It was through this connection he was able to get the academy to publish his work Die Geschichte von Nala (1862), an attempt to restore the original text of an episode in the Indian epic, the Mahabharata.

With the support of the Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, he reformed every public department and took measures to prepare the island to meet frequent devastating hurricanes.

[3] He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in August 1901, on the occasion of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary)[4] His work The Broad Stone of Empire (1910) described his experience of the problems with Crown colony administration.

[5] On his return to the United Kingdom, Bruce became a campaigner for Indian immigrants and settlers in other British colonies, especially in South Africa.

He was an early member of the committee formed in London to uphold their claims, and in June 1908 he headed a representative deputation to ask Lord Crewe for the intervention of the Home Government.