“A proclamation was issued on the 18th instant by the governor-general, promising protection to all persons at Lahore and elsewhere who peaceably continue in their usual employments of trade and industry.
“The governor-general is satisfied, after the experience of this campaign, that he can rely on the discipline of this invincible army, as fully and securely as he has always been confident that the clay of battle, under their distinguished commander, would be one of victory.
“He trusts, at present, that no officers or soldiers will pass the advanced sentries of their encampment to enter the town of Lahore, and he requests his excellency the commander-in-chief to give the necessary instruction to carry this order strictly into effect, as well as to protect all persons bringing provisions into the camp.”
The report of the secretary concerning the installation of the young maharajah in his palace, under the British auspices, is very striking, and exemplifies the grandeur and customs of oriental courts and conquerors:—
“I have the honour to state, for the information of your excellency, that, in accordance with the instructions contained in the order of the governor-general of yesterday’s date, I proceeded in the afternoon with the escort ordered, and accompanied by the officers mentioned below, on elephants, to conduct the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh to his palace in the citadel of Lahore:—Major Lawrence, the govern or-general’s political agent; W. Edwards, under-secretary of the foreign department; R. Oust, Esq., assistant-secretary to the foreign department; C. Hardinge, Esq., private secretary to the governor-general; Lieutenant-colonel Wood, military secretary to the governor-general; Captain Cunningham; Captain Hardinge, aide-de-camp to the governor-general; Captain Grant, ditto; Lord Arthur Hay, ditto; Captain Mills, ditto; Captain Bagot, aide-decamp to the commander-in-chief; Captain Edwardes, ditto; Captain Gilbert, aide-de-camp to General Gilbert; Captain Tottenham, aide-de-camp to General Smith; Lieutenant-colonel Smith, ditto; Captain Napier, ditto; Captain Smith, ditto.
“The procession was arranged in the following order:—9th irregular cavalry, 3rd light cavalry, her majesty’s 16th Lancers; troop horse artillery, Europeans; troop horse artillery, natives; her majesty’s 9th Lancers, the secretary, with the maharajah and suite, the governor-general’s bodyguard.
“The escort was formed in open column of troops left in front, commanded by Brigadier Cureton, C.B. We proceeded in this order to the encampment of the maharajah, about one mile and a half from our pickets, and nearly the same distance from the citadel gate of the city. At about three-quarters of a mile from the maharajah’s camp I was met by the minister, Rajah Gholab Singh, and some of the chiefs. Intimation of our approach was then sent on to the maharajah, that he might be ready upon his elephant upon our arrival.
“On reaching the maharajah’s camp, the troops of our escort drew up, and the maharajah, with Bhaee Kam Singh on the same elephant, came forward from his tent, accompanied by several chiefs. After the usual salutation and complimentary questions and replies, I placed the maharajah’s elephant next to mine, and the troops having fallen in, as at first, proceeded round the walls of the city to the gate of the citadel. On arriving, Brigadier Cureton drew up the escort in line in front of the gateway, and I took the maharajah, accompanied by the officers enumerated in the former part of this letter, with Rajah Gholab Singh and the other chiefs, into the interior of the citadel, and to the inner door of his palace. I then observed to the maharajah and chiefs, that by the order of the right hon. the governor-general, I had thus brought the maharajah, conducted by the British army, to his palace, which his highness had left for the purpose of tendering submission to the British government, and for placing himself, his capital, and his country at the mercy of the governor-general, and requesting pardon for the insult that had been offered; and that the governor-general had thus restored him to his palace as a mark of the favour which he desired to show to the descendant of the late Maharajah Runjeet Singh.
“A salute of twenty-one guns was then fired by the horse artillery. We then took leave of the maharajah at the gate of his palace, and returning to the outside of the city, we, continuing our progress round Lahore, thus returned to our camp. As our camp is situated opposite the south-east end of the city face, and the citadel is immediately within the city walls, at the north-west angle, we made the entire circuit of Lahore. I considered this preferable to going through the city, the streets of which are very narrow, and would have much impeded the progress of our large escort. We did not see one gun on any part of the walls, all their embrasures were empty.”
On the 22nd of February the governor-general occupied the citadel and the palace, and issued a general order, proclaiming the termination of the Sikh war. The army which had been engaged, and all regiments ordered up to its support, received a year’s batta (pay). Fej Singh, who was twice wounded at Sobraon, was at the head of a very considerable force in the neighbourhood of Umritsir; but, notwithstanding the devotion of his troops, he did not dare to offer resistance; his cannons were surrendered, the soldiery uttering loud cries of rage, and the officers, in tears, uttering suppressed groans of remorse and shame. The disbanded troops disturbed and plundered various districts in the country.