The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MARCH 27, 1858.

presence of his most respected associates.
Still, the state of the country was so bad that
it was felt that something must be done ; and
a person who casually dipped into these vo-
lumes might easily fancy that annexation was
the measure recommended by the author. He
expresses himself, however, most distinctly as
opposed to it, and believes that our confisca-
tion of the revenues and absorption of the
country would lose us the confidence of the
whole of India. His scheme was that of as-
sumin,9; the administration—a very different
thing—and devoting the whcle of the proceeds
to the Government, the country, and public
works. Ho very clearly saw the danger which
the former plan might occasion :

While we have a large portion of the country under
native rulers, their administration will contrast with ours
greatly to our advantage in the estimation of the people ;
and we may be sure that, though some may be against us,
many will be for us If we succeed in sweeping them all
away, or absorbing them, we shall be at the mercy of our
native army, and they will see it ; and accdents may pos-
sibly occur to unite them, or a great portion of them, in some
desperate act. The thing is possible, though improbahle ;
and the best provision against it seems to me to be the
maintenance of native rulers, whose confidence and affec-
tion can be engaged, and administrations improved under
judicious management.

The following is from a letter to Lord Dal-
housie:—

In September, NV, T took the liberty to mention to
your lordship my fears that the system of annexing and
absorbing native States—so popular with our Indian
service, and so much advocated by a certain class of
writers in public journals—might some day render us too
visibly dependent upon our native army; that they might
see it, and that accidents might occur to unite them, or
too great a portion 9f them, in some desperate act. My
only anxiety about Burmah arises from the same fears.
Our native army has been too much petted of late ; and
they are liable to get into their heads the notion that we
want them more then they want us
Not only can no commanding officer say wind his corps
will do under circumstances in which their religion or
prejudices may afford a pretext for disobedience, but no
of can say how far their regiments sympathise with
the recusant or discontented corps, and are prepared to
join them.

He expresses the same view in a letter to Sir
James %Veir Hogg, dated 12th Jan., 1833 :

The people see that these annexations and confisca-
tions go on, and that rewards and honorary distinctions
are given for them, and fur the victories which lead to
them, and f)r little else; and they are too apt to infer that
they are systematic, and encouraged, and prescribed from
home. The native States I consider to be breakwaters,
and when they are ail swept away, we shall he left to the
mercy of our native army, which may not always be suffi-
ciently under our control. Such a feeling as that which
pervaded Runde'cunt' and Gwalior in 1842 and 1843,
mast, sooner or later, pervade all India, if these doctrines
are carried out to their full extent ; and our rule could
not probably exist under it. With regard to Oude, I can
only say that the King pursues the same course, and
every day shows that he is unfit to teign. lie has not the
slightest regard for the duties or responsibilities of his
high position ; and the people, and even the members of
his own family, feel humiliated at his misconduct, and
grow weary of his reign. The greaser part of these mem-
bers have not received their stipends for from two to three
years, and they despair of ever receiving them as long as
he reigns. He is neither tyrannical nor creel, het alto-
gether incapable of devoting any of his time or attention
to business of any kind, but spends the whole of his
time with women, eunuchs, tiddlers, and other parasites.
Should he be set aside, as he deserves to be, three courses
are open : 1. To appoint a regency during the minority
of the heir apparent, who is now about eleven years of age,
to govern with the advice of the Resident ; 2. To manage
the country by European agency during the regency, or in
perpetuity, leaving the surplus revenue to the royal
family ; 3. To confiscate and annex the country, and
pension the royal family. The first plan was prescribed
by Lord Hardinge, in case of accident to the King; the
second is what was done at Nagpore, %%Ph so much advan-
tage, by Sir Richard Jenkius in 1817 ; the third is what
the absorbing school would advocate, but I should most
deprecate. It would be most profitable for us, in a pecu•
niary point of view, but most injurious, I think, in a
political one. It would tend to accelerate the crisis which
the doctrines of that school must, sooner or later, bring
nn )n ns. Which course the Goveruor•General may prefer
I know not.

These volumes arc full of interesting obser•
vations and amusing anecdotes, among which
may be mentioned in particular the six stories
apparently well authenticated —of boys
brought up by wolves (vol. i., p 206-222),
and the absurdities related of Ghazee•od-
Deen Hyder and of the late King. But we
can only find space to refer to the light cast
on recent events by the remarks in vol. i. c. vi.
respecting the custom lately prevalent of al-
lowing the sepoys to forward their• complaints
through the British civil authorities. Colonel
Sleeman bhows very clearly that this pri-
vilege made the honest men discontented,
the dishonest successful, and both trouble-