The Indian Empire.

This immense territory, the size of Europe without Russia, is perhaps that possession which reflects the greatest honour and material advantage upon the British people. Two hundred and fifty-four millions of people bow to the sovereignty of the British Empress of India. The fertile plains which stretch from the slopes of the gigantic Himalayas to the ocean, and thence again to the frontiers of Siam and the densely populated markets of China, are safe now from the devastating hordes which poured down upon them in former days, times without number, through the Khyber Pass from the camps of page 13 Central Asia. Much further back into the labyrinths of antiquity runs the history of India than that of Europe. While we here were a rude uncivilised people, India was in advance of the times. But invasion from without—such as has been threatened in recent days, too, and quarrels within, held her back, and now we have caught her up, surpassed, and given her the fruits of a superior intelligence. Five hundred feudal princes are still allowed territorial independence. Hindus, Mohammedans, Buddhists, and Parsees are as free to pursue their religion as Christians. The administration of the country is conducted to a vast extent by native officials. But so just and equitable is our rule, so widely are its benefits recognised, that one British soldier is sufficient to secure the interests of the British people among some 4000 natives. But while this is the case, we must ever remember that a mere handful of Europeans amid rival races, jealous families, antagonistic religions, and an inextricable web of prejudiced castes, should not forget that physical preparation is a necessary guarantee for the preservation of safety and the maintenance of order. We have given the Indian peoples liberally of our substance—our blood, our money, our liberty, our knowledge, our education. While we concede all that progress demands, we must not submit to the use of our very gifts against us at the restless instigation of ambitious spirits, but courageously continue in the course we have followed for two centuries with such conspicuous success, to the advantage of the whole world.

Let us now retrace our path, and glance for a moment at the numerous islands in the West Atlantic forming