Lord Elgin had little to say upon external relations, indeed
he declined to discuss them for fear of embarrassing his suc- cessor, but he admitted that the tribes on the North-West border were a source of constant anxiety. We are "hyper- critical" in our examination of these tribes, which are "way- ward, wild, ignorant, and excitable," and sometimes act from inadequate cause, or even no cause at all. He did not believe outbreaks could be prevented, though their ill effects could be minimised by efforts which he would discuss but that Lord Curzon, to whom he gave a warm testimonial, was so speedily to arrive. Lord Curzon did arrive on Tuesday, and was to be sworn in on Friday, until which day he remained his pre- decessor's guest. Perhaps the fact which is the most worthy of attention in the resignation and arrival is the one which always escapes it,—viz., the extreme ease with which, under the British supremacy, the devolution of absolute power over a fifth of the human race is from time to time accomplished. It is needless even to parade a military force, and no kind of fresh oath of allegiance is taken from any native. The Viceroy, in fact, though from one point of view an Emperor, is from another an agent of the India Office who can be dia. missed by a letter, an incident which actually occurred when Lord Ellenborough was recalled.
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