of the past, the contemplation of the present, and the anticipation of the future.  I wish two things—­ 1.  That you would write a work on the subject less “sketchy and perfunctory,” as you call it, so that any one not versed in English law and procedure might be able to understand it and appreciate it thoroughly. 2nd.  That you would, when relieved from your present office, come out as our law member of council, to press your views on our Government with effect.  With these law reforms, as with railroads, there were less impediments in India than in England; but there is one thing that I would observe.  In our own Indian Courts our judges would—­for a time at least—­want the aid of honest masters to condense and report upon cases under trial.  Such men would be made in time; and in considering such things, we must recollect that almost the only persons in India who can send agents into all parts of it, with a perfect assurance of honest dealing, are the native merchants and bankers.  But I won’t dwell on this subject.  I can’t find amongst the numerous Buddhists here, one who knows anything about “Kapila vasta,” which you place near to Lucknow.  I should like to visit the birth-place of a man who did so much for mankind as Sakeen Gantama.

He would hardly have done as I have, placed my only son in the 16th Lancers.  However, I may console myself, for he may be in it a long time without doing much mischief, for I do hope that the people of the nations of modern Europe are too strong and too wise to let their sovereigns and ministers play such fantastic tricks as they were “wont to play,” when George the 3rd, and Edward the 3rd, and Henry the 5th were kings.  Property, good sense, and good business have greatly increased and spread, and are every day producing good fruits.

Believe me,
Yours very trusting,
(Signed) W. H. SLEEMAN.

To Sir Erskine Perry,
     &c. &c.

__________________________

Lucknow, 31st March, 1851. 
My Dear Sir,

I grieve to say that I can do nothing whatever for the son of my late friend Colonel Ouseley, and have been obliged to write to him to that effect, as to many other sons of old and valued friends whom I should be glad to aid if I could.

Tens of thousands of the most happy families I have seen in India owe all they have to the able and judicious management of the late Colonel Ouseley when in the civil charge of the districts of Houshengabad and Baitool, in the Saugor territories; and no man’s memory is more dear to the people of those districts than his now is.  The family of a man who had done so much to make his government beloved and respected over so large a field should never want if I could prevent it; but I have no situations whatever in my gift, nor have I any influence over any persons who have such situations to bestow.

Believe me,
Yours truly,
(Signed) W. H. SLEEMAN.