Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/131

Rh givings before he consented to this occupation. Hosts of critics and advisers prophesied a repetition of the Kábul disaster; even Sir Charles Napier thought it involved great risk, and on that ground volunteered to command the garrison. The Governor-General stated in reply that, however much he valued his eminent services, he felt, in consideration of Sir Charles's health, it would not be fair to him that such an offer should be accepted.

On the same day (March 9th) the Darbár was held in the state tent at 4 p.m. It was attended by the Governor-General, the Commander-in-Chief, the Governor of Sind (Sir Charles Napier), and the principal European and native officers of the army. The Mahárájá, accompanied by Lál Singh, Ghuláb Singh, Tej Singh, and thirty Sardárs, took his seat in a chair of state which had been prepared for him opposite the Governor-General, who was supported on his right and left by the chief civil and military officers. The scene was a striking one. The little prince, loaded with Oriental jewellery and with the Sikh aigrette in his turban, looked on with perfect calmness. Whether his intelligence could grasp the peculiarity of his position could not be fathomed; but when the Governor-General rose to address the chiefs his dark eyes became animated, and were fixed on the Lord Sahib dictating terms to the descendant of the great Ranjít.

In his address the Governor-General dwelt on the fact that the Government had in no way provoked the war,