MR. bright's opinion. 2-11 



compact ring-fence, instead of being spread 

 over the entire Peninsula. So would I, be- 

 cause I feel assured that the safety of that 

 Empire depends on its concentration rather 

 than on its extent. In fact, the greatest and 

 wisest statesmen that ever held office in 

 India have placed on record their sentiments 

 as highly adverse to territorial extension. 

 For my own part, judging the future from 

 the past, looking at the rise and fall of 

 Empires, Greece and Rome, and more re- 

 cently that magnificent Empire created by 

 the Great Napoleon, I come to the conclusion 

 that each step we advance beyond a certain 

 point in the extension of frontier, is a step 

 towards our own downfal ! 



Mr Bright, an eminently practical states- 

 man, would " abolish the office of Governor- 

 General of India, as the post is too high, 

 his power is too great, and over this officer 

 almost no real control is exercised ; in fact, 

 scarcely any control can be exercised over 

 an officer of such high position ; and that 

 the duties of Governor- General are far greater 

 than any human being can fulfil." '^ Inevit- 

 ably all those duties tliat devolve on every 



VOL. II. IG 



