an unimpeachable plea of right or duty; and when we
announce a resolution, our neighbours must understand that it is the
decree of fate.

* * * * *

_To Sir Charles Trevelyan._

Simla: June 17, 1863.

[Sidenote: Council to meet at Lahore.]

On the first occasion of transferring the Council from Calcutta to
another place, we ought to select some considerable town--the capital
of a Province or local Government, if possible. What we wish to do is
to give effect to the scheme embodied in the ninth clause of the
Councils Act, and we should do so in such a manner as to carry public
opinion with us. If the plan answers, we may exercise a greater
liberty of choice on future occasions.

I adhere to the opinion which I first expressed, that, on the whole,
Lahore is the place which unites the greatest number of advantages. It
is the capital of a province which is loyal, which is under the
Government of India, and which, moreover, has a good many special
characteristics of its own, with which it may be well that the Supreme
Legislature should acquaint themselves on the spot. Against these
recommendations is to be set the greater distance from Calcutta, which
does not affect communication by telegraph, and, for more bulky
communications, as compared with Delhi, is only a question of a few
hours.

I have no wish to legislate at a purely military station; my object is
to select a place of meeting where we may obtain some knowledge of
local and native feeling, which does not reach Calcutta.

* * * * *

_To Sir Charles Wood._

Simla: August 30, 1863.

After reaching this place, I soon came to the conclusion that the
reasons for meeting at Lahore were much more forcible than those which
could be advanced in favour of any other place; and circumstances
which have occurred since then have tended strongly to confirm me in
this opinion. Independently of the prestige which attaches to the
province of which it is the capital, and to the Sikh population which
inhabit it, the state of affairs in Afghanistan, and on our frontier,
would render a demonstration which would at once afford evidence of
our military strength and gratify the pride and self-importance of the
Sikh chiefs, at this moment especially opportune.

I have ar