Account: Charles Metcalfe on his First Meeting with Ranjit Singh

Charles Metcalfe in a capacity of a diplomat met with Ranjit Singh and wrote of his encounter with the Sikh Maharaja.

Charles Metcalfe served as an administrator and a diplomat for the Great Britain’s colonies of India, Jamaica, and then Canada. His rise began with his appointment as secretary to Governor-General of Bengal Lord Wellesly then took several diplomatic assignments and administrative posts before becoming acting governor-general of India in March 1835 up to 1838. In the same year of his end of tenure as governor-general, he resigned and returned to England only to be appointed as governor of Jamaica in 1839. With ailing health, he resigned again in 1842, but again accepted a new post as governor-general of Canada in 1843 until 1845 when his health deteriorated further and finally collapsed in 1846.

In 1808, Charles Metcalfe received the order to meet with Maharaja Ranjit Singh and limit the expansion of the growing Sikh Empire with the Sutlej River. He also aimed to make an ally of the Maharaja against alarming French plans with Persia against India.

I paid my first visit to Ranjit Singh, accompanied by the officers attached to the escort. The Rajah met us on the outside of a large enclosure, and having embraced all the gentlemen of the mission, conducted us within, where tents had been prepared for our reception. As compliment to us, the Rajah, from his own choice, used chairs at this meeting, partly collected from our camp and partly from his own, upon which he and the principal Sirdars present and the gentlemen of the British mission were seated. This interview was prolonged by the Rajah beyond the usual time of visits of ceremony; but nothing of consequence passed at it. The Rajah did not enter much into conversation, and made only two observations worthy of remark. One was an expression of regret for the lamented death of Lord Viscount Lake, of whom he observed that it would be difficult to find his equal, for that he was as much distinguished by his gentleness, mildness, humanity, and affability, as by his greatness as a military character. The other observation was in reply to one of his courtiers, who was remarking that the British Government was celebrated for good faith; upon which Ranjit Singh said that he knew well that the word of the British Government included everything.

Metcalfe sensed the attitude of officials towards him.

In brief, it would appear that I am regarded as a dangerous enemy to be guarded against, rather than as an envoy from a friendly state charged with the most amicable duties.

See also:

Ranjit Singh

Victor Jacquemont on his meetings with Ranjit Singh

Bibliography:

Kaye, John William. The Life and Correspondence of Charles, Lord Metcalfe. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1858.