𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐀𝐦𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐚𝐫( 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐲) 𝐈𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟔

A good deal of controversy has taken place of late as to whether the British Government was right in selling Cashmere to Maharaja Gulab Singh. Three things become quite clear from the above conditions, namely,

first, that the territories included in the Treaty of Amritsar were made over to Gulab Singh and the heirs male of his body for ever in independent possession;

second, that those territories were so made over, not only for eminent services and in confirmation of existing rights, but actually for a valuable consideration in hard cash; and

third, that the Maharaja was exempted from payment of a tribute and thus accorded a place higher than that of most Indian Princes and Chiefs.

In the winter of I 845-46, the first Sikh War broke out, but Gulab Singh held aloof from hostilities. The battle of Sobraon, however, decided the fate of the contest in favour of the British. Then Gulab Singh appeared as a mediator between the contending parties. His mediation was gladly accepted and a treaty was, on 9th March I 846, concluded between the British Government and the Lahore Durbar by which the latter ceded, as an indemnity for one crore of rupees, to the East
India Company, in perpetual sovereignty, the hill-country between the Beas and the Indus. A week later, that is, on 16th March 1846, a second treaty, known as the treaty of Amritsar, was made by the British Government with Maharaja Gulab Singh by which about three-fourths of the above hill-country were agreed
to be made over to him. ‘This treaty contained the following articles:

I. British Government transfers and makes over for ever, in independent possession, to Maharaja Gulab Sigh and the heirs male of his body, all the hilly and mountainous country, situated to the eastward of the river Indus and westward of the river Ravi, including Chamba and excluding Lahore, being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State, according to the provisions of article IV of the Treaty of Lahore, dated 9th March 1846.
II. The eastern boundary of the tract, transferred by the foregoing article to Maharaja Gulab Singh, shall be laid down by Commissioners appointed by the British Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh, respectively, for that purpose, and shall be defined in a separate engagement after survey.
III. In consideration of the transfer made to him and his heirs by the provisions of the foregoing articles, Maharaja Gulab Singh will pay to the British Government the sum of rupees (Nanakshahi) fifty lakhs to be paid in ratification of this treaty, and twenty-five lakhs on or before the 1st October of the current year A. D. I 846.

IV. The limits of the territories of Maharaja Gulab Singh shall not, at any time, be changed without the concurrence of the British Government.

V. Maharaja Gulab Singh will refer to the arbitration of the British Government any disputes or questions that may arise between himself and the Government of Lahore or any other neighbouring State, and will abide by the decision of the British Government.
VI. Maharaja Gulab Singh engages for himself and his heirs to join, with the whole of his military force, the British troops when employed in the hills, or in the territories adjoining his possessions.
VII. Maharaja Gulab Singh engages never to take or retain in his service any British subject nor the subject of any European or American State without the consent of the British Government.
VIII. Maharaja Gulab Singh engages to respect British Government transfers and makes over for ever, in independent possession, to Maharaja Gulab Sigh and the heirs male of his body, all the hilly and mountainous country, situated to the eastward of the river Indus and westward of the river Ravi, including Chamba and excluding Lahore, being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State, according to the provisions of article IV of the Treaty of Lahore, dated 9th March 1846.
IX. The eastern boundary of the tract, transferred by the foregoing article to Maharaja Gulab Singh, shall be laid down by Commissioners appointed by the British Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh, respectively, for that purpose, and shall be defined in a separate engagement after survey.
X. In consideration of the transfer made to him and his heirs by the provisions of the foregoing articles, Maharaja Gulab Singh will pay to the British Government the sum of rupees (Nanakshahi) fifty lakhs to be paid in ratification of this treaty, and twenty-five lakhs on or before the 1st October of the current year A. D. I 846.
XI. The limits of the territories of Maharaja Gulab Singh shall not, at any time, be changed without the concurrence of the British Government.
XII. Maharaja Gulab Singh will refer to the arbitration of the British Government any disputes or questions that may arise between himself and the Government of Lahore or any other neighbouring State, and will abide by the decision of the British Government.
XIII. Maharaja Gulab Singh engages for himself and his heirs to join, with the whole of his military force, the British troops when employed in the hills, or in the territories adjoining his possessions.
XIV. Maharaja Gulab Singh engages never to take or retain in his service any British subject nor the subject of any European or American State without the consent of the British Government.
XV. Maharaja Gulab Singh engages to respect, i n regard to the territory transferred to him, the provisions of articles V. VI. and VII. of the separate engagement between the British Government and the Lahore Durbar, dated 9th March 1846. (These clauses in the Lahore Treaty referred to the Jagirdars, to arrears of revenue and to the property in the forts thereby transferred.)
XVI. The British Government will give its aid to Maharaja Gulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies.
XVII. Maharaja Gulab Singh acknowledges the supremacy of the British Government, and will in token of such supremacy present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve perfect shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female), and three pairs Cashmere shawls.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐩𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 – 𝐑𝐬. 𝟕 𝟓,𝟎𝟎;𝟎𝟎𝟎

𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙥𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

The Hon’ble The East India Company having received from His Highness the Maharaja Gulab Singh the sum of Rs. 75,00,000.(seventy-five lakhs) in payment of the amount guaranteed by the III Article of the Treaty between the Hon’ble Company and His Highness dated Amritsar the 16thMarch, 1846, this single acknowledgment of the receipt of the whole amount is· granted. By the Board of Administration for the affairs of the Punjab at the request of Dewan Jowalla Sahae, in addition to the receipts already given to His Highness’ agents by the receiving officers, for the installments received by them from time to time between the date of the Treaty and the 14th March 1850, the day on which the last installment was paid into the Lahore Treasury.”

H. M. [H. M. Lawrence.]
J. L. [John Lawrence.]
0. G. [C. G. Mansel.]
Lahore, 29th March, 1850.