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in the bosom of society, European and Indian, and were struggling for outward expression, I received an invitation from the Rotary Club to be their guest at one of their lunch parties, and to speak.

The Rotary Club is a world-wide organization and has an im- portant centre in Calcutta. It was an honour that I greatly appre- ciated, and the reception that was accorded to me was as hearty as any that I had received from an Indian gathering. The atmos- phere was inspiring. I saw many new faces, but they were beaming with friendliness, and when I rose to address the gathering, which was large and enthusiastic, I felt that I was not merely an Indian but a Rotarian, with a cosmopolitan outlook and surrounded by friends who would overlook my faults. Let me quote a passage from my speech:

'The Empire is yours, but it is also ours. It is yours by creation; ours by adoption. You are the natural heirs; we are the adopted children of the Empire. Your status and our status are the same; and here let me make a frank confession of faith on my behalf as well as the great party to which I belong. We of the Moderate party believe that the connexion of England with India is a divine dispensation ordained for the holiest and highest of ends. Therefore do I appeal to you, representatives of the European community, members of the Empire, friends of human freedom, to stand by us, to co-operate with us in ensuring the success of the great experiment upon which the honour of England is staked, and the future of India so largely depends. I am sure I do not appeal in vain. I am strengthened in this hope by the cordiality of your reception and the kind and sympathetic hearing which you have accorded to me, and for which I am truly grateful.'

The Club marked its appreciation of my speech by making me an honorary member, a position that I still hold; and, though my preoccupations do not afford me the opportunity of frequent atten- dance at its sittings, I deem it an honour to be associated with a club with a world-wide organization and holding a high status. The Club serves a useful purpose in strengthening those bonds between Europeans and Indians so necessary for the good of India and of the Empire.

Let me now resume the thread of my narrative. I stood as a candidate for election to the Bengal Legislative Council from the municipalities in the Barrackpore Sub-division. I was returned unopposed. In an interview with the Governor, Lord Ronaldshay, soon after my election, I was offered the post of a Minister, and