1900.] on Ancient Monuments in India. 65 



Sanclii Tope. But at the end of this time succeeded a period of some 

 reaction, in wliich it appeared to be thought tliat the task of the Central 

 Govel•nInen^, in the preparation of surveys and lists, was drawing to a 

 close, and that Local Governments might, in future, be safely entrusted 

 with the more modest, but, I may add, not less critical, dnty of conserva- 

 tion. More recently, under Lord Elgin's auspices, the archfBological 

 work of Government has been placed upon a more definite basis. The 

 entire country has been divided into a number of circles, each with a 

 surveyor of its own, and while the establishment is regarded as an 

 Imperial charij^e, t!ie work is placed under local control and receives 

 sucli financial backing as tl>e resources of the Local Governments or the 

 sympathies of individual Governors may be able to give it. In the 

 North-West Provinces, where I was i-ecently touring, I found Sir 

 A. MacDonnell worthily sustaining, in point of generous and discriminat- 

 ing sympathy, the traditions that were created by Sir John Strachey. 



For my part I feel far from clear that Government might not do a 

 good deal more than it is now doing, or than it has hitlierto consented 

 to do. I certainly cannot look forward to a time at which either the 

 obligations of the State will have become exhausted, or at which 

 archoeological research and conservation in this country can dispense 

 with Government direction and control. I see fruitful fields of labour 

 still unexplored, bad blunders still to be corrected, gaping omissions to 

 be supplied, plentiful opportunities for patient renovation and scholarly 

 research. In )ny opinion, the tax-payeis of this country are in the last 

 degree unlikely to resent a somewhat highei' expenditure — and, after all, 

 a few thousand rupees go a long way in archaeological work, and the 

 total outlay is exceedingly small— upon objects in which I believe them 

 to be as keenly interested iis we are (jurselves. I hope to assert more 

 definitely during my time the Imperial responsibility of Government in 

 respect of Indian antiquities, to inaugurate or to persuade a more liberal 

 attitude on tbe part of those with whom it rests to provide the means, 

 and to be a faithful guardian of the priceless treasure-house of art and 

 learning that has, for a few years at any rate, been committed to my 

 cliarf^e. 



