Page:The Marquess of Dalhousie.djvu/71

Rh As a matter of fact, those seven years were, from the very outset, years of war, and of strain which might at any moment develop into war. The fine old soldier who laid down the office of Governor-General in January 1848, was not accustomed to look very far below the surface of things. Prompt to strike and easy to conciliate, he dealt firmly with the facts as they presented themselves, without caring to penetrate deeply into their causes. If he had had either leisure or inclination for such scrutiny, he would have seen that his rule really marked the close of a worn-out system which had ceased to be possible in India.

That system slowly grew up during the weakness of the British power in the two preceding centuries, and received its complete development from Lord Wellesley at the beginning of the present one. It was a system which enabled the English to exercise a political control, more or less effective according to their own strength at the moment, over the States of India; without burdening themselves with the responsibility for the welfare of the peoples of India. By treaties and alliances, the Native Princes had, one after the other, been brought into subordinate relations to the British Government. Our Government took upon itself the duty of the external defence of the subject princes. We were also practically bound to maintain their dynasties against internal revolt, as long as they