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98 mination, in profoundly reflecting on the means of carrying it out, in patiently and perseveringly prosecuting it, he has been rarely equalled, and never surpassed, by any ruler of India.

For such a policy, fitting instruments must be either found by him ready to hand or else laboriously made. He could find few such among the Natives themselves, as they then were in these Provinces; for the misfortunes which during several generations overspread this country, like destructive inundations, had wrecked and ruined most men of the better classes. In the absence of any public instruction there were few Natives of any modern training; such men he hoped indeed to educate and train, but the result could not be obtained yet awhile. Meanwhile he would promote the official training of the European administrators, and would induce them to educate their Native subordinates.

Next after education, one way, he knew, to secure probity and integrity in Native Officials was to improve their status, emoluments and promotion. In connexion with this, he promulgated for them a generous scheme of superannuation in order to afford them an assured prospect in the decline of life.

His own experience had taught him that of all officials the most important were the European Magistrates and Collectors, or district officers. As they were highly placed men of excellent stamp, with an abiding sense of duty and a laudable ambition, they afforded the best material, so to speak, for organi-