228 Napier's prophetic warning. 



result of our Indian conquests no man can pre- 

 dict, but if we take the people by the hand we 

 may count on ruling India for ages. Justice, 

 rigid justice, even severe justice, will work 

 miracles ; it has its basis in the desire of man 

 for protection against cruelty, and cannot be 

 shaken. India is safe if so ruled. But such 

 deeds are done as make one wonder that we 

 hold it a year." In connection with the same 

 subject, and referring to some desertions from a 

 Bengal regiment, which were evidently the re- 

 sult of great mismanagement and laxity of dis- 

 cipline, as long since declared by officers of Her 

 Majesty's service. Sir Charles Napier observes : 

 — " My opinion will be disregarded, and I will 

 give no more, but the present system will have 

 a bad result some fine day, as sure as God 

 made Moses, and the Court of Directors w411 

 sell the grandest empire the world ever saw." 



The fact, I believe, is, that our S3^stem of 

 government of late years has been one con- 

 tinued great mistake; our military system in 

 Bengal has undeniably been so, and such was 

 it considered and pronounced by Sir Charles 

 Napier years before the insurrection, for when 



