to
quell any riots which you may raise. However, these are burning
questions, and one must handle them cautiously.

* * * * *

_To Mr. Edmonstone, Lieut.-Governor of the N.W. Provinces._

Calcutta, May 27th, 1862.

[Sidenote: Rumours of disaffection.]

I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 19th inst., and I beg
that you will make a habit of writing to me whenever anything occurs
respecting which you may desire to communicate with me confidentially.

I do not, I confess, attach any great importance to such incidents as
the circulation of the prophecy which you have enclosed to me. It is
quite as probable that it may be the act of some mischievous person
who desires to keep alive excitement in the popular mind, as the
indication of an excitement already existing.

It must, moreover, be observed that the English press throughout India
has taken advantage of the advance of Sooltan Jan on Furrah to
descant, at great length and with much fervour, on all perils, present
and prospective, to which British rule in India is, or may be,
exposed. That the Mahommedan mind, thus stimulated and encouraged,
should altogether eschew such speculations, could hardly be expected.

It is impossible, however, to be too vigilant in watching these
manifestations of opinion; and I trust that you will not fail to put
me in possession of all the symptoms of disquietude which may reach
you, however trivial they may seem to be.

I need hardly point out to you how important it is that your inquiries
should be so conducted as to give no countenance to the impression
that they are prompted by any nervous anxiety, or that we should be
much discomposed even if the 12th Imaum himself were to make his
appearance.

For my own part, I am firmly resolved to put down with promptitude and
severity any attempt at disturbance which may be made in any part of
India, and I do not care how generally my determination on this point
is known. I shall pursue this policy, not because I fear for the
stability of our empire in the East, but because tranquillity is
essential to the progress of the country, and because lenity to the
guilty originators of such machinations leads invariably to the
severest punishment and suffering of misguided followers.

* * * *