Ir may be said that there is scarcely any thing original in this book: that it is little more than a string of quotations; a mere compilation. But its want of originality is precisely the measure of its merit. I am but the showman of other men's facts and opinions. All exoteric knowledge of the state of India must at present necessarily be sciolous generally speaking, only from the esoteric stores of the Company's Services is trusworthy information to be obtained: a state of things which will gradually correct itself during the struggle to master the real state of the case; but in the interim those who undertake the task of disseminating knowledge of Indian affairs, must be content to be the mere vehicles to the Public of the experience of third parties. I was primarily put upon this inquiry by a desire to obtain for the gentleman to whom this book is addressed an authentic account of the condition of the Ryot, unexaggerated on the one hand; unextenuated on the other." During the course of my inquiry, which has extended among men of various ranks and professions, I have met with much kindness and candour; though I am not in all instances at liberty to acknowledge my obligations: and it was only a fancied perception that there is on the part of England a growing interest in the affairs of India, that has induced me, in the belief that facts will prove acceptable, to render public information originally gathered merely for private satisfaction. It is, I conceive, the duty of every man at this juncture, especially of every man, a large portion of whose lot in life is cast in India, to render accessible to all, his own modicum of facts, be it more or less; be it the result of his own original experience, or of what he has learnt from the experience of others: and if by digging in the heavy Parliamentary Blue Books, distasteful to the general reader; selecting from lately published works and pamphlets; disseminating the facts and opinions recorded in private by my friends; offering what I know, and what I think myself; I can aid in the movement, whose end is the enlightenment of the Public, my object will be attained. As it has been manfully put; it would be wicked to abstain. A letter read in the House of Commons said: woe be to India, if the present crisis is allowed to slip by unimproved; but I say: Woe be unto England; for it cannot be too emphatically impressed upon the People at large, that this question of Indian Government is to them, properly considered, the one great question of the Age. They may not so see it now; may we act with such prudence, benevolence, and justice, that they may not be forced so to acknowledge it hereafter. |