Shaikh, and he is asked if this is the Ikratnama spoken of in No. 3 ? A.—Yes, it is. Q.—Did all these three papers come together ? A.—They were all brought by one harkara, and came on the same day. (The paper No. 2 is then read in the Court; see the translation above.) Q.—(To Rai Kishan Chand, who read the paper.) Is there any signature to it ? A.—Yes, one such as the Raja generally uses. Q.—(To the Shaikh). Whose handwriting is the paper in ? A.—Puran Chand's. D 84 RAJA LAL SINGH.

Shaikh Imam-nd-Din (P. W. 1). Q.—Did you show all the three papers to the officers and sol­ diers, or only one ? A.—Only the parwana, as the other two did not concern them. Q.—Why did you not show the other two to them ? A.—It was a thing to be concealed, not to be published. Q.—If you did not show those papers to the officers and soldiers, what did they fire a salute for ? A.—Because they were made soldiers of the State, and were promised pay by the Sarkar. Q.—In what position, then, were they before ? A.—Since the month of Phagan, when the Treaty made over Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh, they were out of public service. When this paper came, they thought they were con­ tinued on in public service, and they fired a salute for joy. Q.—Were there any other papers of a similar nature addressed to the army by the Darbar ? A.—No. Q.—Were there any others sent to you ? A.—Yes, one by the hand of Hakim Rai, and one by the hand of Colonel Attar Singh Man ; both were despatched from Lahore before the fight, but reached me after it. Q.—What was their purport ? A.—It was different. I have sent for them, and you shall see them. Q.—Besides these three papers now in Court, and the two others you speak of, by Hakim Rai and Attar Singh, did you receive any verbal message by special messenger from the Darbar, instigating you to create disturbance in Kashmir ? A.—None. Q.—Had you any doubt as to the authenticity of these papers ? A.—None. My own VaM forwarded them, and wrote to the same effect. He had always served me faithfully in private matters. Q.—Did it never occur to you that the parwana might have been forged ? A.—If Puran Chand had ever forged before, I should have had reason to doubt; but he had never done so, and why should I doubt him ? EVID1 FOB PROSECUTION. 30

Shaikh Imam-ud-Din (P. W. 1). Q.—You say you were satisfied to the handwriting ol the text of the letter being thai of Puran Chand ; kral w<

Rattan Chand (P. W. 2). should I doubt this one in particular, which was not on a matter that could be entrusted to the public writer of the Darbar ? Q.—Can you produce any of those other papers which you say came to you in Puran Chand's handwriting ? A.—I have none here now ; but I gave two at Thana to Colonel Lawrence for the purpose of comparison. Q.—Have you preserved any of those letters which Puran Chand wrote to you on this same subject of the rebellion ? A.—No ; I destroyed them.

Rattan Chand (P. W. 2)— Rattci7i Chand, of the lony beard, was then called in and ex- amined— Q.—Is this parwana No. 1 in your handwriting ? A.—The text of the paper is in my handwriting, but the date- is by another—the .cause of which I will now explain. I am the person who is in the habit of writing the State papers, as was my father before me for many years. I was called to write a tasalli- nar.ia to the troops in Kashmir. Raja Lai Singh and Puran Chand were sitting and conversing side by side. The nature of their conversation I do not know. The Raja said to me : " Write a tasallinama to the troops in Kashmir." I wrote the paper now before the Court. I have been in the habit of writing such papers. Having written the tasallinama, I was called on to read some letters of intelligence to the Raja, and I put the parwana into Puran Chand's hands and said : " Put the date to this." Q.—Do you think the date pul to it, is correct ? A.—I have no reason to doubt it. I know it was about that time. Q.—Are u in the hal.it of writing all the State parwanas, or are others employed also ? A:—I am ; those relating to Multan, Peshawar and Kash­ mir are usually written by me. Q-—Were an >ther p < written by you at any time to the same parties in Kashmir ? A.—Befor ' his I may have written some. Indeed I did write some, telling them to come away; for I was in the habit EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION. 37

Rattan Chand (P. W. 2). of answering the urzees from the officers in Kashmir ; but since the date of this parwana, I have not written any. Q.—This is a letter of encouragement. Does it relate to any instructions given in any other paper ?• A.—None, that I know of. A parwana is written when ordered. It is not usual for copies of parwanas to be kept, ex­ cept when on important matters, Q.—Is this signature on the parwana the Eaja's ? And this seal the Maharaja's ? A.—Yes, that is Lai Singh's signature. It was signed in my presence. That is also the Maharaja's seal. It was affixed by Bakhshi Mohar Singh. Q.—Is it usual for all orders and communications between the Eaja and Chiefs to be written by the official secretaries ? A.—It is more usual, but not invariably so. Anybody ordered can write, i.e., any one trusted who is about the Darbar. Q.—In the event of making a confidential communication to any Chief, or person of importance, is the Motmid of that party so addressed ever in the habit of writing that letter in which the signature of the Darbar is affixed ? A.—There is no objection to this course, which is not an unusual one where the parties have confidence in each other. Q.—You say Eaja Lai Singh and Puran Chand were sitting talking together, on what subject you know not. Did Puran Chand at that time write any paper in your presence on which the Eaja put his signature ? A.—Not that I saw. Q.—Was Puran Chand ever in the habit, to your knowledge, of writing papers on any subject, to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, by the instructions of the Eaja ? A.—This is a thing known not only to me but to every body that he was in the habit of doing so. Puran Chand was constantly present with the Eaja—he was a man trusted ; and it is by no means unusual for Motmids to write to their principals by the instructions of the Eaja. Puran Chand is my equal. Q.—"What do you take to be the meaning of this parwana ? A.—I don't know. I was told to write a tasallinama to the troops, telling them that they were the servants of the Sarkar,. and were to be obedient to the Shaikh, without fear of consequences, 88 RAJA LAL 8INGH.

Par»D Chand (P. W. 3). It is not for servants to ask the meaning of their masters. They write what they are told. Q.—Do you know the signature of the Raja ? Look at these on the other papers (outside of 2 and inside of 3) and say if you think they are the Raja's ? A.—They are his style : they have the appearance of being his. I see no difference. The Shaikh is asked if he has any question to put ? A.— None. The Darbar are asked if they have any inquiries to make ? A.—None.

Puran Chand (P. W. 3)— Lala Puran Chand, Vakil of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, is called in and examined— * Q.—Is this paper, No. 3, in your handwriting ? A.—Yes, it is. Q.—Under what circumstances was it written ? A.—By the Raja's order. Q.—You are the Shaikh's Motmid with the Darbar. State what was the cause of this letter being written. A.—I had previously written, by the Raja's orders, some letters to the Shaikh to the same effect, viz., that he was to oppose Maharaja Gulab Singh's getting possession of Kashmir, and if he created disturbance there, to secure this object, his doing so would be considered good service. Some of these letters were lost; one or two arrived ; in reply to which the Shaikh answered that in a case of this sort he could not act on my writing. For his own assurance, he must have a written order from the Raja, and that it would be advisable to have tasallinama for the troops to set their minds at rest. Q.—Were any other papers sent along with the letter written by you ? A.—The thn-e papers now on the table went by one harkara. Q.—Is the signature on the envelope of 8 the Raja's ? A.—It is certainly the Raja's Q.—Was it affixed on the cover in your presence ? BVIDENOE FOR PROSECUTION. 89

Puran Chaad (P. W. S). A.—I wrote the letter in presence of the Raja, and gave it to him. He signed it in my presence, and returned it to me. Q.—Was the signature to No. 2 affixed in your presence ? A.—It was. Q.—There is a difference of one day in the dates of these two papers written by you. How is this ? A.—The ikrarnama was written by the Raja's order one day, and it was intended that another should be written to go along with it. But some other important business called the Raja, which prevented him. Next day, by the Raja's instructions, the letter was written, and signed by him in my presence; the three papers were despatched all together some two or three days after the writing. Q.—Was the tasallinama to the soldiers written in your presence, and how comes the date of that to differ from that of the others ? A.—After the letter was written, and before it was despatched, I received the parwana above referred to from the Shaikh, saying it would be necessary to have a tasallinama for the troops. I represented this to the Raja, when he ordered Rattan Chand to write one before me, and then the three papers were sent off together. Q.—In other matters, previous to this, had you been in the habit of writing letters on behalf of the Raja to the Shaikh ? A.—Often ; always. A few may have been written by other Munshis, but, in general, all communications from the Raja to the Shaikh were written by me. Q.—Have you still got that parwana from the Shaikh asking for a tasallinama for the troops ? A.—No. Most of the Shaikh's parwanas were destroyed in the Raja's presence; others were destroyed afterwards by me. Q.—You, who were the medium of correspondence between the Raja and the Shaikh, what did you understand to be the Raja's object ? A.—I cannot tell what was in his heart, of course ; but believe it to have been the enmity which has so long existel between the Raja and Gulab Singh. He wished to create dis­ turbances that might prevent Gulab Singh from getting possession of the province. He never promised, through me, that the pro* 40 RAJA LAL SINGH.

Diwan Hakim Rai (P. W. 4). vince should be given to the Shaikh, either to be his own, or to hold it for the Lahore Government. Q.—At whose instigation was an agent sent by the Shaikh to Simla? A.—I don't know; he was sent from Kashmir, not from Lahore. Q.—How long have you been the Shaikh's Motmid ? A.—Ever since his father went to Kashmir, six or seven years ago.

Diwan Hakim Rai (P. W. 4)— Diwan Hakim Rai is called in and examined— Q.—You were sent from here on behalf of the Darbar ; bad the fight occurred at that time or not ? A.—I will state the circumstances in full. I was one day sent for by the Raja. I asked what he wanted me for ; he said, to bring the Shaikh, and to settle the accounts in Kashmir, and if there was any difficulty, to send word to him. This was towards the end of the month of Saivan ; only a few days left of the month. I replied that this was a very important business, and a difficult one ; that the interests of Gulab Singh and the British Government were concerned in it; and I begged to be excused. The Raja said: "No, you must go." I at last agreed. Two days after he again said : " Make ready, you must be gone." I said: " What are my orders ? " He took me aside, and said : " The Shaikh has already got his orders, you go and aid and advise him." I immediately said (and asked the Diwan to support my petition) : " Let me not be employed in this matter; it touches the British Government, and I am afraid for myself." I implored Diwan Dina Nath to get the Raja to let me off, but the Raja said I must go. I then applied to Sardar Tej Singh to get me off, but without success. Bakhshi Bhagat Ram is my witness. I said : " My honour and my worldly interest will all be ruined." Tej Singh said : " it can't be helped ; you must go." I then went to Jawahir Mai, and said that I would rather give up all my jagirs, and even fly from the country, than go on such an expedition. Jawahir Mai said : " Go, it is your fate, and fate must be obeyed." Faqir Nur-ud-Din then took me to Major Macgregor and said : " Here is the Diwan ready to go ; please to send a Motmid EVIDENCE FOB l'HOSKCUTION.

Diw.n H.kim Rai (P. W. 4). on your behalf along with him." SohanLalwa ijor M:i r for the purpose of preventing Gulab Singh from lg ny hindrance to the Shaikh's departure. J made many e lsee to Major Macgr< >r, and said : " The country is inundated." He said : " Never mind, you must go." I then explained to the Raja that I had to make over an important office. He said : " Never mind that, you mo off." I then wont. We set out and crossed the river at Shahdara, where Sohan Lai said : " We are to go by Jammu." I wrote and told the Raja ; and said to Sohan Lai : " Very well; you go the regulai marches, and I will go on ahead to Sialkot, which is my home." This I mentioned in my letter to the Raja, whose answers I produce, to the effect that I was not to go by way of Jammu, but by Bhimbar, Nowshera and Rajouri. These letters reached me at Sialkot. In eighteen days I reached Rajouri, and halted one •day. On the night of the halt news came of the right in Kashmir. I was then afraid to go on, and wrote to the Shaikh, to tell him of my being at Rajouri. When I got his answer I set out, and reached Kashmir in about seven or.eight clays. When I got there I took him aside and showed him the orders of the Darbar. He professed obedience. The parwana is written by Diwan Dina Nath. Q.—There is nothing improper in this parwana ; why did you raise so many objections to go with it to Kashmir ? A.—It was not that order that alarmed me. It was the private verbal order from the Raja, which I have already men­ tioned, to go and aid and assist the Shaikh ; and these orders were in direct opposition to the parwana. This parwana was the open order of the Darbar, the other was the secret one, which endan­ gered my jagirs and my life. The Darbar gave me presents of shawls, etc., at departure, worth 2,500 rupees, and should I not have been glad to go, if I had not known it was a dangerous mission 9 Q.—When you arrived at Kashmir, did you abide by the public or the private orders of the Darbar ? A.—Put the Shaikh on his oath, and ask him if I did more than give him the parwana, which he agreed to obey, and, in fact, he did ; for he suspended operations, and said he only delayed leaving Kashmir till he got a tasallinama. The Shaikh proposed to me to ask Ratnu to come out of the Hari Parbat. I refused; so did Sohan Lai. Ganesha Singh, and Kashi Nath, and Sohan 42 KAJA LAL SINGH.

Diwan HaJcim Rai (P. W 4). IM did go to the fort, and tell the garrison the Shaikh's proposal, but they advised them not to agree to it. Aftei eight or ten days hostilities were renewed in this way. The Shaikh had taken advantage of the truce to push on his approaches, and sap, which they perceiving threw out a breastwork and countersap, and firing recommenced. Before this 100 prisoners were released by the Shaikh, at my intercession. Q.—Do you mean, on the whole, to say, that you so far obeyed both your orders as to delay on the road ; but when you got there you gave good advice ? A.—I mean to say that I had two orders, one secret and verbal, from the Raja, the other open, from the Darbar. On the road to Eajouri I obeyed the first, by delaying on the march-; but when I got to Kashmir, I acted on the written instructions, and did my best to stop the rebellion, and persuade the Shaikh to come away. (Raja Lai Singh was here asked if the signatures on the three papers are his.) He acknowledges that on No. 1, denies those on 2 and 3 Q. (To Hakim Bai).—When you got to Kashmir, did you ask the Shaikh if the fight had taken place by the orders of the Raja or without his orders ? A.—I did ask him, and the Shaikh laughed. I said : " What is the use of making a secret of it ? " He replied I may have got orders, but I will not show them, because it would be unfaithful to the Darbar, and might be injurious to the Lahore State

Raja Lai Singh denying the authenticity of two of the sig­ natures purporting to be his, Lala Puran Ghand (P. W. 5), in whose handwriting the papers are, is called on to prove the verity of the signatures. He suggests that a number of undoubted signatures of the Raja should be collected, and compared with the two in question. A long discussion ensued with Diwan Dina Nath, and others, as to the best means of investigating the authenticity Raja La} Singn is called on to explain, the reason of his writmg the tasallinama to the troops :— He states that Puran Chand informed him that the troops were out of heart; and though the Shaikh was willing to come away, yet he could not come by himself, and the troops would not BVIDBNOB FOR PROSECUTION. 48

DlwAJD Hakim Rai (P. W. 4). come away with him, unless they were assured oi tneir pay from the Lahore Darbar. Question by Uie Gowrt.—When you found that on receipt of this varwana, ordering the troops to obey the Shaikh, they did obey nim in opposing Maharaja Gulab Singh, did you write another parwana explaining to them that the meaning of the former one was not that they were to oppose Gulab Singh, but to come away with the Shaikh from Kashmir •? A.—No, I did not. Do you wish to have time to make a written defence, or reply to what has been said ? Answer by Dina Nath.—No ; it is in your hands, act as you think right. By Court.—Baja Lai Singh is asked if he would not like to wait till to morrow to make his reply to the charge of having signed and sent these papers, or to produce evidence to rebut that brought forward on the other side ? The Kaja gave no answer; but the Court decided that it was nght to give him time till to-morrow for reflection, and making out his defence. This being communicated to him, he observed, that nothing was easier than to forge anv man's signature.

The Court adjourned at half-past 2 P.M. mi the following day Second Day, 4th December 1846. At 9 A.M., 4th Deer., 1846, the Court resumed its sitting. Rattan Chand, of the long beard, is again called in and asked— Q.—Was there any one else present on the occasion when you wrote the paruana, besides Kaja Lai Singh and Puran Chand ? A.—At some distance were some of Raja's attendants, etc. Q.—Was there any other Chief of Darbar present ? A.—No. Q.—Did you ever communicate the order to any of the other Chiefs of the Darbar ? A.— No. Q.—As far as you are acquainted with the facts, was anybody else aware of that parwana having been written ? A.—If any other of the Ministers gives an order, we report it to the Raja, of course ; but if the Raja skives an order, he is master, and there is no necessity for informing anybody. Raja Lai Singh is called on for his reply.

EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE. Diwan Dina Nath (D. W. 1)- Reads a paper. The contents may be summed up in a few words, under the following heads :— 1st.—That forgeries are very common, and have caused great trouble in the Punjab ; therefore it is not unlikely that the docu­ ments now produced are false. 2ndly.—That it is increditable that the Raja, after signing and agreeing to the Treaty between the two Governments made at Lahore last year, should do anything in contravention of its terms. 3rdly.—That it is not at all likely the Raja would employ Puran Chand to write secret letters of such importance to the Shaikh. 4thly.—That the Shaikh was at one time ready to come away, in obedience to the Darbar'a orders, and wrote to say so ; if after that he rebelled, he did so on his own account. (The Raja was finally requested to write out a fair copy, and deposit it with the Court, who will cause it to be translated, and record the contents in full.) 44 45

PEOSECUTION WITNESSES' REPLIES. WITH reference to some remarks of Dina Nath's, implying that the rebellion of the Shaikh was entirely of his own raising, Shaikh Imam-ud-Din puts it to the Court whether it is likely he should, singlehanded, undertake to oppose the British, who had conquered the Sikhs, and given Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh, unless he had been promised assistance from Lahore. Lala Puran Chand is again asked, and declares that he has been on times innumerable employed by the Raja to write parwanas to different parties, and in particular to Diwan Mul Raj, which Raja Lai Singh must know very well, and will not deny. Raja Lai Singh remarks tnat, to make the cases parallel, he ought to have employed Jus Mall, the Vakil of Diwan Mul Raj. With reierence to the question asked yesterday by Diwan Dina Nath, if the Shaikh could show any other letter from the Raja, written by the hand of Puran Chand, a paper is now pro­ duced by Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, addressed to him, a long while ago by the Raja, and which is also in the handwriting of Lala Puran Chand; two others were given up by the Shaikh to Col. Lawrence at Thana ; and the Shaikh says there must be many others among his papers. The paper being shown to Raja Lai Singh, is recog­ nised, and acknowledged by him as authentic. With reference to the objection made by Diwan Dina Nath, that it is not probable the Raja would employ Puran Chand in so important an affair, Puran Chand says that, if the Court wish, he will prove that he has been employed by the Raja, before this, in other affairs much more important and secret even than the Kashmir rebellion, e.g., in the negotiations between Raja Lai Singh and Maharaja Gulab Singh, to murder Hira Singh and Pandit Jaila.

Mr. Currie and the members of the Court then withdrew, inviting the Ministers and chief Sardars to attend them in Mr. Currie's tent, and hear the decision of the Court. Raja Lai Singh, Shaikh Imam-ud-Din and the rest of the Sardars remained with Lieut. Edwardes, Assistant Commissioner, and Secretary to the Court. -Punjab Government Records, file No. 17. Papers on the Trial and removal of Raja Lai Singh. 46 KAJA LAL SINGH.

REMARKS AND DECISION OF THE COURT OP INQUIRY. THE statement of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din is to the wftnct that he received secret instructions from Wazir Raja Lai Singh, through his confidential agent Puran Chand, to resist the occupation of Kashmir by Raja Gulab Singh, and to create disturbances in the province ; that he replied, in a matter of this kind, the mere letters of Puran Chand would not be sufficient for him to act upon, he must have a writing from the Raja to himself, and a paper to assure and guide the troops; and that he subsequently received the three papers which he delivered to Colonel Lawrence at Thana; and that he considered these papers his warrant for raising the rebellion which he had headed, and in which Wazir Lakhpat Rai and others were killed. The proofs adduced by Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, in substanti­ ation of his statement, are as follows :— (1) A letter said to have been written to him by Raja La' Singh, desiring him to create disturbances in the province oi Kashmir, and oppose the occupation thereof by Maharaja Gulab Singh, dated 13th Sawan (2) An Ikrarmma, du-ted 12th Sawan, which accompanied ne said letter, engaging to maintain him in his jagirs, and to in­ tercede with the British onuors for his Jiillundur property, und promising further reward to Lim, and to his followers, if he did as directed in the letter. (3) A parwana from the Darbar to the officers and soldiers in Kashmir, exhorting them to exert themselves and do good service (khidmat) at the bidding of the Shaikh, without fear of conse­ quences, and promising in that case that they should be con­ tinued in service when they came to Lahore. (4) The evidence of Puran Chand, in corroboration of the gtatement of Shaikh, as to the nature of the communications which passed between Raja Lai Singh and the Shaikh, through him, his confidential agent at Lahore, and as to the authenticity of the documents. (5) The evidence of Diwan Hakim Rai, a confidential servent of the Darbar, who was deputed from Lahore in August to bring away the Sheikh from Kashmir. The above is the evidence Iduced by the Shaikh, the examin­ ation of which occupi whole of the first day. REMARKS AND DECISION OP COURT OK INQUIRY. 47

On the second day Diwan Din;' Nath, on the pari of the Darbar, read from notes a paper to the effect that, from the date of concluding the Treaty, e Darbar had at once set themselves to work to carry into effect its provisions, and that in no instance had anything been done in opposition thereto ; that in regard to Kashmir, measures had been taken to put the officers of the Maha­ raja Gulab Singh in possession of the provnice ; and that as early as May last, Hari Parbat was made over to Lakhpat Rai, the Maharaja's Wazir, who had given a dakhalnama (a deed ack­ nowledging possession), which he had with him, and would pro­ duce. In evidence of these assertions, copies of several pnrwatias to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, written on different dates about April and May, peremptorily directing him to make over the province and the forts, according to the terms of the Treaty, were produced, the authenticity of which the Shaikh did not deny ; an urzee from the Shaikh to the Darbar was also read (admitted by the Shaikh) acknowledging the receipt of these orders, and stating his readiness to obey them, but urging the difficulties of settling his accounts with the Maharaja, and making the necessary arrange­ ments in accordance with the Treaty, and requesting a few months' delay. This urzee is dated 1st Daisakh, early in May. The defence then proceeded, in reference to the statement of Diwan Hakim Rai, to state that several parwanas had been sent to that officer from the Darbar to hasten on his way, and to perform the service on which he had boon sent to bring away the Shaikh. Some of these were produced, and admitted by Diwan Hakim Rai. It was urged that Hakim Rai having, contrary to the orders of the Darbar, made culpable delay in proceeding to Kashmir, had concocted the story of secret instructions to exculpate himself. The next point referred to was the facility of forging signa-. tures, and the great difficulty in detecting sue*' forgeries ; in proof of which two orders on the Lahore Pay Office were put in, on which it was asserted pay had been issued on the belief of the signatures being that of Raja Lai Singh, and which proved afterwards to have been forged. (The signatures were clumsy imitations.) The defence then referred to the evidence of Puran Chand, in regard to the Ikrarnama and letter, in his handwriting, to the Shaikh, and stated that it was never the custom of the Darbar, or Wazir, to send an order or important communication to a principal in the handwriting of his confidential agent, but usually the Darbar Munshis only wrote these orders or commorications, but that sometimes other parties, but never the agents of the partie? addressed. (To this Sardar Sher Singh \.ttariwala dis­ sented, and told the Diwan that he knew the facts to be otherwise.) 48 RAJA LAL SINGH.

The defence concluded by general observations of the kindness, consideration, and mercy shown by the British Government to the Maharaja, and ihe Darbar and to all its members, and dwelt on the improbability, not to say impossibility, of their being so mad as to do an act which must endanger not only themselves and their prospects individually, but must affect the interests of the Maha­ raja and the existence of the Government. It is stated that this was one of the machinations of Maharaja Gulab Singh, whose creature the Shaikh was. and had alw; been, and that this in­ famous plot was iua Nath st d i I he had nothing further to urge, and the Shaikh wae ^ked if he had anything to say in reply. He stated, in reference to the assertion, regarding confidential agents never being employed to write to their principals, that he had in­ numerable letters from the Raja to himself, written by Puran Chand, which the Baja could not, if produced, deny ; that two of these he had given to Colonel Lawr. e at Thana (these were in Colonel Lawrence's ofh wl has not yet arrived, and could not be produ< d Mid that he had one with him which he request­ ed might be ex; ined,and shown to the Raja. This was a letter written to the Shaikh, in the handwriting of Puran Chand, and bearing the siy e «>f the Raja, evidently corresponding with those in the letter and lkrarnama. This communication was ap­ parently sent in April or May. It began by lamenting that the Province of Kashmir had been made over to Gulab Singh, but stated that as such was the will of the British Government, it could not be helped. It told him that when he had made over charge of the Government to the new possessors, ho should come to Lahore, where all kin consideration would be shown to him, and arrangements r his future provision would be made. (The Raja Imitted ttthenticity of the letter.) The Shaikh requested that Puran Chand might be examined as to the important rs in which IetterR hi I written by him in the name of tl Ra nd as to the ex1 t to which the Raja tj bed hi This was i I to. Pui band then lor if . which he had been ei the Raj. bo write to the aikh, and other parties, t< . ring the order-of Baja Hint Singh I Pandit Jalla, and in »nwith his having been em yed to negotiate the pale of g' Id st' m e Palace wh ia was Toshak- A t el ig irrelevant t > the question at issue, the I n' ; think it ri{. to allow him ti roceed. REMARKS AND DECISION OF COURT 01 INQUIRY. 49

The Shaikh said he hod nothing iurther to urge. With regard to the first letter produced by Shaikh m-ud- I)in, it is in handwriting of Puran Chand, and not in any of the Durbar Munshis, but it bears the signature oi the Raja, to all ap­ pearance. The Raja denies this signature ; and though, from a comparison with a great many other undoubted and admitted signatures of the Raja, there seems no reason to doubt its authen­ ticity, it is difficult to prove its genuineness judicially. The genuineness of the letter itself, as to the instructions of Raja Lai Singh, must rest mainly on the circumstances of the case which will be adverted to more fully hereafter. The lkrarnama is also in the handwriting of Puran Chand ; it bears a date differing by one day from that of the letter, which accompanied it; this circumstance is satisfactorily explained by Puran Chand. in his evidence ; and the fact of this difference of date is not to be lost sight of ; a person fabricating two documents connected one with the other, and concerning the same transaction, stated to have been sent and delivered by the same bearer, would not allot them different dates, and thus render an explanation of their discrepancy necessary. The same as was said of the writing and the seal, in the case of the letter, is equally applicable to the lkrarnama. The seal appears genuine ; judicial proof of its genuineness, apart from the circumstances of the case, is difficult. The parwana is in the handwriting of Munshi Rattan Chand Rishderraz, the Darbar Munshi. Its authenticity is proved by the writer, and admitted by the Raja. It is a remarkable docu­ ment ; a literal translation of it, with its date, is given below.* This, though not noticed by the Darbar in the defence, was stated by the Raja, on its being produced, to be the only document addressed by him to the troops in Kashmir, either before or after the rebellion. It is proved by the Darbar Munshi tha t it was written by the order of Raja Lai Singh, when none of the other members of the Government were present, and that it was written after a private and secret conference, the purport

•Be It known to the officers and soldiers and office-bearers, who are under the orders of Arrjn-uI-MulkShi ikh lit am-ud-Din Bahadur, Governor of (appointed to)Kasbmir — At this time the orders of the Maharaja are issued to you. It behoves yon, on the receipt of His Highness' order, to remain with Amin-ul-Mulk Shaikh Imam-ud-X)in, in yerforming: services for the Government; and whenever you return to the pretence, you will le continued In service. Be assured; have no apprehension. Remain with thefijiaikh. Attend to thit order. This bears the seal of the Maharaja, and the signature of Raia Lai Singh, Dated 15th Sou a*, 1903 (or 28th of July 1846). £ 50 RAJA LAL SIN OH. of which he does not know and at the close of which he was called in to write it. The Raja states it was written at the roquest of Pnran Chand, who told him that the Shaikh asked for a document to assure the troops, and to promise that they would receive their pay on arrival at Lahore with the Shaikh, if they would come with him, and that the Shaikh could not come away without the troops, as he was afraid of Maharaja Gulab Singh, and of being plundered on the way. But the purport of the parwana is quite different; it does not direct the troops to leave Kashmir, and accompany the Shaikh to Lahore. It directs them to remain with the Shaikh in the per­ formance of service at his bidding, and to have no apprehension. What assurance and encouragement could the troops require to come to Lahore for their pay ? But if such was the purport and intent of the parwana, why was its existonce studiously kept secret from the political officers at Lahore, who were in daily communication with tho Eaja about the evacuation of Kashmir, when every minute circum­ stance in connection with the affairs of Kashmir was constantly discussed ? On the arrival of this -parwana a salute was fired by the troops. Shortly afterwards the rebellion broke out, and these troops did perform service with the Shaikh at his bidding, by at­ tacking the troops of Maharaja Gulab Singh, killing Wazw Lakhpat Rai, and putting themselves in open rebellion in the province. If the Raja did not intend this to be the result of his parwana, he would assuredly have sent another, explaining what he did mean, in direct terms ; and ordering the troops to come away, but he admits that he sent the troops no other communication. If he did not mean the rebellion to be the result of his order, he is still responsible for such result when he took no means to counter­ act it. It is altogether impossible, however, to believe that a document so worded, independently of other circumstances, was intended to be understood by the troops that they were merely to return to Lahore. If it were an obscurely worded document, which it is not, its meaning must be judged by the result it produced. The Raja states that his parwana to the troops was sent to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din at his request. It could not possibly have gone alone. It must have been accompanied by some parwana or letter to the Shaikh, apprising him of its having been sent, and of its purnort. The Shaikh produces the letter, which he says REMARKS AND DECISION OF COURT OF INQUIRY- 51 accompanied it, and which, if true, explains distinctly the moan­ ing of the parwana and the transaction. The Raja denies the authenticity of this letter, but does not produce or refer to any other ; and as some letter must exist, and the Raja has no other to adduce to, it is but fair to the Shaikh, and in accordance with reason, to suppose that the one produced by the Shaikh is the true one. The letter and Ikmrnama, moreover, have all tne appearance ot authenticity, and of their seals being genuine ; primd facie, there is nothing but the improbability of the transaction, to throw doubt upon them,—the fact of the transaction is established independently of them by the parwana. All circumstances favour the belief of their authenticity, and the only attempt made by the Darbar to establish their invalidity has signally failed. Supposing the letter and Ikrarnama to be true, the parwana to the troops is quite intelligible, and all is in keeping. Assuming them false, and the Raja's story true, the parwana, and the reasons for writing it, are altogether inexplicable. The evidence of Puran Chand, as might oe expected, tallies with that of his principal, Shaikh Imam-ud-Din. It was given, however, with all the appearance of being true. Every oppor­ tunity was given to the Darbar to disprove it, and the only attempt they made to do so failed. The explanation of the discrepancy of dates is satisfactory. The evidence of Diwan Kakim Rai is important. He was deputed by the Darbar to Kashmir about the period that the letter was written. He was sent in consequence of the political officers urging the Darbar to send a special emissary to bring away the Shaikh, who was assuming an attitude of defiance. It was of importance that he should go with all expedition, and be invested with authority to bring away the Shaikh. His open instructions were to this purport. He declares that he received secret verbal instructions from the Raja, directing him to aid and assist the Shaikh, who had been written to by him to raise disturbances, and oppose the occupation by Raja Gulab Singh. A Vakil from the Agency was sent with the Diwan, to take him by the nearest road via Jammu. On learning this, by the written representation of the Diwan, Raja Lai Singh ordered him to go by the circuitous route of Bhimbar and Rajoun. The Diwan, who was in constant communication with the Raja, took twenty days in reaching Rajouri, which he could easily have done in seven, and did not reach that place until the rebellion had broken out. His delay was known to the Raja. Paricanas were certainly sent by the 62 RAJA LAL SINGH.

Darbar to hasten on, but no other emissary was sent to enforce the orders, tj noglect of which was known ; till at last the Political Agent insisted on another officer going, and then Attar Singh was despatched. The written orders to go by Bhirnbar and Rajouri, and not as the Political Agent directed, by Jammu, and the unaccountable delay in reaching Eajouri and Kashmir (he was one month and eight days in going, and fifteen days in returning), tend to confirm the statement which he makes, that he received secret orders from the Eaja, contrary to those which were given openly by the Darbar. The circumstances stated in the defence bear very little n the matter at issue. The only facts stated are : 1st, the orders given by the Darbar to the Shaikh, to evacuate the province ; 2ndly, the panvana sent to Diwan Hakim Eai, to proceed on his mission ; and 3rdly, the practice of never employing an agent to write the letter addressed to his principal. The two first of these are admitted, and they do not affect the case ; and the third is satisfactorily disproved by a document admitted to be true. Upon full deliberation and consideration of the evidence and statements referred to above, we are unanimously of opinion that it is established and proved that the Wazir, Eaja Lai Singh, did encourage Shaikh Imam-ud-Din to excite disturbance in Kashmir, and to oppose the occupation of the province by Maharaja Gulab Singh; and that he did encourage the troops in the province to aid Shaikh Imam-ud-Din in the late rebellion. We do not find it proved that the other members of the Dar­ bar were participators with Eaja Lai Singh in the above proceeding, or cognizant thereof. F. CUEEIE,—President, H. M. LAWRENCE, J. H. LITTLER, MAJOR-GENL., JOHN LAWRENCE, memoers A. GOLDIE, LIEUT.-COL. (Punjab Governmert Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 365, dated the 9th December, 1846, from F. Currie to 11. M. Lawrenot.) 53

BEPORT TO GOVERNMENT. THE following report of the proceedings of the trial was forwarded by the President of the Court of Inquiry to the Gover­ nor-General on 5th December 1846 :— I have the honour to report that, on the afternoon of the 2nd instant, the members of the Darbar, with the more influential Chiefs, came to my Darbar tent, when I requested Khalifa Nur- ud-Din to read aloud to them Your Lordship's kliaritd, and then explained to them (he mode we proposed to adopt for conducting the investigation into the truth, or otherwise, of the statements made by Shaikh Imam-ud-Din. The Chiefs unanimously assented to the propriety of the measure, and declared that no other mode of investigation would be so satisfactory to them. They all expressed their desire to be present, and it was arranged that the investigation should commence at 8 o'clock on the following morning. Accordingly, soon after 8 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd, the Shaikh having come from his camp at Shahdara, and the Chiefs being assembled, the proceedings were commenced. The Court, if I may so call it, was composed of myself, as President, Lieut.-Colonel Lawrence, C.B., Major-Genornl Sir John Littler, K.C.B., John Lawrence, Esquire, and Lieut.-Colonel Goldie, 12th Native Infantry, as members; and the proceedings were taken down for record in English by Captains Broome and Edwardes and Ensign Hodgson, and in Persian by the Mir Munshi of my office, an officer of the Agency, and one attached to the establishment of Mr. John Lawrence. The proceedings were also taken down in Persian by Diwan Dina Nath and Vakil Rai Kishen ('hand, on behalf of the Darbar. The Court was crowded with Chiefs; a list of those present is given with the detailed record of proceedings. Your Lordship will see that there were sixty-five principal persons, exclusive of followers and Vakils. I was never present in a more orderly or attentive assembly. The examination of the evidence adduced by Shaikh Imam- ud-Din in support of his statements occupied the first day till 3 in the afternoon. We thought it better to close the proceedings for that day, and give the Darbar time and opportunity to pre­ pare their defence. The Court, therefore, adjourned till 8 o'clock the next day. 54 RAJA LAL aiNGH.

On its re-assembling, all were again present, and several military officers also—a few only attended on the former day, not knowing that they would be permitted to do so. The defence was then.entered on by the Darbar, and occupied no less than two hours. A separate paper, drawn up by me, being an abstract of the proceedings, with our opinions on the evidence, and our unanimous decision as to the guilt of Kaja Lai Singh, also accompanies this letter. This paper is signed by all the members of the Commis­ sion. It did not appear to me expedient that ourdecision should be proclaimed in that crowded and mixed assembly. I, therefore, proposed that the members of the Darbar, excepting Kaja Lai Singh, with the more influential Chiefs, being the heads and re­ presentatives of the principal families, should adjourn with us to my own tent. I went through the whole of the evidence, carefully and deliberately, with this assembly, and explained to thorn our deoi sion, and the circumstances on which it was grounded. I then, at once, explained that Your Lordship had directed me, if Shaikh Imam-ud-Din established his assertions, to state that it was not your intention, in consideration of the circumstances mentioned in your letter of instructions, to consider the misconduct of the Wazir as a violation of the Treaty, involving a termina­ tion of the relations which had been established between the two Governments, provided the other members of the Darbar and the Chiefs disclaimed participation in the offence ; but I stated that Your Lordship did, in the event of the Raja's conviction, demand his being forthwith deposed by the Maharaja from his office of Wazir, and held under surveillance pending Your Lordship's fur­ ther orders, as it was manifestly impossible that the Government of the Maharaja could be carried on with any prospect of success by one who had proved so faithless to His Highness' interests, or that the British Government could continue to act in concert with one who had so grievously offended against them. All were unanimous in determining his immediate deposi­ tion from the Wazarat in expressions of approbation of Your Lord­ ship's justice and gratitude for the consideration and kindness of the BritiKh Government. It was then agreed by the Sardars that Raja Lai Singh should be detained in the Darbar tent till his followers were removed from the Fort and Palace, which were to be placed under the • REPORT TO «.«)\ ERNMJ . 55 charge of Bardar Tej Bingh, Diwan Dina Nath, and Bardai Bher Singh, the brother-in-lam of the Maharaja. On the reli«-t <>f the Raja's guards from the Palace, and the substitution of troops under Tej Singh, it was determined thai Raja Lai Singh should be escorted by a company of the State troops (Tej Singh's) to hifl own house in the town, without returning to the Palace. All this was effected without the slightest trouble.,r disturb­ ance of any kind. Colonel Lawrenci accompanied Sardar Tej Singh with Diwan Dina Nath and Sardar Bher Singh to the Palace ; and Lieut. Edwardes, at the request of Sardar Tej Singh, accompanied Raja Lai Singh to his own house in the town. Raja Lai Singh is now under surveillance of Sikh troops, at his own house, awaiting, by the Chiefs' desire, Your Lordship's orders as to his future disposal. The Government is to be carried on by a Commission com­ posed of Sardar Tej Singh, Diwan Dina Nath, Sardar Sher Singh, and Khalifa Nur-ud-Din, till some further arrangement is made. The seal of the Maharaja has been for the present deposited, at the joint request of those persons, with Colonel Lawrence. Everything is to-day as quiet in the town as if nothing of interest to the people had happened, and the deposition of the Wazir is said to have given universal satisfaction. The necessary proclamations to the provincial governors and district officers were issued before the Sardars left my tent yesterday afternoon.—Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 355, dated the 9th December, 1846 ; jrom F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.

(See page 1.) Treaty between tlie British Government and the State oj Lahore, concluded at Lahore, on March 9th, 1846 (first Treaty with Lahore oj 1846). WHEREAS the treaty of amity and concord, which was concluded between the British Government and the late Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Lahore, in 1809, was broken by the unprovoked aggression on the British provinces of the Sikh army, in December last: And whereas, on that occasion, by the proclamation, dated the 13th of December, the territories then in the occupation of the Maharaja of Lahore, on the left or British bank of the river Sutlej, were confiscated and annexed to the British pro­ vinces ; and since that time, hostile operations have been prosecuted by the two Governments, the one against the other, which have resulted in the occupation of Lahore by the British troops : And whereas it has been determined that, upon certain conditions, peace shall be re-established bet­ ween the two Governments, the following treaty of peace between the Honourable English East India Company, and Maharaja Dalip Singh Bahadur, and his children, heira, and successors, has been concluded, on the part of the Honourable Company, by Frederick Currie, Esq., and Brevet- Major Henry Montgomery Lawrence, by virtue of full powers to that effect vested in them by the Right Honourable Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., one of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Governor- General, appointed by the Honourable Company to direct and control all their affairs in. the East Indies ; and, on the part of his Highness the Maharaja Dalip Singb, by Bhai Ram Singh, Raja Lai Singh, Sardar Tej Singh, Sardar Chattar Singh, Attariwala, Sardar Ranjor Singh Majithia, Diwan Dma Nath, and Fakir Nur-ud-Din, vested with full powers and authority on the part of His Highness. Article 1.—There shall bo perpetual peace and friendship between the British Government, on the one part, and Maharaja Dalip Singh, his heira and successors, on the other. Article, 2.—The Maharaja of Lahore renounces for himself, his heirs and successors, all claim to, or connexion with, the territories lying to the south of the river Sutlej, and engages never to have any concern with those terri­ tories, or the inhabitants thereof. Article 3.—The Maharaja cedes to the Honourable Company, in perpetual sovereignty, all his forts, territories, and rights, in the Doab, or country, hill and plain, situate between the rivers Beas and Sutlej. Article 4.—The British Government having demanded from tho Lahoro State, as indemnification, for the expensos of tho war, in addition to tho cession of territory described in Article 3, payment of one and-a-half crorcs of rupees ; and the Lahore Government being unable to pay the whole of this sum at the time, or to give security satisfactory to the British Government for its even­ tual payment; the Maharaja cedea to the Honourable Company, in perpetual

* ii RAJA LAL SINGH. sovereignty, as oquivaient for one crore of rupees, all his forts, territories, rights, and interests, in the hill countries which are situate between the rivers Beas and Indus, including the provinces of Kashmir and Hazara. Article 5.—The Maharaja will pay to the British Government the sum of fifty lacs of rupees, on or bofore tho ratification of this treaty. Article G. —The Maharaja engages to disband the mutinous troops of the Lahore army, taking from them their arms ; and His Highness agrees to reorganize the regular, or Ain, regiments of infantry, upon the system, and according to the regulations as to pay and allowances, observed in the time of tho late Maharaja Eanjif Singh. The Maharaja further engages to pay up all arrears to the soldiers that are discharged under the provisions of this article. Article 7. The regular army of the Lahore Stain shall henceforth be limityd to 2o battalions of infantry, consisting of 800 bayonets each, with 12,000 cavaln ; this number at no time to be exceeded without the con­ currence of the British Government. Should it he necessary at any time, for any special cause, that this force should be increased, the cause shall bo fully explained Lo the British Government ; and. when the special necessity shall li i -d. the regular troops shall be again reduced to the standard specified in the former clause of this article. Article 8.—The Maharaja will surrender to the British Government all the guns, thirty-six in number, which have been pointed against the British troops, and which, having been placed on the right bank of the rivet Sutlej, were not captured at the battle of Sobraon. Article 9.—The control of the rivers Beas and Sutlej, with the conti­ nuations of the latter river, commonly called tho Ghara and Panjnad, to the confluence of the Indus at Mithankot, and the control of the Indus from Mithankot to tho borders of Baluchistan, shall, in respect to tolls and ferries, rest with the Brilish Government. Tho provisions of this article shall not interfere with the passage of boats belonging to the Lahore Government on the said rivers, for tho purposes uf traffic, or the conveyance of passengers up and down their course. Regarding the ferries between the two countries respectively, at the several gh&ts of tho said rivers, it is agreed that tho British Government, after defraying all the expenses of management and es­ tablishments, shall account to the Lahore Government for one-half of the net profits of *he ferry collections. The provisions of this article have no reference to the ferries on that part of the river Sutlej which forms the boundary of Bahawalpur and Lahore, respectively. Article 10.—If the British Government should, at any time, desire to pass troops through the territories of His Highness the Maharaja for the protection of the British territories, or those of their allies, tho British troops shall, on Bucli special occasions, dim notice being given, be allowed to pass through tho Lahore territories. In such case, tho officers of the Lahore State will afford facilities in providing supplies and boats for the passage of rivers ; and the British Gowrnmenl will pay ihe full price of all 6uch provisions and boat , end will make fair com pen ation for all privato property that may

• APPENDIX I. lli be endamaged. The British Government will, moreover, observe all due consideration to tho religious feelings of the inhabitants of those tracts through which the army may pass. Article 11.-—The Maharaja engages never to take, or retain, in his ser­ vice, any British subject, nor tho subject of any European or American State, without the consent of the British Government. Article 12.—In consideration of the services rendered by Baja Gulab Singh of Jammu to the Lahore State, towards procuring the restoration of the relations of amity between the Lahore and British Governments, the Maharaja hereby agrees to recognize the independent sovereignty of Raja Gulab Singh, in such territories and districts in the hills as may be made over to the said Raja Gulab Singh by separate agreement between himself and the British Government, with the dependencies thereof, which may have been in the Raja's possession since the time of the late Maharaja Kharak Singh : and the British Government, in consideration of the good conduct of Raja Gulab Singh, also agrees to recogni/e hia independence in such territories, and to admit hini to the privileges of a separate treaty with the British Govern­ ment. Article 13.—In the event of any dispute or difference arising between the Lahore State and Raja Gulab Singh, the samo shall bo referred to the arbitration of the British Government ; and by its decision the Maharaja engages to abide. Article 14.—The limits of the Lahore territories shall not be, at any time, changed, without the concurrence of the British Government. Article 15.—The British Government will not exercise any interference in the internal administration of the Lahore State ; but in all cases or questions which may be referred to the British Government, the Governor- General will give the aid of his advice and good offices for the furtherance of the interests of the Lahore Government. Article 16.—The subjects of either State shall, on visiting the territories of the other, be on the footing of the subjects of the most favoured nation. This treaty, consisting of sixteen aitides, has been this day settled b}' Frederick Curne, Esq., and Brevet-Major Henry Montgomery Lawrence, acting under the directions of the Right Honourable Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., Governor-General, on the part of the British Government ; and by Bhai Ram Singh. Raja Lai Singh, Sardar Tej Singh, Sardar Chattar Singh Attariwala, Sardar Ranjor Singh, Majithia, Diwan Dina Nath, and Fakh Nur-ud-Din, on the part of the Maharaja Dalip Singh ; and the said treaty has been this day ratified by the seal of the Right Honourable Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., Governor-General, and by that of His Highness Maharaja Dalip Singh* Done at Lahore, this 9th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1846, corresponding with the 10th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1262, Rijri, and ratified on tho same day.—" Treaties, Engagements and Sanads" Volume VIII, compiled by C. U. Aitchison, 1909, page 160. IV RAJA LAL SINGH.

SUPPLEMENTARY ABICLES TO FIRST TREATY WITH LAHORE OP 1846.

Articles of Agreement co>icluded between the British Government and the Lahore Darbar. on the 11th of March 1846.

WHEREAS the Lahore Government has solicited the Governor-General to leave a British force at Lahore, for the protection of the Maharaja's person and of the capital, till the reorganization of the Lahore army, according to the provisions of Article 6 of the treaty of Lahore, dated the 9th instant: And whereas the Governor-General has, on certain conditions, consented to the measure : And whereas it is expedient that certain matters concerning the territories ceded by Articles 3 and 4 of the aforesaid treaty should be specifically determined, the following eight articles of agreement have this day been concluded between the afore-mentioned contracting parties :— Article 1.—The British Government shall leave at Lahore, till the clos© of the current year, A.D. J846, such force as shall seem to the Governor- General adequate for the purpose of protecting the person of the Maharaja, and the inhabitants of the city of Lahore, during the reorganization of the Sikh army, in accor dance with the provisions of Article 6 of the treaty of Lahore ; that force to be withdrawn at any convenient time before the expira­ tion of the year, if the object to be fulfilled shall, in the opinion of the Durbar, have been obtained ; but the force shall not be detained at Lahore beyond the expiration of the current year. Article 2.—The Lahore Government agrees that the force left at Lahore, for the purpose specified in the foregoing article, shall be placed in full pos­ session of the fort and the city of Lahore, and that the Lahore troops shall be removed from within the city. The Lahore 'Government engages to furnish convenient quarters for the officers and men of the said force, and to pay to the British Government all the extra expenses, in regard to the said force, which may be incurred by the British Government, in consequence of their troops being employed away from their own cantonments, and in a foreign territory. Article 3.—The Lahore Government engages to apply itself immediately and earnestly to the reorganization of its army; according to the prescribed conditions, and to communicate fully with the British authorities left at Lahore as to the progress of such reorganization, and as to the location of the troops. Article 4.—Tf the Lahore Government fails in the performance of the conditions of the foregoing article, the British < lovernment shall be at liberty to withdraw the force from Lahore, at any time before the expiration of the period specified in Article 1. Article 5.—The British Government agrees to respect the bona fide rights of those Jagirdars within the territories ceded by Articles 3 and 4 of the treaty of Lahore, dated 9th instant, who were attached to the families of the late Maharajas Ran jit Singh, Kharak Singh, and Sher Singh, and the British Government will maintain those Jagirdars in their bona fide posses­ sion during their lives. APPENDIX I. V

Article G.—The Lahore Government shall receive the assistance of the British, local authorities in recovering the arrears of revenue justly due to the Lahore Government from their Kurdars and Managers in the territories ceded by the provisions of Articles 8 and 4 of the Treaty of Lahore, to the close of the Khar if harvest of the current year, viz., 1902, of the Sambat Bikramajit. Article 7.—The Lahore Government shall be at liberty to remove from the forts in the territories specified in the foregoing article, all treasure and State property, with the exception of guns. Should, however, the British Government desire to retain any part of the said property, the}' shall be at liberty to do so, paying for the same at a fair valuation ; and the British officers shall give their assistance to the Lahore Government in disposing on the spot of such part of the aforesaid property as the Lahore Government may not wish to remove, and the British officers may not desire to retain. Article 8.—Commissioners 6hall be immediately appointed by the two Governments, to settle and lay down the boundary between the two States, as defined by Article 4 of the Treaty of Lahore, dated 9th March 1846-— 11 Treaties, Engagements and Sunads," Volume VIII, compiled by C. £/. Aitchisont 190 <% page 164. •

APPENDIX D. (See page 1.) Treaty between the British Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh, con eluded at Amritsar, on 16th March 1846. Treaty between the British. Government on the one part, and Maharaja Giddb Singh of Jammu on the other, concluded, on the part of the British Govern­ ment, by Frederick Currie, Esq., and Brevet-Major Henry Montgomery Law­ rence, acting under the orders of the Right Honourable Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., one of Her Britannic Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Gover* nor-General, appointed by the Honourable Company to direct and control all their affairs in (lie East Indies, and by Maharaja Gulab Singh in person. Article 1.—The British Government transfers and makes over, for ever, in independent possession, to Maharaja Gulab Singh, and the heirs male of his body, all the hilly or mountainous country, with its dependencies, situated to the eastward of the river Indus, and westward of the river Eavi, including Chamba and excluding Lahul, being part of the territory ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State, according to the provisions of Article-4 of the Treaty of Lahore, dated the 9th March 1846. Article 2.—The eastern boundary of the tract transferred by the fore­ going article to Maharaja Gulab Singh, shall be laid down by the Commis­ sioners appointed by the British Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh respectively, for that purpose, and shall be defined in a separate engagement, after survey. Article 8.—In consideration of the transfer made to him and his heirs by the provisions of the foregoing articles, Maharaja Gulab Singh will pay to the British Government the sum of seventy-five lacs of rupees (Nanak-; shahi), fifty lacs to be paid on ratification of this treaty, and twenty-five lacs on or before the 1st of October of the current year, A..D. 1846. Article 4.—The limits of the territories of Maharaja Gulab Singh shall not be at any time changed without the concurrence of the British Govern­ ment. Artkle .5.—Maharaja Gulab Singh will refer to the arbitration of the British Government any dispute's or questions that may rise between himself and the Government of Lahore, or any other neighbouring State, and will abide by the decision of the British Government. Article 6.—Maharaja Gulab Singh engages, for himself and heirs, to join, with the whole of his military force, the British troops, when employed within the hills, or in the territories adjoining his possessions. Article 7.—Maharaja Gulab Singh engages never to take, or retain, in his service any British subject, nor the subject of any European or American State, without the consent of the British Government. Article 8.—Maharaja Gulab Singh engages to respect, in regard to the territory transferred to him, the provisions of Articles 6, 6 and 7, of the separate engagement between the British Government and the Lahore Dar- bar, dated 11th March 1846. APPENDIX II. Vii

Artick 9.—The British Government will give its aid to Maharaja Gulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies. Article 10.—Maharaja Gulab Singh acknowledges the supremacy of the British Government, and will, in token of such supremacy, present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve perfect shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female), and three pairs of Kashmir shawls. This treaty, consisting of ten articles, has been this day settled by Frederick Currie, Esq., and Brevet-Major Henry Mongtomery Lawrence, acting under the directions of the Bight Honourable Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., Governor-General, on the part of the British Government, and by Maharaja Gulab Singh in person ; and the said treaty has been this day ratified by the seal of the Right Honourable Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., Governor-General. Done at Amritsar, this 16th day of March in the year of our Lord 1846, corresponding with the 17th day of Babi-ul-Awwal, 1262, Rijri.—(Punjab Government Record Office Museum). • * ft Vlll

APPENDIX HI.

(See page 1.)

Copy of the Final Receipt for the purchase oj Kashmir, dated Lahore, the 30th March 1850, signed by the Board of Administration. The Honourable The East India Company having received from His Highness the Maharaja Gulab Singh the sum of Ks. 75,00,000 (seventy-five lakhs) in payment of the amount guaranteed by the III Article of the Treaty between the Hon'ble Company and His Highness, dated Amritsar, tho 16th March 1846. The single acknowledgment of the receipt of the whole amount is granted by the Board of Administration for the affairs of the Punjab, at the request of Diwan Jawala Sahai, in addition to the receipts already given to His Highness' agents by the receiving officers, for the instalments received by them from time to time between the date of the Treaty and the 14th March 1850, the day on which the last instalment was paid into the Lahore Treasury.—{Punjab Government Record Office Museum.) APPENDIX IV.

(See pap

Copy of tlte translation of a letter, dated th \nd September 1846, from Lieut. Edwanles to Shaikh Imam-ud-Din*

I send herewith parwana from Lieut I • iel Lawrence, dated 4th Sep­ tember, written by him before he had heard of the outbreak in Kashmir : Vakil Puran Chand, Sardar Fateh Khan Tiwana and oth«*r SardarB an now sent by the Lahore Government to advise you to come in. Vakil Punin Chand has requested me to send you a few lines of encouragement {tasallin i). In truth the time for encouragement lias p I iway, but since Maharaja Oulab Singh, remembering the faithful services of your late father, (Hiulam Mohy-ud-Din, still looks with leniency on your rebellious conduct, and hopes that the just anger of th*- British Government may be t»-mpeivd with clemency, and the sole desire of the British Government in this matter of Kashmir is to meet the wishes of the Maharaja, for these reasons I now promise you, that if within two days after thH arrival of Vakil Puran Chand, Sardar Fateh Khan. Tiwana, and the other SardarB, you proceed to join me at once, and disperse those over whom you have any influence, your life shall be spared and orders will be issued for the release of your family, who are now in confinement, on the day that you give yourself up. With regard to your property, which has been confiscated, you must await t lie decision of the Governor-General. From all this consideration on my part do not suppose for a moment that you have not incurred the resentment of the British Government, and that they do not intend making over Kashmir to the Maharaja, because arrangements for sending up an army have been already made, and its march will not be delayed for your answer. Whether you come in or hold out a force will be sent for the settlement of Kashmir and Kohistan. Don't, there­ fore, wantonly destroy yourself. There is but one hope left for you, and that is to come in and give yourself up.—Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No* 1125, dated Rifiassee9 the 22nd September 1846 ;from Lieut. H. B. Edwardes to H. hi. Lawrence.

F X

APPENDIX V.

(See page »H.)

Copy of the translation oj a parwana, dated the 15th October J846, from Lieut. Edioardes to Shaikh Imam-ud~Din.

I hereby promise that if you come in to me quickly and bring with you the written orders of the Lahore Darbar to act as you have done and create disturbance in Kashmir, not only your life shall be spared, but the British Government will not interfere with your Kashmir property, nor allow the Lahore Darbar to call you to account. It will not do, however, to say that you have them, or to produce certified copies ; you must give-up the origi­ nals. I will come as far as Thana, which is the boundary of Rajouri, to meet you. The kindness of the British Government depends on your coming quickly. Be under no anxiety for your family.—Punjab Government Re­ cords, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 1133, dated Camp Seyouth (10 kos from Rajouri) the 15th October, 1846 ; from Lieut. H. B. Edwardes to H. M. Lawrerwe.

• XI

APPENDIX VI.

(Sec pages 12 and 13.)

Copy of the translation of a letter, dated Gump Hoshiarpur, the 23rd November 1846, from the Governor-General of India, to Mdtiaraja Ddlip Singh.

I have to congratulate Your Highness on the termination of the re­ bellion in Kashmir. The troops of the Darbar engaged in the operations for enforcing the fulfilment of the Treaty of Lahore, which were rendered necessary by the misconduct of certain evil-disposed persons, have conducted themselves in a most praiseworthy manner, and have evinced, by their ready obedience to the orders they received, and by their cheerful endurance of fatigue and unexpected difficulty, the qualities of good soldiers. The difficulties Your Highness' troops experienced were occasioned by the neglect of the Kardars to provide the requisite carriage and supplies on the line of march. The conduct of Sardar Tej Singh, the commander of the Darbar Army, and the energy he evinced in pressing forward, while ill-provided with carriage, and short of supplies, was highly creditable to the Sardar, and such as to deserve Your Highness' entire approbation. Sardar Sher Singh, the commander of the column from Rawalpindi, is described to me as having also conducted himself with much zeal and energy. It is kmrwn to Your Highness, that Shaikh Imam-ud-Din surrendered himself to the Governor-General's Agent, on a promise that his conduct in opposing the fulfilment of the teraty between the Lahore and British Govern­ ments, in attacking the officers of Maharaja Gulab Singh, and killing Wazir Lakhpat Rai and others, should be fully and impartially inquired into. The occurrence of this rebellion, and conduct of the parties concerned in it, are most serious questions. They must receive strict investigation. I have, therefore, directed the Secretary to Government, Mr. F. Currie, to proceed on a special mission to Lahore, to superintend the institution of an inquiry into the conduct of Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, and a full investigation into the circumstances he may adduce in justification of his acts in Kashmir. The mode in which this investigation will be conducted, in concert with Your Highness' Darbar, will be communicated to Your Highness' Govern - ment by Mr. Currie and Colonel Lawrence, on their arrival at Lahore.— The Governor-General to Secret Committee (No. 57), dated the 4th December 1846. Enclosure 2 in No. 8.—Parliamentary Papers (1844—47).

?2

•* XII

APPENDIX VO.

(See page* 18 and 20.)

Copy of the translation of a letter, dated Lahore, tie 9th December 1846, from F. Currie, the Secretary to the Government of India, with the Governor-General on a special mission at Lahore, to Maharaja Dalip Singh.

A full report of the proceedings on the investigation which took place on the 3rd and 4th of this month, connected with the rebellion in Kashmir, with a statement of the opinion and finding of the officers who conducted the investigation, and of the circumstances that followed, was communicated to the Governor-General, who, in reply, has approved and confirmed those proceedings, and has directed me to communicate His Lordship's decision to Your Highness, with the following remarks :— It is a subject of much regret to the Governor-General, that Your High­ ness' Wazir should have been guilty of the crime of secretly encouraging the Governor of the Province of Kashmir to violate the Treaty of Lahore; and that, at a time when a British force w^s in the occupation of Lahore, at the solicitation of Your Highness' Government, for the express purpose of aiding Your Higbenss in fulfilling the conditions of the Treaty, and of supporting Your Highness' Minister in the organization of the Government. The Govern6r-General takes a deep interest in Your Highness1 welfare, as the son of Maharaja Ranjit 8ingh, the old and faithful ally of the British Government, and on account of Your Highness' youth, and the difficulties of Your Highness' position. His Lordship also appreciates the good conduct of Your Highness' troops under Sardars Tej Singh and Sher Singh, in prompt­ ly marching to fulfil the obligations of the Treaty ; and, in consideration of these circumstances, His Lordship will not hold the Lahore State, on this occasion, responsible for the criminal acts of the Wazir ; in which acts it is not proved that the other members of the Darbar participated. The Governor-General in satisfied to accept the deposition of the Wazir as an atonement for the infraction of the Treaty ; but His Lordship considers the removal of Raja Lai Singh from the Lahore territories, expedient and necessary, and requires that he should be forwarded immediately to Feroze- pur, there to be made over to the charge of the political officer, whence the Raja will be conveyed to such place in the British territories as His Lord­ ship may appoint for his residence, and where the Raja will be detained with every proper consideration to his comfort and dignity. The Governor-General desires to repeat the assurance, so often given, of his friendly disposition towards Your Highness, and his desire to promote, by every means in his power, the stability of Your Highness' Government, and the prosperity of Your Highness' subjects. Your Highness' Government must be convinced, by the acts of friend­ ship shown in the course of the last eight months, that the Governor-General is anxious to maintain the conditions of the Treaty in all their intogrity. The reotnl instances in which the oo-operation and advice of the British APPENDIX VII. Xlii

officers under His Lordship's orders have been exerted so beneficially fur the interests of Your Highness' Government in the amicable settlement of dis­ puted claims, and in the adjustment of other serious and embarrassing cases, must be a sufficient proof and evidence to Your Highness of the motives by which the Governor-General is actuated, and which were fully explained to Your Highness' Darbar, and the assembled Chiefs, in March last, on the occasion of the ratifying of the Treaty of Lahore. It is now incumbent on Your Highness' Government, and the Chief8 who have the greatest interest in the preservation of the Reai&at (state), to decide upon the course which may be deemed best for the interest of the State to adopt, under present circumstances. It is the anxious hope of His Lord­ ship that such arrangements will be made as may conduce to the establish ment and maintenance of the Government; but it must be clearly understood that, after the experience, during the last eight months, of the mal-admini^- trfition and bad faith of the late V azir, Raja Lai Singh, the Governor-General will not consent to leave a British force at Lahore, beyond the stipulated period, for the sake of supporting a Government which can give no assurance of its power to govern justly as regards its people, and no guarantee for the performance of its obligations towards its neighbours. It behoves Your Highness and Sardars of the State to be most careful in the reconstruction of the Government, either by the appointment of a capable Wazir, or by sucb other course as may be deemed most expedient : in these ararngements the British Government can exercise no interference, but the Governor- General will be ready, if required, in accordance with the terms of the Treaty, to give the Government of Your Highness the aid of his advice and good offices, for the furtherance ot the interests of the Lahore Government. The Governor-General, however, considers it incumbent on him k caution Your Highness and the Sardars of the Reaisat, that Hie Lordship is determined to hold the Lahore Government responsible for the tranquility of the frontier, and that he will not permit the renewal of a state of anarchy, misrule, and military insubordination, similar to that which existed last year. His Lordship is anxious that the British Government should always continue in terms of peace and amity with its neighbours, but it must hold the neighbouring State responsible that a state of things adverse to the in­ terests of British subjects, and destructive of the tranquility of the British frontier, shall not be permitted to prevail within it. My friend, I have communicated to Your Highness these friendly sentiments of the Governor- General, which have their origin in a sincere desire for the welfare of Your Highness* Government, and I feel satisfied that, by following the advice of His Lordship, Your Highness will secure the happiness and prosperity of yourself and kingdom.—Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume X, Serial No. 855, dated tlie 9tk December, 1846 ; from F. Currie to H. M. Lawrence. xiv APPENDIX vm.

(See page 20.)

Copy of the translation of a letter, dated the 30th Maghar, 1903 {corresponding with the 14th December, 1846), from Maharaja Dalvp Singh to F. Currie, Secretary to the Government of India, with the Governor-General on a special mission at Lahore. With a reference to your statement, that you had reported to the Gov­ ernor-General the result of the investigation into the case of the recent disturbances at Kashmir, instituted by the Committee held on the 2nd of December 1846, and that His Lordship, in reply, after a careful and attentive perusal of the proceedings connected with the case, had expressed his high approoation of the opinion given by the Committee, and confirmed the de­ cision passed by them, I beg to remark that the British authorities are in­ comparably wise, prudent, just, experienced, and capable of distinguishing truth from falsehood, and that they are sincere friends of this Government. I j have full confidence in them, and entirely approve of the decision passed by them, after a due investigation into the case of Kashmir, which decision has j>een confirmed by the Governor-General. In reply to your remark, that it has been a source of much regret to His Lordship, that notwithstanding a British force'was stationed at the place in compliance with the request of the Lahore Darbarand the Wazir, for the pur­ pose of affording aid for the stability and maintenance of this State, the Wazir (appointed by me) had pursued an unbecoming line of conduct, i.e., he had secretly excited Shaikh Imam-ud-Din (the Governor of Kashmir on the part of the Lahore Government) into rebellion, and instigated him not to make over Kashmir, which instructions were plainly and clearly in violation of the Treaty ; I beg to state that this conduct of the Wazir has been a subject of much grief to this Government, and is considered a highly unwarrantable and unjustifiable act. With reference to your statement, that the British Government has approved of the measure taken by me of having deposed the Wazir, in con­ sequence of his recent conduct, which was inconsistent with the stipulations of the Treaty, and that in consideration of the two following grounds, viz. :— 1st.—My tender age, being a minor, the difficulties of my position, and, my being a descendant of the late Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the faithful ally of the British Government; 2ndly.—On account of the exertions of my army, under Sardar Tej Singh and Sardar Sher Singh, in quelling the disturbances at Kashmir, which service was undertaken for the purpose of maintaining the stipu­ lations of the Treaty ; and, further, in consideration that no other officers of the Lahore Darbar appeared to be implicated in the crimes of the Wazir ; he British Government has acquitted this State ; but that the Governor- General now deems it proper that the Wazir should be banished from my dominions, and that, therefore, it is necessary that I should immediately dispatch him with his family to Ferozepore. APPENDIX VIII. XV

With reference to these statements, I beg to state that I cannot ade­ quately return my grateful thanks for the kind feelings which the British Government has evinced towards me, in thus considering my tender age, and the ancient relations of friendship which have subsisted between the British Government and the late Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The strict adherence of the British authorities to their pledged words convinced me that these kind feelings of the British Government towards me will daily increase, and that the ties of friendship and amity existing between the two Governments, according to the Treaties, will gain strength day by day, through the interposition of Colonel Lawrence, the Agent to the Governor-General. The approbation of the British Government of the services performed by the troops of this Government employed in the Kashmir campaign, under the Commander-in-Chief, Sardar Tej Singh, and Sardar Sher Singh, has afforded unbounded gratification to me, and the above-named Sardars, and the army in general. I am thankful for the good offices of the Governor- General's Agent (who is appointed to increase the relations of friendship subsisting between the two Governments), in having settled the affairs of Kashmir in so satisfactory a manner. You have stated that the British Government has acquitted this State of the crimes of the Wazir, as none of its other officers appear to have been implicated in his crime, and that the British Government considered his deposition by me as a sufficient atone­ ment, and have also considered it necessary that I should remove the deposed Wazir from my territories, and dispatch him with his family to Ferozepore. Sir, you are well aware that I have deposed the Wazir, and given preeniptory orders to him to take his departure for Ferozepore without loss of time; that preparations necessary for his departure have been made, and that carriage &c, have been supplied by this Government, for the conveyance of his* baggage. These circumstances need not. therefore, be recapitulated. H has this day, the 1st of Poh, 1903, taken his departure for his destination. In reply to your statement, that on the arrival of the deposed Wazir with the Assistant Agent, a place for his residence will be selected in the British territories, with due regard to his dignity and comfort, according to the instructions of the Governor-General, T beg to say that this proposal has originated in the kind feeling of the British Government towards him, and redounds to the fame of that Government You have stated that the feelings of friendship entertained by the Governor-General towards me have remained unimpaired, and that it is His Lordship's desire to promote by every means in his power the stability of my Government and the prosperity of the people ; that the satisfactory proposals and the beneficial suggestions, as well as the exertions of the Governor-General's Agent (to whom the affairs of my Government are en­ trusted), in the troublesome times in the State for these last eight months, are well-known facts ; that these proceedings of the Agent prove the sincerity of the desire of the Governor-General for the stability of this State, as expres­ sed by His Lordship at the time of his making over the Treaty to me at Lahore, Sir. I have full confidence in the kindness of the British Government, in the

* XVI RAJA LAL SINGH. continuance of the favours of the Governor-General, and the attention of the Governor-General's Agent. I am much gratified and thankful for the kindness which the Governor-General's Agent has evinced for these eight months (since the conclusion of the Treaty in the presence of the Governor- General), in protecting lives and settling the affairs of the State to my satis­ faction. I return my grateful thanks for the kindness of the Governor- General, and the exertions of the Agent in settling the affairs of Kangra, Kashmir and Multan, and in causing the arrears of the pay of the troops to be discharged. The good counsels of the Governor-General are impressed on my mind ; and I know it is incumbent on me always to remain faithful to the stipulations of the Treaty. You have stated that myself, the officers , and the dependent Sardars of the State should effect an arrangement for the administration of this Government in such a manner that it may not prove prejudicial to the interests of the State ; and you have also stated that it is the earnest desire of the Governor-General that I should enjoy independent possession of the State ; but that the British Government will, in future, afford no military aid to the Lahore State, in consideration of the events which have occurred during the last six months, more especially on account of the perfidious and disloyal conduct of the Wazir, and that the British force will,, consequently, be withdrawn after the expiration of the specified term ; and that myself and my officers and Sardars should, therefore, establish a strong Govern­ ment, either by appointing an able Wazir, or by making some other arrange­ ment ; and that the British Government will not interfere in these matters, put that the Governor-General will not fail to give his good counsels for the stability of my State, consistently with the stipulations of the Treaty; that I should explain to all my officers and Sardars that the Governor-General is desirous of maintaining the relations of friendship and amity subsisting between the British Government and the independent Chiefs, and that when­ ever the misrule of the Government of any of those Chiefs disturbs the peace of the British frontier, this Government will be held responsible for it ; that you, therefore, previously advise me. in consideration of the friendship between the two Governments, to effect a satisfactory arrangement for the administration of my State ; for, if in consequence of the recurrence of mis­ rule in my Government, the peace of the British frontier be disturbed, I should be held responsible for the same ; and that JTOU have written all these instructions in a friendly 6tyle, without any reserve ; that if I act up to them it will prove beneficial to my State. Sir, I feel most thankful on the perusal of your kind letter, more es­ pecially on learning that you have written to me, without reserve, these nstruciions in a friendly style for the welfare and stability of this State. 1 By God's blessing the British Government is always faithful to its en­ gagements, which fact is impressed on my mind. Y* ruay. the 29th Maghar, 1908, I explained to all the Sardars and dependants of this State, regarding the arrangements for the administration of my Government; that I cannot adequately return my grateful thanks for the kindness which the Governor-General, in consideration of the ties of APPENDIX VIII. XVil friendship which subsisted between the British Government and the late Maharaja Eanjit Singh, evinced towards me in appointing Colonel Lawrence his Agent, and in permitting him to remain with a British force, for the protection and administration of my State. As the Governor-General is desirous of maintaining this State, it is not proper that the whole of the British force stationed here should be put to further inconvenience and annoyance. Nevertheless, with regard to the necessity for establishing the Government of the country, and the fact of the time for the withdrawal of the troops having arrived, it is hoped, that the Agent, with two battalions, and one reigment of cavalry, and one b&ttery, may be allowed to continue for some months, during which, what still remains to be done to complete the organization of the Government in an efficient manner may be effected ; and there can be no doubt that Colonel Lawrence will, according to the provisions of the Treaty, give every aid and assistance in establishing the Government.—The Governor-General to the Secret Com­ mittee (No. 59), dated the 21st December, 1846. Enclosure 5 in No. 9—Par­ liamentary Papers (1844—47). xviii APPENDIX IX.

(See page 20.)

Copy of the translation of a letter, dated the 14th December9 1846, from Fm GurrU to Maharaja Dalip Singh. The request of Your Highness, that a portion of the British force now at Lahore, and the Agent of the Governor-General, should remain after the expiration of the stipulated time, which measures Your Highness states to be necessary for the establishment of the Government of the country, in­ volves a departure from the provisions of the Articles of Agreement execut­ ed on the 11th of March last, and is a very important matter. It seems to me desirable that the Chiefs of the Darbar, with the Sardars interested in the welfare of the Lahore State, should assemble at my Darbar tent, to-morrow, when I will lay before them distinctly the only conditions on which the Governor-General will consent to a modification of the Articles of Agreement above referred to ; and it will be well that these Chiefs and Sardars should be prepared to give a conclusive acquiescence or rejec­ tion of the said conditions, in order that the affair may be concluded, and the necessary orders given regarding the movement of the British force.— Punjab Government Records, Press List Volume IX, Serial No. 860, dated the 14th December. 1846 ; from F. Gurrie to H. M. Laiorence. IX APPENDIX X.

(See page 21.) Note of Conference with the Chiefs and Soman of th hare State, i meet­ ing held in Durbar at Lafwrc, on (fit 15th 11 The following paper was read aloud to the assembled Chiei m Persian, clause hy clause, and was then I in I [nstani diich tl lian copy was placed in their hands, that they might, before any disr m took place, make themselves fully acquainted with its contents :— " As in the kharita received by ra< yesterday, from I Highness Maharaja Dalip Singh, a ditinct request is made tor the continuance of a British force and a British Agent at Lahore, after the expiration of the time stipulated in the Articles of Agreement,

They were told, that the expensed of the force now at Lahore exceed 80 lacs of rupees per annum, and that the Governor-General would not consider it expedient, at present, to employ a smaller force v I capital, but that, in consideration of the state of the Lahore treasury and revenues His Lordship would be content that the Lahore State would pay 2A lac which would be the amount fixed for yearly payment, during the period of British aid in the administration. The Chiefs requested leave to consult apart upon the subject, as the sum required bore so large a proportion to the whole revenue of the Btate. After consulting nearly an hour, the Chiefs returned, and said that all other conditions were gratefully acceded to, and that they were willing to pay such sum as the State could afford ; but this also they must agree to, if it was demanded ; but they hoped that 20 lacs would be considered a suffi­ cient sum. After further discussion, the sum of 22 lacs was agreed upon, and the Chiefs whose names are stated in the commencement of this paper, then desired to record every one his individual hearty acquiescence in all the proposals, and their united gratitude to the Governor-General, for thus extending his protection to the Maharaja, and granting the aid of the British Government, to maintain an efficient administration during His Highness' minority. The meeting then broke up, and adjourned to the following day, when it was settled that a meeting should take place to draw up and execute Articles of Agreement.—The Governor-General to the Secret Committee (No. 59), dated the 21 «t December, 1846. Ericlosure 7 in No. 9.—Parliament' ary Powers (1844-47). xxii

APPENDIX XL (See page 22.)

The Treaty of Bhyrowal or the second Treaty with Lahore of 1846m Foreign Department, Camp, Bhyrowal Ghat, on the left Bank of the Beas, the 22nd December 1846. The late Governor of Kashmir, on the part of the Lahore State, Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, having resibted by force of arms the occupation of the province of Kashmir by Maharaja Gulab Singh, the Lahore Government was called upon to coerce their subject, and to make-over the province ta the representative of the British Government, in fulfilment of the condi­ tions of the treaty of Lahore, dated 9th March 1846. A British force was employed to support and aid, if necessary, the combined forces of the Lahore State and Maharaja Gulab Singh in the above operations. Shaikh Imam-ud-Din intimated to the British Government that he was acting under orders received from the Lahore Darbar in the course he was pursuing ; and stated that the insurrection had been instigated by written instructions received by him from the Wazir Baja Lai Singh. Shaikh Imam-ud-Din surrendered to the British agent on a guarantee from that officer, that if the Shaikh could, as he asserted, prove that his acts were in accordance with his instructions, and that the opposition was instigated by the Lahore Minister, the Darbar should not be permitted to inflict upon him, either in'his person or his property, any penalty on account of his conduct on this occasion. The British Agent pledged his Govern­ ment to a full and impartial investigation of the matter. A public inquiry was instituted into the facts adduced by Shaikh Imam-ud-Din, and it was fully established that Baja Lai Singh did secretly instigate the Sheikh to oppose the occupation by Maharaja Gulab Singh of the province of Kashmir. The Governor-General immediately demanded that the Ministers and Chiefs of the Lahore State should depose and exile to the British provinces the Wazir Baja Lai Singh. His Lordship consented to accept the deposition of Baja Lai Singh as an atonement for the attempt to infringe the treaty by the secret intrigues and machinations of the Wazir. It was not proved that the other members of the Darbar had cognizance of the Wazir's proceedings ; and the conduct of the Sardars and of the Sikh army in the late operations for quelling the Kashmir insurrection, and removing the obstacles to the fulfilment of the treaty, proved that the criminality of the Wazir was not participated in by the Sikh nation. The Ministers and Chiefs unanimously decreed, and carried into immediate i ct, the deposition of the Wazir. After a few days' deliberations, relative to the means of forming a Government at Lahore, the remaining members of the Darbar, in concert with all the Sardars and Chiefs of the State, solicited the interference and APPENDIX xi. xxiii

aid of the British Government for the maintenance of an administration, and the protection of the Maharaja Dalip Singh during the minority of His Highness. This solicitation l>\ the Darbar and Chiefs lias led to the temporary modification of the relations between the British Government and that of Lahore, established by the Treaty of the 9th March of the present year. The terms and conditions of this modification are set forth in the follow­ ing Articles of Agreement :— Articles of Agreement concluded between the British ( eminent and the Lahore Darbar on 16th December 1846. Whereas the Lahore Darbar and the principal Chiefs and fcaidars of the State have, in express terms, communicated to the British Government their anxious desire that the Governor-General should give hit aid and his assistance to maintain the administration of the Lahore State during the minority of Maharaja Dalip Singh, and have declared this measure to be indispensable for the maintenance of the Government : And whereas the Governor-General has, under certain conditions, consented to give the aid and assistance solicited, the following Articles of Agveement, in modification of the Articles of Agreement executed at Lahore on the 11th March last, have been concluded, on the part of the British Government, by Frederick Currie, Esq., Secretan to the Government of India, and Lieu*. Colonel Henry Montgomery Lawrence, C.B., Agent to the Governor-General, North-West Frontier, by virtue of full powers to that effect vested in them by the Bight Honourable Yi^count Hardinge, G.C.B., Governor-General, and on the part of his Highness Maharaja Dalip Singh, by Sardar Tej Singh, Sardar Sher Singh, Diwan Diiia Nath, Fakir Nur-ud-Din, Rai Kishen Chand, Sardar Banjor Singh, Majithia, Sardar Atar Singh Kaliwala, Bhai Nidhan Singh, Sardar Kahan Singh, Majithia, Sardar Shamsher Singh, Sardar Lai Singh, Muraria, Sardar Kehar Singh Sindhanwala, Sardar Arjan Singh, Bang- ranglia, acting with the unanimous consent and concurrence of the Chiefs and Sardars of the State assembled at Lahore. Article 1.-—All and every part of the treaty of peace between the British Government and the State of Lahore, bearing date the 9th day of March 1846, except in so far as it may be temporarily modified in respect to clause 15 of the said Treaty by this engagement, shall remain binding upon the two Governments. Article 2.—A British officer, with an efficient establishment of assistants, shall be appointed by the Governor-General to remain at Lahore, which officer shall have full authority to direct and control all matters in every department of the State. Article 8.—Every attention shall be paid, in conducting the adminis­ tration, to the feelings of the people, to preserving the national institution! and customs, and to maintain the just rights of all classes. Article 4.—Changes in the mode and details of administration shall not be made, except when found necessary for effecting the objects set forth in the foregoing clause, and for securing the just dues of the Lahore Govern­ ment. These details shall be conducted I.v native officers as at present* Xxiv RAJA LAL SINGH. who shall be appointed and superintended by a Council of Begenoy, com­ posed of leading Chiefs and Sardars, acting under the control and guidance of the British Kesident. Article 5.—The following persons shall in the first instance constitute the Council of Regency, viz., Sardar Tej Singh, Sardar Sher Singh Attari- wala, Diwan Dina Nath, Fakir Nur-ud-Din, Sardar Ranjor Singh, Majithia, Bhai Nidhan Singh, Sardar Attar Singh Kaliwala, Sardar Shamsher Singh, Sindhanwala : and no change shall be made in the persons thus nominated, without the consent of the British Resident, acting under the orders of the Governor-General. Article 6.—The administration of the country shall be conducted by this Council of Regency in such manner as may be determined on by them­ selves in consultation with the British Resident, who shall have full authori­ ty to direct and control the duties of every department. Article 7.—A British force, of such strength and numbers, and in such positions, as the Governor-General may think fit, shall remain at Lahore or the protection of the Maharaja, and the preservation of the peace of th e country. Article 8.—The Governor-General shall be at liberty to occupy with British soldiers any fort or military post in the Lahore territories, the oc­ cupation of which may be deemed necessary by the British Government for the security of the capital, or for maintaining the peace of the country. Article 9.—The Lahore State shall pay to the British Government twenty-two lacs of new Nranakshdhi rupees of full tale and weight per annum, for the maintenance of this force, and to meet the expenses incur* red by the British Government ; such sum to be paid by two instalments, or 18 lacs and 20,000 in May or June, and 8 lacs and 80,000 in November or December of each year. Article 10.—Inasmuch as it is fitting that Her Highness the Maharani, the mother of Maharaja Dalip Singh, should have a proper provision made for the maintenance of herself and dependents, the sum of 1 lac and 50,000 rupees shall be set apart annually for that purpose, and shall be at Her Highness' disposal Article 11.—The provisions of this engagement shall have effect during the minority of His Highness Maharaja Dalip Singh, and shall cease and terminate on His Highness attaining the full age of 16 years, or on the 4th September of the year 1854 ; but it shall be competent to the Governor- General to cause the arrangement to cease, at any period prior t6 the com* ing of age of His Highness, at "which the Governor-General and the Lahore Darbar may be satisfied that the interposition of the British Government is no long6r necessary for maintaining the Government of His Highness the Maharaja. This agreement, consisting of eleven articles, was settled and executed at Lahore, by the officers and Chiefs and Sardars above-named, on the 16th day of December 1846.—The Governor-General to the Secret Committee, dated Camp left Bank of the Beas, the 22nd December, 1846.—Parliamentary Papers (1844-47). XXV GLOSSARY OF INDIAN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS. Darbar—court, hall of audience. Tn this Monograph it signifies the Lahore Government. Ghat—ferry. Ikrarnama—deed of promise. Jagir— the assignment of the Government's share of the produoe of a dis­ trict to a person, as an annuity either for his private use or for the maintenance of a military establishment; also the district so assigned, or the income derived from it. Jagirdar—the holder of a jagir. Kardar— the term kardar was used to denote the Collector of revenues of a Ta'aluqa under the Sikh Government. His principal duties were to supervise and carry out the settlement work, assess and announce the revenue " Jama " and subsequently to realize the revenue thus imposed. But this was not all he had to do. In absence of any established Law Courts over the country the kardar was called upon to act as a Judge and Magistrate in the district of which he was appointed the revenue Collector. Kharita—letter or letter bag. Kos—a measure of distance of much variation from 1 to 2£ miles—in different parts of India. Motmid.—confidant. Munshi—a clerk, writer or a secretary. Nanakshahi—standard currency of the Sikh Government. Parwana—a written order or requisition. Reaisat—State. Sarkar—Government. Sawar—lit, a rider, a horseman. TasaUinama—Letter of encouragement. Toshakhana—a place where furniture is kept, a wardrobe. Urzee—an application. Vakil—an agent or representative. Wazarat—Ministry. Wazir—a Minister. '