will not believe in the treacherous intentions of
Gholab Singh.

"There are from thirty to forty thousand men in arms leagued against
our power and supremacy north of the Jhelum, with a park of artillery,
varying, according to reports, from fifty to seventy guns.

"In a letter from Lahore of yesterday's date, which reached me
this morning, it is stated that the commanderin-chief has ordered
Brigadier-general Wheeler's force to join him, but of course, I suppose,
not until after the general has taken Ram Singh. This proceeding has
been rendered necessary and urgent in consequence of her majesty's 24th,
the 36th, and 58th regiments of native infantry having been rendered
next to useless. Sir Dudley Hill's reserve force of eight thousand five
hundred men will have to be brought into active service yet, as troops
are required not to proceed against, and be the aggressors of the enemy,
but to act on the defensive, and hold our active, brave, and courageous
foe in check until General Whish's force joins, to enable the whole army
to advance to Peshawur.

"Our government appear now to be so afraid of the issue of our contest
with the Sikhs (as they have neither troops sufficient to conquer them
and hold the country, nor money to pay the enormous expenses of this
prolonged campaign), that I should not be at all surprised they will do
their utmost to patch up a peace, which will, to say the least, be not
only humiliating to our arms, but disgraceful to British feelings. I am
perfectly certain, however, that the Sikhs will entertain no terms with
us, except they are based on our quitting the Punjaub, and retiring
across the Sutlej; this is a _sine qua non_ with them." The same letter
from Lahore mentions, "You have, no doubt, heard of the late awful
butchery of human life. As usual, the troops advanced without order
or any arrangement. The 14th Dragoons led the advance, and, on the
Goorchurrahs advancing, the brigade of cavalry, it is said, retreated,
afraid, apparently, of being led into another trap like the Eumnuggur
one. The cavalry brigade overthrew the artillery, and, galloping right
through them, was the cause of our loss of six guns, two of which,
however, were since retaken. Brigadier Pope was mortally wounded (since
dead), and the cavalry were only brought up by the Doolies at the
general hospital. Of the 24th foot, four field-officers, one captain,
and seven subalterns, were killed, together with four hundred men.
T