The Marquess Wellesley, K.G. in India, 1798-1805 : an essay : [manuscript]

39. opinion of him, & extreme views have been taken of him on both sides: on both sides there is much that may be said. In reviewing his policy it is clear that the first point on which he must come up for judgement is his system of subsidiary treaties. The head of a strong European power, he practically forced each powerless ruler of a weak & illgoverned state to consent to become dependent on the Company & to receive within his dominions a large British force to be paid for by him either in money or in lands. Wellesley, say his supporters, saw the benefit that these native states would derive from civilized government. On the other hand the benefit that such treaties conferred on the Company is much more obvious. It gained a double advantage, obtaining at once more revenue & more power. It is at least plausible to charge Wellesley with behaving as the wolf to the lamb; & indeed there can be no doubt that many of the subsidiary treaties were signed with far more willingness on the British than the Indian side. In short, Wellesley's policy appears - on the face of it - to have been one of continual grabbing for power. But

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40. if his policy was not orthodox, it is only fair to weigh in his favour its good results, & to consider how far such a policy was necessary. It is undeniable that the countries thus placed under the Company's protection did indeed derive great prosperity from such a position, & that the British Empire in India today goes far to justify Wellesley's policy. It is equally true that the policy of noninterference adopted by former GovernorGenerals - Lord Cornwallis & Sir John Shore - was fact proving itself to be inpracticable; that Wellesley's strong action resulted in finally overthrowing all danger of French power in India; & that in nearly every case - ostensibly in those of Haidarabad & Oudh - Wellesley had recourse to the system of subsidiary treaties more as a necessary means of defence than from a mere desire to advance the power of the Company. He treated the Nawab Wazir of Oudh more harshly than any other prince, & Parliament* aproved of [line] * It is remarkable that the three men who did most for Great Britain in India, Clive, Warren Hastings & Wellesley, were all accused (& acquitted) in Parliament for their conduct in the East.

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41. his action towards him. We also cannot but think that his policy was for the best. In every case he had to deal with a prince of truly Oriental mind, that mixture of weakness & cunning, - the direct opposite of all that is good in the British national character - which must have called out all his patience to endure: in every case he insisted, firmly yet not unjustly, on submission to the Company's yoke. We cannot be sure of his motives, but the results are enough to justify his deeds.

Wellesley's relations to Parliament.

In his relations to Parliament Wellesley found himself in a more difficult position than, perhaps, any other GovernorGeneral before or after him. His great schemes, as was natural, added enormously to his responsibility toward it. In the time of Warren Hastings Parliament's hold over the Company's affairs was only beginning. His other three predecessors had done nothing bold enough to be called in question. And yet, although the responsibilities towards Parliament had increased, the means of communication were just as slow. Twelve months had to pass before an answer could be received to any request for advice or instructions. If Welles-