TABLE OF CONTENTS. The Governor-General to the Secretary to the Government of India The Commander-in-Chief to the Agent to the Governor-General The Governor-General's Agent to the Secretary to Government The Governor-General to Commander-in-Chief Major-General Sir John Littler to the Adjutant-General of the Army Major-General Smith to the Adjutant-General of the Army Return of Killed and Wounded-Battle of Aliwal Ordnance captured. Pencil Express written on the Field of Battle by Sir Harry Smith Proclamation Page 85 95 97 98 The Governor-General to the Secret Committee 99 105 The Commander-in-Chief's Letter quoted in the House of Commons by Sir Treaty between the British Government and the State of Lahore State Visit of the Governor-General to the Maharajah at Lahore 154 159 163 165 Thanks of the Court of Common Council, London, to the Army in India; with the Freedom of the City, in Gold Boxes, value 100 guineas, to Viscount Hardinge, Lord Gough, and Major-General Sir Harry Smith, Bart. ib. Statistical Account of the General Actions in which Lord Gough commanded in chief 194 Returns of Her Majesty's regiments with the army of the Sutlej-their strength WAR WITH THE SIKHS. Minute by the Governor-General of India. June 16th, 1845. As the time has now arrived when preparations will require to be made for the journey of the Governor-General to the Upper Provinces, I consider it most advisable to consult my colleagues before any steps are taken to carry that intention into effect. Under ordinary circumstances I should have desired, on public grounds, to remain the next winter and summer at Calcutta, in order to have the advantage of the experience and advice of the Council, by which course the usual business of the Government can be transacted with more unity, regularity and general satisfaction than when the Governor-General is separated from his colleagues. On the other hand, it is clearly my duty to place myself in that position, as regards the exercise of my functions, by which I can most advantageously apply my exertions for the service of the State. In this, as in every other case, the real question for decision is, whether it is more for the public interests that I should this autumn proceed to the Upper Provinces, or remain at the usual seat of Government. Between my colleagues and myself there has always existed a most anxious desire, and perfect unison of opinion, that no efforts B or precautions should be spared to maintain a Sikh Government in the Punjaub as long as it may be possible. To carry the pacific policy of the Government of India into effect, we have been content to suffer great inconvenience, considerable expense, and some risk, necessarily caused by the presence of a large disorganised Sikh force on the frontier, requiring, on our part, an army to be assembled for the protection of our frontier, and in close contact with that of the Sikhs; I need not enter into the consideration of the various questions of solicitude which are involved, in the proximity of a Sikh army, in a successful state of mutiny, so close upon our frontier. We have never relinquished the hope that some amelioration may eventually take place, affording the prospect of the reestablishment of a Sikh Government, able to carry on its ordinary functions. We have never abandoned the expectation that, after anarchy and military violence have long prevailed, these disorders, having reached their maturity, might subside, worn out and exhausted by their own virulence; or that some man of superior capacity and master mind might appear amongst them, able to control this mutinous army, and to re-construct a strong Sikh Government. I must confess that these hopes have not been strengthened by recent events; and now that we can, at this season, when all military operations are nearly suspended, deliberately review the political and military condition of the Punjaub, I can arrive at no other conclusion than that the state of our relations with that country has become more critical than it has been at any time since Rajah Heera Singh's death. When the finances of the State shall be found to be insufficient to pay the troops, a state of things may arise at any moment requiring the instant decision of the highest authority on the spot. The instructions which we may send from Calcutta may be very proper, and applicable to the state of things which may have happened on the frontier ten days before, when the report was |