DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0013
PREFACE.
Some explanation seems reqnired of the delay in the appear-
ance of a biograph.y of an eminent Indian statesman, whose
active career belongs to the early part of the present century.
Shortly after Mr. Elpbinstone’s death I commenced a memoir
of his life and services, which appeared in the Journal of the
Royal Asiatic Society of 1861. I entered on this task at the
instance of the learned Director of the Society, the late Professor
H. H. Wilson, who urged me to prepare for the Journal a more
extended sketch of Mr. Elphinstone’s career than could be
compressed within the space usually allotted to an obituary
notice. In this I was encouraged bysomeof Mr. Elphinstone’s
relatives, and from them, and from friends who had served
under or with him in India, I obtained some interesting parti-
culars relating to his career, which appeared in this sketch.
Before, however, committing myself to this slight work, I
thought it my duty to inquire of his nephew, Lord Elphinstone,
then at Bombay, whether he had it in view to make use of the
papers, which had passed into his hands, for the purpose of a
biography. He informed me in reply that he was not sure how
far this was possible, as his uncle had left some instructions
which seerned to preelude the publication of many of the papers
which he had left, He added that he would examine them, and
consider how far the restriction was intended to apply, before he
could come to a decision. When I met Lord Elphinstone, on
his return from India, lie expressed to me the same hesitation
Some explanation seems reqnired of the delay in the appear-
ance of a biograph.y of an eminent Indian statesman, whose
active career belongs to the early part of the present century.
Shortly after Mr. Elpbinstone’s death I commenced a memoir
of his life and services, which appeared in the Journal of the
Royal Asiatic Society of 1861. I entered on this task at the
instance of the learned Director of the Society, the late Professor
H. H. Wilson, who urged me to prepare for the Journal a more
extended sketch of Mr. Elphinstone’s career than could be
compressed within the space usually allotted to an obituary
notice. In this I was encouraged bysomeof Mr. Elphinstone’s
relatives, and from them, and from friends who had served
under or with him in India, I obtained some interesting parti-
culars relating to his career, which appeared in this sketch.
Before, however, committing myself to this slight work, I
thought it my duty to inquire of his nephew, Lord Elphinstone,
then at Bombay, whether he had it in view to make use of the
papers, which had passed into his hands, for the purpose of a
biography. He informed me in reply that he was not sure how
far this was possible, as his uncle had left some instructions
which seerned to preelude the publication of many of the papers
which he had left, He added that he would examine them, and
consider how far the restriction was intended to apply, before he
could come to a decision. When I met Lord Elphinstone, on
his return from India, lie expressed to me the same hesitation