The British and the Sutlej Treaty In 1808, at the end of April, an agent of the British government arrived at Lahore with presents for the Maharaja from the British government. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen relations between Ranjit Singh's government and the British government, which had been initiated by Eusaf Ali Khan 8 years before. Ranjit Singh was anxious to establish a Sikh monarchy extending from the Indus to the Jamna. The rulers of Malwa and Sirhind were filled with alarm, as they clearly foresaw their own ruin. In March, 1808, the rulers implored the protection of the British government, to solicit the protection of all states south-east of the Sutlej. Moreover, the ambitious Napoleon Buonaparte, Emperor of France, was believed to be meditating the invasion of India. The British wanted to form an defensive aliance with Ranjit Singh, and send C.T. Metcalfe to negotiate a treaty with the Maharaja. Ranjit Singh's highest ambition now was to unite the Sikhs and extend his empire from the banks of the Sutlej to the Jamna. Mr. Metcalfe met with the Maharaja on September 11th, 1808, and brought him gifts. The Maharaja expressed great satisfaction at the prospect of a British alliance, but did not want to confine his empire east of the Sutlej. However, the threat of independent chiefs and rulers going over to the side of the English convinced the Maharaja to withdraw his forces from the south of the Sutlej. A treaty was concluded at Amritsar on April 25th, 1809, by which Ranjit Singh agreed not to occupy territory south of the Sutlej, and withdraw all claims of sovereignty over the rulers of that territory. After the treaty being concluded on May 1st, 1809, the British established at Ludhiana under the command of Colonel Ochterlony.