George Smith

“ Muir's experience and influence became all-important in the reorganisation of the provinces through 1858. To form after the Mutiny a permanent settlement of the North- West Provinces which should at once content the people and satisfy the revenue was the problem which Muir solved in his masterly minute of 5 Dec. 1861, when he was senior member of the board of revenue. He showed how the desired result could be reached gradually, on the basis of corn rents. That great state paper convinced the government of India. ”

“ Moir vividly told the story of his experience for his children in his 'Agra in the Mutiny' (1896) . Soon there was neither government nor revenue; but as head of the intelligence department Muir held the dangerous position of centre of communication between the viceroy, Lord Canning, and the civil and military authorities right across India to Delhi, Lahore, and Peshawar, to Gwalior, Indore, and Bombay. The invaluable correspondence which he controlled, after being partially utilised by Kaye in his history, was published in Edinburgh in two volumes in 1908, edited by W. Coldstream. ”

“ He mitigated the severity of the land assessment, and passed two acts which consolidated and amended the land laws of the North-West Provinces. He checked, and finally abolished, Hindu female infanticide, without creating political discontent. ”