viii 



public expected them to be up and doing, when the 

 curtain was raised they were found sitting 1 round a 

 board of green cloth discussing " sound principles/' 

 and refusing to supply food for the starving mil- 

 lions around them, although the public were will- 

 ing to pay for it, because, to use their own words, 

 " On general grounds they had a very strong ob- 

 jection to interfere with the course of trade." 

 Indeed, if their own expressions are any guide 

 it would seem as if they looked on approvingly at 

 the rise of prices which was gradually placing food 

 altogether beyond the reach of these poor unfortu- 

 nate people, for on the 22nd of May, 1866, they 

 addressed Government as follows : " No doubt the 

 " present high prices are partly due to a renewed 

 ci failure of the crops this year. A legitimate cause 

 " that may rightly and safely be left to produce its 

 " own effect^ 



The Lieut.- Governor of Bengal has been plenti- 

 fully accused of neglecting the starving multitudes 

 committed to his care, and whether justly or unjustly 

 it is not for me to say. But, if every other act of his 

 Government was a mistake, he deserves praise for 

 the censure conveyed in the following paragraphs of 



