There is one proviso in this matter of the official majority, in which your Lordships may, perhaps, find a surprise.  We are not prepared to divest the Governor-General in his Council of an official majority.  In the Provincial Councils we propose to dispense with it, but in the Viceroy’s Legislative Council we propose to adhere to it.  Only let me say that here we may seem to lag a stage behind the Government of India themselves—­so little violent are we—­because that Government say, in their despatch—­“On all ordinary occasions we are ready to dispense with an official majority in the Imperial Legislative Council, and to rely on the public spirit of non-official members to enable us to carry on the ordinary work of legislation.”  My Lords, that is what we propose to do in the Provincial Councils.  But in the Imperial Council we consider an official majority essential.  It may be said that this is a most flagrant logical inconsistency.  So it would be, on one condition.  If I were attempting to set up a Parliamentary system in India, or if it could be said that this chapter of reforms led directly or necessarily up to the establishment of a Parliamentary system in India, I, for one, would have nothing at all to do with it.  I do not believe—­it is not of very great consequence what I believe, because the fulfilment of my vaticinations could not come off very soon—­in spite of the attempts in Oriental countries at this moment, interesting attempts to which we all wish well, to set up some sort of Parliamentary system—­it is no ambition of mine, at all events, to have any share in beginning that operation in India.  If my existence, either officially or corporeally, were prolonged twenty times longer than either of them is likely to be, a Parliamentary system in India is not at all the goal to which I would for one moment aspire.

One point more.  It is the question of an Indian member on the Viceroy’s Executive Council.  The absence of an Indian member from the Viceroy’s Executive Council can no longer, I think, be defended.  There is no legal obstacle or statutory exclusion.  The Secretary of State can, to-morrow, if he likes, if there be a vacancy on the Viceroy’s Council, recommend His Majesty to appoint an Indian member.  All I want to say is that, if, during my tenure of office, there should be a vacancy on the Viceroy’s Executive Council, I should feel it a duty to tender my advice to the King that an Indian member should be appointed.  If it were on my own authority only, I might hesitate to take that step, because I am not very fond of innovations in dark and obscure ground, but here I have the absolute and the zealous approval and concurrence of Lord Minto himself.  It was at Lord Minto’s special instigation that I began to think seriously of this step.  Anyhow, this is how it stands, that you have at this moment a Secretary of State and a Viceroy who both concur in such a recommendation.  I suppose—­if I may be allowed to give a personal turn to these matters—­that