The Maharaja of Cashmere: A Vindication and an Appeal

I wrote a small book on ''Cashmere and its Prince," with the object of exposing the ungrounded nature of the attacks made against the Maharaja by his opponents, and of bringing to the notice of the highest authorities the true character of the imbroglio which had then recently taken place in his state. The politics of Cashmere have undergone considerable change since that book was written. The Maharaja, who was at that time a merely ornamental figure-head in his own territories, without any power to interfere in any of their affairs, has been since elevated to the Presidentship of his Council, whose deliberations he assists and shares in and, sometimes, even guides and controls. If the Maharaja were a tyrannical or an oppressive ruler, I should have been the last to take up the pen in his favour, or say a word on his behalf. But aware as I am from personal knowledge of the good traits in his character — his goodness, his benevolence, his courtesy, his deep and earnest anxiety for the welfare and advancement of his subjects, I have been much pained at the underserved treatment he has received, and having had the honour to serve him in a high capacity though for a brief period, have regarded it my duty to defend him against the ungrounded, unjust and not unoften evil-minded aspersions of his open enemies and false friends.