Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/104

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THE PUNJAB WAR
95

demands of the Darbár in regard to revenue; and, after an interval, he tendered his resignation and begged to be relieved of his governorship. On Currie's arrival his resignation was accepted, and Sardár Khán Singh was appointed Nazim (Governor) to relieve him.

It is to be remembered that one of the political intrigues in which the Mahárání was thought to have been involved was with Mulráj; and it may be conjectured, as at least probable, that there was mischief at the bottom of Mulráj's present complaints, proposals, and proceedings; but John Lawrence did not think so at the time; and it was even mooted that he should be appointed a member of the Punjab Council of Regency.

Certainly nothing seems to have been done, of any moment, to ascertain promptly and vigorously the real state of matters and of feeling at Múltán before assenting to Mulráj's request, though there was no part of the Punjab in which there was such a diversity of races of importance, the Múltání Patháns especially being hereditary foes of Mulráj's rule.

The result was that Sardár Khán Singh, accompanied by two young English officers, Mr. Vans Agnew of the Civil Service, and Lieut. Anderson, proceeded with an escort to Múltán. But the movement was mismanaged, both in spirit and in detail. The vigorous personal guidance and assertion that had made the Kashmír expedition so successful, was entirely absent. There was none of the care and precaution exercised that was