ers sufficient
to afford hope of success, against their recent conquerors. An
opportunity occurred in the person of Moolraj, the chief of Mooltan.
Mooltan is a large and fertile country, situated between the left bank
of the Indus and the right bank of the Sutlej, and terminates at one
end where these two rivers form a junction. It gives its name to the
capital, which was protected by defences unusually strong for an eastern
city.

When the British obtained the submission of the regent of the Sikh
monarch, Dhuleep Singh, Mooltan was governed by Moolraj. Moolraj owed
allegiance to the government at Lahore, to which the chieftainship of
Mooltan had been subjected by conquest. The durbar of Lahore purposed
the deposition of Moolraj, and negotiated with him for that purpose. He
affected to acquiesce, and, in consequence, Mr. Agnew, a political agent
of the Honourable East India Company, and Lieutenant Anderson, of the
Bombay Fusileers, were deputed to attend the new governor appointed by
the government of Lahore, to instal him in his office. This official
was named Sirdar Khan Singh, and was an object of extreme jealousy to
Moolraj. The party arrived at Mooltan, accompanied by their respective
suites and a small escort of cavalry. On the 17th of April, the
authority was surrendered in due form by Moolraj, and the object of
the British officers seemed to be accomplished. On the 18th they were
attacked and desperately wounded; it was at first supposed from a sudden
impulse on the part of the soldiery of Moolraj, but it was afterwards
known to be the result of treachery. The officers, accompanied by the
new governor, were carried to a small fort outside the town. A fire was
opened upon the place from Mooltan, but it was ineffectual. A few days
afterwards, however, the fort was attacked by the soldiers of Moolraj;
the Sikhs who garrisoned the place, and among whom were the escort,
treacherously opened the gates, and the assailants entered, foaming
with rage, and demanding vengeance upon the infidel officers. Lieutenant
Anderson was in a dying state; but Mr. Agnew, although so badly wounded,
defended himself with resolution to the last: both officers were
murdered. Moolraj declared that he had no knowledge of the transaction,
but no one believed his disclaimer. Intelligence of these barbarities
reached Lahore with the speed so peculiar to the East; and a force of
three thousand cavalry and some infantry was dispatched, under Sir