for the more congenial work of internal reform. Lord Auckland's statemanship must be judged mainly by the fruits of a policy hurtful alike to his own reputation, his country's honour, and the well-being of our Indian Empire. The first year of his rule had opened with a surplus revenue of a million and a half. He left behind him a deficit of two millions, and an addition of twelve millions to the public debt. Some millions more had to be expended by his successor before the disgraceful retreat from Kábul and the crowning catastrophe in the Afghán snows could be partially requited by the victories of Nott and Pollock.
It is worth noting by the way that the first accession of territory during the present reign took place, with Lord Auckland's sanction, in January 1839, when a small force of Europeans and Sepoys from Bombay, aided by a squadron of Queen's and Company's warships, captured the peninsula and town of Aden at the mouth of the Red Sea, after a spirited fight of some hours. The Arab Governor had promised a year before to cede the place to us in requital for outrages on our shipwrecked people. But his followers would not let him keep his word, and possession had to be won by force. In 1841 several steamers of the Indian Navy played a prominent part in the capture of Chinese forts, especially in Sir Hugh Gough's expedition against Canton[1].
- ↑ Low's History of the Indian Navy.
