167 



it must inevitably entail. The advocates of the 

 measure entertain no doubt whatever, that they 

 would follow, and not only follow, but follow very 

 much on the principle than an effect does a cause. 

 On the contrary, without in any way disputing 1 that 

 the relation of the two may be precisely as stated, 

 I am of opinion that there is a certain condition of 

 circumstances, which is indispensable to the truth of 

 the proposition, that unless that condition is found, 

 results will not equal expectations, that that con- 

 dition is not now found in India, or in any part of 

 it^ and that it will not be found for many years to 

 come, if ever. I venture to think, therefore, that 

 while the sacrifice would be certain, the realization 

 of the compensating 1 advantages is, if not chimerical, 

 extremely doubtful ; or, at all hazards, far too remote 

 to warrant any action involving 1 much future risk. 



Seventy years ago Lord Cornwallis proposed, by 

 the introduction of a permanent settlement into one 

 Province, to accomplish precisely the same ends as 

 are now desired to be brought about over the whole 

 Country. In ratifying 1 this measure, the Governor- 

 General declared himself to be fully confident " that 

 the proprietors of land, sensible of the benefits con- 

 ferred upon them by the public assessment being fixed 

 for ever, would exert themselves in the cultivation of 

 their land, under the certainty that they would enjoy 

 exclusively the fruits of their own good management 

 and industry, and that no demand would ever be made 

 upon them for an augmentation of the assessment in 

 consequence of the improvement of their estates/' 



