CHAPTER XVI

THE GOVERNOR -GENERALSHIP OF LORD HASTINGS 1813 - 1823 SOME attempt has already been made to explain the views and circumstances under which, after Lord Wellesley's departure, the British government deter- mined to retire within its own administrative borders, to transact its political affairs in future upon the prin- ciple of limited liability, and to maintain, outside its actual obligations, the attitude of a placid spectator, unconcerned with the quarrels or misfortunes of his neighbours. It is a policy which a strong European state, placed in the midst of uncivilized rulers or races, has vainly endeavoured to uphold from time imme- morial. It appears at first to be simple and prudent, and to be dictated by enlightened self-interest and by public morality. Unfortunately, it has hitherto invari- ably failed to do more than check or postpone for an interval the really inevitable tendency of an organized power to override, if not to absorb, loose tribal ruler- ships and ephemeral despotisms, which spring up and survive merely because more durable institutions are wanting and until they are supplied. Not only, indeed, 363