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The debate led us to hope that some modification of the Bill would take place. The hope proved illusory. Lord Curzon's influence prevailed; and the Bill was passed into law with all the reactionary provisions that had excited comment and criticism. It was the first of a series of reactionary measures which revealed the policy of an administration that was destined to create widespread unrest and excitement.

At the Lucknow Congress we recorded a resolution urging 'the appointment of an agency in England for the purpose of organizing in concert with the British committee public meetings for the dissemination of information on Indian subjects, and the creation of a fund for the purpose'.

I moved the Resolution and made an appeal for funds. I cannot say that the appeal was successful; nor was indeed any immediate action taken to give effect to this Resolution. The Resolution remained a part of the standing programme of the Congress; but the efforts made to carry it out were spasmodic and not persistent.

In 1900, the Congress was to meet at Lahore. The invitation to Lahore was made by Lala Muralidhar, a veteran worker of the Congress cause. Old Congressmen still remember the wit and humour with which he used to enliven the Congress when his health and strength permitted him to attend its meetings. Though borne down by age and its infirmities, his interest in the Congress movement remained unflagging.

Lala Jaishi Ram extorted from me a promise at Lucknow that I would, before the Congress met at Lahore, visit some of the towns in the Punjab and address public meetings. He thought that was necessary in order to rouse an interest in the Punjab in the Congress cause. It was a call to duty to which 1 gladly responded. I broke my annual Durga Puja holidays, which I was enjoying at Simultolla, and started for the Punjab in October, 1900. Our first meeting was held at Delhi, where Sirdar Guru Chand Singh, barrister-at-law, joined me and accompanied me throughout the tour. I addressed public meetings at Delhi, Amritsar, Lahore and Rawalpindi. At Lahore, at the request of the Reception Committee, I opened the Bradlaugh Hall, which was raised in honour of the memory of the late Mr. Bradlaugh, and where the Congress was to meet. The Hall was subsequently destroyed by fire; but it has since been rebuilt.

While I was at Rawalpindi I heard of the unexpected death of Lala Jaishi Ram. He was, in the words of the late Babu Kali Prosanna Roy, Chairman of the Reception Committee of the