The Times seems inclined to endorse a bold suggestion of
its Calcutta correspondent, to make Madhava Rao, the late Dewan of Travancore, Financial Member of the Indian Council. He certainly succeeded in restoring the finances of Travancore, and he might give valuable aid to the Indian Treasury, but there are two difficulties in the way. Madhava Rao, though he is a skilful financier of the Hindoo type, that is, a skilful selecter of direct taxes, may not understand scientific finance at all, being housewife rather than economist. Moreover, even if he could be trusted for this, could he be trusted as a member of the Cabinet which governs India, and which might have to act suddenly and secretly against Princes to whom he is bound by many ties ? The experiment would be a splendid one to make- Aurungzebe made it and succeeded—but we can quite understand very bold men shrinking from the task. What we should like to do is to make Madhava Rao Prince for life of the next native State that is escheated, and so open a new and most enticing career to the natives who show statesmanship.
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