The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

We do not ourselves place any stress upon
the opinions of such a whirligig as the late Sir
Robert Peel. But if the Manchester school
should disparage the fame of Lord Castlereagh
we might refer them to an elaborate eulogy
upon him from the late member for Tamworth.*
Are we too late in raising the question, has
justice been done to the memory of Lord Castle-
reagh; and, when Art has been invoked to minis-
ter to the celebrity of characters who lived in
more fortunate times, might not the sentiment
of loyalty desire to record in seine marble menu.
ment , risible to the popular gaze, the memory of the
• undaunted statesman, who stood by his Sore
reign and country in times when sedition was
hailed as patriotic, and revolution was invoked
as reform ? Nor let it be said that these
twelve volumes of despatches are the best me-
morial of the writer's fame. They are invalu-
able for reference, and must he frequently
consulted by the historian of that age. They
throw great light on many passages in the
momentous period at which they were com-
posed, hut, while we cordially thank Lord
Londonderry for giving them to the world, we
cannot help urging that the life of Lord Cas-
tlereagh, as an individual, remains to be
written.

Proposal of a Plan for Remodelling the Govern
meat of India. Respectfully submitted to
the consideration of her Majesty's Ministers
and both Houses of Parliament. London :
Smith, Elder, and Co.
THIS plan for the future government of India
is well worthy the attention of those to whom
it is addressed. It is evidently written by a
man of great knowledge and experience, and,
tbi.ugh proposing many considerable altera-
tions, is decidedly conservative. This is as it.
should be; let us byall means have alterations
in the system of government, but let us go de-
liberately to work, and be careful that such
alterations are improvements ; above all, let us,
if we wish to preserve the sovereignty of India,
studiously avoid the reckless radical reform,
the utter sweeping away of things as they are,
recommended by ignorant or disappointed
men, and supported so vehemently by the
cotton-spinners, " and persons of that sort,"
who think nothing of risking an empire against
the chance of securing a larger consumption of
Manchester goods and factory children.
The author proposes to continue the court
of directors and to renew their political powers
for a further term of twenty years, " the impe-
rial authority to be represented by a cabinet
minister, whose control over the court of direc-
tors shall be limited to the supervision of their
proceedings in questions of imperial concern
only ; such as peace and war, extension of ter-
ritory, commercial tariffs, &c., &c." He re
commends some changes with respect to the
election of directors, and an enlargement of
the constituency, which is, perhaps, objection-
able. But the most considerable alterations
in the present form of government advocated
by the writer affect the authorities and agencies
in India. The main feature of these is centrali-
sation.
The supreme government• is to consist of the
governor-general and a council of twelve, com-
posed of the following members :—One legis-
lative member ; the commander-in-chief of
the army in Balla, ex. officio ; six members,
civil and military, in equal proportion, to be
drawn, one from each of the six minor govern-
ments to be established ; and the four chief
secretaries to government. in the foreign,
financial, home, and military departments
respectively. The law officer and the com-
mander-in-chief to be nominated by the court,
and appointed under sanction of the Crown ;
the remaining members to be appointed abso-
lutely by the court of directors. The noun
oils at Madras and BoinbaLare to be abolished,
and six minor governments to be formed, viz.,
Bengal proper. Africa, the Punjaub, Bombay,
Madras, and the Straits; each under the au
thority of a lieutenant governor, to be
nom by the court of directors for
terms of five years, renewable at the plea

• Nee Sir H. Peel's letter ofJuly 23rd, 10439, quoted int:gesso
(i2astlereagh Despatches, First Series, p. 131). Not many years
ago Sir R. Peel, in our presence, spoke of Lord Castlereagh as
" that illusirions atatessinui."