The Times of Wednesday publishes a remarkable account of the
state of affairs in Hyderabad, the most powerful of all Indian States, with a territory almost as large as Great Britain, ten millions of people, and a revenue of forty millions of rupees. The Mussulman Sovereign, or Nizam, is nominally absolute, but is fettered by the rights of his hereditary Prime Minister, who is a Hindoo, and by the rough independence of a most turbulent nobility, who claim, like the old French nobles,
the right of the high and the low justice" and exemption from taxation. The expenditure on the palace, on pensions, and on useless Irregulars has been so great that the State is practically insolvent, and unless reforms can be introduced the misery of the people may produce formidable movements. Lord Curzon has taken the matter in hand, and an Englishman, Mr. Casson Walker, has been appointed Finance Minister under the Vizier; but with everyone in the capital opposed to him it is most difficult for him to exert authority. A great native reformer like Sir Saler Jung would probably effect more; but the disorder has now lasted fifty years, and it is doubtful if it can be ended without first crushing the Irregulars and compelling the nobles to reside on their estates. Hitherto the Viceroys have always shrunk from extreme measures, fearing lest the Nizam should be supported by the Mussulmans of Southern India ; but as it is understood that we shall not annex determined steps may be taken in safety.
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