was passed in 1859, Goldsmid (who upon the death of his father in the same year had succeeded to the baronetcy) was at length enabled to begin a parliamentary career, and he was elected in 1860 member for Reading, which borough he continued to represent till his death. In politics Goldsmid was a temperate liberal. He was the recognised spokesman of the Jewish community in parliament, and in many telling speeches called attention to the persecutions of the Jews in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. On general subjects Goldsmid was not a frequent speaker, but his opinion was respected upon both sides of the house, and he was well known as a patient and impartial chairman of committees. Like his father, Goldsmid took a deep interest in University College and the University College Hospital. He was treasurer of the hospital from 1857 till 1868, and a ward was named after him in 1870 in recognition of his services to the institution. Among his own religious community Goldsmid was very prominent. He took the leading part in the foundation of the Reform Synagogue in 1841 (now situated in Upper Berkeley Street), and he was the practical founder of the Anglo-Jewish Association in 1871. In 1841 he established the Jews' Infant School, one of the earliest schools of its kind, and now the largest infant school in England. He died through an accident at Waterloo station on 2 May 1878. His nephew Julian, son of his brother Frederick David (1812–1866), succeeded as third and last baronet, dying 7 Jan. 1896.
Goldsmid's writings include: 1. ‘Remarks on the Civil Disabilities of British Jews,’ 1830. 2. ‘Two Letters in Answer to the Objections urged against Mr. Grant's Bill for the Relief of the Jews,’ 1830. 3. ‘The Arguments advanced against the Enfranchisement of the Jews considered in a Series of Letters,’ 1831; 2nd edition, 1833. 4. ‘A Few Words respecting the Enfranchisement of British Jews addressed to the New Parliament,’ 1833. 5. ‘A Scheme of Peerage Reform, with Reasons for the Scheme, by the youngest of the Tomkinses,’ 1835. 6. ‘Reply to the Arguments advanced against the Removal of the remaining Disabilities of the Jews,’ 1848.
[Memoir of Sir F. H. Goldsmid, by the Rev. Professor Marks and the Rev. Albert Löwy, 2nd enlarged ed. 1882; Times, 4 May 1878.]
GOLDSMID, HENRY EDWARD (1812–1855), Indian civil servant, born on 9 May 1812, was son of Edward Goldsmid of Upper Harley Street, London. He was educated privately, and in 1829, on nomination to a writership by Robert Campbell, one of the directors of the East India Company, went to Haileybury College, where he twice obtained the Persian prize, and also distinguished himself in Hindustani and law. Proceeding to the Bombay presidency in 1832, he served in the districts of Ahmednagar and Tanna till he became, in 1835, assistant to the revenue commissioner, Mr. Williamson. While in this post he devised the revenue survey and assessment system. He was employed in its organisation in the Poona, Ahmednagar, and Nasik districts, and the Southern Mahratta country, from 1835 till 1845, when he visited England on furlough. He there married Jessy Sarah Goldsmid, daughter of Lionel Prager Goldsmid, and sister of Major-general Sir F. J. Goldsmid, K.C.S.I., C.B., by whom he had four sons and a daughter. Returning to India in 1847 as private secretary to Sir George Clerk, the governor of Bombay, he became in the following year secretary to the Bombay government in the revenue and financial departments, and chief secretary in 1854. His health broke down under his unsparing labours in the public service, and he died at Cairo on 3 Jan. 1855.
The tenure of Western India generally is ryotwari, that is, the state is universal landlord, and the peasantry hold under it direct. But, owing to the obsoleteness of the assessments and system of former native governments, and a general fall of prices, the rents had become exorbitant, even in favourable seasons. Annual remissions, determined on annual crop inspections made by ill-paid native officials, had thus become the rule. Arrears nevertheless accumulated, corruption, extortion, and even torture, were fostered, the rates fixed on the better soils were gradually lowered, while those on the poorer became enhanced, and these rates were chargeable on areas which, through corruption or loss of record, were generally incorrect. Agricultural stock and capital were thus depleted, thousands emigrated, the residue were poverty-stricken and despairing, while the revenue barely covered the cost of collection. Goldsmid's insight and energy introduced a system the details of which were perfected by the able young men whom he drew round him, including Lieutenant (afterwards Sir George) Wingate, Bartle Frere [q. v.], Lieutenants (now Generals) Davidson, Francis, and Anderson. The ‘survey’ comprised all the lands in every village, which were divided into separate ‘fields’ of a size to be tilled by one pair of bullocks, defined by boundary marks, which it was made penal to remove, and clearly indicated upon readily obtainable maps. Each field was then classified accord--
