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hand of fellowship and friendship, and I invite my countrymen to grasp it with alacrity and enthusiasm, and in co-operation with British states- manship to march forward to the accomplishment of those high destinies which, under the providence of God, are reserved for our people.

'My Lord. we live in a psychological moment in the history of our country. We are at the parting of the ways. The future is committed to our care and keeping. We can make or mar it. I appeal to my countrymen to make it by the exhibition of those qualities of courage, prudence, sobriety and self-restraint, coupled with patriotic devotion, which constitute the crowning attributes of national life. I make this appeal and trust that it will not fell upon heedless ears.'

I can only say this, that the speech was well received by the House and was appreciated by the Viceroy. The same evening at about 5 p.m. I was asked by a telephonic message to see the Vice- roy. I was asleep at the time. When I got up and was informed about the message, I started for Viceregal Lodge. I had a long interview with His Excellency. He was surprised to find that I had been asleep so late in the afternoon, and he added in very kindly tones, 'You must have felt tired after your great effort. It is surprising that you should be sleeping at such an hour.' I said in reply, 'I can sleep whenever I like, and that is one of the secrets of my good health.' He said, 'Mr. Banerjea, that is Napoleonic.' We discussed the day's debate in the Council, and His Excellency thought that I should be the Chairman of the Committee, as I had moved for its constitution.

One of the charges brought against the Moderate party, and especially against myself, by a section of the Press, is that in public life I am no longer what I used to be, and that I have changed my colours. To change one's opinions in the light of new conditions is neither a crime nor a sin. Consistency is not always a virtue. It may sometimes mean persistency in error; and a progressive mind must from time to time reconsider old ideas in the light of altered cir- cumstances. In my case I claim that I have never changed in funda- mentals; but that, as regards details, I have shifted my ground according to varying conditions. For me, the goal has always re- mained the same; the essential condition for reaching it has also remained unchanged, but there have been variations as regards minor points of detail. With me the goal has always been Self- government within the Empire; the method for its attainment has been constitutional agitation. In view of the announcement of the 20th of August 1917, I had to consider whether the path now