THE COST OF THE PRINCE OF WALES’ VISIT TO INDIA.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 338, 13 July 1875, Page 3

THE COST OF THE PRINCE OF WALES’ VISIT TO INDIA.

[.Manchester Guardian April 6.] There is no reason for supposing that the Prince of Wales did not sit down to count the cost before deciding upon his projected visit to India. Nevertheless, it must be difficult for his Royal Highness to contemplate without alarm the estimated expenditure as drawn up by a friendly, perhaps a too friendly hand. Mr J. T. Mackenzie of Kiutail, who merely acts as the mouthpiece or amanuensis of his Highness the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, has considerately placed on paper the various items for which the Prince and his advisers will have to provide. The heir to the throne must of course travel in right royal state, and this will require an extensive provision of tents, horses, elephants, camels, &c, and the accompaniment of a guard of honor of from 6000 to 10,000 men ‘at the very lowest.’ Even the higher figure, it is remarked, is insignificant when compared with the number of men which the great native sovereigns were accustomed to take with them * on similar occasions.’ However, if the Prince’s tents are of ‘ the regal red silk,’ and those of his Court of a costly description, the native sense of the proprieties would probably be satisfied. The mention of a Court suggests the enquiry— Who is to accompany the Prince ? Mr Mackenzie —that is, the Maharajah—thinks that a selection should be made from ‘ the oldest and most historic families of the nobility,’ as well as representatives of the Army, the Navy, and the Church. There is a notion current in India, it seems, that we are ‘ ashamed of our religion,’ but this it is obvious, would be effectually dispelled if the Prince took ‘an ecclesiastic of rank ’ with him, and insisted on having regular services, at which of course, his entire Court would require to be present. There are a number of other ‘details,’ which, however, we must omit, and come at once to the question of cost. Nobody will be surprised to hear that a royal tour, managed on such a scale, will involve an expenditure of £300,000 in the first instance. Indeed, so much pageantry is cheap at the money, and leads one to suspect that the pick of the nobility and the professions are expected to do duty gratuitously. Furthermore, by an ingenious contrivance, half the outlay can, it is almost certain, be recovered. The Prince of Wales will have to make many costly presents, but on the other hand he will, in return, receive presents from the native princes of twice the value. Let his Royal Highness, it is suggested, retain for himself ‘ all objects of interest,’ and dispose of the remainder, presumably to the highest bidders. The probable yield is put down at £850,000, and no Englishman will be bold enough to impugn the accuracy of the estimate. In support of this scheme it is stated that the Governor-General of India is accustomed to receive ‘gifts in return for his presents, which are considered as part of the exchequer receipts, and sold for a large amount.’ The true Briton has a passion for facts and figures, and Mr Mackenzie is strictly consistent when he reminds us at the close of his letter that the British capital invested in India in funds, railways, manufactures, and houses, is estimated at 400 millions, our annual export and import trade at 60 millions, and that Englishmen are receiving in pay, pensions, allowances, &c, in India and at home, 10 millions a year. It is possible that Mr Mackenzie’s suggestions may to a certain extent have been anticipated by the Prince’s adiisers; but the general public, at any rate, are indebted to him for an essay in which instruction and amusement are happily combined.