hould have had some training at headquarters. It is much
easier for an intelligent officer who has been so trained, to supply a
lack of local knowledge, than for one who has been constantly employed
in a particular province to grasp in a sufficiently comprehensive
spirit the general interests of the Empire, and duly to appreciate the
relative claims of its component parts. Already, among the high
officers in the Provinces, there is a considerable disinclination to
face the climate and labour of Calcutta. Situations in the Provinces,
where the work is lighter, where the summers can be spent on the
Hills, and where the holders are in a much greater degree monarchs of
all they survey, are naturally preferred to the sweltering metropolis.
This preference would be strengthened if it were supposed that this
provincial career was the road to the Lieutenant-Governorship.
Moreover, it is to be remembered that the patronage exercised by these
Lieutenant-Governors is very great indeed. It is important that it
should not fall too absolutely into the hands of the same local
cliques. So much on the abstract question of general _versus_ local
experience.

* * * * *

_To Sir Charles Wood._

Simla: May 6, 1863.

In a general way, I must say that I am inclined to give a preference,
in disposing of these high offices, to persons who have served in the
offices of the Supreme Government or in the Governor-General's
Legislative Council. I would not, of course, exclude men of proved and
eminent qualities because they had been employed only in the Provinces
or minor Presidencies; but my impression is that the work is lighter,
and that reputations are more easily won, in the service of the minor
than in that of the Supreme Government. Moreover, I think it desirable
that the best men should be attracted to the latter service; and I
observe a growing disinclination to abandon good opportunities under
local governments for those which the Supreme Government has to offer.
A local Government, with plenty of hill stations, &c., has many
attractions for persons who can contrive to be on good terms with the
Lieutenant-Governor. I think that something is due to those who face
the climate and the competition of Calcutta; not to mention the fact,
that they have opportunities of becomi