rosecute the war until the complete submission
of the Lahore government was obtained; at the same time, his excellency
declared that he had no wish to subvert the Sikh government, but only
desired to obtain security for the future good faith of the maharajah's
ministers, and the peace of the bordering possessions of British India.
The Lahore government was terror-struck at the rapid approach of the
British army, and at the moral effect which the proclamations of the
governor-general were likely to have upon the Sikh population. Gholab
Singh, the wuzeer, represented to the ranee, or queen-mother, that the
Khalsa army had lost twenty thousand men in the last two battles, and
that unless terms were made with the governor-general, the dominions of
her son would be soon forfeited. The ranee called a council, and it was
then agreed that Gholab should repair to the British camp and sue for
peace. The wuzeer undertook the task, on the condition that the ranee,
the durbar, and the chief officers of the army, as well as the members
of the punchayete, should sign a solemn declaration that they would
abide by the terms he might accept, and do all in their power to enforce
their observance by the Sikh soldiery and population. This was acceded
to; and on the 15th the wuzeer, accompanied by Dewan Deena Nath, and
Fakeer Kboroodeen, proceeded to the British camp. These three persons
were conjointly empowered to negotiate, and they were attended by many
influential Sikhs, anxious for peace; among them was the Banuhzie chief,
Sultan Mohammed Khan, and several sirdars of great eminence. Thus a
strong moral guarantee was given to the British that the negotiations
were sincerely opened by the Lahore government. Sir Henry Hardinge
admitted the deputation coldly, refusing to receive the muzzars offered
and accepted on all occasions of important negotiations in the East. The
terms demanded by Sir Henry were the surrender of the territories east
of the Beas, in addition to the province which had in December been
declared confiscated; the surrender of every gun which had been
pointed at the British; the disbanding of the Khalsa army, and its
reorganisation on the principles observed by the Maharajah Bunjeet
Singh; the entire regulation and control of both banks of the Sutlej;
a reorganisation of the Lahore administration, and the payment of one
million and a half sterling as indemnification for the expenses of the
war. It was also demanded that the