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176 a kingdom which should include all the children of the Khálsa, was ever present with him, and he had reasonable hope of its accomplishment. His three Cis-Sutlej expeditions had shown him how weak were the Phúlkian Rájás and Málwá chiefs, so torn by petty feuds as to be incapable of uniting against him; while the English Government had, hitherto, made no direct remonstrance, and had even given the chiefs who sought its protection at Delhi an evasive answer. The announcement of the approach of the English envoy, who left Karnál in the middle of August, caused Ranjít some uneasiness, but he determined to strengthen his position before the negotiations should commence and formed an army at Kasúr preparatory to a new invasion of the Cis-Sutlej. Here Mr. Metcalfe arrived on the 11th of September, having visited Patiála en route, where the Rájá again begged for protection and vainly tried to induce him to take the keys of the city, to be restored to him on behalf of the British Government.

Mr. Metcalfe lost no time in placing before the Mahárájá the proposal which he was instructed to make of an alliance, offensive and defensive, against France, in the event of an invasion which both the Government and the Lahore State were equally interested in repelling. The Mahárájá cordially assented to the proposal, but required in return the acknowledgment of his sovereignty over all the Sikh States and people. This claim Mr. Metcalfe had no authority to concede, and as he held out little hope of