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ble, and the advantages to the country resulting 

 from such a measure, all will fully admit. But I have 

 fairly demonstrated that to effect this object, the sale 

 of the land is not necessary, and that a question 

 involving such great interests to the millions of Her 

 Majesty's Indian subjects, as the redemption of the 

 land revenue, should have grown out of it, and should 

 have come up for consideration and decision on the 

 application of a few tea planters, I look on as a 

 serious misfortune. From the sale of wastes much 

 good, and no present hnrm can possibly result. There 

 is reason to believe, however, that provinces like 

 Assam and Cachar, the soil of which is not exceeded 

 in fertility by that of any soil in the world, will ere 

 long, be quite as populous, and far more prosperous 

 than any part of India. It will naturally be argued 

 by native Zemindars then, that if the sale of the lands 

 on very easy terms is thought good for Europeans, it 

 must be thought equally good for us, and Government 

 could hardly refuse to grant it, if demanded. Had 

 the question regarding the redemption of the land 

 revenue or the sale of the rights of the Community 

 generally, after full and fair discussion, been decided 

 in the affirmative, there could be no objection to 

 the sale of wastes; but until such has been done, 

 it is not expedient to introduce an idea into 

 India which possibly may cause dissatisfaction 

 with fisc al arrangements that till now have been 

 considered correct in principle, and have been for 



