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house, and she hurried out to the garden. There were cracks in the house, but no serious damage was done.

On my return home I learnt that I had in my absence been elected a member of the Bengal Legislative Council by the District Boards of the Presidency Division. In those days the elections to the Councils were less exciting, and less open to the influence of personal canvassing. The District Boards and municipalities elected delegates to vote for the candidates at the final elections. The delegates were chosen men, the pick of their class, above corrup- tion and the influence of personal pressure.

The Congress met at Amraoti in December, 1897. Amraoti is the capital of Berar and was the headquarters of my late friend, Mr. Mudholkar, to whom I have already had occasion to refer. A more selfless and less ostentatious friend of the national cause it would have been difficult to find. With great capacity and common sense he combined a geniality and a modesty of character that made him one of the most lovable of men. He invited me to live with him as a guest; but my party included my friends, Upendranath Sen, Kali Prosanna Kabyavisarad and Taraprosanna Mitter (manager of the Bengalee), better known as T. P. Mitter. They were looking after me with the affectionate care of devoted friend- ship, and I could not separate myself from them. I lived with them in the quarters provided for the delegates and was happy in their company.

I was asked to move the Resolution proposing Mr. Sankaran Nair as President of the Congress, a duty that I have often since performed. I said that times were critical, and we needed the guidance and leadership of such a man as he. Mr. Sankaran Nair was then an advocate of the Madras High Court, and he had already attained a distinguished position at the Bar. Subsequently he became a Judge of the High Court and a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council. His presidential speech was a strong and masculine utterance, worthy of the man and suited to the times when the forces of reaction were so strongly in evidence. 'It is impossible to argue a man into slavery in the English language' said he; and his was a vigorous plea for free institutions as the true cure for degradation and misery, and racial and credal conflicts.

I was entrusted with the Resolution regarding the deportation of the Natu brothers of Poona. The Natu brothers were Sirdars of the Deccan, whose ancestors had taken an important part in the