than to their own people.  I need not quote instances of the extraordinary influence which many European missionaries have acquired by their devoted labours amongst the poor, the sick, and the suffering, and in former times, perhaps more than in recent times, even with Indians of the higher classes.  In ordinary circumstances we have to recognize the existence of both sides of obstacles to anything like intimacy.  Many Indian ideas and habits are repugnant to us, but so also are many of ours to them.  Indians have their own conceptions of dignity and propriety which our social customs frequently offend.  If Englishmen and Englishwomen in high places in India would exert their influence to invest the social life of Europeans in the chief resorts of Anglo-Indian society with a little more decorum and seriousness, they would probably be doing better service to a good understanding between the two races in social matters than by trying to break down by sheer insistence, however well meant, the barriers which diametrically opposite forms of civilization have placed between them.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

In the very able speech in which, on July 27, Mr. Montagu, the new Under-Secretary of State for India, introduced the Indian Budget in the House of Commons, one passage referred to the relations between the Secretary of State and the Viceroy in terms which have deservedly attracted very great attention[23].  Differences of opinion, sometimes of an acute character, have at intervals occurred between Secretaries of State and Viceroys as to their relative attributions.  Mr. Montagu’s language, however, would seem to constitute an assertion of the powers of the Secretary of State far in excess not only of past practice but of any reasonable interpretation of legislative enactments on the subject.  After congratulating Lord Minto on the completion of, a “difficult reign,” Mr. Montagu said:—­

The relations of a Viceroy to the Secretary of State are intimate and responsible.  The Act of Parliament says “That the Secretary of State in Council shall superintend, direct, and control all acts, operations, and concerns which in any way relate to or concern the government or revenues of India, and all grants of salaries, gratuities, and allowances, and all other payments and charges whatever out of or on the revenues of India.”  It will be seen how wide, how far reaching, and how complete these powers are.  Lord Morley and his Council, working through the agency of Lord Minto, have accomplished much....  I believe that men of all parties will be grateful that Lord Morley remains to carry out the policy he has initiated.

It is to be regretted in the first place that Mr. Montagu should not have been more careful to make his quotation accurate.  For, as quoted by him, the Act would make it obligatory upon the Secretary of State to supervise practically every act of the