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Political." as I do, under the belief that they are almost all opposed to the plan I have suggested, I must now repeat what I before stated on the ground of my personal acquaintance with Bengal and Madras, "that the territories of those presidencies have little 'affinity, either in their condition or the character of "their inhabitants, to those under this government; " and so far, therefore, as the points under discussion "referred to the feelings, prejudices and usages with “which they were familiar, the ablest civil servants of Bengal, Madras, and Bombay would be likely to "come to very opposite conclusions; and, with regard "to opinions that relate to the degree in which the “decision of this question might affect the general “financial and political interests of British India, I “must state, that while I entertain the highest de"ference and respect for the superior judgment of the "Governor-General in Council, fully informed as they

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are on every branch of the administration of India, “I cannot consider that any person, however distinguished for talent, whose residence or employment has been local, or confined to the duties of a presidency "or its provinces, can have the knowledge or expe"rience necessary to judge correctly, in all their bearings, questions that go beyond the bounds that can be settled by fiscal calculations, or by any gene"ral conclusions drawn from limited premises. This subject, as considered on narrow ground, presents "few difficulties; but, on a more extended view, it "embraces the whole economy and policy of our "Eastern empire."

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An account of the reductions in the political depart- Political. ment at Bombay will appear under the head of Finance. In most cases, these reductions were suggested and carried into execution by the Bombay Government; among these measures may be numbered changes at the residency of Sattarah and Cutch, as well as the modification which took place in the political assistants employed in the western provinces, which, by uniting military with political duties, contributed alike to the objects of economy and improved efficiency.

The subject of the Bombay army is treated in Military. Appendix A*. My letter to Lord William Bentinck, under date the 27th November, 1830, which enters more fully into details of the Military Establishment of India, will be noticed hereafter. Among the most important of the changes made at Bombay in the native branch, was the encouragement given to that class of our troops by the institution of rewards, which included at a very trifling additional expense, both increase of allowances, and honours to old and distinguished native officers, while it gave to the most active of these employment in the command of revenue corps. Besides this, an augmentation was made in the number of boys (sons of sepoys) allowed to each corps; and a small extra pay and exemption from corporal punishment was granted to sons of native officers who entered the service. All these

* Appendix, p. 21.

Military. measures are stated in the Appendix*; in which also will be found the reasons I urged to the GovernorGeneral to prove the impracticability of immediately introducing on such points exact conformity in the native armies of the three presidencies †.

There was a necessity for considerable reduction of irregular horse under the Bombay Government, which I regretted; for experience has satisfied me that this is a branch of force which are essential both in peace and war. They are maintained at a comparatively small expense, and excellently well-suited for many duties which regular cavalry cannot so well perform. This service has another recommendation in being congenial to the habits of a large class of the military part of the community; and a period must always elapse before the substitution of our rule for that of native princes effects a change that reconciles the class of whom such corps are composed to enter the regular army. During this period the maintenance of these bodies of men has an additional value, as it converts a portion of those

• Vide Appendix A, p. 24.

A very full and clear statement of the reforms and reductions of the military establishment at Bombay, with the results and contrasted statements of their expense and efficiency with those of Bengal and Madras, is given in a Report on the Military Expenditure of the East India Company, by Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick, Commissary General of Bombay. That able officer was nominated one of the Military Committee at Calcutta. His valuable Report was formed of the documents collected on that occasion and the Records of Bombay. It was placed on the table of the Military Sub-committee, and will no doubt be printed among the papers to be laid before the House of Commons. I know no document where more minute and useful information will be found on the subjects on which it treats.

who are most prompt, and able to disturb the public Military. peace, into its defenders.

Considerable reductions took place not only in the numbers, but in all the establishments of the army, as will be noticed in the Chapter on Finance. The functions of the military board were suspended for reasons stated in the Appendix *; and I must add my conviction, that no arrangement has tended more to promote both the economy and efficiency of the military department. The invalid and pension list underwent much reform, and the commissariat and store departments were completely revised, as were also those of the gun-carriages and public buildings. The engineers' corps, with which the pioneers were incorporated, was placed in many respects on a different footing to what they had before been, and in particular regarding their establishments. The object of all these measures was to reduce expense at as little sacrifice of efficiency as possible. The general grounds upon which they were adopted are stated in the Appendix. The objects were the establishing of direct and personal responsibility in the heads of departments; instituting prompt check of all contingencies upon demand, not issue; the consolidation of duties; the introduction of fair competition in contracts; the abolition of all useless depôts; the limiting the number of staff situations, and reducing and revising public establishments.

Much personal experience in every department I

* Vide Appendix A, p. 31,

Military. had to reform gave me many advantages in this labour; but while I am satisfied the gradual results of what has been effected will be a very great diminution of expense, I am quite sensible that, should an unwise attempt be made at immediate reduction in a part of the system on which the working of the whole may depend, the objects of these arrangements may be completely defeated. The change or removal of checks; the depriving Government of the power of employing competent instruments from awarding inadequate compensation to those charged with responsible and invidious duties will be certain to have this effect; and we shall hazard the chief object I had in view, that of preventing the gradual growth of expenditure, which is the bane of all public economy, and above all that of large military establishments.

It may be asked why those measures were not before carried into effect. The reason is obvious; a very considerable portion of the territories of Bombay had not been ten years in our possession, and many parts of these had been till very recently in a disturbed and turbulent state. It was difficult, if not impossible, till the country was completely settled, to undertake revisions and reforms of the military departments which, in some cases, affected the whole of that branch of the government, and consequently could not be prudently undertaken, except at a period of leisure and tranquillity.

A military survey of the provinces subject to the Bombay Presidency had been instituted on an extended