There  is  no  doubt  that  aristocratic  influence  was  used  to
set  up  a  standard  most  favorable  to  the  classes  from  which
that  influence  came ;  but  the  authors  declare  in  their  report
that  they  have  adopted  a  standard  which  is  not  calculated  to  fa-
vor any  class,  school,  or  other  institution  of  learning.  TVhenwe
consider  the  vast  population  and  revenue  of  India,  and  how
vitally  the  honor  and  credit  of  Great  Britain  arc  involved  in
her  fate,  we  can  more  readily  comprehend  the  magnitude  of
this  experiment  and  the  gravity  of  the  abuses  that  must  have
forced  a  proud  and  practical  nation  to  enter  upon  it.  For  to
it  were  committed,  not  the  hopes  of  a  party  merely,  but  the
safety  of  an  empire.  At  the  proper  time,  the  results  of  this
unique  experiment  will  be  presented.
CHAPTEE  XVI.
GOVERNMENT    INQUIRY   AND   REPORT  LEADING  TO  THE  INTRODUC-  /^

TION   OF   THE   NEW   SYSTEM   IN   1853.
General  Cdudition  of  the  service  in  1853. — How  it  compared  with  that  of  the
United  States. — Should  reform  be  instituted  by  statute  or  by  executive
action  ?— Sir  Stafford  Northcote  and  Sir  Charles  Trevelyan  directed  to
make  a  report. — Their  report. — They  recommend  open  competition. —
Declared  to  be  founded  in  justice  and  favorable  to  the  education  of  the
people. —How  report  received  at  first. — ^Parliament  hostile. — Government
decided  not  to  ask  special  legislation.
