| Description | He is pleased to receive the budget from home and thinks to answer immediately, which he hopes to do always. He notes his 'wretched pen', going as his mother and [Augustus] De Morgan put it [with a drawn line squiggle]. He is disquieted at how sensible people, including his father, can be misled about Indian questions. On the Santhal row and its causes, the 'awful' wisdom of The Times is most responsible. He was suprised to see in the Gazette, that Lord Dalhousie had thanked the army, declaring the force broken up, which William judges to be flattery. The soldiers were disgusted with the police work, wishing to be free of it; calling it a rebellion of the people was false and he questions assertions in The Times. The rising of the Santhals was nothing to do with the political feeling of the country, he asserts, and the peace of India is less disturbed 'than that of London is every night by the hue & cry after a thief'. The calm attitude of the government has reassured people, although there were apprehensions at first. In discussing policy, William notes that the ranks of the sepoys might see themselves opposing brothers, since Oude is a recruiiting ground. Annexation would be a great sin, he thinks, explaining his reasoning. He gives his opinions on Indian nationhood, 'passing through the fire of reformation under European hands', noting a conversation with [Charles] Babbage in the subject, and concluding that in assuming the government of India, the British should aid, not compel. William refers to a letter from his uncle John [Stewart]. He tells Bella where he left a watch for repairs, saying he left a card with someone at Harley Street about it. He has sold all of his guns and rifles except one, which he is keeping for John, and he will send the camera home. He is giving up hobbies to concentrate on 'life'. He concludes with a message for Johnny [John Herschel], who should not come out to India overworked. |