the Sikh army was very great. The Affghan fugitives,
after the manner of orientals, gave the most absurd exaggerations as to
the prowess of the British soldiers, especially of the officers, many
of both being described as fiends, who proved their infernal nature by
deeds of superhuman daring and strength. An alliance with "Shatan" was
of course a mode of accounting for defeat which saved the honour of
the fugitives, and satisfied the denizens of Cabul, as well as the wild
clans _en route_ thither, that a retreat was wisdom. The government of
Cabul became uneasy for the consequences, and Dost Mohammed Khan took
measures to placate the British government, whose policy was not to
pursue the war into Affghanistan. The government of Calcutta annexed
the Punjaub to British India, and thus terminated the Sikh war.
The governor-general issued, on the 29th of March, the following
proclamation:--

"For many years, in the time of Maharajah Runjeet Singh, peace and
friendship prevailed between the British nation and the Sikhs. When
Runjeet Singh was dead, and his wisdom no longer guided the counsels
of the state, the sirdars and the Khalsa army, without provocation and
without cause, suddenly invaded the British territories. Their army was
again and again defeated. They were driven, with slaughter and in
shame, from the country they had invaded, and at the gates of Lahore the
Maharajah Dhuleep Singh tendered to the governor-general the submission
of himself and his chiefs, and solicited the clemency of the British
government. The governorgeneral extended his clemency to the state of
Lahore; he generously spared the kingdom which he had acquired a just
right to subvert; and the maharajah having been replaced on the throne,
treaties of friendship were formed between the states.

"The British have faithfully kept their word, and have scrupulously
observed every obligation which the treaties imposed upon them. But
the Sikh people and their chiefs have, on their part, grossly and
faithlessly violated the promises by which they were bound. Of their
annual tribute, no portion whatever has at any time been paid, and large
sums advanced by the government of India have never been repaid. The
control of the British government, to which they voluntarily submitted
themselves, has been resisted by arms. Peace has been cast aside.
British officers have been murdered when acting for the state; others
engaged in the like employment have been treac