2 - The Conservative Adventure, 1869–80

Summary

For a dozen years from 1869, the Conservatives were able to impose their ideas on India. Their opportunity came in 1868, when, for the first time, they were required to select a Viceroy. Disraeli's choice was Mayo, a young Irish nobleman. This was one of those many instances when Disraeli relied on his intuition rather than on any careful assessment of merit and achievement; and on this occasion Disraeli's instinct did not play him false. Energetic, buoyant, and self-assured, Mayo was suited for India, which at that time demanded a strong hand. While, as is clear from his correspondence, Mayo was not a highly educated man, he had a sturdy and unhesitating mind which grappled firmly with the problems of administration. As Kimberley discerned, Mayo was ‘a somewhat dull, heavy man’ by no means endowed with first-rate powers; but he had sound sense and independent character, qualities more important than brilliant talents in an Indian Viceroy. Soon after his appointment had been announced, the Disraeli Ministry fell; and the Liberal Government, in the glad morning of success, seriously considered the cancellation of Mayo's appointment. Gladstone believed that a Viceroy should not be appointed by a government in its last agony, and it was expected that Mayo would be recalled, even though he had sailed, and Argyll sent in his stead. However, there was no such drastic assertion of party spirit. Argyll contented himself with the Secretaryship of State and assured Mayo of his support.