So one of his strongest titles to permanent remembrance is this, that he was among the foremost of those who systematized, cherished, secured and rendered effective the property of the Natives in the land of northern India. It is well, however, that his position in this momentous matter should be set forth by his own dicta. The treatises of his authorship were not merely those of an author well informed, but came from an authority addressing readers who were all bound to obey him, and many of whom looked up to him as a guide, philosopher and friend.
Almost his first words to Settlement Officers are these: —
'It is the true interest of the Government to limit the demand to what is just, so as to create a valuable property in the land and encourage its improvement. In order further to encourage this improvement it is necessary to determine the persons to whom all the benefits belong, which arise out of the limitation of the demand on the land. To perform these operations is to make a Settlement. Under ordinary circumstances, the prosperity of the country depends on this being justly and perfectly done.
'There are evidently two distinct operations in the formation of a Settlement. The one is fiscal, the determination of the Government demand — the other is judicial, the formation of the record of rights. Ordinarily the two operations are performed at the same time, and there are many reasons which render such an arrangement very desirable. But if, from any cause, the judicial part was omitted when the fiscal was performed, there is no reason why the former should not be subsequently carried into execution.'
