As for the British Empire itself, it was on course to be an all right thing long-term until the 1820s, where dangerous ideas such as political dominion, state imperialism and especially religious superiority and evangelicism. Until then, in India at least, there was a sense of economic partnership - indeed, many Indians welcomed the early British settlers as economic and political liberators from the decayed Moghul era - and there were many examples of "partnership thinking" with the Indians. But then we lost America, and the hurt pride of the nation led to more domineering thinking, and by the mutiny the whole thing had just gone nuts.
Have you read Empire by Niall Ferguson, Monty?Is very good, if a little bit rose tinted.