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was; and even a Town Hall meeting in Calcutta was suggested. That such a meeting was not held was due to my intervention. I told Sir Edward Baker, who was then Lieutenant-Governor, that I could join it only on the understanding that there would be a resolu- tion against the Partition of Bengal and praying for its modification. This the official inspirers of the meeting would not agree to, and the idea was dropped.

The new Councils came into existence in 1910, and at the very first meeting the Viceroy announced that it was no longer necessary to keep in confinement the political prisoners detained under Regulation III of 1818, that they were not associated with any revolutionary movement, and that they would all be released. The deportation of Krishna Kumar Mittra, Aswini Kumar Dutt and the others was a great political blunder. It served no useful purpose, it did harm; it frightened none; it added to the political uneasiness and excitement. Since then there have been cases of deportation, but nothing like the feeling that was then evoked. When I had an interview with Lord Morley in the India Office in the summer of 1909, I made a strong representation for the release of Babu Krishna Kumar Mittra and Babu Asmini Kumar Dutt. Lord Morley listened, but said nothing. The occasion indeed was inopportune. Sir William Curzon-Wylie had just been murdered, and a strong feeling of indignation was roused in England against all suspected of political intrigue. In quicter times I might have had some chance. of success. In July, 1909, I had none. To the grim tragedy of that month I shall have to refer later; but in the meantime, let me pass on to a personal reminiscence in connexion with the reformed Councils.

Under the Regulations framed under the Parliamentary Statute of 1909, a dismissed servant of the Government was not eligible for election to the Legislative Councils. Dismissal from Government service was thus made a disqualification. Under the former Regula- tions (under the Statute of 1892) there was no such disqualification, though I believe an attempt was made to introduce it. Thus under the new Regulations I was disqualified for a seat in the Legislative Councils, local and Imperial. It was however, a disqualification that could be removed by the head of the Government. Sir Edward Baker was then Lieutenant-Governor. He knew me well. For years together we were colleagues in public work; and we learnt to like and respect one another. Of his own motion, without any suggestion