inftate her fon, the young rajah, in his authority.

She promised moreover to fend him an annual tribute of 50,000 rupees, if he would guarantee her fon in the undisturbed poffeffion of it.

Mr. Thomas, though well aware that by accepting the present offer he should draw on himself a procraftinated war, nevertheless obferves with that humane confideration which always marked his character, that the fallen condition of an ancient and honourable family had great weight with him in forming his refolution on this head.

In the mean time the impoftor, hearing of the negotiations betwixt the Rannee and Mr. Thomas, fent the latter a letter, in which he ftated, that having called to his affiftance Runjeet Sing and others, the most powerful among the Seik chiefs, he was now on his march against Mr. Thomas, and advised him, if he wished for quarter, to fend a vakeel directly to

his camp. In this letter, arrogating to himself the title of fucceffor of Nanick, and fovereign of the Seik nation, he recommended implicit obedience to his commands. Equally indignant at the style of the impoftor's address, as he was regardless of his menaces, Mr. Thomas replied, that had he feared the power of the Seiks he would not have penetrated thus far into the Punjab; that he was accustomed to receive and not to fend vakeels; and that if the impoftor wished to live on amicable terms, he must not only pay a fum of money, as others had been compelled to do, but likewise immediately evacuate the territories which he had so unjustly usurped from the infant rajah.

The boldness of this anfwer only contributed to incenfe the impoftor, and he prepared to attack Mr. Thomas.

Meanwhile the young rajah, despairing of profiting by a longer stay with the chief of Pattialah, of his own accord took leave, and came straight to Mr. Thomas's camp. "The comely appearance (fays he) of this youth,

his fallen condition, and, above all, the con

"fidence he fhewed in placing his whole re"liance on one against whom he was fo lately "leagued in enmity, altogether influenced me "in his favour, and determined me to use "every exertion in fupport of his caufe."

The impoftor, who by this time had reinforced his army with the troops of Pattialah and others, was encamped in the neighbourhood; but, on Mr. Thomas's advancing, he thought proper to retreat; and his people having no artillery, evacuated the different posts much fafter than Mr. Thomas could advance to take poffeffion. So rapid was his march, that in one place he found the bed, palankeen, tent, and baggage, belonging to the impoftor, who by a timely retreat faved himself from being made prifoner, and never afterwards occafioned any disturbance.

The Rannee and her fon were put in poffef fion of their country, the most active of the rebels were seized, and it was not long before the rajah's authority was completely re-eftablifhed.

During thefe tranfactions, the chief of Pattialah, having been joined by others, advanced to attack Mr. Thomas, with a determination to expel him the country. Several skirmishes enfued between the armies, but without much effect on either fide, neither party being defirous of rifking a general engagement. The war was therefore carried on in a defultory manner. The Seiks wifhed, by annoying his foraging parties, to cut off the fupplies from his camp. This mode alfo prevented him from making collections; and though nothing ferious occurred, yet the scene of action being on the borders of the young rajah's country, occafioned great lofs to the cultivation of the lands. Mr. Thomas, therefore, would willingly have carried the war immediately into the enemy's territories. To this, however, neither the rajah or his mother would confent; but, with the most preffing intreaties, requested him to remain, while the Seiks continued in that neighbourhood.

So long as prudence allowed, Mr. Thomas willingly liftened to the folicitations of his allies; but his ammunition beginning to fall

fhort, he was reluctantly compelled to march toward his own country to procure a supply.

The Seiks, as he had foreseen, haraffed him on the march; but their attempts proving ineffectual to do him any effential injury, only incited him to retaliate, by deftroying their villages as he paffed along. Directing his

march towards Hanfi, he perceived, not without fatisfaction, that the whole of the Seik army were following him, by which means. the country of his youthful ally would, at leaft for the prefent, be free from their depredations.

It must now be remarked, that previous to Mr. Thomas's fetting out for the Punjab frontier, the chiefs of Keithul and Jeind, two of his moft powerful neighbours, had concluded a treaty, by which they agreed to a ceffation of hoftilities during his abfence, to abstain from the invafion of his territories, and allow him to profecute the war against his enemies. Those chiefs, perceiving the ftrong combination which had been formed against Mr. Thomas, now joined themfelves to his other enemies. He therefore prepared to punish them.