Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/76

72 quarters, and its dismemberment seemed inevitable. The next event was the death of Híra Singh and Pandit Julia, the latter one of the ablest and most astute of the Lahore Sardárs. They both fell in an action which took place on December 21st, 1844.

Peshora Singh was now made use of by the army to coerce the Rání. They declared him to be their Sovereign, but he declined the proffered honour. Major Broadfoot, the British Agent, at once informed the Darbár that the Governor-General had recognised Dhulíp Singh as the Sovereign, and would be no party to permitting any other successor to Ranjít. In the meantime, overtures were made to our Agent by the Darbár. They asked for a British force to be permanently stationed at Lahore, with the view of overawing the army. But Major Broadfoot again declined to interfere. The Governor-General remarks in a letter written at this time, 'That as long as this military power is under no control, there is no chance of a permanent government; that the Government of India were determined to respect the Treaty of 1809, and to avoid all interference with the dissensions of the Darbár.'

The Pancháyats now entered into negotiations with Ghuláb Singh. He received them with humility, placing his sword and shield at their feet, and gave £250,000 to be distributed among the men. The post of Minister was offered to him; which, with his usual cunning, he declined in favour of Peshora Singh. Negotiations were broken off; but the crafty