I would call attention to the fact that one of the passages so often quoted contains really no general promise of employment.

This passage--taken from a clause in the East India Act, passed in Parliament, 1833--merely says "That no native of the said territories, nor any natural born subject of his majesty resident therein, shall by reason _only_ of his religion, place of birth, descent, colour, or any of them, be disabled from holding any place, office, or employment under the said company." "By reason _only_." Yes, but this does not bar disqualification for other reasons, as for instance the want of physical vigour to which I have alluded.

Then mark the careful limitation contained in the often quoted passage from the Queen's proclamation of 1858, which sets forth that "It is our further will, that, _as far as may be_, our subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely and impartially admitted to office in our service, the duties of which they may be qualified, by their education, _ability_ and integrity, duly to discharge." But natives have not, generally speaking, the ability to discharge executive duties requiring much physical vigour, and no one is more ready to admit that than the best among the natives.

But besides executive efficiency there is the fact that the mere sight of the zeal, energy, and general interest in progress exhibited by the English is to the natives around them an education worth all the book instruction we have imported into India.

We cannot have too much of this leavening element, and the effects of it are everywhere apparent.