Lord Northbrook, the new Indian Viceroy, did a curious thing
on Saturday. The Mayor of Winchester gave him a banquet, attended by the county and the representatives of India, and of course Lord Northbrook made a speech. Of course, also, he avoided any declaration of Indian policy, saying his knowledge was too imperfect ; but he read out the Queen's Proclamation of 1859, a most important document, as is also Magna Charta, but for the same reason not often read aloud. We presume Lord Northbrook was speaking to India and not England, and intended to tell the natives that he was coming on no mission of vengeance for Lord Mayo, but to carry out the Proclamation which they regard as their charter, and which is certainly as clear a pledge not to interfere with their religions ideas as it is well possible to frame. There is tact in that decidedly.
Previous page
