Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/145

Rh system of transportation which was in force had led to terrible abuses, and the object of Colonel Arthur's appointment was the introduction of an improved system. His strong good sense and humanity indicated the possibility of a middle course between the extreme severity of the system which would make transportation simply deterrent, and the over-indulgence of the system which aimed at reforming the convict by gentle treatment. He held that it was possible to make transportation a punishment much dreaded by criminals, whilst offering every facility for reform to those who were not hardened in crime; but he entertained no quixotic expectations of frequent reformation. His plans were never allowed a fair trial. The colonists and their friends in England were bent on putting an end to the transportation system, and their views ultimately prevailed. Colonel Arthur's administration of Van Diemen's Land lasted for twelve years, and was marked throughout by a rare combination of humanity with firmness and courage, and, above all, by a shrewd common sense and practical judgment, which secured for him alike the respect of the colonists abroad and the confidence of statesmen at home. While holding this government Colonel Arthur discerned the advantage which would accrue to the Australian colonies from adopting a system of confederation. It is believed that he was the first person to suggest this important colonial reform.

On his return to England in March 1837 Colonel Arthur received the Hanoverian order, and at the end of that year was sent to Upper Canada as lieutenant-governor, with the military rank and command of a major-general on the staff. The state of Canada at that time was such as to demand the services of a firm and judicious administrator. Both the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada had recently been the scene of attempts to subvert the authority of the British crown. These had been suppressed, but Lord Durham's mission and the lenity with which the rebels were treated, had caused much dissatisfaction among the loyal section of the population in both provinces, and especially among the militia in Upper Canada. On the eve of Lord Durham's departure a fresh revolutionary attempt had been made in Lower Canada, and shortly after Sir George Arthur had taken charge of his government, Upper Canada was invaded by bands of American sympathisers. Sir George Arthur's arrangements for the defence of the colony were well planned, and were perfectly successful; but his difficulties were great. ‘I much fear,’ he wrote, ‘from the discontent prevailing among many of the militia, that even the most loyal of them will feel a reluctance to come forward until the very hour of emergency, and when it may be too late to prevent a great deal of mischief.’

In 1841 the two provinces were united under a governor-general, in the person of Lord Sydenham, at whose special request Sir George Arthur continued for a time to conduct the administration of Upper Canada as deputy governor, but upon his own express stipulation that he should receive no emolument or remuneration whatever for that duty. Sir George Arthur's services in Canada were rewarded with a baronetcy, which was conferred upon him shortly after his return to England in the summer of 1841. The general election, which resulted in Sir Robert Peel's return to power, was then in progress, and Sir George Arthur received from two constituencies ofters to return him to parliament free of expense; but he declined both these offers, and shortly afterwards entered upon an entirely new sphere of duty, having been appointed governor of the Indian presidency of Bombay, which office he assumed on 8 June 1842. Reference has already been made in the memoir of Sir George Anderson [see Anderson, George William (1791-1857) (DNB00), K.C.B.] to the critical position of affairs in India at the time when Sir George Arthur entered upon his new duties, and to the responsibilities which devolved upon the government of Bombay in connection with our military forces in Afghanistan, Beluchistan, and Sind. A few years previously, under the provisions of the East India Company's charter act of 1833, a material change had been made in the relations of the minor governments of Madras and Bombay with the supreme government of India. Previous to the passing of that enactment, although in all matters of imperial policy the governor-general was supreme, the two minor governments had retained a large share of administrative independence. The increase in the statutory powers of the governor-general and his council was speedily followed by minute interference on the part of the supreme government with administrative details which had been previously left to the discretion of the governments of Madras and Bombay. The result was frequent and constantly increasing friction between the supreme and local administrations. These difficulties were experienced in an intensified form by Sir George Arthur, succeeding, as he did, at a crisis which required considerable power of independent judgment and yet loyal obedience by the local governments to the final decisions of the governor-general. Moreover, the unavoidable 