COLONEL eathboene's eepoet. 253 



thus justified. '' The nobles of Smdh must 

 have the road of ambition opened to them, or 

 they will not have their rights in the honour- 

 able sense of my proclamation, that is, if they 

 qualify themselves for the offices demanded. 

 But in questions of general interest like this, 

 even qualification should not be required before 

 enjoyment. AYe must give first, we must turn 

 out afterwards for incapacity. The class-rights 

 will be thus acknowledged, while the man is 

 removed ; and if one Beloochee gentleman be- 

 comes a magistrate, many will qualify them- 

 selves." 



This high-minded policy, so worthy of the 

 great man who uttered those sentiments, seems 

 to have been fully approved by his ablest 

 lieutenants, after Sir Charles Napier had him- 

 self quitted the scene of his most important 

 achievements, both military and administrative. 

 Colonel Rathborne, in his admirable Report, 

 with especial reference to what is due to Sur- 

 dars of high birth and rank, would, in such 

 cases, grant personal exemption and immimi- 

 ties, and would restrain a system of offensive 

 bullying and insult towards men of that status. 

 ''In a word," says Colonel Rathborne, '' I 



