1855, advocating a line identical with that which, now known to us as the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway, traverses the latter Province, and urging construction of the railway which, by Baroda and Rájputána, at present links Bombay with Agra and Delhi.
In India, as in other Eastern countries, the State is, in theory, the landlord, and claims a share in the produce of the soil. In British India the theory has been modified, in compliance with Western ideas. But it has never been wholly abandoned. The Government has conferred (subject to payment of its land revenue) proprietary possession on various classes occupying the soil, contenting itself with claiming a share in the net rental. The annual cash value of such share is computed at recurring terms of thirty years, by the process of what are known as 'Settlements.' The proportion of the Government share has varied in different times and Provinces. When Mr. Colvin assumed office, the last Settlement of thirty years was expiring, and he had to lay down rules for the valuation of the thirty ensuing years' annual rental. The Government of the North-West hitherto had taken an annual share based on the computed value of sixty-six per cent, of the net rental assets. He fixed the proportion to be in future taken at fifty per cent. only. Practically, the proportion of sixty-six per cent, had been nominal. At the preceding period of valuation there had been much waste land not included in the estimate. This had been since brought into cultivation: and, during the
