'the parting between the Marquis of Dalhousie and British India—for
such it was—was an affecting scene, and his farewell address was worthy of so solemn an occasion. Lord Dalhousie has governed the Indian empire with vigour : he has reduced contumacious provinces; brought barbaric neighbours under con- trol; given each of the four great provinces a new starting-point for internal prosperity ; promoted many reforms, including a re- form of the whole constitution of the Government ; and, after eight years of ceaseless labour, which left him little time to cul- tivate the good graces of the exacting Anglo-English, he em- barked at Calcutta amid the imfeigned and unchecked regrets of the entire community. With striking emphasis he refrained from promising India peace. "Progress, in regions so vast and among interests so various, must needs be gradual and slow," and "no prudent man can ever predict a prolonged continuation of peace in India." But the empire is tranquil now, and is continually improving; and it knows that it owes much of these advantages to a man who has given to it eight years in the prime of his life, and has devoted to it his health, almost his existence.
Previous page
