s
dead body) was leaving this country with all its various miseries, to
return to his own native place. If one is to have fancies on such a
matter, it is pleasant to think that he is not to lie here in a country
where we can govern and where we can work and make money and lead
laborious lives; but for which no Englishman ever did, or ever will, or
can feel one tender or genial feeling.[118] The work that is done here
is great and wonderful; but the country is hateful.'

One singular incident was connected with this event. The murderer had
been tried on the spot and sentenced to death. The sentence had to be
confirmed by the High Court at Calcutta. It was there discovered that
the judge had by some mistake recorded that the European witnesses had
'affirmed' according to the form used for native religions, instead of
being sworn according to the Christian formula. Fitzjames was startled
to hear of this intrusion of technicality upon such an occasion; and
held, I think, that in case of need, the Government of India should
manage to cut the knot. Ultimately, however, some of the witnesses who
were at Calcutta made affidavits to the effect that they had really been
sworn, and the sentence was confirmed and executed. Otherwise, said
Fitzjames in one of his last Indian speeches (upon the Oaths and
Declaration Act) a grievous crime might have escaped punishment, because
five English gentlemen had made statements 'in the presence of Almighty
God,' instead of kissing the Bible and saying 'So help me God.'

I must mention one other incident which occurred at the end of
Fitzjames's stay in India. One Ram Singh was the spiritual and political
chief of a sect called the Kookas. His disciples showed their zeal by
murdering butchers as a protest against cow-killing. They were animated
by prophecies of a coming kingdom of heaven, broke into rioting and were
suppressed, and, as the Indian Government held, punished with an excess
of severity. Although Fitzjames was not officially responsible in this
business, he was consulted on the occasion; and his opinions are
represented by an official despatch. I need only say that, as in the
case of Governor Eyre, he insisted that, while the most energetic
measures were allowable to suppress actual resistance, this was no
excuse for excessive punishment after the danger was over. The ordinary
law should then be allowed to take its course. Meanwhile, Ram Singh was
shown to be more or less implicated