Government Records Punjab--Records of the Delhi Residency and Agency

· 1911 · Text public domain; the scan hosted non-commercially, with credit · archive.org ↗

1Mr. Fortees-

2cue’s report on

3the Revenue

4System of

5the Delhi

6Territory.

770 RECORDS OF THE DELHI AGENCY. [ CuaP.

84. It was my object by every conciliatory measure to

9render the people perfectly at ease and uninfluenced in their

10intercourse with me; and, as I had then to converse most

11frequently without the intervention or presence of a third

12person, or even my own Native officers, I have some

13foundation for the assertion that I have had the means at

14least of ascertaining the circumstances and sentiments of

15the inhabitants, however I may be found to have failed,

16notwithstanding my earnest and continued efforts, to discern

17and to delineate these important particulars.

185. I have had two main objects in view,—local facts and

19native opinions. The former, though somewhat tedious and

20perplexing to attain to, are yet, when reached, not difficult of

21explanation or comprehension; the latter, though apparently

22less fixed and determinable, are notwithstanding, when pro

23ceeding from practical and experienced men, confronted and

24uninfluenced by my own or other opinions more uniform and

25tangible than might be supposed. I have likewise ascertained

26the feelings and impressions of our public officers, whether

27Revenue, Judicial or Customs, though I have ever found it

28requisite to receive them with the utmost circumspection, and,

29I might add that, with the exception to their observations

30often directing and suggesting enquiry to me, I have very

31rarely conceived it safe to rely upon them.

326. What I now venture to lay before Government is

33the result of my individual research, and I have to regret

34this the more as the subjects discussed are so extensive and

35important that I wish I could have submitted the opinions

36of others who have resided here for years. Notwithstanding

37my early and repeated calls on the Assistants in charge of

38districts for information and their sentiments on the variety

39of the matter which your letter embraces, I have nothing

40to offer from any of them. Mr. T. S. Metcalfe alone has

41acknowledged my letter, but his reply is in part only, and

42being confined to a few and obvious points, I do not consider

43it of advantage to trouble the Government with a transcript.