and power of regent during the minority of the Maharaja upon the Mama Sahib. The British Government communicated to the durbar its entire approval of this measure; and the British resident, in the presence of the chiefs, explained to the regent that he was recognised as the responsible head of the Gwalior State, and, as such, would receive the support of the British Government.

"This declaration appeared to give general satisfaction. Nevertheless, after a short time, the Mama Sahib was violently compelled to quit the Gwalior State, in despite of the remonstrance of the British resident. The Dada Khasgee Walla succeeded to the confidence of the Maharanee without possessing generally that of the chiefs, and by his influence various acts were committed, insulting and injurious to the British Government. Persons, heretofore in compliance with its representations, deprived of offices in which their conduct had been injurious to both Governments, were restored to power, and others were removed who were known to be favourable to the maintenance of order, and to the continuance of the friendship which had so long subsisted between the two States. The British resident could not remain a spectator of transactions of which he vainly disapproved. On the expulsion of the Mama Sahib, he was instructed to withdraw from Gwalior.

"When the subsequent acts of the Dada, offensive to the British Government, and indicative of the substitution of hostile feelings for those friendly dispositions which had so long connected the two States, became known, the resident

opinion of the British Government, that it had become necessary to inflict some signal punishment upon that chief; and it was suggested, that in preference to any other punishment, he should be delivered as a prisoner into the charge of the British Government. It was not thereby intended to derogate from the honour of the Gwalior State, but solely to provide effectually for the security of the person of the Dada, for which, under the circumstances of the Gwalior State, it did not appear to be possible sufficiently to provide within the Gwalior territory. When afterwards it became known to the resident, that the Dada had withheld from the knowledge of the Maharanee and of the Durbar, a letter, addressed to the maharanee, conveying the sentiments of the British Government, the resident then peremptorily insisted upon the delivery of the Dada as a necessary preliminary to the reestablishment of the customary relations with the Gwalior State. That act on the part of the Dada could not be regarded otherwise than as a virtual usurpation of the sovereign authority in the Gwalior State, which the British Government is bound to maintain in the house of Scindia. With this last requisition the Maharanee at last has complied.

"The Governor General regards with satisfaction this act of her highness, however long deferred, as an indication of the desire of her highness, and of the durbar, to re-establish on their accustomed footing the friendly relations be tween the two States. It could not but be felt, that while the late occurrences at Gwalior were an offence to the British Government,

new insecurity to its subjects residing on the frontier. The want of cordial co-operation on the part of the officers of the Gwalior State, in the maintenance of order upon the frontier, had long been a subject of just remonstrance, and various orders had been issued by the late Maharaja in accordance with the representations of the British resident. These orders had but too often remained without due execution, but in consideration of the long illness of his highness, and of the consequent weakness of his administrations, the British Government had not pressed for satisfaction with all the rigour which the importance of the subject would have warranted. It knew the good disposition of the late Maharaja, and was willing to attribute his failure to effect what was right to the want of the power rather than of will.

But the recent occurrences at Gwalior, and the changed spirit in which the administration has been conducted, no longer permit the continuance of this forbearance. The British Government must now peremptorily insist upon the adoption of permanent measures for the establishment of order upon the frontier, and for the future security of its subjects. The British Government has so long deferred intervention in the distracted affairs of the Gwalior State, in the sincere hope the chiefs themselves would establish, in supersession of the disgraceful rule to which they have frequently submitted, an administration willing and able to satisfy its reasonable demands, and to maintain the accustomed friendly relations between the two States. The British Government can neither permit

vernment within the territories of Sindia, nor that those territories should be without a government capable of coercing its own subjects, and of maintaining everywhere the relations of good neighbourhood with the subjects of the British Government and its allies.

The deplorable events which have last occurred at Gwalior, the hostile conflicts in the camp before the palace of the Maharaja, and the practical suspension of all government of his highness's territories, now impose upon the British Government the duty of intervention, not solely for the security of British interests, but for the execution, according to its true spirit and intentions, of the solemn engagement of a treaty. By the Treaty of Boorhampoor, contracted with the Maharaja Dowlut Rao Scindia, the British Government engaged to maintain a force to be at all times ready on the requisition of the Maharaja, to protect the person of the maharaja, his heirs, and successors, to overawe and chastise rebels or exciters of disturbance in his highness's territories, and to reduce to obedience all offenders against his highness's authority.

"The tender age and the helpless position of the present Maharaja, rendered it impossible for him to address to the British Government such formal requisitions for aid as circumstances would justify him in demanding and compel him to demand, under the provisions of the Treaty of Boorhampoor; but it would be inconsistent with the good faith, and injurious to the good name of the British Government, were it to permit this inability to demand aid, which only gives the Maharaja

deprive his highness of that friendly support in its utmost need which it was the intention of Maharaja Dowlut Rao Scindia to secure for ever by that Treaty to himself, his heirs and successors. The Governor-General will, therefore, direct the immediate advance of forces amply sufficient to effect all the just purposes of the British Government-to obtain guarantees for the future security of its own subjects on the common frontier of the two States, to protect the person of the Maharaja, to quell disturbances with in his highness's territories, and to chastise all who shall remain in disobedience."

"Camp, Hingona, Dec. 25, 1843.

"The British army has entered the territory of Sindia, not as an enemy but as a friend to the Maharaja, bound by treaty to protect his highness's person, and to maintain his sovereign authority against all who are disobedient

The

and disturbers of the peace. Governor-General has no object but that of seeing re-established in the territories of Sindia a strong government, willing and able to preserve the accustomed relations of friendship with the British Government and all its allies-a government which may at all times do justice to the army as well as to the people, but command both for the good of all. The Governor-Ge

neral cautions the evil advisers of the Mahanaree, that they will themselves be held responsible for any resistance which may be offered to the measures deemed to

be necessary for the Maharaja's just authority, and for the security of his person and rights."

"27th December, 1843.

tered the dominions of Sindia as the friends and allies of the Maharaja, whose person and whose rights the British Government is bound by treaty to protect. The British Government desires only to establish the just authority of the Maharaja over all his subjects, and to place upon firmer and permanent foundations that friendship between the two States, which, for their mutual benefit, has existed so long, and which, not the British Government, but the evil disposed advisers of the maharanee, have now interrupted. The armies will regard and treat as friends all peaceful cultivators and traders; they will pay for all supplies brought to the camp, give compensation for all injury unintentionally done to property, and tilely. injure no one but such as act hos

been established at Gwalior, capa"A strong government having ble of maintaining the Maharaja's well as able to preserve tranquillity authority over all, and willing as on the common frontier, the British armies will now return to their own territory.

"By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of India."

But the British forces were not

destined to return to their own territory without a severe conflict. They had left Agra in the early part of December, immediately

after the arrival of the GovernorGeneral there. His Lordship accompanied the troops, and on the 23rd they crossed the Chumbul river and halted at Hingona, which is about twenty miles distant from Gwalior. The latter consists of a town commanded by a strong fortress.

At Hingona the army halted

terval the Mahratta Vakeels (or agents for the Gwalior Durbar) had an interview with the Governor-General; and it was supposed by him, as is evident from the latter part of his proclamation, that the negotiations were proceeding to an amicable and successful issue. But our crafty enemy appears to have engaged in them chiefly with the view of gaining time to assemble, and concentrate his forces. This appeared at last so evident, that the Governor. General determined upon active measures of hostility. It should be mentioned that, while the main body of our army moved on under the command of Sir Hugh Gough from Agra, another division under Major General Grey advanced on Gwalior from Bundlekhund. We have no distinct accounts of the operations of the troops, nor of the events which led immediately to a collision previous to the 29th of December, on which day the main division crossed the Koharee river early in the morning. They found the Mahratta forces drawn up in front of the village of Mahrajpoor in a very strong position, which they had occupied during the previous night, and which they had carefully intrenched.

The British troops were about 14,000 strong with forty pieces of artillery; and the Mahrattas mustered 18,000 men, including 3,000 cavalry with 100 guns. The action commenced by the gallant advance of Major General Littler's column upon the enemy in front, and the charge was successful, although the Mahratta troops fought with desperate bravery. We may give the rest of the narrative in the words of Sir

"I must do justice to the gallantry of their opponents, who received the shock without flinching, their guns doing severe execution as we advanced, but nothing could withstand the rush of British soldiers. H.M's 39th Foot, with their accustomed dash, ably sup ported by the 56th N. I., drove the enemy from their guns into the village, bayonetting the gunners at their posts. Here a most sanguinary conflict ensued; the Mahratta troops, after discharging their matchlocks, fought sword in hand with the most determined courage. General Valiant's brigade, with equal enthusiasm, took Maharajpoor in reverse, and twenty-eight guns were captured by this combined movement; so desperate was the resistance, that very few of the defenders of this very strong position escaped. During these operations, Brigadier Scott was opposed by a body of the enemy's cavalry on the extreme left, and made some well-executed charges with the 10th Light Cavalry, most ably supported by Captain Grant's troop of horse artillery and 4th Lancers, capturing some guns and taking two standards, thus threatening the right flank of the enemy. In conformity with the previous instructions, Major-General Valiant, supported by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, moved on the right of the enemy's position at Chonda. During the advance, Major-General Valiant had to take, in succession, three strong intrenched positions, where the enemy defended their guns with frantic desperation; H. M's 40th regiment losing two successive commanding officers, Major Stopford and Captain Coddington, who fell wounded at the very