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30 had inspired, not only among his own party, but in the cool judgment of English statesmen who differed from his views. But Lord Dalhousie did not accept the honour until he obtained the cordial concurrence of his late conservative chief, and the generous assurance of the new Whig Minister that it would in no way fetter his action in home politics, or affect his relations with former allies. Nor was it without a sigh of regret that the young Earl turned aside from the splendid parliamentary career which had opened to him, and elected for the certainty of being Governor-General of India, in place of the possibility of becoming Prime Minister of England.

On the 12th January, 1848, Lord Dalhousie landed at Calcutta with the Countess of Dalhousie and a brilliant staff, including his talented private secretary, Mr. Courtenay. The Honourable Francis Fane (afterwards Earl of Westmoreland) and a young relative of the Duke of Wellington, were among his Aides-de-camp. He had already begun to pay the penalty of an Indian career, that severance of the dearest domestic ties which takes the pleasure out of the most brilliant Indian success, by having to leave his two little daughters behind him in England. He was destined to pay that penalty to the full. Of the state of India on his arrival it will be my duty to speak hereafter; for the crisis which had then unwittingly been reached, forms the key-