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predominance when the public mind is thrown into a state of excitement by the unwisdom of the Government.

Our deputation was received by Lord Ronaldshay, at Govern- ment House at Dacca, with courtesy and cordiality. The deputation consisted of Mr. Byomekesh Chakravarti, Mr. C. R. Das, Mr. Fazlul Huq, Dr. Nilratan Sircar, Babu Surendranath Roy, and myself. The first question asked by Lord Ronaldshay was who was to be our spokesman. Mr. Chakravarti mentioned my name. The political atmosphere in Bengal had not yet become charged with the feelings which the subsequent controversy about Mrs. Besant's election to the presidency of the Congress evoked.

Lord Ronaldshay came fully prepared with all the official papers bearing on the matter. His Excellency opened the discussion, and it soon became apparent that all talk about inter-provincial ameni- ties, about the undesirability of the people of one province criticiz- ing the actions of the ruler of another, was moonshine. The real grounds for the prohibition were disclosed with perfect candour. They were not indeed convincing, but they were plausible enough. What prompted the order for prohibition was that at a meeting of the Home Rule League (at which, the Governor added, addressing me, 'You were not present') language was used to which the Government took strong exception; and it was apprehended that at the Town Hall meeting, the speakers being substantially the same, similar language would be employed and addressed to a much larger audience of young men; and this would do great harm. 'I have not prohibited' added Lord Ronaldshay significantly, 'the attendance of students at public meetings as has been done in other provinces.'

Lord Ronaldshay began reading out extracts from the reports of C.I.D. officers who were present at the meeting of the Home Rule league referred to above. Whether the proceedings were correctly reported or not, it is impossible to say; but, if the notes were sub- stantially correct, the language used was highly improper. One speaker, who was often in requisition at public meetings held by the authorities themselves, was reported to have advised the young men present to adopt the tactics of the Anusilan Samiti, which had been suppressed, advocating the employment of force. This speaker, said the report, added that the English were a handful in this country, while they, the children of the soil, could be counted by lakhs; and yet this handful of foreigners were our masters. Another speaker addressing the Home Rule meeting said that he