About the Book
"A History of the Reigning Family of Lahore" (1847) by Major G. Carmichael Smyth is a detailed account of the Sikh Empire's ruling dynasty, particularly the lineage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Smyth offers insights into the political intrigue, military conquests, and cultural achievements of the Lahore court. His narrative explores the rise of Sikh power in Punjab, providing valuable historical context for understanding the region's socio-political dynamics during the 19th century and the impact of British colonialism.
About the Author
Major George Carmichael Smyth (1779-1838) was a British military officer and author known for his work "A History of the Reigning Family of Lahore" (1847). Smyth served in the East India Company's army. gaining insights into the political landscape of Punjab. His book provides valuable historical accounts of the Sikh Empire and its rulers.
Preface
A DEDICATION is generally addressed to a great man, or some one to whom the author has been placed under obligations; it is either as a debt of gratitude, or an a loan, which the writer expects will be repaid to him with Hebrew interest, most praiseworthy in the first instance, most paltry in the second.
The expressions, flowing from a grateful heart, will ever be read with admiration; but the foul flattery of a Para-site is beneath contempt, and generally as false as it is foul.
My dedication, however, is neither as a debt nor as a loan; and, if the name of one who was great, and would have been greater, has been mentioned, it is-because he has departed; for, notwithstanding this book was undertaken at his suggestion, when we last met at Loodiana, still it would never have been presented to the living man, though offered now " to his memory."
Introduction
THE following pages have been compiled partly from native manuscripts, and partly from information collected from Seik Sirdare, and European officers in the Seik service; but chiefly from the notes of a Captain Gardner of the Seik Artillery, who has for several years past supplied important informa-tion to the British Government without betraying his own, as all the intrigues he brought to light were those of the Jummoo family, and their condjutor the Pundit; and there is every reason to believe Captain Gardner could give further information, and prove that the Dogra chiefs were at the bottom of the Cabul insurrection! An insur rection, which, in all probability, never would have taken place, had Lord Auckland followed the suggestions of Sir William Maenaghten regarding the Punjaub, on the death of No Nihal Singh; for then it was the Envoy declared the tripartite treaty at an end, as Sheer Sing who had usurped the rajh, could not, by the most forced construction, be con-sidered the posterity of Runjeet Sing; and all those who had made themselves ncquainted with the History of the Punjaub must have been aware of this, as Suda Kour's attempt to pass off the two children (Sheer Sing and Tarn Sing) on the Seik chief, as the twin sons of her daughter, Metab Kour, is stated in Mr. Prinsep's Life of the old Maharajh; and I might bring forward the authority of many others, well informed upon the subject, from General Ventura to Mr. Vigne; but it is useless discussing this point, for it is as well known that Sheer Sing was not the son of the Maharajh, as it is that Heera Sing was the Alexis, the delicias domini: I do not mean to nasert, however, that Dulleep Sing is the offspring of the old impotent sinner, but he certainly is his mother's son, and that may give him some small claim to the Guddee. I think it is in Don Juan, Byron says of the Emperor Alex-ander of Russia.
