CHAPTER IX.

BRITISH SYSTEM IN INDIA.

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Foundation of the British Indian Empire.-Native Troops.Civil Government.-Employment of Young Men.-Commerce.-Missions and Translations.

ALTHOUGH India be a region in itself striking and memorable, there is yet another view under which it appears still more interesting to a British reader. The whole of this vast empire may now be considered as subject to the sway of Britain. The destiny of a hundred millions of men, placed at the opposite extremity of the globe, is in our hands. On the other hand, the fortunes of Britain herself cannot fail to be materially affected by those of this enormous appendage to her dominions. There is at present neither occasion nor space to inquire into the steps, or the policy, which led to this vast extension of British terri-. tory. From the moment that the European powers established factories in Indostan, differences with the native powers could not fail to arise. On these occasions, the superiority of the former in skill and discipline secured always a.

decided success, obtained too with numbers and means apparently very inadequate. The lustre thrown around their arms by these achievements was not long of opening the minds of the commanders to vast schemes of ambition. The system of holding territory, once admitted, could not fail, in such circumstances, to be most rapidly extended. The jealousy of the native powers was soon awakened; and their profligate and faithless policy led them to scruple at no means of ridding themselves from this unwelcome foreign intrusion. Hence, not only a pretext, but even a just cause for war, could scarcely ever be wanting. The state of the Mogul empire, sinking under its own weight, and splitting by rebellion into a number of separate fragments, greatly favoured the views of a foreign power. Every chief, with whom they were to make war, had usually a rival little inferior to himself, who was ready to join the standard of his enemy. The British often also enjoyed the opportunity of embracing the cause of the legitimate sovereign against a powerful rebel, and thus giving to their exertions a popular and laudable aspect. Thus it was that they propped for a moment the sinking throne of the Mogul, and afterwards obtained, as his viceroy, the government of Bengal and its dependencies. Finally, on the extinction of the race, they acquired a right to the succession:

of his empire, which wore somewhat of a legiti mate aspect.

To a superficial observer, the tenure on which the British Indian empire is now held might appear altogether anomalous and insecure. That a hundred millions of men should submit to the yoke of twenty or thirty thousand natives of a country separated from them by half the globe, and whose religion,` manners, and mode of life, are in their eyes utterly odious and contemptible, might seem a supposition quite wild and impossible. Human affairs, however, proceed in a different train from that which a speculative survey might lead us to anticipate. The inhabitants of this part of the globe have been inured for so many ages to the sway of a foreign and absolute master, that all those impulses which could have spurred them on to the assertion of national independence have become nearly extinct. They have no idea of possessing any rights as men, or as members of a political society. They never think of speculating, whether a government be good or bad, just or unjust. Mr Strachey says, he never knew one native who had the remotest idea of the political state of his own country, or could once dream of joining in an attempt to alter its government. The most arbitrary exactions would not, he believes, excite any resistance, or at least would not raise any riot suffi

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cient to resist a company of Sepoys. He does not conceive that the natives ever consult or converse on political subjects. A few only of the higher rank in Calcutta sometimes make inquiries on the subject; but on such occasions they betray such gross ignorance, as proves how little such questions have ever occupied their attention. The only thing in their minds which can be called a public feeling, is that of personal attachment to their Zemindar or chief, which in some districts is very strong; so that they will fol. low him to the last, without the least inquiry either as to the justice of the cause, or the means of success. These Zemindars are hostile to the British government, which has deprived them of political power, and introduced a system of law inimical to their arbitrary proceedings. As these chiefs, however, have no union among themselves, they have no means of raising any force sufficient to make head for a moment against the British mili tary power.

To supply the want of European numbers, the English have had recourse to a system which appears at first sight to be still more perilous. The natives are employed as troops to aid in the subjugation of their own countrymen. The success of the plan depends upon that profound apathy with regard to the condition and fortune of their country, which pervades every part of the Indian

population. The military orders too have always made it an invariable rule, to adhere to that power which holds in its hands the heaviest purse; and Britain is now able to outbid any of the native potentates. These troops, led by British officers, have displayed courage, and even heroism, in fighting the battles of their foreign masters. In the general course of things, they are as manageable, and not much less efficient, than an equal number of British troops. Considerable care and address, however, must always be used in touching so delicate an instrument. When any thing has been unguardedly done to shock their rooted prejudices, or when any disunion among British officers has revealed to them the secret of their own strength, terrible convulsions have threatened to ensue. The submission and subserviency with which the Hindoos behave to their present rulers, ceases not to be accompanied with the deepest inward aversion and contempt. The mere eating of beef is sufficient to render the Europeans in their eyes quite odious and disgusting. Then no one will cook it but a Pariah, and as the eater of any food can never, according to Hindoo ideas, rank higher than the cook, the European sinks inevitably to the level of that abhorred and outcast generation. A circumstance which renders him the object, if possible, of still deeper contempt and horror, is that of his wearing gloves and