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where His Excellency the Governor then was, explain the situation to him, and appeal to him to cancel the order of prohibition. We felt that we should give the Government an opportunity of with- drawing from an untenable position, and that, if we failed, then and then only should we have recourse to passive resistance and hold the Town Hall meeting in defiance of the Government order.

We returned to the Conference Hall with this decision, and Mr. Byomekesh Chakravarti was charged to explain it. He did so with the tact and skill of an old and practised lawyer. But, as always happens when an audience is excited, counsels of moderation failed to impress them. We were subjected to a good deal of heckling. Our decision evidently did not commend itself to the majority of the Conference, who were all for holding the meeting and for the conflict with the police that must follow. How many would have stood the test, if the collision had actually taken place, is more than I can say. I have some recollection of those who, with bold language on their lips and defiance in their mien, ran away as fast as their legs could carry them when the police dispersed the pro- cession in connexion with the Barisal Conference. The times have changed; nevertheless the frenzy for incarceration and the mad fury for cheap notoriety is confined to a limited class.

The Conference broke up without a decision; but it was under- stood that we were to go as a deputation, though without the formal authorization of the Conference. I at once placed myself in com- munication with Mr. Gourlay, the Governor's Private Secretary, and a day was appointed for the Deputation. We were to be received on the day immediately following a meeting of the Legislative Council to be held at Dacca. Many of the Indian members of the Legislative Council wanted to join the Deputation; but the number was limited to six, and I think it was a wise decision, regard being had to the confidential talk we had with the Governor, which per- haps a larger deputation would have prevented. In the meantime, the air was full of wild proposals of protests against the prohibition of the Town Hall meeting. One of them was that the Indian mem- bers should all abstain from attending the meeting of the Legisla- tive Council. This idea was seriously discussed on board the steamer that carried most of the members to Dacca. Nothing could have been more unwise on the eve of a settlement and when a deputa- tion was about to be received on the subject. I mention it only to show how extreme views are apt to find currency and even