HISTORY FROM 1816. 9 



" As a first step towards carrying out these important objects 

 we have determined to summon Dr. Brandis from Burma, and to 

 place him temporarily under the orders of the Government of 

 India. Dr. Brandis, as you are well aware, is peculiarly fitted for 

 such a duty. But, in the first instance, he will have to consider the 

 existing state of the forests in different parts of the country, and 

 to submit for our further consideration his views of the best plans 

 to adopt for the purpose in view. It is not probable, therefore, 

 that we shall be in a position to sanction the establishment of any 

 definite mode of forest procedure, or the formation of a regular 

 Forest department for some time to come ; in the meantime, we 

 are not committed to any particular course, and before taking 

 further steps we shall doubtless have an opportunity of learning 

 the views of Her Majesty's Government on this important 

 subject. 



' We may add that it seems to us that as an officer will be 

 specially required for the general control of forests under the 

 Government of India, so also there should be for the several 

 provinces chief local superintendents, such as Dr. Brandis is now 

 in British Burma. In the minor administrations, where the nature 

 of the forest tracts permits of the work being concentrated, the 

 principal executive officer may readily be general superintendent 

 also. But in a province like Bengal, or in the North-Westeru 

 Provinces, this could hardly be. The Local -Government may 

 probably be best allowed gradually to feel their way to some 

 regular organisation, but of the necessity for system we have no 

 doubt. It is true that occasionally a vigorous control may be 

 exercised over the forests by a local revenue officer as has happened 

 in the case of the Kumaun forests, where the administration of 

 the Commissioner, Lieutenant-Colonel Eamsay, has been in a 

 high degree successful. But such matters are not in their nature 

 an essential part of his duties, and it is indisputable that when 

 the success of the management of such a business is due to 

 the special qualifications and peculiar zeal and activity of an 



