Page:Allan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Father of the Indian National Congress.djvu/40

 states. These treaties were successfully negotiated Mr. Hume ; and the Secretary of State cordially recognized the value of his services, writing as follows to the Viceroy (Despatch No. 3 of 6th February 1879) : "I entirely concur in the high appreciation of Mr. Hume's long and valuable services expressed by your Excellency's Government ; for to him, as you observe, is due the initiation prosecution, and completion of that policy which has led to the agreements entered into with the several States concerned." In a letter from Mr. Hume to the Press some interesting particulars are given as to the merits of the award, under which the Sambhur Lake and other sources of salt supply were transferred from the Rajputana States to the British Government. On the one hand it had been contended that the amount awarded as compensation was mean and insufficient ; on the other hand he had been severely taken to task for his supposed reckless liberality. As regards the allegation of insufficiency, Mr. Hume points out that the two States chiefly concerned were Jeypore and Jodhpore, and under the award Jeypore received double the amount realized in previous years, while Jodhpore received three lakhs more than it ever did before. On the other hand, as regards the claims of the Government, Mr. Hume's award was accepted and confirmed by Lord Mayo and Sir John Strachey, the Minister of Finance ; and if the liberality to the Rajput States seemed at the time excessive, it was justified by the ultimate results ; for by the employment of scientific methods, the Govern- ment became a gainer financially from the transaction ; while the public was much benefited : where 1½ millions of maunds were before produced, 5 millions were now brought into the market, so that for Rs. 3 annas 2 per maund a better article was procurable than that for which Rs. 6 and 7 was previously paid.