303 



sequently, the most serious complications have 

 arisen, to which I shall presently allude; and, 

 notwithstanding the full flood of light, seventy year's 

 experience has shed on the subject, such is not 

 the shape of the measure of 1862. 



We have shown, then, that the accumulation of 

 wealth arising from the increased area brought under 

 cultivation in Bengal since the year 1793, haa 

 centered in the Zemindars, or landholders, who 

 it may be as well to reiterate were originally mere 

 collectors of revenue, and never proprietors of the 

 soil. It remains to be enquired what have they 

 done with it? It is admitted that they have 

 increased their own wealth, and added to the value 

 of their personal estates by the reclamation of 

 wastes, and I should be extremely sorry to deprive 

 them of any credit which is their just due on this 

 score. But have they aided in improving the means 

 of land or river inter-communication; have they 

 made roads, built bridges or canals ; have they estab- 

 lished hospitals for the sick, alms-houses for the poor, 

 caravansaries for the weary and exhausted ; have they 

 assisted in the maintenance of an efficient police; have 

 they built colleges or schools, attempted to improve 

 the existing wretched \i\\age patshallas of the country 

 or expended any portion whatever of their accumu- 

 lated savings in elevating morally or intellectually 

 their less fortunate fellow countrymen ; have they 

 given long leases to their tenants on such terms 



