28 FEBRUARY 1846, Page 10

Among papers laid before Parliament is an extract from a

despatch by the Governor-General of India to the Secret Committee of the East India Directors, which throws some further light on the events that led to the recent battles, and on the position of the two parties afterwards.

There are no distinct explanations as to the nature of the dispute carried on between the British and Sikh negotiators; but Sir Henry Hardinge says tluithe was most anxious to avoid giving alarm and causing hostilities. Therefore he remained motionless from the 18th November to the 8th December. Perhaps that looked like weakness or timidity ; but he has reason to believe that the Lahore Government was influenced by no such impression. "The Regent and her advisers courted collision for the purpose of employing their unruly soldiers against their friendly neighbour, as the safest means of extricating themselves from the personal dangers to which they were constantly exposed." Active in- trigues had also been suspected, to provoke insurrection in the protected Eakh states as soon as a Sikh army should cross the Sutlej; but probably the intrigues succeeded only with a few chiefs of foolish character. On the 7th and 8th Decem- ber, however, Sir Henry heard that the Sikhs were making military preparations on a large scale; and he ordered up the whole of the protective army towards the Sutlej for the relief of Ferozepore. He, in common with experienced officers, did not believe that the Sikh army would cross the river: they had as much right as the British to strengthen their own bank: in 1843 and 1844 they actually marched down to the river, encamped on the bank for a few weektiLand returned to the capital: no aggression was expected now but that of plundering parties. He knew, too, that Ferozepore was strong enough to hold out until it should be relieved. Nevertheless, he thought it prudent to move forward ; and the troops began to do so from Umballa and other places on the 10th of December. On the 1304 he first heard that the Sikhs had actually crossed the river; every available British soldier was advanced; and the assailants were met at Moodkee, on the 18th, and repulsed. The delay of two days in following up the advantage was not objec- tionable, because the Sikh army was known to be solely intent on preparing toil"- tercept the relieving force, and to contemplate no attack on Ferozepore. The actions of the 21st and 22d were followed by the retreat of the Sikh force across the Sutlej; and on the 81st of December, when Sir Henry wrote, the British army was encamped between Ferozepore and the fords. "The force thus promptly brought forward from Umballa to the frontier has proved that it was sufficient for the protective object for which it was prepared—to repulse the treachery of the Maharajah's Government, and the arro- gance of the Sikh army." "Immediate measures will be taken for bringing into some order and settlement the estates which have been declared confiscated on this side of the Sutlej ; when it is hayed that the advantages of the British rule may, by light assessment and judicious arrangements, be made apparent to them.

Sir IL Hardinge, in anticipation of the worst, arranged all his worldly affairs previous to the battle of Moodkee; and, to insure the safety of the sword given him by the Duke of Wellington, he sent it into Ferozepore.—Globe.