297 



manent settlement of the land revenue, it is suffi. 

 cient to say that they embrace mainly what is called 

 advancement in material progress, the creation of 

 wealth ; or, viewed financially, ability on the part of 

 the people to bear increased taxation. 



Now if the advantages anticipated would neces- 

 sarily follow this measure, there would clearly be 

 ground for the sacrifice that, from one point of 

 view, 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 that an effect does a cause. 

 On the country, without in. any way disputing 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 indispensible 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 advantages is, if not chimerical, 

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

 to warrant any action involving much future risk. 



Seventy years ago Lord Coruwallis 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 



