India: ‘A Startler’

Abstract

During March and April 1858, government concession created the deliberate impression that ‘a positive conflict upon a cabinet question’ would be ‘hard to bring about’.1 There existed limits to concession, however, defined by executive, rather than legislative, decision. On 12 April 1858 Lord Ellenborough received from Lord Canning, the Governor-General of India, the draft of a proclamation to the people of Oudh that, with certain exceptions, ‘the proprietary right in the soil of the province [was] confiscated to the British government which [would] dispose of that right in such manner as it [might] deem fitting’.2 Canning, as yet unaware of the change of ministry, sent the despatch accompanying the draft to Vernon Smith in the belief that he was still the responsible minister. Vernon Smith failed to forward this private letter to Ellenborough. This neglect on the part of Vernon Smith was consistent with his general reticence to exchange details of policy with his successor.3 Thus Ellenborough received the apparently punitive draft with an incomplete understanding of its purpose and character. Ellenborough’s reaction to the proclamation, placing a literal interpretation upon its wording, was as severe as his understanding of its intent. Declaring that threatening the disinheritance of a people would create almost insurmountable obstacles to the reestablishing of peace in India, Ellenborough forcefully rebuked Canning. The reprimand was sharp, severe and, in retrospect, appears heavy-handed.