مرفقات لرسالة إلى وزير الدولة لشؤون الهند، رقم ١٧، بتاريخ ٢٢ يناير ١٨٧٥: خلاصات المحتويات من رقم ٣ إلى ٢٦ من وكيل وزير الخارجية الممارس للحكومة في الهند، فورت ويليام [ظ‎‎١‎١‎١] (٩٠/٢٢)

respect better that the British Government should make public its opinion on the
subject, the same opinion is (here) put in writing with all clearness, viz., that none
of the Princes can alienate or grant lands for a period beyond his own lifetime,
and that grants of land or fixed allowances in ca%h, made during the minority
of a Prince, shall not be acted upon without fresh sanction and confirmation on the
Prince attaining his majority. 3Iaafee jaghires and lands for the servants of the
State are only 3 for the aid of the State, and therefore such grants made for
periods beyond the lives of the grantees in return for their aid and services to
the State,'thus limited, cannot be alienated from the State in perpetuity. Once
in 1843 this subject came on for discussion before His Excellency the Governor-
General, when it was written that a Prince grants jaghires from the State, where
by the revenues of the State diminish while the fixed expenditure of the State
continues, the burden on the State increases. Under these circumstances
a deficiency in the amount required for the fixed and necessary expenses of the
State occurs, and thus great injury arises in future to the Prince from such
grants. The Governor-General, considering the importance of the subject,
disapproves of the grants of such jaghires, and considers the discontinuance of
the practice reasonable. It is therefore fit for every one to keep this rule in
view. Although it is not supposed that all States are so insolvent as not to be
able to make^grants of jaghires, it is possible that grants of jaghires will in
future create great difficulties.
" O rdeeed —That a copy of this roobkaree be given to each Vakeel in attend
ance at the Kesidency, and' that copies be sent to Political Agent, Bhopal,
Malahur, Captain Wilkie, Agent, Bhopawur, Captain Keeves, Political Agent,
Munmar, and Lieutenant Taylor, Deputy Political Agent, Mahur, with the
object that the said officers give a copy to the Vakeel or Kamdar of each State
with which they are connected."
21. These are the principles and practices which have hitherto obtained
in this as well as in all other Native States, not without recognition, as above
shown, by the British Government. I bring them to Your Excellency's notice
not with any desire to evade the advice of the British Government, or to adhere
strictly to them in dealing with the present cases, but with a view to appeal
to Your Excellency's sense of justice, whether as regards these complaints I
should be asked to subject my acts to a standard which is so foreign to the tra
ditions, usages, and sentiments of Native Governments. I am quite willing,
I assure Your Excellency, to treat every case with consideration, and to do all
I reasonably can to satisfy these complainants. How far I am earnest in this
desire will appear to Your Excellency from the accompanying statement. I
must, however, at the same time ask for the same equity and justice for mysell
which 1 am advised to extend to others.
22. I trust Your Excellency will judge of the settlements I have proposed
in the light of the considerations set forth in this khureeta, and will assist me
in bringing this matter to a speedy conclusion.
23. I have addressed a similar khureeta (copy enclosed) to His Excellency
the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, and I beg that \our Excellency
will forward it to His Lordship.
With cordial esteem, &c.
2. I beg to express the high consideration and esteem I entertain for
Your Excellency, and to subscribe myself, &g.
Statement accompanying- His Highness the Gaekwar^s khureeta, dated the 1st December 1874,
to the address of His Excellency the Governor in Council, Bombay.
Sirdars and Silledars,
T he Commission report says that there are seventeen cases of complaints
against the proceedings of the Government since the accession of the present
Chief, six of which do not appear to the Commissionto call for an opinion from it,
16
Exd.-J. D. G.