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 [‎47v] (94/102)

Enclosure No. 27.
Khureeta An important letter usually sent in an elaborate textile pouch, dispatched as part of the royal or diplomatic correspondence of rulers and elites. , dated Baroda Palace, 2nd November 1874.
From—His Highness the Gaekwar of Baroda,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Calcutta.
F rom the events which occurred prior to Your Excellency's khureeta An important letter usually sent in an elaborate textile pouch, dispatched as part of the royal or diplomatic correspondence of rulers and elites. of
25th July 1874, it is plain that the administration of this State cannot be
carried on and the necessary reforms introduced without the cordial support of
the Resident. It had occurred to me, among other matters I desired to say in
reply to the above khureeta An important letter usually sent in an elaborate textile pouch, dispatched as part of the royal or diplomatic correspondence of rulers and elites. , whether I should not solicit Your Excellency's
attention to the position which the present Resident, Colonel Phayre, had all
along taken up towards me, and to submit for Your Excellency's consideration
whether with the want of sympathy which existed between us I could expect
an unbiased and fair treatment at his hands in future. I, however, refrained
from troubling Your Excellency owing to the confidence expressed by Your
Excellency in Colonel Phayre, and in the hope that seeing the course I resolved
to adopt on receipt of Your Excellency's advice, he w^ould forget the past and
assist me with his active sympathy in the difficult work of introducing a
reformed regime. But I deeply regret to say from the experience of the past
three months that this hope has not only been not realized, but that on the con
trary Colonel Phayre has evinced, if anything, a more determined and active
opposition towards me and my administration than before.
From the very commencement he had expressed a strong opposition to the
selection of the Minister of my choice. The assurance of support subsequently
given by him to my Minister, however, raised hopes in me, but they have not
been realized.
On the receipt of \ our Excellency's khureeta An important letter usually sent in an elaborate textile pouch, dispatched as part of the royal or diplomatic correspondence of rulers and elites. I at once took the necessary
steps as far as practicable, and have been endeavoring all along to give effect
to the advice contained therein. Among other things, I have to replace the
executive machinery of government with able and experienced men to satisfv
on some equitable basis th£ demands of the Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. and others which had
received attention from the British Government, and to enquire into and revise
the existing land revenue settlement throughout the whole territory. No one,
however, can know better than the Resident what difficulties each of these
subjects presents, especially when all this is to be effected in a very short time.
But when owing to his former attitude, even Colonel Phayre's presence alone,
would have been enough for a continuance of the unsettled state of the mind
ot the people, unless he gave me open and cordial support, the difficulties of
my work become vastly increased by the course of open opposition he has been
lately pursuing, I am therefore driven to appeal to Your Excellency, which I
do most reluctantly to decide whether under such circumstances I can have a
lair trial.
I may mention here one or two instances in support of my complaint. A
an? 6 ! ( j e ^ ama ^ orl was some days ago preferred by my father-in-law against
a killadar by name Chandarrao Kudu. My Dewan himself in the presence
ot Lhandarrao read over the proceedings of the preliminary investigation, and
in order to give both parties the benefit of an impartial trial, I directed the Chief
Magistrate, Mr. H. A. Wadyar, to try the case, instead of the Senaputtee, who
is my relative, ihe accused suddenly left Baroda, and I was informed went to
t e camp. What he did there I cannot say. But soon after several other
dars a,u ^ s ^ me Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. with their retainers, some hundred and fifty in
number, assembled armed in the house of one of them, openly defying the
-Uurbar authority and threatening armed resistance. They told the 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).
o cials who went to serve the summons on Chandarrao that the case in which
is attendance was required was a caste concern, and that they would defend
im with their lives, it attempts were made to enforce his attendance. They
icn escorted him to his house and remained there armed to guard him. I sent
ie e^ an to represent the matter to Colonel Phayre, in the hope that he would
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