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I interested myself in another case of this kind in which one Gurdit Maiti was assaulted by two Europeans, because he happen- ed to be riding a horse while they were standing. He was an old man and died from the injuries inflicted. The subordinate court had let them off with a fine. It was a bad case and needed condign punishment. I wrote in the Bengalee newspaper and I personally moved Sir John Woodburn. An application was made for enhance- ment of the punishment. One of the accused could not be found as he had left for South Africa to fight in the Boer campaign. The other accused was sentenced to four months' imprisonment as the result of a re-trial. He was employed in the Public Works Depart- ment under the Government, and I interested myself after his release, and with success, to get him re-appointed.

The subordinate courts in these cases too often reflect an unhappy racial feeling. But the higher we mount the purer becomes the atmosphere. I thankfully note the fact that there has been a distinct advance in European opinion in this direction, which is bound to grow with time and the development of closer relations between the two communities.

The death of Dr. Suresh Chunder Sircar left his family helpless and penniless. He was the head of the family, its sole bread-winner. He had an extensive, but by no means lucrative, practice, as his patients for the most part belonged to the poorer middle class. His sons were young, one of them studying in a medical school. I approached the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Woodburn, for help. Sir John Woodburn was a man of generous instincts, and he warmly responded to my appeal. He said to me. 'Mr. Banerjea, if the young man (naming Dr. Suresh Chunder Sircar's son) had passed the Matriculation examination, I would have made him a Deputy Magistrate. I am fettered owing to his not possessing suitable quali- fications, but I will appoint him a sub-registrar.' He got this appointment, and later on, when the burden of a growing family made his position financially difficult, Sir Edward Baker, who was then Lieutenant-Governor, was good enough at my request to appoint his brother a sub-registrar.

At the Congress of 1898, we had expressed our gratitude to Lord Curzon for his words of sympathy, and our hope that he would follow a policy of progress and confidence in the people. The events of the following year served to dissipate whatever ex- pectations the most optimistic among us might have formed. The reactionary policy of the Viceroy and his disregard of Indian public