Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/122

Rh the territory under the altered circumstances; his own inclinations being at that time strongly against undertaking the new duties — partly from his avowed view of the impolicy of the annexation, but mainly from the belief that the arrangements that would ensue would be so harsh to the conquered people that his concurrence in them would be out of the question.

But Sir Henry Elliot, the Secretary in the Foreign Department, was deputed by Lord Dalhousie to see Sir Henry Lawrence on the subject, and explain to him that the Governor- General particularly desired that he should continue in his leading position in the Punjab, if only for the special reason that it would ensure his having the best opportunity for effecting his great object, the fair and even indulgent consideration of the vanquished — the smoothing down of the inevitable pangs of subjugation to those proud and brave enemies, with whose chief and leaders no man was so familiar as he, or so appreciative of what was noble in their character. Such an appeal — such a reason — entirely altered Sir Henry's sentiments, placed the prospect in a wholly new light, led him to withdraw his resignation, and made him more reconciled to Lord Dalhousie and his ways.

He had been appointed Chief Commissioner in February, but the eventual arrangement for the administration was not that of one responsible ruler in charge of it, but that it should be vested in a triumvirate consisting of Sir Henry Lawrence as