Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/133

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124
SIR HENRY LAWRENCE

salary as Haidarábád, and a political jurisdiction such, I believe, as accords with your inclinations. The agent marches all the cold weather, and in the hot weather is privileged to retire to Mount Abú. These are considerations which render the appointment agreeable as well as important, though I do not for a moment pretend to compare its importance with the Punjab.

'I have now very fully explained the views and proceedings of the Government regarding your position and the proposal under review.

'I hope you will be satisfied by it that the Government has evinced every desire to treat you with the highest consideration. Although it is not to be expected that you can concur in the view the Government has taken regarding the Chief Commissionership, you will at least be convinced that neither I nor my colleagues had any desire of forcing our views into practical operation at the expense of your feelings, or to do anything which might discredit your public position.

'Before closing this letter, I must take the liberty of adding what is due in justice to you, that in all our correspondence and conversations regarding your differences with John Lawrence, I have always found you acting towards him with frankness and generosity.'

Such was Lord Dalhousie's reply to Sir Henry. The point on which the two brothers were apt to differ has been explained, but it may be well to remark here that Sir Henry's views on it have been greatly exaggerated by some writers, and his intentions much misrepresented.

Lord Dalhousie, it may be seen, made in this very letter no adverse comment whatever on the