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Rh disembarked at Calcutta, and proceeded at once to take the customary oaths of office and his seat in Council — 'within five minutes after touching land,' as he wrote home — and to be introduced to the members of the Council. Of these Mr. (Sir) Barnes Peacock, a distinguished English barrister, and John Peter Grant, a civilian of exceptional ability, were the most influential. Another member. General John Low, had fought in the last Maráthá War, and since then had enjoyed a prolonged experience of native Courts and unusual facilities for reading native character. He was supposed to be of those who thought that Dalhousie had gone too far and too fast.

The new Governor-General plunged eagerly into business, and commenced from the outset that neglect of all consideration for health which he continued to the end with such disastrous effect. At the end of the first week he writes that, so great had been the pressure of business that he had found time 'only for one look out of doors' since arrival. The opportunities for converse with Lord Dalhousie were, of course, invaluable.

The tide of official work rolled in amain. 'Another fortnight is gone,' Lord Canning wrote towards the end of March, 'and I am beginning to gather up by slow degrees the threads of business, as it passes before me: but it is severe work to have to give up so much time to the bygones of almost every question that comes up; and some weeks more must