ntent.
The Government of India should, no doubt, be progressive in its
policy, and in all things be guided by the immutable principles of
right, truth, and justice; but these principles ought to be applied,
not necessarily as we should apply them in England, but with due
regard to the social peculiarities and religious prejudices of the
people whom it ought to be our aim to make better and happier.

It will be gathered from what I have written that our administration,
in my opinion, suffers from two main defects. First, it is internally
too bureaucratic and centralizing in its tendencies; and, secondly, it
is liable to be forced by the external pressure of well-meaning but
irresponsible politicians and philanthropists to adopt measures which
may be disapproved of by the authorities on the spot, and opposed to
the wishes, requirements, and interests of the people. It seems to me
that for many years to come the best form of government for India will
be the intelligent and benevolent despotism which at present rules the
country. On a small scale, and in matters of secondary importance,
representative institutions cannot perhaps do much harm, though I am
afraid they will effect but little good. On a large scale, however,
such a system of government would be quite out of place in view of
the fact that ninety-nine out of every hundred of the population are
absolutely devoid of any idea of civil responsibility, and that the
various races and religious sects possess no bond of national union.

In reply, then, to the question, 'Is there any chance of a Mutiny
occurring again?' I would say that the best way of guarding against
such a calamity is--

By never allowing the present proportion of British to Native
soldiers to be diminished or the discipline and efficiency of the
Native army to become slack.

By taking care that men are selected for the higher civil and
military posts whose self-reliance, activity, and resolution are
not impaired by age, and who possess a knowledge of the country
and the habits of the peoples.

By recognizing and guarding against the dogmatism of theorists and
the dangers of centralization.

By rendering our administration on the one hand firm and strong,
on the other hand tolerant and sympathetic; and last, but not
least, by doing all in our power to gain the confidence of the
various races, and by convincing them that we have not only the