and if appointed, they will be satisfied with a cold Public. performance of their official functions, and Government will lose the aid of that ardent zeal with which it is necessary to inspire those who have not only to supervise others, but to check and prevent, by every means, the growth of public expenditure.

My former experience, combined with the late opportunities I enjoyed from the duties I had to perform as Governor of Bombay, when every department was revised, has satisfied me that there is one principle connected with the integrity of the public service, which, if strictly attended to, will be found, in practice, to promote the interests of the state as well as the prosperity of the finance beyond all others,-which is, the continuing, or assigning to those at the head of its governments, and the highest officers these employ, salaries that are not only adequate to the expenses unavoidable from their stations in society, but which afford means of accumulating a moderate independence. This principle was fully recognised when the India Board* was established under Mr. Pitt's Bill; and Lord Cornwallis, acting on the plan of its first president, the late Lord Melville, gave liberal salaries to all high and responsible officers, assigning at the same time limited but sufficient allowances to the subordinate public servants. The effects of this wise and liberal policy was a happy change in the tone and character of the service. But though a sense of the benefits derived from the introduction of this principle has led to its maintenance, there have been latterly

* In 1784.

Public. many deviations that will, in my opinion, if not corrected, seriously diminish its good operation. The salaries of junior European functionaries were, in many cases, disproportionally augmented, while that of senior servants, even when apparently raised, suffered a real and serious reduction, as far as the principal object is concerned for which these were granted-that of enabling an individual to return to his native country. The great reduction of the interest of money in India, and the loss on remittance to England, have operated against the attainment of this object. Pensions have been resorted to, formed of contributions from individuals, liberally aided by Government, to remedy this evil; but the good effect of these will be lost, if other means are not adopted for though they may afford comfort to an individual for the few remaining years he may expect to live, after thirty or forty years service in India, they make no provision for his family; and it is to this cause we are to ascribe the annuities not being accepted in the manner anticipated, and the consequent failure of one of the principal objects, that of giving promotion to the service.

The more extensive introduction of native agency in the civil administration, besides its other good effects, will be most beneficial to the finance, as it reduces the number of junior servants. The salaries of the latter have been within the last two years considerably lessened, and Government will not benefit more than individuals by this measure, provided those higher situations to which their views are pointed are continued on an improved scale; but if the latter principle

is not maintained, and a narrow view of this subject Public. leads to the reduction of apparently large salaries from men in high and responsible stations, objects of ambition will cease to exist, indifference will take place of zeal, and while an appearance of economy is displayed, its substance will be sacrificed.

I have, in the preceding chapter, when treating of the finance of Bombay, noticed recent instances of a departure from this essential principle in the late orders to that Presidency. If, however, I was desired to state two examples connected with the Indian Government, in which principles of true economy were violated, I should select the recent reduction of the salary of the President of the Board of Control, and of the Governor of Madras. By the first, a station which demands the highest talent in the kingdom, and the duties of which, under the actual frame of the Indian Government, rank next in responsibility to those of prime minister, is made, in point of remuneration, a secondary appointment. With regard to the Governor of Madras, the reduction of his allowance below the scale on which it had been placed for sixty years, is to me incomprehensible*. It was made when his duties were increased fifty-fold from what they were when it was first granted, and when not only the value of money was less, but the remittance to England twenty-five per cent. worse than it was thirty years ago.

To judge from what passed in the House of Commons on this subject, it may be supposed that the

* This reduction was, I understand, brought forward by the India Board, and not carried without opposition in the Court of Directors.

Public. reduction of about one-third of the salary of the Governor of Madras was made with a view either to a general system of reduction or of a contemplated change in the system that would lessen his charge and responsibility; but in either case, while the individual was informed of the reduction to which his allowances would eventually become subject, intended measures might have been awaited before he was made the solitary instance of their anticipated operation. His salary was, probably from its amount, brought forward as an example of the resolution of Government to save the public money. On this I can only state, in reference to such a station, that I deem the principle acted on completely at variance with true economy, and calculated to defeat its professed objects.

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CHAPTER IV.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE HOME GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND PROPOSED CHANGES.-CONCLUDING REMARKS.

THE facts and opinions stated in the preceding chapters regarding the different branches of Indian administration, illustrated, as they are, by documents in the Appendix, will sufficiently prove that the general government of our Indian possessions is good. The changes and modifications made in the system of rule by the local government, (though often exclaimed against as an evil,) have been the inevitable consequence of the change of the character of our power and the extraordinary increase of our territories; but it is of much importance that a spirit of speculative improvement should not be allowed an action which incurs a risk of disturbing the peace of the country, by interfering with the usages or offending the prejudices of our native subjects, whose continued happiness and prosperity, it is admitted by all, should form the primary consideration in every measure we adopt.

Whatever may be the defects of the present system, its operation has, on the whole, been beneficial; the home government has been accused of being more prone to censure than to praise; but, though its constitution has operated to depress when it ought to elevate, and it has been wanting in that tone and feeling which