In April 1844 ho accordingly undertook the government of India, and was sworn into office on landing at Calcutta in the July following.
On his arrival he found the vast territories under British rule enjoying the most profound peace. The disasters of the Affghan campaign had been avenged ; Sir Charles Napier had reduced the ameers of Scinde at 3leeanee and Hyderabad; Scinde itself had been annexed to our dominions; and the Mahratta war had been terminated by the submis sion of the Durbar at ()sweatier. The governor-general had therefore ample time to make himself master of very many details of govern ment, in which ho was not slow to perceive that considerable reforms were needed. Able and in his efforts, he did his best to bring about a better feeling and a more friendly footing than had hitherto prevailed between the services; he admitted the claims of the natives to many privileges ; he promoted a stricter discipline among the troops in general; he lent his powerful aid to the organisation of those Indian railways which have since been carried out with such marked success under his successor Lord Dalhousie; and in short, he did all that was in his power to promote the welfare of the community at large.
But the course of Indian events was not long destined to flow on iu peace. A storm of war and bloodshed was gathering iu the north ; and Sir Henry Hardinge, with all his precaution, could not have fore seen or avoided the events which awaited him. The death of Runjeet Sing, 'the Lion of Lahore,' had paved the way for an infinity of plottings and intrigues in the capital of the Punjaub. With the death of the Lion, it seemed that the controlling power had left Lahore; the young maharajah, Dhuleep Sing, a child of four years old, was, together with his mother, in the hands of the Sikh soldiery, who were wearied with domestic faction, and clamoured to be led out against their English neighbours. Active preparations were made by the Sikhs for crossing the Sutlej ; but long before the public had any idea of what was going on Sir Henry Hardinge was on the alert, and had quietly concentrated a force of 32,000 men and 68 guns round Ferozepore, Loodianah, and Umballa. The governor-general reached the latter place about the middle of December, and, proceeding to Loodianah, inspected the various cantonments, and made himself acquainted with the actual position of affairs. He at once moved up the whole of his force from Umbelie.; and on the 13th, learning that a large Sikh force had crossed the Sutlej River, be issued a proclama tion against the hostile invasion. Ou the 17th the Sikhs advanced, and partly entrenched themselves within strong earthworks at Feroze shah, while the other part encamped near Moodkee, opposite Feroze pore. The combined operations of the British cavalry under Brigadiers Gough, White, and Mactier, and of the infantry under Sir Harry Smith, Sir J. M'Caskill, and General Gilbert, drove back the Sikhs from their well-contested position, and won the glorious victory of Moodkee a victory too dearly purchased by the death of Sir Robert Sale. On the 22nd the attack was renewed at Ferozeshah ; but night came on before the victory could be completed, and some Sikh guns were being brought to bear with deadly aim upon the British columns, when the governor-general mounted his horse, and at the head of the 80th regiment, and a portion of the Bengal 1st Europeans, carried the guns at a charge and spiked them. The next day the Sikh entrenchments
were carried by the bayonet, the enemy's guns were captured, and the invaders re-crossed the Sutlej. The want of cavalry alone prevented Sir Hugh Gough from following the enemy into their country and marching on Lahore. There is something truly touching in the fact that, in this important battle, Sir Henry Hardinge, though he held the supreme civil authority in India, offered his services to Sir Hugh Gough as second in command, and took an active part in the eventful scenes of this and the following day, directing the left wing of the army throughout. The Sikhs, again defeated at Sobraon and Aliwal, were forced to sue for terms ; and the treaty of Lahore, concluded by Sir Henry Hardinge, exhibits him in the light of a moderate and magnanimous conqueror. He exacted from the Sikhs the whole expense of the war, and left a British garrison, under the late Sir John Littler, in Lahore, the capital of the Punjaub, for the protection of the maharajah's authority. This country—a healthy, well watered, and fertile region—was subsequently annexed to our dominions by the Marquis of Dalhousie. Ou the ratification of this treaty, Sir Henry Hardinge received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, together with a pension of 30001. a year, and was also advanced to the peerage as Viscount Hardinge of Lahore. The East India Company also con ferred on him a further pension of 50001. a year ; and the city of London voted him their freedom. In January 1848 he was super ' ceded in his Indian government by Lord Dalhousie. Though originally of Tory principles, after his elevation to the peeraga Lord Hardinge rarely spoke or busied himself in the House of Lords ou any measures except those of military interest. On Lord Derby's advent to power, in February 1852, Lord Hardinge again took office as master-general of the ordnance, and succeeded to the post of commander-in-chief, on the death of the Duke of Wellington, in the September following. He was promoted to the dignity of a G.C.B. in 1844, and obtained the colonelcy of the 57th Foot in 1843. Among foreign orders, he received those of the Red Eagle of Prussia, Wilhelm of the Netherlands, the Tower and Sword of Portugal, and that of San Fernando of Spain. He also received a cross and five clasps for his Peninsular services, and was present in no less than sixteen general actions for which medals were granted. He was promoted to the rank of a Field-Marshal on the 2nd of October 1855. He resigned the office of commander-in-chief, in consequence of a paralytic seizure, in July 1856. In the administration of the Horse Guards, as a veteran disciple of the Duke of Wellington, Lord Hardinge trod,: most care fully and religiously in his Grace's steps. In 1821 he married the Lady Emily Jane Stewart, daughter of Robert, first marquis of Londonderry, and widow of John James, Esq., by whom he had an only daughter and two sous. The younger son, Arthur, now captain and lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards, was aide-de-camp to his father in the battles on the Sutlej, and was also present se; the Alma.
Ilia lordship died September 21, 1854, and was succeeded by his el lest LI% Charles Stewart. born in 1822, who had been private secre tary to his father while goveruor-general of India.