Enclosures of Letter to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No.213, dated 27 November 1874: Nos. 3 to 31 of Abstract of Contents, from Foreign Department, Fort William [‎30v] (60/102)

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to the advice given." Bapoobliai then asked me why I could not allow the
installation and appointment privately, and communicate privately about it
with Government at some future date. I replied that I had only one course
to pursue, that whether privately or publicly conducted the act would be
one of distinct disrespect to His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General,
and therefore that I would have nothing whatever to do with it.
3. This morning on His Highness paying me his usual visit with Eao
Sahib Bapoobhai he resumed the matter, and pleaded precisely as he did at
Resident's letter No. i4i-756 ( dated this time last year, viz., that " Nana Sahib was his
isth August 1873, pam. relative, and that his dishonor was his own," &c.,
and entreated me to recognize Nana Sahib as Pritinidhi privately, that his
duties would be merely ceremonial at Durbars A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , and nothing else, and that it
was only to save his honor in the sight of the people that he made the request.
He said that Eapoobhai would speak to me privately about it, but I replied
that the thing was impossible in the face of the advice I had been ordered to
give him. Moreover, I reminded His Highness that a Pritinidhi was to all
intents and purposes the deputy of the sovereign, and in his absence from any
cause would become Regent by virtue of his office.
4. After His Highness left, Bapoobhai and Govindrao Mama repeated
the same arguments as before, and I told them that it was no use for them to
write yads ostensibly, consenting to the advice offered, whilst secretly they were
doing all in their power to nullify and thwart that advice. That if this was
the kind of reform His Highness was going to carry out under Mr. Dadabhai's
administration, it could only end in one result, and that very shortly. They said
that the Maharaja did not wish to retain Mr. Dadabhai, and that if the British
Government would advise him to that effect he would dismiss him. I replied thdt
the orders of His Excellency the Viceroy were distinctly that His Highness was
to choose his own Minister, and that the choice accordingly must rest with him ;
that I had openly given him my opinion of Mr. Dadabhai when asked, coupled
with a repetition of the above order, and, therefore, that as the Maharaja had
distinctly asked to be allowed to appoint his own Minister, his request had been
granted. I, moreover, pointed out that when I gave this opinion of Mr. Dada
bhai, I showed how the Government could be carried on provisionally pending
the selection by His Highness of an able man, but that my advice had been
rejected, and there the matter must rest.
5. Every one, including the Maharaja himself, and excepting only the
Dadabhai party, acknowledge that in the offer I made of lending them my
Assistant to act as a kharbharee jointly with their own Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , I consulted
their real interests and opened the way for a satisfactory solution of the many
heavy cases on hand, at the risk of considerable inconvenience to myself; and
at last Bapoobhai himself remarked that everything appeared to have been
turned upside down, that he, who was recommended by the Commission, has been
rejected, and that Nana Sahib who has been rejected was to have promotion.
. 6. I have not received the official yad yet regarding the arrangements for
the proposed administration, but when I do, it shall be forwarded with my
remarks.
No. 259-863, dated Baroda, 14th August 1874.
From—Resident at Baroda,
To—Secretary to Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Political Department.
I n continuation of my letter No. 255-857, dated yesterday, I have the
honor to forward, for the information of Government, Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). reply No. 1434
oi this date to my yad No. 1480C.1., copy of which is already with Govern
ment.