Proclamation of the Queen's rule in India: the Illuminations Transcript from The Illustrated London News 1 January 1859

Click thumbnails for enlargements in a separate window The 1st of November, 1858, will ever be memorable in the history of our Indian empire. On this day, as duly recorded in our Journal, her Majesty's Proclamation to the Princes, Chiefs, and People of India was read throughout nearly every district in India, whereby it was officially announced that the political authority of the East India Company had ceased to exist, and that the Government of India had been transferred to the management of the Crown. This important State document, and a supplementary proclam ation by the Governor-Generals, were read in the chief towns of the three Presidencies amid great rejoicing. We engrave this week three Photographic Sketches, which have obligingly been forwarded to us from Calcutta and Bombay, in relation to this great ev ent. Reading the proclamation at Calcutta The assumption of the reins of Government in India by her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria was celebrated at Calcutta with all fitting pomp and with great enthusiasm, both on the part of natives and of Europeans. From all quarters there poured into the city such a concourse of people as had never before been witnessed there. Government House was, of course, the great centre of attraction; and shortly after three o'clock the streets surrounding it became almost impenetrable. From the Esplanade to Tank -square the entire space was alive with a surging crowd. The proclamation was read, according to p rogramme, at four p.m.; the troops were all in attendance, and the public mustered in crowds, forming a very striking assemblage in the square before the great steps of Government House. The document was read in English by Mr. Beadon, and in Bengali by Bab oo Samachurn Sircar. At the conclusion the Royal flag was hoisted at the head of the mast erected for the occasion before Government House, and it was saluted by the cheers of the European portion of the crowd, led by Mr. Halliday on the first round, and again by a sailor who hoisted the flag, and who had placed himself conspicuously on the Dragon Gun. Our Engraving represents Mr. Cecil Beadon reading the proclamation; Mr. Halliday, Lieutenant -Governor of Bengal, is on his right, with Mr. Grant and Chief Justice Colville. The illuminations at night were worthy of the occasion; and, whether they were a real proof of rejoicing on the assumption of the empire by the Queen or not, the old servants of the Company and the now servants of the Queen did their work well. No other city in the world could have prepared such a gorgeous spectacle.

The City of Palaces shone a city of fire. The Government House was illuminated at every point the lines of its architecture, of the cornices, of its pilasters, and of its columns, were brought out in the most brilliant manner. The dome for once became an ornament, and a superb one, lines of fire streaking it like a melon; and a magnificent crown, surmounted by the cross, shone out in all the beauty of dazzling light. The night was dark as Erebus, thus giving further effect to the illuminations. The columns of the Baboo's Ghat at a short distance shone as one mass of bright light, marking all its lines and distinctly tracing the architecture. This was the character of the majority of the illuminations, the houses all appearing as though built of flame. The devices were the usual compliments to her Majesty, and "Queen Victoria" shone over the whole city in letters of fire. The Auckland Hotel (Hall of all Nations), which was superbly illuminated, is shown in the annexed Illustration. Among the various designs and devices displayed on this building was a transparency of her Majesty the Queen, surmounted by a cross, above which, in brilliant jets of gas, were the words "Long Live our Noble Queen!" From one end of Calcutta to the other there was a succession of illuminations and transparencies, giving to the city a carnava lesque appearance which, says our Correspondent, it is impossible to describe. The ceremony at Bombay The demonstration on the 1st of November at Bombay was also highly successful. The Royal proclamation was read from a platform erected on the steps of the Townhall. The civil, military, and naval officers of Government having met the Governor in the Durbar -room, a procession was formed, preceded by trumpeters and chobdars, which had a very grand effect. On arriving at the front of the platform a flourish of trumpets was blown, and the chief secretary to Government stepped forward and read in English the Royal proclamation. At its conclusion the Royal standard of England was unfurled, the bands struck up "God Save the Queen," and a Royal salute from the rampa rts of Fort George proclaimed that Victoria I. had assumed the sovereignty of India. The cheers from the platform were taken up by ten thousand voices from the crowd beneath, until tower and steeple almost trembled with the reverberation. In the evening the whole town was illuminated, a brilliant display of fireworks took place on the Esplanade, and all the vessels in the harbour were lighted up with great brilliancy. Of the various sections of the community that were anxious to mark the day with rejoicing and demonstrations of loyalty, the foremost and most conspicuous were the Parsees. In their houses some of them princely mansions they vied with each other in highly ornamental designs. Entire streets occupied by them were adorned with triumphal arches, and tastefully devised transparencies and decorations. Conspicuous in the blaze of light stood out the mansion of the Parsee baronet Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, which we have engraved.

The Mohammedan community also took an active part in the festive demonstration by illuminating the grand mosque, in the Green -market, which was visible for miles around. Lord Elphinstone was everywhere received by the native community with enthusiasm. As his Lordship was proceeding to the Townhall, near Hormusjee Wadia's Fire Temple, a number of Parsees, dressed in their flowing snow-white robes, received the representatives of Majesty by a band of music, whilst a shower of roses was thrown into his Lordship's carriage. And we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the loyalty, ability, and judgement of our right trusty and well -beloved cousin and councillor, Charles John Viscount Canning, do hereby constitute and appoint him, the said Viscount Canning, to be our first Viceroy and Governor-General in and over our said territories, and to administer the government thereof in our name, and generally to act in our name and on our behalf, subject to such orders an d regulations as he shall, from time to time, receive from us through one of our Principal Secretaries of State. And we do hereby confirm in their several offices, civil and military, all persons now employed in the service of the Honourable East India Com pany, subject to our future pleasure, and to such laws and regulations as may hereafter be enacted. We hereby announce to the native Princes of India that all treaties and engagements made with them by or under the authority of the Honourable East India Co mpany are by us accepted, and will be scrupulously maintained, and we look for the like observance on their part. We desire no extension of our present territorial possessions; and, while we will permit no aggression upon our dominions or our rights to be attempted with impunity, we shall sanction no encroachment on those of others. We shall respect the rights, dignity and honour of native Princes as our own; and we desire that they, as well as our own subjects, should enjoy the prosperity and that social a dvancement which can only be secured by internal peace and good government. We hold ourselves bound to the natives of our Indian territories by the same obligations of duty which bind us to all our other subjects, and those obligations, by the blessings of Almighty God, we shall faithfully and conscientiously fulfill. Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Christianity, and acknowledging with gratitude the solace of religion, we disclaim alike the right and desire to impose our convictions on any of our subjects. We declare it to be our royal will and pleasure that no ne be in anywise favoured, none molested or disquieted, by reason of their religious faith or observances, but that all alike shall enjoy the equal and impartial protection of the law; and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in authority under us that they abstain from all

interference with the religious belief or worship of any of our subjects on pain of our highest displeasure. And it is our further will that, so far as may be, our subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely and impar tially admitted to offices in our service, the duties of which they may be qualified, by their education, ability, and integrity, duly to discharge. We know, and respect, the feelings of attachment with which the natives of India regard the lands inherited by them from their ancestors, and we desire to protect them in all rights connected therewith, subject to the equitable demands of the State; and we will that generally, in framing and administering the law, due regard be paid to the ancient rights, usages, and customs of India. ... Our clemency will be extended to all offenders, save and except those who have been, or shall be, convicted of having directly taken part in the murder of British subjects. With regard to such the demands of justice forbid the exercise of mercy. ... When, by the blessing of Providence, internal tranquility shall be restored, it is our earnest duty to stimulate the peaceful industry of India, to promote works of public utility and improvement, and to administer its government for the benefit of all our subjects resident therein. In their prosperity will be our strength; in their contentment our security, and in their gratitude our best reward. And may the God of all power grant to us, and to those in authority under us, strength t o carry out our wishes for the good of our people. The Government of India Act 1858 , actually named An Act for the Better Government of India, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (21 & 22 Vict. c. 106) passed on August 2, 1858. Its provisions called for the liquidation of the British East India Company (who had up to this point been ruling British India under the auspices of Parliament) and the transfer ence of its functions to the British Crown.[1] Lord Palmerston, then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom , introduced a bill for the transfer o f control of the Government of India from the East India Company to the Crown, referring to the grave defects in the existing system of the government of India. The main provisions of the bill were:


The Company's territories in India were to be vested in the Queen, the Company ceasing to exercise its power and control over these territories. India was to be governed in the Queen's name. The Queen's Principal Secretary of State received the powers and duties of the Company's Court of Directors. A council of fifteen members was appointed to assist th e

Secretary of State for India. The council became an advisory body in India affairs. For all the communications between Britain and India, the Secretary of State became the real channel.


The Secretary of State for India was empowered to send some secret d espatches to India directly without consulting the Council. He was also authorised to constitute special committees of his Council. The Crown was empowered to appoint a Governor-General and the Governors of the Presidencies. Provision for the creation of an Indian Civil Service under the control of the Secretary of State. All the property of the East India Company was transferred to the Crown. The Crown also assumed the responsibilities of the Company as they related to treaties, contracts, and so forth.

The Act ushered in a new period of Indian history, bringing about the end of Company rule in India. The era of the new British Raj would last until Partition of India in August 1947, at which time all of the teritory of the Raj was granted dominion status within the Dominion of Pakistanand the Union of India .