It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  I  bear  testimony  to  the  high
character  of  the  men  who  have  the  administration  of  affairs
in  that  empire,  as  well  as  to  the  promising  aspect  of  the
country  in  its  material,  educational,  social,  and  religious  in-
terests, as  being  full  of  promise.  I  doubt  if  any  country
has  more  conscientious  and  intelligent  public  officers  con-
trolling its  destinies.  There  are  reforms  yet  to  be  consum-
mated. The  extreme  caution  of  the  rulers  prevents  them
from  taking  the  bold  stand  assumed  by  the  home  govern-
ment in  favor  of  Christianity  and  against  some  of  the  enor-
mities of  idolatry  and  heathenism  ;  many  evils  growing  out
of  the  peculiarities  of  the  people,  the  variety  of  races,  the
inveterate  nature  of  hoary  prejudices,  yet  remain  to  be  re-
moved or  remedied;  but, judging  from  the  promise  of  the
present,  India  bids  fair  to  become  again  a  mighty  empire  in
the  East,  and  to  outshine  in  real  glory  the  splendor  of  the
old  Moguls.
224  AROUND  THE  WORLD.
The  viceroyaltj  of  India  is  the  highest  office  under  the
British  crown,  and,  considering  the  extent  of  its  sway,  and
the  population  over  wliieh  it  is  exercised,  is  the  most  im-
portant delegated  office  in  the  world.  The  power  is  not  as
absolute  as  was  that  of  the  governor  general  in  the  palmy
days  of  the  East  India  Company.  Being  directly  respon-
sible to  the  home  government,  the  viceroy  is  under  statu-
tory checks ;  general  legislative  power  also  is  in  the  hands
of  councils,  provincial  and  general,  so  that  a  uniform  and
complete  system  of  government,  and  one  which  might  be
called  constitutional,  extends  over  the  whole  of  India.
