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 throughout the three kingdoms was transferred to the central government, and the cost of their maintenance from local to imperial funds, uniformity and economy of administration being thus secured without abolishing the visitatorial powers of the justices. Cross’s last proposal, to acquire and transfer to a single authority all the undertakings which supplied London with water, was sharply criticized on the ground of extravagance: but the main idea was sound.

In opposition (1880–1885) the school of business men in politics to which Cross belonged was speedily thrown into the shade by Lord Randolph Churchill, whose dislike for them was open and violent. Accordingly, although Cross returned to the Home Office in the short-lived ministry of 1885, it was no surprise when in 1886 that department was given to Lord Randolph’s nominee, and Cross received the lighter India Office, being at the same time raised to the peerage as Viscount Cross, of Broughton-in-Furness. His tenure of the India Office, which lasted till 1892, was uneventful, its only important piece of legislation being the India Councils Act, 1892. This was regarded at the time as a bold advance; but it was highly successful, and Cross is entitled to a considerable share of the credit. In 1895 he accepted the office of privy seal, which he retained till 1900, and he finally retired in 1902. After this his appearances in parliament were few, but he voted and spoke against the 1909 Finance Bill. He died 8 January 1914 at Eccle Riggs, Broughton-in-Furness.

Lord Cross was a fellow of the Royal Society, a bencher of the Inner Temple, and an ecclesiastical commissioner, and was keenly interested in the affairs of the Church. His honours included, besides the viscounty, the G.C.B. (1880) and G.C.S.I, (1892). Cross was among the small band of her ministers whom Queen Victoria honoured with her close personal friendship, and he was a trustee of more than one royal marriage settlement. But the picturesque story that he was the queen’s confidential business agent is unfounded. Very far from being a brilliant man, Cross was yet gifted with unfailing good sense; and he had the knack of securing the affection and trust of his subordinates. His speeches were of a type which the House of Commons listens to with respect rather than enjoyment, well-documented and clear statements such as might be made at a meeting of a business company. Only twice did he rise to a note of passion in oratory, namely, when introducing the Artisans’ Dwellings Act (1875) and when repudiating on behalf of the Cabinet the charge of indifference to the sufferings of Bulgaria. The last-named speech (7 May 1877) also contains a cogent defence of the whole policy of the government over the treaty of San Stefano, and created a widespread impression.

Lord Cross married in 1852 Georgiana (died 1907), third daughter of Thomas Lyon, of Appleton Hall, near Warrington, by whom he had four sons and three daughters. His two elder sons predeceased him, and he was succeeded as second viscount by his grandson, Richard Assheton Cross (born 1882).

 CROSTHWAITE, CHARLES HAUKES TODD (1835–1915), Anglo-Indian administrator, was born at Donnybrook, co. Dublin, 5 December 1835, the second son of the Rev. John Clarke Crosthwaite, vicar-choral of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and later rector of St. Mary-at-Hill, London, by his wife, Elizabeth Haukes, daughter of Charles H. Todd, M.D., of Sligo and Dublin. After education at Merchant Taylors’ School and St. John’s College, Oxford, he entered the Indian civil service in August 1857, and served in various revenue and judicial posts in the North-Western Provinces and the Central Provinces. From March 1883 to February 1884 he was in Burma, acting as chief commissioner during the absence on leave of Sir [q.v.]. After his return to the Central Provinces Crosthwaite became officiating chief commissioner there, and was confirmed in that post in January 1885. Towards the end of the following year he was made a member of the public service commission; but this employment was interrupted in March 1887 by his appointment to succeed Sir Charles Bernard as chief commissioner of Burma. He had already been made a C.S.I. in February 1887, and in June 1888 he was promoted K.C.S.I.

Crosthwaite’s period of service in Burma lasted till December 1890, and during that time he did notable work in  140