Member of Council, but who did not belong to the Indian Civil Service.  He was at the time a member of the India Council.  When the despatch of the Government of India on the subject reached London, Sir Henry Maine was travelling on the Continent.  The papers were sent to him.  He called to mind the bitter controversy which arose over what was known as “the Black Act” in Lord William Bentinck’s time, and wrote privately a few words of warning to Lord Hartington, who was at the time Secretary of State for India.  Lord Hartington put the letter in his great-coat pocket, went to Newmarket, and forgot all about it, with the result that Sir Henry Maine’s warning never reached Lord Ripon.

I well remember being present when Mr. Ilbert introduced the measure into the Legislative Council.  It attracted but little attention and led to only a very brief discussion, in which I took no part.  The papers had been circulated to all Members of Council, including myself.  When I received them I saw at a glance that the subject was not one that concerned my own department, or one as to which my opinion could be of any value.  I, therefore, merely endorsed the papers with my initials and sent them on, without having given the subject much attention.  In common with all my colleagues, I was soon to learn the gravity of the step which had been taken.  A furious storm of opposition, which profoundly shook the prestige and authority of the Government of India, and notably of the Viceroy, arose.  It was clear that a mistake had been made.  The measure was in itself not very important.  It was obviously undesirable, as Lyall remarked, to “set fire to an important wing of the house in order to roast a healthy but small pig.”  The best plan, had it been possible, would have been to admit the mistake and to withdraw the measure; and this would certainly have been done had it not been for the unseemly and extravagant violence of the European unofficial community, notably that of Calcutta.  It should, however, in fairness be stated that they were irritated and alarmed, not so much at the acts of Lord Ripon’s Government, but at some rather indiscreet language which had at times been used, and which led them, quite erroneously, to suspect that extreme measures were in contemplation, of a nature calculated to shake the foundations of British supremacy in India.  This violent attitude naturally led to reprisals and bitter recriminations from the native press, with the result that the total withdrawal of the measure would have been construed as a decisive defeat to the adoption of even the most moderate measures of liberal reform in India.  The project of total withdrawal could not, therefore, be entertained.