The Burmese war still prevents the Governor-General from devoting his attention to Oude and Hyderabad.  In the last war we did not march our armies to the capital because we were not prepared to supply a new Government for the one which we should thereby destroy; and insurrection and civil war must have followed.  Our conduct in that was wise and benevolent.  When we moved our armies to Rangoon this time, we upset one Government without providing the people with another.  The Governor-General could not provide for the Civil Government, because he could not know that the Government of Ava would force us to keep possession of any portion of its dominions; and taking upon ourselves the civil administration would compromise the people, should he have to give them up again to their old rulers.  The consequence has been great suffering to a people who hailed us as deliverers.  The folly of supposing that any country can be taken by steamers on their rivers alone has now become sufficiently manifest.  The Governor-General has however, adopted the best possible measures for securing ultimate good government to Pegu.  It would have been more easily effected had they been taken earlier, but this circumstance prevented.

There is a school in India, happily not yet much patronised by the Home Government nor by the Governor-General, but always struggling with more or less success for ascendancy.  It is characterised by impatience at the existence of any native State, and its strong and often insane advocacy of their absorption—­by honest means, if possible—­but still, their absorption.  There is no pretext, however weak, that is not sufficient, in their estimation, for the purpose; and no war, however cruel, that is not justifiable, if it has only this object in view.  If you know George Clerk or Mr. Robertson, both formerly Governors of our North-West Provinces, they will describe to you the school I mean.  They, I believe, with me, strongly deprecate the doctrines of this school as more injurious to India and to our interest in it, than those of any other school that has ever existed in India.  Mr. George Campbell is one of the disciples of this school.—­See the 4th chapter of his “Modern India.”  The “Friend of India” is another, and all those whom that paper lauds most are also disciples of the same school.  The Court of Directors will have to watch these doctrines carefully; and I wish you would speak to George Clerk and Mr. Robertson about them.  They are both men of large views and sound judgment.

Believe me, My Dear Sir James,
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) W. H. SLEEMAN.

To Sir James Weir Hogg,
    &c. &c. &c.

__________________________

Lucknow, 12th January, 1853.

My Dear Sir James,