superficial tranquillity, but in October, 1841 a real rising began, and with it the series of events which have been referred to as affecting the attitude of the Sikhs. Government had reduced the allowances to the Ghilzai clans for keeping the passes open, and they had then been immediately closed by the tribes. The country forthwith became disturbed; Sir Alexander Burnes was murdered, and later on also Sir William Macnaghten and others; and, in spite of some instances of vigorous action, the weakness and incapacity of the British chiefs allowed the gatherings of the Afghán tribes to come to such a head as to master completely the situation at Kábul.
It was towards the end of 1841 (November 14) that Lawrence, on the Punjab frontier, was the first to receive intelligence of this rising at Kábul. He at once realized the dangers of the situation, the evil effect it was likely to have on the Punjab, unless a resolute attitude were immediately adopted, and the necessity for prompt and vigorous measures. Forwarding the information forthwith to Sir George Clerk, he, at his own instance, urged Colonel Wild, at Firozpur, to prepare to send forward a brigade to the Sikh bank of the Sutlej, in view of an advance towards Pesháwar. Sir George approved; and authority was obtained from the Sikh Darbár for the force to move to Pesháwar through the Punjab, a course which on the previous occasion had not been sanctioned by that Court. The brigade was collected on
