Year: 1859

| On the lst of November, the Proclamation of Queen
Victora assuming the sovereignty of India pub
lished in different parts of the country AT Bombay,
where there was grand celebration it read in front
of the Town Hall. The following is the


ROYAL PROCLAMATION.


Victoria by the grace of God of the United King
dom of Great Britain and ireland, and of the colonies
and dependencies thereof in Europe, ASIA Africa, Amer
lea, and Australia, Queen Defender of the Faith.


Whereas for divers weighty reasons, we have resov
ed, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords
spiritual and temporal and Commons in Parliament as
sembed to take upon ourselves the government of the
territories in Inda heretofore administered in trust for
us by the Honorable the East India Company:


"Now, therefore, we do by these presents notify and
declare that by the advice and consent aforesaid we
have taken upon ourselves the said government and we
hereby call upon all subjects within the said terri
tories to be faithful and to bear true allegiance to US
heirs and SUCCESSORS and to submit themselves to
the authority oil those whom may hereafter from time
to time tit to appoint to administer the government
of our said territories in name, and behalf


"And we, reposing especial trust and confidence in
the loyalty ability and judgment of right trusty and
welbeoved cousin and councillor, Charles John Wis
count Canning do hereby constitute and appoint him.
the said Viscount Canning to be our first Vicrey and
GovernorGenera in and said territories and
to administer the government thereof in name and
generally to act in our and behalf subject
such orders and regulations as he shall from time to
time receive from us through one of principal Secre
taries of State.


"And we do hereby confirm in their several Offices
civil and military all persons employed in the
vice of the Honorable East India Company, subject to
our future pleasure and to such laws and regulations
may hereafter be enacted.


We hereby announce to the native princes of India
that all treaties and engagements made with them by
under the authority of the Honorable East India Com
paDy by accepted and will be scrupuouSly main
tanned and look for like observance their part
/" We desire extension OF present territorial





on our dominions our rights to be attempted with
impunity shall sanction no encroachment Others
We shall respect the rights dignity and honor of native
princes as own and desire that they as well as
subjects, should enjoy that prosperity and that
social advancement which only be secured by inter-
nal peace and good government.


We hod ourselves bound to the natives of our In
dian territories by the obligations OF duty which
bind to all other subjects and those obligations
by the blessings of Almighty God shall faithfully
and cOnScientOusly fulfil.


Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Christan
ty, and acknowledging with gratitude the soace of
ligon, disclam alike the right and the desire to i'm
pose convictions any of our subjects We declare
it to be Royal will and pleasure that be in any
wise favored, moested disquieted, by reason
their religious faith observances but that all shall
alike enjoy the equal and impartial protection of the
law and do strictly charge and enoin all those who
may be in authority under that they abstain from all
intererences with the religious belief worship of any





And it is our further will that so far as may be- our
subjects of whatever race creed be freely and impair
TALLY admitted to offices in service the duties Of
which they may be qualified by their education, ability
and integrity, duly to discharge.


:" We know and respect the feelings of attachment
with which the natives of India regard the lands nher-
ted by them from their ancestors and desire to pro-
ec them in all rights connected herewith subject to
the equitable demands of the state; and will that,
generally in framing and administering the law due
ord
OF India.


d" We deeply lament the evils and misery which have
been brought upon India 10y the acts OF ambitious men
who have deceived their counuymcn by false reports
aud led them into open rebellion. Our power las been
shown by the suppression OF that rebellion the fed
desire to SHOW mercy by pardoning the offences
of those who have been thus misIed, but who desire to
return to The path Of duty.


! Already in onc province, with view to stop the
further etfusi0n OF blood, and to hasten the pacfcaon
OF our Indian dominons, Viceroy and Governor
General has held out the expectation CT pardon
tain terms to the great majority of those who, in the late
unhappy disturbance have been guilty OF offences against
government, and has declared the punishment which
will be inflicted those whose crimes place them be-
yond the reach of forgiveness We approve and confirm
the said act of our VicerOy and Governor General and
do further announce and proclaim as follows:


"Our clemency will be extended to all offenders
and except those who have been shall be convicted OF
having directly taken part in the murder of British sub
ects With regard to such the demands of Justice for
bid the exercise of mercy.


ITO those who have willingly given asylum to muir
derers knowing them to be such, or may have acted
as leaders nstgators in revolt, their lives alone
be guaranteed but in apporoning the penalty due to
such persons full consideration will be given to the cir
under which they have been induced to throw
off their allegiance and large indulgence will be shown
to those whose crimes may appear to have originated in


too creduous acceptance OF the false reports circulated
by designing men,


&C Tn otbar in Tho
hereby promise unconditional pardon amnesty and OBJ
vion of all offences against ourselves, crown and
dignity, their return to their homes and peaceful pur
suits.


" 1t is Royal pleasure that these terms Of grace
and amnesty should be extended to all those who
ply with their conditions before the first day of January
next


"When by the blessing of Providence internal tran
guilty shall be restored it is earnest desire to stim
uate the peaceful industry of India to promote works Of
public utility and Improvement and to administer its
government for the benefit of all subjects resident
therein In their prosperity will be our strength, in
their contenment security and in their gratitude
best reward. And may the God Of all power grant to
u.s. and to those in authority under us, strength to carry
out these wishes for the good of our people,


tremendous cheer followed the reading of this proc
amation while the saluting battery took up the
and hundred and guns from every shpotwar il
the harbor told that India from henceOrth was heC
only under the Sovereign of England. The proclama
vi 1CSAoy On lCA dScuuIptlOu Vi
thority came next, and was follows:
Proclamation by the GoyernOr-Genaral India.
"FoREIN DEPARTMENT Allahabad November l.
Her Majesty the Queen having declared that it is he
gracious pleasure to take upon herself the government
the British territories India, the Viceroy and Gov
ernorGeneral hereby notifies that from this day all act
of the government of India will be done the name
[ the Queen alone.


From this day all men of every and class who
under the administration of the Honorable East Ind
10