THE PRIVATE jOBRNAL OF LORD H STINGS WHIN GOVERNOR-GENERAL. * READERS

who elect a revelation of what the elder Disraeli called "secret history" during the Indian government of the Marquis of Hastings, (or Lord Moira,) from 1813 to 1822 may at first be dis- appointed in this journal. It was primarily undertaken as a future memorial for the writer's children—" the dear little com- panions of my Expedition," and deals largely with the author's first impressions of India, his judgment upon the various native races that successively fell under his observation, descriptions of their antiquities, religion, and character, with speculations as to the origin of the Hindoo race and Brahmism. In his numerous progresses through India the Marquis notices the nature of the soil, the appearance of the crops, the state of agriculture, and the useful arts, as indicated by the results, finding them all very back- ward. The Governor-General was an old sportsman, and com- bined a naturalist's power of observation with his love of sport. The habits of wild creatures, from the elephant to the ant, were subjects of remark and even of speculation, as well as Hindoo feats of sleight-of-hand and serpent charming. As these descrip- tions are drawn direct from nature they have still considerable in- terest, notwithstanding the great advances that have been made during the last forty years in the science of natural history and the mode of studying it. A more practised editor than the Mar- chioness of Bute would have removed some minute accounts of journeying as well as some mere jottings ; but even as a book of Indian travel nearly half a century ago the "Journal" is not

without interest.

There is also some of the pith of history in the volumes, though

not presented regularly, and taking a sort of personal bearing. Thus, the war against Nepaul is only mentioned slightly and oc- casionally, the Marquis not being personally engaged in it. The tracing and eventual detection of the Mahratte intrigues against the British, the quiet, apparently careless manner in which our forces were latently combined, so as at the fitting moment to over- awe or strike the Mahrattas, or their allies and tools the Pur- darries, the seemingly sudden collapse of the Mahratta power, and the complete destruction of the Pindarrie banditti, are more frequently and fully spoken of ; but as part of the day's work ; because the Marquis was directly engaged in these affiiirs, and personally present with one of the armies. The evils which have grown up in the interim' and visibly shown themselves in the late mutiny, were observed by the Marquis in their germ, and form the most striking topics of his notes. Many places were denuded of troops ; the army, insufficient for its own work, was then and ever since diverted to escort and other duties. He had scarcely began

his first tour when he writes.

"In a military aspect, the whole which I have seen is a country for ca- valry. Yet it is totally devoid of that arm. Indeed the paucity of provi- sion in the hither provinces, an extent of territory which may be measured by four degrees of latitude and ten degrees of longitude, is altogether be- yond belief. The incessant activity and the recognized equity of the Go- vernment can alone solve the problem how the enormous population of these districts is kept in tranquil obedience without any show of efficient strength."

While thus negligent in preparation, the actual injustice perpe- trated against the native powers by annexation, or more truly, spoliation, the petty galling interference with ostensibly inde- pendent princes, and the indifference, rudeness, or contempt with which they were treated, induced a rankling discontent in the native mind. Such things indeed strike Lord Moira's attention at the outset, and are continued to nearly the close of his journal. These portions of it, and they are very numerous, constitute one of the most instructive and characteristic features of the book and of the author. The kindly anti considerate man, the high-bred gentleman of the old school, the experienced soldier who had seen and served both in America and Europe, the nobleman who had filled high office and acted as confidential adviser to the heir apparent, arriving in India in the full meridian of life and with- out Anglo-Indian prejudices, was touched, not to say hurt, at the manner in which even Indian princes were treated by small men, and felt something like a poetical sympathy with reduced or fallen greatness. The statesman who found the public weal endangered, and himself threatened with difficulties, by the grasping policy of the Company and its servants, as well as by their petty tyranny and large neglects, would naturally look closely into the conse- quences of these evils. Lord Moira had not been more than a few months at Calcutta, when, after a general survey of the state of India, he thus sums up the political aspect of affairs. Indeed it is the first entry which the pressure of business allows him to make after his arrival at Calcutta.

"In short, I see around me the elements of a war more general than any which we have hitherto encountered in India.

"This formidable mischief has arisen from our not having defined to our- selves or made intelligible to the native princes, the quality of the relatione which we have established with them.

"In our treaties with them we recognize them as independent sovereigns. Then we send a resident to their courts. Instead of acting in the character of ambassador, he assumes the functions of a dictator ; interferes in all their private concerns ; countenances refractory subjects against them ; and makes the most ostentatious exhibition of this exercise of authority. • * • • In nothing do we violate the feelings of the native princes so much as in the decisions which we claim the privilege of pronouncing with regard to the succession to the musnud. We constantly oppose our construction of Mahomedan law to the right which the Moslem princes claim from usage to choose among their sons the individual to be declared the heir-apparent.

• The Private Journal of the Marquis of Hastings, LG., Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in India. Edited by his Daughter the Marchioness of Bute. In two volumes. Published by Saunders and Otley. It is supposed that by upholding the right of primogeniture we establish an interest with the eldest eon which will be beneficial to us when he comes to the throne. I believe nothing can be more delusive. Be will profess infinite gratitude as long as our support is useful to him ; but, once seated. his subsequent attachment will always be regulated by the convenience of the day. He, too, will in his tarn, have to feel our interference in the suc- cession as well as in minor instances. With regard to the latter, it might be argued that sonic interest of the Company is always really involved. The simple existence of such an interest is not the true question. What should be considered is, whether the matter be of a proxinnty or magnitude to make the prosecution of it desirable at the expense of the disgust and es-

trangement which you sow by the procedure. • • "A rational jealousy of our power is not likely to excite half the intrigues against us which must naturally be produced by the wanton provocations which we have been giving on trivial subjects to all the States around us."

So much for politics. The courteous and chivalrous nobleman's perception of manners and his feelings of sympathy were excited during his call at Madras, before he even reached Calcutta. The subject was the Nawab of the Carnatic. "Trays of fruit from the Nawab, with a letter of congratulation on our arrival, were ushered in in great form. I wrote a civil note of acknowledg- ment, which I afterwards understood was regarded as a particular polite- ness. It seemed to me that the returning a verbal compliment, or the making a secretary write on the occasion, would be a great deficiency in breeding. *

•

"To my conception nothing can be more uncomfortable than the situa- tion of this man. Had he the spending of his vast income in the unshackled independence of a private individual, the varied enjoyments of life would be at his command ; but his character of a sovereign prince, shorn of every exercise of power, subjects him to perpetual misrepresentation amid a crowd of listless and unemployed attendants ; whilst its pretensions (capable of being dangerously applied) oblige the British Government to maintain a vigilance over him, which restricts him from many innocent relaxations. The sports of the field and change of place might give some relief in the va- cuity of his life ; yet in these he canhot indulge himself without a previous assent, difficult to attain even after slow and discouraging negotiation. The magnificence of his establishment, therefore, appeared to me only lament- able ; inasmuch as its natural consequence was to make the grievousness of his position more sensible."

Much fuller pictures of behaviour and similar remarks abound in the journal ; and though the grateful feelings of the native on "being treated.like a gentleman" may have been more evanescent or deceptive than the Marquis supposes, still beneficial results did follow in the shape of assistance from Princes in men or money. Nobles who had not the power to be of much use exhibited grati- tude by undergoing trouble, though whether the gratitude of either the princely or noble class would have survived a great reverse of fortune may be doubtful. The then Nawab Vizier (predecessor of the late kings) of Onde did, however, befriend the Government in its difficulties, owing simply to the conduct of the Governor- General. The story would be long to tell, but the whole of the journal relating to the first visit at Lucknow is a curious picture of Oriental manners, weakness of character, and court intrigues, with patient kindness on the part of the Marquis. The main point at issue was the Vizier's dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Resident Major Baillie ; which the Governor-General after having expressed, "as a matter of course," his confidence in the Resident at a formal interview, first hears of from two English- men temporarily in the Vizier's service.

"When they arrived at Mr. Thomson's tent before the hour of dinner, by way of something to say, he expressed his satisfaction at thinking that what I had explained to the Nawab Vizier must have made his Excellency quite happy. To his astonishment, they answered, that so far from his being happy, they had left the Nawab in a state of absolute despair. On his asking with much surprise the cause, they told him that the Nawab Vizier had reckoned on being emancipated from the imperious domination of Major Baillie, under which his Excellency groaned every hour, but that I had professed my confidence in Major Baillie, and had riveted him in his position. Mr. Thomson lost no time in apprising me of this extraordinary communication, which he justly thought ought not to be withheld from my knowledge. I sent for the two gentlemen separately, and questioned them on the point. * * • • On my declaring that the confidence in Major Baillie, professed by me, was a compliment paid to the Nawab, whom I imagined entertained a peculiar predilection for the Resident, they severally exposed the reasons of the Nawab's disgust. They stated that his Excel- lency considered the assistance afforded to his tranquil possession of the musnud to have been rendered by the Resident in his official capacity on the part of the British Government; and though his Excellency felt obligation to the instrument, still it was not of an amount to counterbalance the grievous dissatisfactions which he daily experienced. He complained that Major Baillie dictated to him in the merest trifles, broke in upon him at his palace without notice, whensoever he (the Resident) had anything to pre- seribe, fixed his (Major Baillie's) creatures upon his Excellency with large salaries, to be spies upon all his actions ; and, above all, lowered his Excel- lency in the eyes of his family and his subjects by the magisterial tone which he constantly assumed. I asked why the Nawab Vizier had not un- folded this to Inc when I pressed him so distinctly to mention what would contribute to his comfort. The reply of each of them was, that the Nawab's mind was in a state of such subjugation to Major Baillie that his Excellency did not dare to hint at a dissatisfaction before him."

The Marquis next receives from the Vaier a letter soliciting a private interview, apparently for the purpose of confirming these statements ; which, however, he strangely omitted to do. The following is the account of the interview.

" Pretty punctually at that hour he arrived, when I immediately said aloud that I wished to have a conference with his Excellency ; and I ob- served to Major Bernie, as if from a sudden thought, that it would be more delicate for him not to be present. I took the Nawab into a private room. I requested Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Adam, and Mr. Swinton. to accompany us. I explained that these were principal functionaries of the Government, tiMIOM to secrecy, who would have to settle all the details of whatever might Ise transacted between the Nawab Vizier and me, and who might therefore mi well hear the business in the first instance; adding that my position made it incumbent on me to lay down the rule of never having an interview with wi any native prince without the presence of one or other of them. "The Nawab said there could be no objection. I asked if he wished to have any of his own suite present, but he declined it Before I could open any subject to him, he addressed me, and said that as we were engaged in a war which might embarrass our finances, he begged leave to offer a present of a crore of rupees to the Honourable Company. This was expected by

me. I knew that his father had intended to make this offer, in order to mark his gratitude for my having treated him as a gentleman ; though I feel that I did nothing more than was demanded by positive justice in, Resident had given me a hint that the present Nawab, aware of his father's intention, had mentioned his purpose of carrying it into effect. I thanked the Nawab cordially for this proof of his attachment to our Government; I said that it was impossible for the Company to accept the sum as a gift, bus I professed that I should entertain a very high sense of obligation in receiv- ing it as a subscription to the six per cent loan now opened by the CounciL On that footing the matter was agreed. Nothing could be more opportune, for this command of ready cash emancipated the Government from many urgent financial difficulties. I said to the Nawab, that his own conscious- ness of the way in which I must regard so essential a service, rendered to my administration, ought to make him speak to me with perfect confidence. I assured him that I considered it no less my official duty than it was my personal inclination to make his authority efficient, and his private position satisfactory. I thence entreated that he would explain to me without dis- guise his wishes. Notwithstanding this encouragement, he appeared unac- countably reserved. He said there were facts about which he was solicitous, and that he had put them down upon paper, but he had not brought the paper with him. This singular reserve made me begin to doubt if he had really desired the conference. I therefore asked him if he had authorized Mr. Clarke to request this interview for him, and to make it a condition that Major Baillie should not be present. He answered in the affirmative to both points. I then begged that he would take all the advantage he could wish of the opportunity, and I repeated my assurance that he might rely on my solicitude to gratify him. He said again and again that he had deemed it better to commit his wishes to writing, that he would send the paper on the morrow, that he had the firmest reliance on my kindness, and that he referred me for any explanations to Mehdy Ali Khan. After much time thus vainly spent, we went to dinner." It was not, however, to sovereign princes or nobles that the Marquis showed the attentions that one gentleman pays to another of equal grade, though inferior in rank, power, or wealth. He held levees for the presentation of native officers and others. Al- though declining to visit the king of Delhi, on a question of sove- reign etiquette, and considering besides that the "fiction of the Mogul rule" should be extinguished, he treated the princes of the blood with every regard. Here is an example at Benares where several of them were living. "September 4th.—I went to review the troops at the cantonment. * * * * Though I was still very, weak, I got through it without feeling much fatigued. Prince Mirza khoorrum was on the field, with four of his sons and two of his brothers. I rode towards him, but there was no making my horse approach the elephants; therefore I was obliged to content myself with sending a compliment to his Royal Highness. When the review was finished, I dismounted in front of the line' and going to the centre of each regiment, caused the native officers to be brought forward and presented to me, as they had not had any other opportunity of being introduced. As soon as this was over, I perceived the Prince's elephant at but a little dis- tance and without remounting, I preceded towards it. The Prince has- toned descend, and came running forward with his children. I embraced him and them, speaking kindly to the latter. The poor man was so intori- sated with this public mark of attention, that I had no sooner quitted him than he entreated Mr. Brooke to give for hiin to the Buoys one thousand rupees out of his next instalment of stipend. Mr. Brooke very properly apprised me of this and I put a stop to a liberality so irreconcileable to the narrowness of his this, Highness's circumstances, making him at the same time comprehend that he had full credit from me for the generosity of the intention. The allowance which he receives from the King of Delhi is very inadequate to his comfortable maintenance."

It is probable, however, that the rank and fine manners of Lord Moira had much to do with the effect produced on the native mind. A stiff, artificial attempt at condescension, would pro- bably have offended both their taste and their pride, especially from a man of inferior rank and undistinguished for anything save official experience and dexterity. This feeling, indeed, peeps out at the close of the following passage.

"Two brothers of the late Saadut My presented their nuzzurs, as clid likewise all the principal natives residing at Patna. I gratified, in a pecu- liar degree, Guncishaum Singh, by granting permission for his wearing at the durbar, (which without such leave would have been inadmissible,) a sabre, bestowed upon him by Lord Wellesley for the activity of his service with Lord Lake.

"lie presented his nuzzur [offering : to touch implies thanks but not ac- ceptance,] on the flat of the blade. I touched both the mohurs and the sword, when he kissed the latter, and swore by it that be would be ready to obey my call, with as many men as he could influence, whensoever I might summon him to the field. He is a fine sturdy-looking fellow. As soon aa he got out of the room he cried in recounting to those around him the kind- ness with which I had spoken to him. Our people are much too negligent of those little winning attentions which operate strongly on the feelings of the natives. We think that the simplicity of our address and habits must be comprehended by them. But, in fact, they are too prone to ascribe those mamma in us to our holding the natives too cheap to care what they may think with regard to us.

"After a durbar which I held at Calcutta, a rajah said to the public se- cretary, This man knows what . to say to us. You ought always to have a great sirdar at the head of the government. — — was of the weaver east, and he could not flatter us with anything he said.'"

Of the Bengalees and indeed the genuine Hiudoos everywhere, the Marquis formed a very bad opinion as regards their energy, ability, manliness, and want of moral sense ; the last, he ascribed to the ignorance in which the Brahmins keep the other castes. From what he heard, and the little he saw of the Nepaulese, he drew that conclusion as to their character which time and recent events has confirmed. His opinion was equally accurate as to the Sikhs, numbers of whom came to his durbar at Kurnaul.

"Their manner was confident and manly, though highly respectful. Each of them presented a bow, desiring it to be observed that he added no arrow. Kurrum Sing then bade the Minister step forward,. and in the name of the whole explain the nature of the present. They wished it to be uii-. derstood that in delivering the bow to me, they had put the emblem or power into my hand ; and that they had not offered any quiver with it, be- c a use they themselves were the arrows to be directed at my pleasure aro! any foe. Finding that I spoketcrtherir frankly and cordially, they a opted a tone of cheerful but most polite frqgdom, equally distant from the cautious reserve of the Mohamedan or the tinIldity of the Hindoo ; and they appeared extraordinarily gratified. With a good-humoured solicitation, they asked me if some of their principal officers might come into the tent and present n ra, as they said the men were dying to see me. I immediately eon- anted, and touched the nuzzurs of as many as were brought up to my chair. When this ceremony was over, I requested the Maharajah to accept a new- fashioned English gun, as a mark of my sense of the zeal with which he had farniabed troops to Colonel Ochterlony, far beyond what he was bound to sup- ply as his contingent. He seemed to feel the compliment much. I then apprised them of my intention to repair the canal. A general cry of Wah, (their applausive exclamation) resounded through the tent. They aga it would be a blessing to millions. When I rose to give them otto on their taking leave, they crowded about me, with looks of grateful cordiality, which gave me uncommon pleasure; for I had thence reason to think that I had hit upon the right tone with them, and that I had awakened in them a feeling of warmth towards the Company's government. We are apt to think that these people are swayed by the same dry deliberate calculations of interest which would guide us, or that they see their advantages through the same medium with us. It is not the case. One need only look at these folks to be convinced that there is a pride about them which would make them contemn a notion of our support, were the condition for it presented to them in a humiliating light. Finn' the specimen which I have seen of the Sikhs, I should describe them as a bold, athletic, and animated race."

This notice has been limited to the politico-historical parts of the Journal, leaving untouched all those numerous topics that more properly constitute travelling observation. Linder this head the reader will find a good deal of pleasing information and curious speculation relating to the antiquities, races, religions and moral character of the peoples of India, as well as to its pro- d.uctions, cultivation, aml natural history. Subjected to a re- vision that should remove the more commonplace passages, the “Private Journal" would form an unaffected and agreeable nar- rative of the principles that animated the Marquis of Hastings' Government. As it stands however, it is a valuable addition to our stock of family political papers ; and places the moral, states- manlike, and military qualities of the Marquis in a still higher rank than has hitherto been assigned them by history or tradition.