Sir George Campbell, who loses half the use of his
ability by his want of the sense of humour, asked on Thursday why the title of "Empress" had been translated by the " German " word "Kaiser," and why a Persian form—"-i-Hind "—had been employed for the remainder of the title. Lord George Hamilton of course explained that Oriental scholars had agreed on the best word for "Empress," but to his interlocutor's great indignation, did not answer the second portion of the question. It is difficult not to suspect that the object of the Member for Kirkcaldy was to put the Under-Secretary, whose knowledge of languages is not extensive, in a fix. "Kaiser," as used in Asia, is no more a German word than an English one, but is simply "Caesar," in its second sense, and was borrowed by the Arabs, as the highest title they found in the countries they conquered. It was after- wards adopted into Persian. Does Sir George fancy that Prince Bismarck named the Kaiaerbagh in Luoknow ? As to the second question, Persian is used in India, just as Latin is used in Europe, because all the educated once understood it Sir George might just as well ask why the inscription on a pound is not in English. Natives understand " Kaiser-i-Hind " just as well as Englishmen understand "Victoria Regina."
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