listen to any statement of grievances which they may desire to make, or to suspect their motives when they suggest remedies....  It is quite possible that such views as you instance may prevail to a considerable extent with our agitating people; but it is equally certain that many who join them would indignantly repudiate the imputation of being actuated by any motives of the kind.  My study always is, to keep those who profess moderate and reasonable views right, and to prevent them from going over arms and baggage to the enemy, by taking for granted that they mean what they profess, and, when they propose objectionable remedies, arguing against them on their own premises.  Some, of course, would rather abandon their sound premises than their illogical conclusions, when they are driven in this way to the wall; but a large number come over to the right side when they find that the consideration of their alleged grievances is approached without any prepossession against them.  Of course, this is all a matter of tact, and cannot be reduced to any definite formula.  But you speak of our Press as hopeless on some of these subjects.  Have you observed the comparative mildness of its tone lately, notwithstanding the action of Government in the matter of the Waste Lands, and Contract Law?  Does not that argue a better state of feeling in the European Community; and do not you think that it is for the benefit of the Ryots, that their interloping landlords should not be in a humour to employ vindictively the vast powers which, whether you disallow Contract Laws or not, they, as proprietors, possess over them?

[1] Vide supra, p. 329.

[2] It was sometimes complained that on these occasions he was so
    little communicative:  drawing out the opinions of others, without
    expressing his own.  But it requires very little reflection to see that
    this complaint is really a commendation.

[3] He died in London from the effects of a fever caught in the
    East.

CHAPTER XVI.

INDIA.

DUTY OF A GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO VISIT THE PROVINCES—­PROGRESS TO THE NORTH-
WEST—­BENARES—­SPEECH ON THE OPENING OF THE RAILWAY—­CAWNPORE—­GRAND
DURBAR AT AGRA—­DELHI—­HURDWAR—­ADDRESS TO THE SIKH CHIEFS AT UMBALLA—­
KUSSOWLIE—­SIMLA—­LETTERS:  SUPPLY OF LABOUR; SPECIAL LEGISLATION;
MISSIONARY GATHERING; FINANCE; SEAT OF GOVERNMENT; VALUE OF TRAINING AT
HEAD-QUARTERS; ARISTOCRACIES; AGAINST INTERMEDDLING—­THE SITANA FANATICS—­
HIMALAYAS—­ROTUNG PASS—­TWIG BRIDGE—­ILLNESS—­DEATH—­CHARACTERISTICS—­
BURIAL PLACE.

[Sidenote:  Duty of a Governor-General to visit the Provinces.]

At a very early period of his stay in India, Lord Elgin formed the opinion, which was indeed strongly impressed upon him by Lord Canning, that it was ’of the greatest importance to the public interest that the Governor-General should see as much as possible of men and things, in all parts of the vast empire under his control; and that a constant residence in the narrow atmosphere of Calcutta had a tendency to impair his efficiency.’  Writing to Sir C. Wood on the 17th of September, 1862, he said:—­