fundamental maxim of the constitution of much more than the British
Government--of the conscience of humanity, was carefully buried up.
The judges asked the pundits whether the woman is "enjoined" by the
shaster voluntarily to burn herself with the body of her husband.
They replied "every woman of the four castes is permitted to burn
herself," except in certain cases enumerated, and they quoted Manoo,
who is against the custom in so far as he says that a virtuous wife
ascends to heaven if she devotes herself to pious austerities after
the decease of her lord.

This opinion would have been sufficient to give the requisite native
excuse to Government for the abolition, but the Nizamat Adawlat
judges urged the "principle" of "manifesting every possible
indulgence to the religious opinions and prejudices of the natives,"
ignoring morality, reason, and humanity alike. Lord Wellesley's
long and brilliant administration of eight years was virtually at an
end: in seven days he was to embark for home. The man who had
preserved the infants from the sharks of Sagar had to leave the
widows and their children to be saved by the civilians Carey and he
had personally trained, Metcalfe and Bayley, who by 1829 had risen
to Council and become colleagues of Lord W. Bentinck. But Lord
Wellesley did this much, he declined to notice the so-called
"prohibitory regulations" recommended by the civilian judges.
These, when adopted in the year 1812, made the British Government
responsible by legislation for every murder thereafter, and greatly
increased the number of murders. From that date the Government of
India decided "to allow the practice," as recognised and encouraged
by the Hindoo religion, except in cases of compulsion, drugging,
widows under sixteen, and proved pregnancy. The
police--natives--were to be present, and to report every case. At