Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/220

213 for your brothers in arms to a reward which their recent display of exalted spirit and invincible intrepidity proves could not be more deservedly extended to the officers of any army on earth .'

Nor was it only the Europeans to whom he sought to render justice. Rising above the prejudices of the day, he admitted to Government House those half-castes, whose position entitled them to consideration, and endeavoured to gain their good-will by proving to them that, at all events in his eyes, colour was no bar to his favour. Half-castes were in a peculiar position; and many of them, though in strong sympathy with British ideas, were despised and ungenerously treated by the European community; and yet as they had entire knowledge of native prejudices and were in intimate relations with popular sentiments, they formed no unimportant link between the governing classes and the governed. Lord Hastings adopted a course that might be expected from a man of his enlightened character, and rewarded those who were in the public service, and who deserved it, by promoting them to a position which would enable them to give their best services to the British Government. He tells the story with regard to a celebrated leader of Irregular horse, a half-caste, in the following manner: —

'I then desired to see Captain Skinner. Private information had been given me that he had become dissatisfied with