'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎10] (41/481)

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semblance, even, of such sanction or countenance, should
be studiously avoided.
There is no maxim of government more certainly true and
wise than that all interference whatever on the part of
Government with the creeds or religions of the people is
mischievous-and unjust. This maxim is in my opinion true
in all places, and at all times. But such interference, whe
ther for patronage or discouragement, must be more than
usually unwise where, as in India, there are many different
faiths, and those the most ancient and revered of any on
earth, existing among two hundred millions of men, who
cling to their religion as to their life; while the governing
class, who propose to make their own faith the religion of
the State, may count their numbers, probably, as one to
ten thousand of those subjects on whom their doctrines are
to be forced.
It seems to me unwise to carry our State religion to India
at all, even as respects Englishmen in this country. In
our public capacity, as governors of hundreds of millions
of men, of twenty different faiths and sects, we cannot,
with justice or propriety, exclusively patronise any religion.
Absolute freedom should be allowed to all so long as they
do not annoy others. But Government should identify itself
with none. It appears most injudicious ioparade our State
religion. In short, a State religion in India is absolutely
incompatible with the security of our empire.—(1857.)
SELECTION versus EXAMINATION.
Among the objections to our competitive examinations,
and in fact to our examinations generally, are the follow
ing :
That they are limited to intellectual acquirements, and
wholly ignore moral and physical acquirements.