[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " S PECTATOR.]
Sin,—Your correspondent Mr. Macnicol in the Spectator of April 25th takes alarm at certain aspects of the political movement in India, and seems to prescribe "the association of her people in the government of the country both at the top in the Executive Councils and at the bottom in Village and District Councils." I will not express an opinion as to how far the small supreme Councils can admit further native elements, at any rate in quantities to satisfy the reformers, without very soon destroying the Indian connexion with the Empire ; but Indians already, of course, entirely compose the Village Councils so far as these have ever existed or can exist, and almost entirely compose the Municipal and District Councils, the latter in the form of District and Taluka Local Boards for purely local administration. It is too often for- gotten at home, as any provincial "Civil List" will show, what an enormous numerical preponderance the Indians already hold in the administration of their own country. But they are not content with holding some of the reins of government. They, or rather some of them, no doubt naturally enough, seek to gain them all, and no humane person will contemplate with equanimity the prospect of an inde- pendent India. As soon as one comes to details it proves almost impossible to find where one can reduce the present quotum of European "bureaucrats" without danger to the
British connexion.—I am, Sir, &c., INDIAN OFFICIAL.
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