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appointment, and assured me of his co-operation. I could always count upon it with absolute reliance. An enthusiast, combining knowledge with almost apostolic fervour, he had less of red-tapism in him than almost any British official I have seen. Sometimes he got into trouble from a lack of this quality, but that was his own affair. On the whole, I thought it was a distinct gain to the public service. I fear that between him and the Indian Medical Service there was not much love lost. The feeling was reciprocal, and the troubles caused thereby had sometimes to be set right by the tactfulness of superior authority. Under Dr. Bentley’s inspiration the whole department was instinct with a new spirit, and its work was carried on with vigour and enthusiasm. And yet every now and then resolutions were moved in the Legislative Council recommending the reduction of establishment, curtailment of propaganda work, and, on one occasion, the abolition of Dr. Bentley’s post. I had no difficulty in securing their withdrawal or defeat. All this showed the sense of irresponsibility of some of those who had chosen to come to the Council as the representatives of the people and the guardians of their interests.

With equal spontaneity did I receive the support of Mr. D. B. Williams, the Chief Engineer in charge of Sanitary Works. There was on his part willing co-operation and readiness to support my schemes wherever practicable. Of this I had a signal illustration in connexion with the scheme of riparian water-supply which his department took up at my instance. It was an idea that had been started several years ago, and long before the Reforms, but had been dropped for reasons to which it is unnecessary to refer. I lived in the riparian area and was personally cognizant of the boon to public health which a supply of pure water ensured; and, what was still more important, public opinion was beginning to feel the want of it and the need for shouldering the financial burden that it must entail. It was the fortunate development of an advancing public opinion, and I felt that in my position, with my power and responsibilities, I should take the fullest advantage of it. One of the first things that I did was to appoint a committee for considering schemes of water-supply for the riparian municipalities on the left bank of the Hugli. The Committee with Mr. Williams as their head recommended tube-wells for these municipalities; and, but for financial stringency, which hampered us in all directions, the system would by this time have been installed in some of our municipal areas.