Studies in Hindu Law and Dharmaśāstra: Indian Response to Anglo-Hindu Law

We might be tempted, two hundred years after these words were written, to consider the decision of the Committee of Circuit as the sole possible and normal course of action. In reality, "the decision was far-sighted policy-not a matter of course,"2 and it was adopted against considerable opposition.3 There is no doubt that some of the early British magistrates, who were eager to implement the decision of the Committee, were motivated by highly humanitarian principles. William Jones wrote in a letter to Cornwallis: