CO129-008 - Foreign Office - 1844 — Page 200

quilt still more accumulated by superadding perjury to treason but it does not increase the civil obligation to loyalty it only strengthens the social tie by uniting it with that of religion. Allegiance both express and implied is however distinguished by the law into two sorts or species, the one natural the other local; the former being also perpetual, the latter temporary. Natural allegiance

is such

as is due from all men born within the king's dominions immediately upon their birth. Local allegiance is

such as is due from an alien or stranger born, for so long time as he continues

so

within the king's dominion and protection, and it ceases the instant such stranger transfers himself from this kingdom to

another

197

and

another. Natural allegiance is therefore ...

perpetual and local temporary only,

that for this reason evidently founded

upon the nature of government, that

allegiance is a debt due from the subject

upon an implied contract with the prince,

that so long

the one affords protection

and

so long the other will demean himself faithfully. This allegiance then, both express and implied is the duty of all the king's subjects under the distinctions here laid down of local and temporary or universal and perpetual.

I am

aware that in India the Term "British Subject" has acquired a definite technical meaning, which however is not

the case with the term "Her Majesty's Subject" in this Country, and I think that the

fact

E

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