Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v3.c41.s2.23

v3.c41.s2.23

We have been thus minute, because, notwithstanding the expressed wish of the government not to prejudge the question, the first exercise of its authority as lord-paramount was to justify a proceeding by which these established usages were infringed, in spite of the eighth article of the treaty: “The Māharaja and his heirs and successors shall remain absolute rulers of their country and dependants according to long-established usage,” etc. “*C'est le premier pas qui coute*”; and this first step, being a wrong one, has involved an interference never contemplated, and fully justifying that wariness on the part of Jaipur, which made her hesitate to link her destiny with ours.