of our countrymen had for some time been railing against the spectacle of a strong Christian Government allying itself in various ways with the religious rites and observances of Hindu idolaters and Muhammadan fanatics. Even Leadenhall Street insisted that the time had gone by when their troops should parade at Native festivals, when salutes should be fired and offerings from the Company presented to images of Hindu gods, when the civil officer of the district should be ordered to take part in the ceremonial honours paid to Durgá or Jagannáth. Nor was it seemly for English officers to have aught to do with the management of Native temples and religious endowments. In April, 1840, Lord Auckland severed the old connexion between the Government and the popular creeds of India. The management of the temple-revenues was to be handed over to the priests or their representatives; and the presence of Company's troops and Company's officers on duty at popular festivals was strictly forbidden. In all matters touching their religion the people were to be left entirely to themselves. Whether the Government were right in abolishing the Pilgrim Tax also, is a question to which there were two sides. It seemed to many to be rather a concession to missionary clamour, than a return to sound economic rule. The tax was light in its incidence, easy to collect, and was paid without a murmur. It yielded a revenue of £30,000 a year.
