"حياة ومراسلات اللواء السير جون مالكوم، قائد فرسان وسام الطُهر، المبعوث السابق إلى بلاد فارس وحاكم بومباي؛ من رسائل ومذكرات غير منشورة. في مجلّدين. المجلد II." [‎٣‎١‎٠] (٦٥٤/٣٢٧)

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CENTRAL INDIA.
good results of Malcolm's rule in India, they have an
additional interest, as describing his social and domestic
life at this time:
"Here we are again, laid up, 1 hope, for the wet weather:
that, however, with our illustrious commander, is by no means a
hope to be much indulged in, as there is in general something or
other going on in the country to afford an excuse for him march
ing, which he is extremely well inclined to take advantage of; and
in this he is certainly not very far wrong, for nobody that I ever
saw or heard of can get over the same quantity of business in the
same quantity of time that he does ? and his reputation stands so
very high with the natives, that his being personally concerned in
any arrangements goes further in satisfying them than, I believe,
would the interference of any other man on earth. When
we crossed the Nerbudda in 1817, the state of Malwah was
scarcely to be described. It was a country without government,
a state without revenue, an army without pay; consequently, a
peasantry without protection from the villanies of the troops of
their own sovereigns, or from any set of depredators who chose
to plunder them, and of these last the country was full. We now
see around us the eSects of our late operations in dispersing the
unruly and licentious troops belonging to the family of Holkar,
ana repressing and keeping under everything in the shape of
systematic plunder; a state, though at present reduced in respect
of revenue, yet respectable ; that revenue increasing, and perhaps
the finest country in India again wearing the face of cheerful
industry; the inhabitants, assured of protection, returning to their
villages, and looking forward with confidence to better times.
These times will most certainly come, provided the interference of
the British influence with the native powers here is directed
ultimately with the same wisdom and moderation which have
marked its introduction into this, to us, new scene. This is Sir
John s work ; and a most glorious work it has been. His is a
noble character, and such as his are required to keep us now on
the high ground on which, thank God! we stand in Asia. His
politics are open and honest. Indeed, he says that he never in the
course of his service had occasion to have recourse to deceit; but
let the temptation be ever so great, that he never would use it—