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Her Majesty's Ministers, if fully aware of the 

 existing state of India in relation to this question, 

 would be concluding treaties with foreign powers, 

 to deprive her of her greatest want her mo^t 

 precious wealth. The existence of the popular 

 belief on the subject, can be very readily under- 

 stood. It is maintained by talkers on Indian 

 subjects, persons who seern to consider it their 

 mission to address themselves to the redress of 

 Indian grievances. These gentlemen are generally 

 well intentioned, and often do much good; but 

 as they will not always take the trouble to 

 make themselves acquainted with the subjects they 

 take up, and, more frequently, have not the best 

 opportunities of obtaining accurate information, 

 they sometimes do a good deal of mischief. When 

 I first came to India, now about eighteen years 

 ago, it was customary to set down the popula- 

 tion of British India at 130,000,000. I have 

 been extremely amused in observing how this 

 number has gradually been swelled up, first to 

 150,000,000, then to 180,000,000, and lastly to 

 200,000,000, at which, for the present I believe, it 

 stands. True, Her Majesty's possessions in India 

 have increased considerably within the last eighteen 

 years. But in what ratio? The Punjab added, say 

 10,000,000; Nngpoor 5,000,000; Oude 5,000,000; 

 Pegu 1,000,000 to the population of British India, 

 making a total of 21,000,000 souls : or, allowing 



