by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 1819-1901

Equal before the Law

Queen Victoria assured her subjects that there were no second-class citizens in her eyes.

1857

Queen Victoria 1837-1901

Be the best... At St James’s Palace in London, a Grenadier Guardsman is being relieved by a Kingsman of the King’s Regiment (later subsumed into the Duke of Lancaster‘s Regiment).

Introduction

After the Indian Mutiny in 1857, some Indians were concerned that Britain intended to force them to convert to Christianity. However, Victoria reassured them that (in contrast to some Indian religions and laws) forcible conversion and ‘second-class citizen’ are both concepts alien to the British constitution.

by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 1819-1901

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.*

We declare it to be our royal will and pleasure that none be in anywise favoured, none molested or disquieted, by reason of their religious faith or observances, but that all alike shall enjoy the equal and impartial protection of the law; and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in authority under us that they abstain from all interference with the religious belief or worship of any of our subjects on pain of our highest displeasure.

And it is our further will that, so far as may be, our subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely and impartially admitted to offices in our service, the duties of which they may be qualified, by their education, ability, and integrity, duly to discharge.

by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 1819-1901

Extracted from Proclamation by the Queen in Council, to the princes, chiefs, and people of India (1858).

For background, see The Indian Mutiny.

Précis

Following the Indian Mutiny in 1857, Queen Victoria assured the people of India that they would not be pressurised into becoming Christians. She declared that in Britain all are equal under the law, and that British subjects would be employed by her government regardless of race or religion, provided they could perform the duties required of them.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate her ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What did Queen Victoria say about her own religious convictions?

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Equal before the Law

Introduction

Précis

Questions for Critics

Sevens

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