ut
by this road the distance from the foot of the Hills to Simla is
fifty-six miles, and the journey for most people occupies three or
four days; whereas we ascended from the foot of the Hills to
Kussowlie, which is at an elevation nearly as great as that of Simla,
in a little more than two hours. It used to be supposed that mountains
overhanging the lowlands were less healthy than those farther removed
from them, but whether this be the case or not may be doubtful.
However, whatever may have been the reasons for the original selection
of Simla, it certainly has now greater attractions as a residence than
any spot lying between it and the plains.

In this pleasant retreat, with its 'dry climate, and temperature from 60 deg.
to 70 deg. in the shade,' he resumed with fresh vigour his ordinary official
work; corresponding constantly with the Secretary of State, with the
subordinate Governments, and with the members of his Council, gathering
ever fresh stores of information, and forming ever clearer views of the
problems that lay before him; looking forward to the great meeting to be
held next spring at Lahore, not only as an important experiment, but also
as in a manner the real commencement of his reign. Some extracts from his
letters of this period are subjoined.

_To Sir Charles Trevelyan._

Camp, Jeyt: February 23, 1863.

[Sidenote: Supply of labour.]

No doubt there is a deficiency of labour in some parts of India, and
an excess in others. Moreover, there are moral and physical obstacles
which put difficulties in the way of the transfer of labour from
places where it is redundant to those where it is wanting. But to
affirm generally of a country where labour-saving machines are, in
consequence of the cheapness of labour, as little used as in India,
that there is a 'want of labour' seems to me to be a paradox.

I will give an example:--If, in America, the climate made it necessary
that every private white soldier should have a punkah pulled over him
day and night, do you think that no agency but that of the human hand,
in its rudest and most direct application, would be employed in this
task? And why is it otherwise in India? Because labour is so cheap
that necessity, the mother of invention, does not stimulate the
ingenuity of man here as it does there.

Far from deprecating the introduction of capital,