The Maharajah Duleep Singh and the Government: a Narrative, published by the Maharajah for private circulation, and inscribed by him for presentation to Henry Waldemar Lawrence

Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh, 1884

Footnotes

A rare publication, inscribed by Maharajah Duleep Singh himself for presentation to Henry Waldemar Lawrence (1845-1908), 3rd Baronet, and son of Henry Lawrence, British Political Resident in the Punjab in the 1840s. The inscription reads: Henry Lawrence, with Maharani's kind regards, July 1884 (i.e. Maharani Bamba Duleep Singh, Maharajah Duleep Singh's wife).

To quote the preface: The following narrative has been compiled, partly from historical sources, and partly from private information and documents furnished by the Maharajah Duleep Singh. The object of the work is to inform those of his friends who care to know it, the nature of the Maharajah's differences with the Government, and to disabuse their minds of any prejudices which may have arisen from what appeared in print on the same subject about a year ago.

Part I concerns the history of the Punjab, the reign of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, and events immediately after his death, until 1843. It explains 'the political position of the Maharajah at the time he came to the throne and his title to private estates and landed property in the Punjab, independently of his sovereign rights'. Part II is entitled The Life and Fortunes of the Maharajah Duleep Singh, and the Annexation of the Punjab. Part III discusses relations between the Maharajah and the British Government, his guardianship and the treaty of 1849. Several appendices deal with various treaties between the Sikhs and the British.