What it says
‘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.’ Officials are ordered to abstain from all interference with the religious belief or worship of any subject. It promises to respect ‘the rights, dignity and honour of native Princes as our own’, and offices for subjects ‘of whatever race or creed’.
What it proves
Its promise of no interference in religion is the Crown’s own admission that fear for dharma had driven the rising of 1857.
