DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.34827#0417
1842-59.
401
sequence of the defeat of the Commander-in-chief in person,
even at the present stage of the war/
' Hookwood, March 1, 1858.
' My dear Colebrooke,—Many thanks for your interesting
letter. I do not see anything that can be done at present for
the purpose of controlling the Governor-General, excepting
strenuously resisting all attempts to give him the power of
naming the members of Council, and keeping up the present
plan of having all proceedings and recorded and
sent to this country.
' The fact is, I am more afraid of the Governor-General's
being too much reduced under the new system than by his
being made too strong. He is the link between the despotism
of India and the of England, and should possess
power enough to command the highest respect, not only from
foreign states, allies, and native subjects, but above all from our
servants, civil and military, in India, and even to a certain ex-
tent from the Home Government. It is the last feeling that has
made him the main bulwark of the patronage of India against
the encroachments both of the Ministry and the Directors. .
' The avowed tendency of Lord Palmerston's Bill is to
increase and protect his authority, and I have no doubt it
would do so for a time, while all concerned are on their good
behaviour; but I am afraid things will be far otherwise after
public attention has been withdrawn from India, and Ministers
begin to look on that country as a means of strengthening their
party at home.
' The immediate effect of such restraints as are likely to be
imposed by the new system will be beneficial.
' The great grievance at present is the disregard of the
Governors-General to the repeated injunctions of the Court of
Directors against plans of conquest, and other modes of extend-
ing our territory. Such disregard is not likely to be tolerated
on the new plan. The Minister for India will be the sole
ostensible head of the whole administration of that empire, and
it is not probable that he will be content to submit to the
VOL. 11.
D D
401
sequence of the defeat of the Commander-in-chief in person,
even at the present stage of the war/
' Hookwood, March 1, 1858.
' My dear Colebrooke,—Many thanks for your interesting
letter. I do not see anything that can be done at present for
the purpose of controlling the Governor-General, excepting
strenuously resisting all attempts to give him the power of
naming the members of Council, and keeping up the present
plan of having all proceedings and recorded and
sent to this country.
' The fact is, I am more afraid of the Governor-General's
being too much reduced under the new system than by his
being made too strong. He is the link between the despotism
of India and the of England, and should possess
power enough to command the highest respect, not only from
foreign states, allies, and native subjects, but above all from our
servants, civil and military, in India, and even to a certain ex-
tent from the Home Government. It is the last feeling that has
made him the main bulwark of the patronage of India against
the encroachments both of the Ministry and the Directors. .
' The avowed tendency of Lord Palmerston's Bill is to
increase and protect his authority, and I have no doubt it
would do so for a time, while all concerned are on their good
behaviour; but I am afraid things will be far otherwise after
public attention has been withdrawn from India, and Ministers
begin to look on that country as a means of strengthening their
party at home.
' The immediate effect of such restraints as are likely to be
imposed by the new system will be beneficial.
' The great grievance at present is the disregard of the
Governors-General to the repeated injunctions of the Court of
Directors against plans of conquest, and other modes of extend-
ing our territory. Such disregard is not likely to be tolerated
on the new plan. The Minister for India will be the sole
ostensible head of the whole administration of that empire, and
it is not probable that he will be content to submit to the
VOL. 11.
D D