a certain extent involving the 'subsidiary' element which Lord Hardinge had objected to a year before; but, as a fact, it did not include the combination which he had meant by the phrase, and which he had prominently in his mind as undesirable, viz. freedom of action on the part of the native rulers, and their support by a British contingent, i.e. an army levied by the British but paid by the State.
Lord Hardinge's despatches of September 1846 and the following months show clearly his views of the past management of the Punjab; of the conduct of the Council and others; the necessity for a change; the grounds for the new arrangements, and the steps by which they were introduced. Some extracts will here be useful.
Referring to such success as had been achieved, he says: —
'There can be no doubt of the great improvement of our relations with the people of the Punjab, in this short space of time, which is corroborated by the satisfaction which has followed the assessment of lands made in the Jálandhar and the ceded territories.
'I notice this state of popular feeling, as far as it can be correctly ascertained, not only because its existence is a satisfactory proof that the occupation has been followed by desirable results, but because this disposition on the part of the people to confide in our justice and lenity will be an essential means of carrying on a Government through a British Minister, if such an expedient should be adopted. At any rate you will be enabled to form a correct judgement of the present state of our relations with the Punjab.'
