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 [‎34v] (68/102)

appointment as Pritinidhi of the Gaekwar State, and the other in regard to the
Opinion I expressed when consulted by i[is Highness the Gaekwar as to the
advisability or otherwise of his retaining the services of Mr. Dadabhoy Nowrojee
as Minister.
2. I trust to be able to offer sueh explanation of my conduct and advice
in regard to these questions as shall-remove the strong dissatisfaction which
has been expressed by Government in your letter under reply.
3. With regard to the question of Nana Sahib's appointment as Pritinidhi
there were two points at issue:—
1^.—Whether, taking into consideration Nana Sahib's recent removal for
misconduct from the office of Dewan at the instance of His Excellency the
Viceroy and Governor-General, we could recognize him in the higher appoint
ment of Pritinidhi, even though the duties of that office were made purely "
ceremonial as promised by the Gaekwar.
2Whether, as such recognition on our part consists only in the
grant of military honors, superior, or at all events equal, to those granted to the
Dewan of the Baroda State, we could consistently accord to Nana Sahib such
honors, he having just been deprived of them on his removal from the office
of Dewan.
4. The decision of Government upon these points is—
16^.—That the Government will not object to His Highness the Gaekwar
conferring the honorary title of Pritinidhi upon Nana Sahib, provided the
functions of the appointment are merely ceremonial and not of an adminis
trative character.
^ndly. —That the Government cannot authorize any greater military honors
being paid to Nana Sahib in consequence of his honorary appointment of Priti
nidhi.
5. Thus with regard to both points the decision of Government confirms my
original suggestion, that we could not recognize even the ceremonial appoint
ment in the manner that the Gaekwar wanted, mz., by military honors. iUl
else it was in the Gaekwar's own power to give without reference to us, and
therefore his sole object in asking us was to obtain that which the Government
have found it impossible to grant.
G. I respectfully claim therefore, under this explanation, to be exonerated
from the charge of having taken a false step in this matter.
7. W ith regard to the expediency of our intimating to His Highness the
Gaekwar that we have no objection to his appointing Nana Sahib Honorary
Pritinidhi on the terms stated under present circumstances, I respectfully submit
that time alone can show whether the effect of promoting Nana Sahib to a higher
rank in the State than he held before will be good or bad ; and that with^the
orders and facts which I had for my guidance, I am not open to blame as hav
ing taken a false step in opposing that measure when first proposed to me.
8. His Highness the Gaekwar paid me his usual visit last evening, and I
communicated to him the Government order on this subject. He was very much
pleased indeed with the Government intimation, that the objection to his appoint
ing Nana Sahib to perform the ceremonial duties of Pritinidhi was withdrawn;
but instead of being contented with that concession. His Highness repeated with
great importunity his request that I would give the military honor due to the
ofhee 'privately, as the honorary appointment was of little avail without them.
He also as encouraged to repeat his request, made some time ago, that I would
grant the military honors of a Ilanee to Luxmeebaee.
9. I foel sure that the Government taking into consideration the whole of
the circumstances stated, in conjunction with the difficulty of mv position
here, will do me justice in this matter. '
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