The Press.
London, England, 1858-10-09 00:00:00

THE INDIAN POLICY OF LORD CANNING.

I

THE following despatches have been forwarded to
us for publication by the Secretary of State for
India :
Foreign Department (Secret), AUshabaJ,
Juue 17th, 1858.
TO THE HONOURABLE THE SECRET COMMITTEE OF THE

HONOURABLE THE CURT OF DIRECTORS.
Honourable Sirs,-1 have the honour to reply to your
despatch No 1,954, of the 19th of April.
That despatch condemns in the strongest terms the
proclamation which, on the 3rd of March, I directed the
Chief Commissioner of Oude to issue from Lucknuw.
2. Although written in the secret committee, the despatch
was made public in England three weeks before it resc:ied
my hands. It will in a few days be read in every station in
Hindostan.
3. Before the despatch was published in England it bad
been announced to Parliament by a Minister of the Crown
as conveying disapproval, in every sense, of the policy in-
dicated by the Governor-General's proclamation. Whether
this description was an accurate one or not 1 cm not inquire.
The telegraph has already carried it over the length and
breadth of India.
4. 1 need scarcely tell your honourable committee that
the existence of such a despatch, even had it never passed
ont of the records of the secret department, would be
deeply mortifying to me, however confident I might feel
me.
that your honourable committee would, upon reconsidera-
tion, relieve me of the censure which it casts upon
Still less necessary is it for me to poin t out that the
publication of the document, preceded as it has been by
an authoritative declaration of its meaning and spirit, is
calculated greatly to increase the difficulties in which the
Government of India is placed, not only by weakeniug the
authority of the Governor-General, but by encoursgiog
resistance and delusive hopes in many classes of the popu-
lation of Oude.
5. So far as the despatch, and the mode in which it has
been dealt with, affect myself personally, I will trouble your
honourable committee with very few words.
No taunts or sarcasms, come from what quarter they
may, will turn me from the path which I believe to be that
of my publis duty.
I believe that a change in the head of the Government
of India at this time, if it took place under circumstances
which indicated a repudiation on the part of the GOVOTII.
meat in England of the policy which has hitherto been
pursued towards the rebels of Oade, would seriously retard
the pacification of the country. I believe that the policy
has been from the beginning merciful without weakness,
and indulgent without compromise of the dignity of the
Government. I believe that wherever the authority of the
Government has been established it has become manifest
to the people in Oude and elsewhere, that the indulgence
to those who make submission, and who are free from.
atrocious crime, will be large. i believe that the issue of
the proclamation which has been so severely condemued.
was thoroughly consistent with that policy, and that it oit
so viewed by those to whom it is addressed. believe ths
earliest
policy, if steadily pursued, offers the best and
prospect of restoring peace to Onde upon a stable footing._
O. Firm in these convictions 1 will not in
down a time
mof
unexampled difficulty, denger, and toil lay of
lay
own act the high trust which I have the honour to ho