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idea and abandon the proposal. I clinched the matter by saying that they must swear to do so by laying their hands on my Brahminical feet. They readily responded to my appeal, and I heaved a sigh of relief. There was yet a difficulty. They said they must go to the place at once by the night train and stop the arrangements. But they had no money with them. I readily advanced the money they wanted. I did not know who they were; up till now I do not know who they are, for I never asked their names. But I felt I could trust them, and, sure enough, the money was refunded to me through the post office.

The incident indicated the ideas that were in the air, the deeper undercurrents that were moving, it might be unconsciously, some of the young men of Bengal. With anarchism no one can have any sympathy. Murder is murder, no matter by what name the deed is sought to be palliated, or by what motives excused. But let not the historian of the future lose sight of the atmosphere of mistrust, of hopelessness and helplessness, created by the acts of an admini- stration which no British historian can refer to without a blush on his countenance.

Soon after the incidents which I have described at some length came the attempt to blow up Sir Andrew Fraser's train at Nursing- garh near Midnapore. Sir Andrew Fraser was Lieutenant-Governor and was one of the authors of the Partition of Bengal, and that alone made him one of the most unpopular among our rulers within living memory. He had never before held any office in Bengal. His administrative experience was confined to the Central Provinces. He was President of the Police Commission before he became Lieutenant-Governor and his recommendations excited severe criticism. He came to Bengal with no prepossessions in his favour. His administration of the province created a violent prejudice against him. The popular impression was that he came with a mandate to partition Bengal, and he naturally suffered as the chosen instrument for carrying out one of the most unpopular measures under British rule.

About the same time, almost on the same day, that this attempt was made, the District Conference that met at Midnapore was sought to be wrecked, and by some of those men upon whom there was a strong suspicion of being associated with the anarchical movement. Mr. K. B. Dutt, the President of the Conference and the recognized leader of the Midnapore District at the time, was repeatedly interrupted in the course of his speech. I was invited as