Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/154

150 administration through native executive agency in accordance with the customs, feelings, and prejudices of the people. If, therefore, the proposal of the Regent and Darbár should lead to an offer to carry on the government by a British Minister, and the proposal should be confirmed by the influential chiefs, I should be disposed to give the experiment a favourable consideration.'

The contingency here contemplated had now arrived. In December, 1846, the Governor-General again visited Lahore. He announced that he was ready to withdraw the troops in accordance with the existing Treaty; but that, if the Darbár still wished for British protection, they must consent to the only conditions on which it could be afforded. Accordingly, a new Treaty was signed. The Rání was excluded from all power, receiving a pension of £15,000 a year. A Council of Regency, consisting of eight Sardárs, was appointed during the minority of Dhulíp Singh; and it was stipulated that they should act under the control and guidance of the British Resident. A British garrison was to occupy the Punjab during the same period of eight years, to be stationed in whatever towns and forts the Governor-General might think fit; while the Sikh Darbár agreed to pay £220,000 a year towards the expenses of occupation. The first Resident was Sir Henry Lawrence; and when he was compelled to take sick-leave in 1847, he was succeeded by Sir Frederic Currie, both of whom had taken a prominent part in all the preceding negotiations.