be
followed, having regard to economy and to an increased employment of
natives. I cannot even attempt to describe his arguments. I will only
say that the minute appears to me to be a very remarkable production,
not only as indicating the amount of labour bestowed, amid so many other
occupations, upon the important questions discussed; but as one of his
best performances as a very clear and terse account of a complicated
system with a brief but exceedingly vigorous exposition of what he
thought should be the governing principles of any reforms. He held, I
may say, in a general way that there were some evils which required a
remedy; especially those resulting from the frequency of appeals in the
Indian system and the elaborate supervision of the magistrates by the
High Courts. He recognises imperfections inherent and excusable in the
attempt to administer justice to so vast a population by a small body of
foreigners with very imperfect legal training; though he shows his usual
admiration for the general results of British government, and thinks
that the efficiency of the service may be secured by moderate reforms.
Incidentally he goes over many of the points already noticed as touched
in his speeches. I have, however, said as much as is desirable in regard
to his general principles as expounded in the minute and in the 'Life of
Lord Mayo.' Every one of the legislative measures in which he was
concerned might be regarded as an illustration of one or more of these
propositions. To me it seems that they represent at least a definite
policy, worthy of his common sense and general vigour of mind. A
generalisation from these principles came to constitute his political
creed in later years.

IV. LAST MONTHS IN INDIA

I must now speak of an event which made a very strong impression upon
him. He concludes the chapter from which I have been quoting by
declaring that of the many public men whom he had met in England and
India, there was none to whom he 'felt disposed to give such heartfelt
affection and honour' as to Lord Mayo. Lord Mayo, he says, though
occupied in many other ways, had shown the 'deepest personal interest'
in the work of the legislative department, and, when difficulties arose,
had given to it the warmest, most ardent, and most effective support. It
was chiefly due to Lord Mayo that the Government was able to pass the
important acts of the beginning of 1872, especially the three great
measures: the 'Civil Proc