Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

which brings her Summer Ramble' to a triumphant and interesting termination. In closing these slight notices, we have to warn our readers that, in addition to our forbearance from all further arguments concerning the social condition of women, all the matters on which Mrs. Jameson has touched concerning Canadian politics and statistics have been passed over by us without notice. The amount of the information, indeed, communicated by her is necessarily small. The "Chancellor's lady" could hardly, without serious failure in good taste or decided breach of confidence, have discussed the administration of colonial government; while her official position must have placed barriers of suspicion and formality between herself and a people, among whom the sparks of rebellion, however soon to break out, were as yet merely smouldering. For, it must be added,-in answer to some who have accused our authoress of withholding from the public the information it had a right to expect at her hands,-Mrs. Jameson left Toronto some time before the first insurrection. From other sources, then, have we looked for information concerning these stern and momentous topics; and they are more fully discussed by us in another place. But even at this time of excitement there yet exists a remnant of the public, whose members will be glad to turn from the harangues of Lord Durham and the plots of Wolfred Nelson, to rest their minds upon contemplating the relics of aboriginal society, and the scenery of lake and forest and mountain, of a grandeur and antiquity and extent before which all human strivings and aspirations are rebuked into nothingness. It is for such readers that we have written, and to their best graces do we sincerely commend this last and most variously amusing work of an eloquent and graceful authoress.

ARTICLE VI.

Sketches of the Relations subsisting between the British Government of India and the different Native States. By J. SUTHERLAND, Captain 3rd Regiment Bombay Light Cavalry. 8vo. Calcutta: 1833.

Ar a time when India, by the late unlooked-for military movement towards her north-west frontier, has become an object of general interest and anxiety, and when every kind of information calculated to throw light on her political condition, resources, or attachment to the British cause is eagerly sought for, we have been fortunate enough to meet with a pamphlet which contains, up to the date of its publication, the amplest information that we could desire upon political matters, and the nature of the system of interference of the Company's government with the native states. Since then, the relations of the government have but little altered, if at all; and from our personal knowledge we hope to be able to supply any changes which have occurred, so far as they have been brought under public observation. We are not aware that new treaties have been entered into with any of the native states; and if any such have been concluded, it is most probable that they are not materially different to their predecessors.

The work before us is by Major Sutherland, now Resident at the court of Sindia, and we are disposed to place implicit faith in the statements of his publication (particularly in those portions of it which relate to the treaties of the Company's government, and to its political conduct, never before so entirely and unreservedly laid open), because it was compiled by him from government records, and his remarks are the result of personal observation. We believe indeed that the government of India, after the book was printed, did not quite relish this general exposé, and bought up the edition, a very limited one, for the purpose of distributing copies to such of its servants as required a ready book of reference and authority in political questions. Major Sutherland has risen by his own talents and exertions through progressive situations, in which his services have been justly acknowledged. As an ensign in the Bombay army he made himself known as a good and brave soldier in the early part of the Mahratta war. Subsequently he was drafted into the cavalry; and when English

officers were required to assist in disciplining the Nizam's contingent of cavalry, he was one of those selected for the purpose. He was afterwards appointed by Sir Charles Metcalfe to employment in the civil administration of the country; and considerable districts were allotted to him, where his name is still held in much respect. On the death of Major Davies he succeeded to the general command of the Nizam's cavalry, and afterwards acted as secretary to Sir Charles Metcalfe while he was acting governor-general of India. During this period he had access to the whole of the political documents in the possession of government, and compiled the work now before us. He accompanied Sir Charles Metcalfe to Agra, on his appointment to the governorship of the western provinces, and there intimately observed the working of the political system in Rajpootana; and the residency of Gualior falling vacant while he was at Agra, he was appointed to it by Lord William Bentinck. Considering therefore the situations into which Major Sutherland has been thrown, his respectable talents, habits of observation, and knowledge of the native character, we are inclined to give considerable weight to his opinions, as founded upon actual experience; and we are happy to be the means of bringing a work, which deserves not to be forgotten, before the English public.

The political relations of the East India Company are of three kinds. First, the foreign relations with Cabool, Sennaa and other Arab tribes, Siam and Acheen. Secondly, those with Ava, Nipal, Lahore and Sinde, on the external frontier of India. Thirdly, the relations with the internal states which have relinquished political relations with one another: these may be divided, according to the terms of the treaties with them, into six great classes.

First Class.-Treaties offensive and defensive; giving the states a right to claim protection, external and internal, from the Company's government; and a right on its part to interfere in their internal affairs.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Second Class.-Treaties offensive and defensive; giving the states a right to claim protection, external and internal, from the Company's government, and the aid of its troops to realize their just dues from their subjects; but giving no right to the Company's government to interfere in their internal affairs.

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Third Class.-Treaties offensive and defensive with states tributary to, acknowledging the supremacy of, and promising co-operation with the Company's government, but supreme rulers in their own territory; giving consequently no right of interference on the part of the Company's government.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Fourth Class.-Treaties of guarantee and protection, with

subordinate co-operation, and supremacy in their own terri

tory.

1. Tonk (Ameer Khan)

2. Seronge

3. Neembhera

4. Putteala

5. Keytul

6. Daba

7. Jheend other Sikh states

Fifth Class.-Treaty of amity and friendship.

Gualior

Area.

1,103

262

269

16,602.

Area. 32,944.

Sixth Class.-Treaties of protection, giving a right to British government to control internal affairs.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

The above analysis gives the number of the states with which the East India Company has treaties, and the area in square miles will at once enable the reader to judge of their relative power and importance. It will be impossible for us, within our present limits, to notice every state even of the interior of India; but we shall not omit any which, from their influence in the country, or connexion with the Company's government, may possess interest for the general reader. We purpose to pass in review the internal states of India within the British frontier, which have relinquished political relations with each other. These are subdivided into six classes, according to the nature of the treaties made with them.

FIRST CLASS OF TREATIES.-Offensive and defensive right of protection from the Company's government; right of Company's government to interference in internal affairs. I. OUDE.-The Company's first treaty with Oude is that of 1768; by this the Wuzeer agreed not to maintain more than 35,000 troops, 10,000 of whom were to be disciplined.

The second was signed in 1773. If the Wuzeer paid fifty lakh of rupees, the Company's government agreed to give him certain districts which had been abandoned by the king of Delhi. He was also to support a contingent brigade, consisting of two battalions of European infantry, and six of native, artillery, &c.

The third, in 1775. The Company's government undertakes to defend the Oude territory, and the Wuzeer cedes certain districts on this account.

The fourth, in 1781. By which the troops left in Oude are mited in number.

« VorigeDoorgaan »