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apply in a proportional degree to the whole, they being universally in such decay that the most speedy and substantial repair becomes absolutely necessary for the preservation of the revenue of a large and the most valuable part of the Province The great expense which will now be incurred in this work must. be attributed solely to neglect and inattention of the Raja's Officers for the last two years, because on that account the work now to be done becomes double to what it possibly could have been had the annual repairs been properly and regularly applied. Although the estimate of repairs which accompanies this address amounts to the sum of sicca Rupees 1,19,405-13-0, yet I conceive it not to be more than is absolutely necessary to put the Bunds once in a solid and substantial condition ; this being once effected, the annual expense of Pool Bundy will be greatly decreased and the Province perfectly defended from such inundation which have brought ruin on such numbers of the inhabitants and have proved of such detriment to the public revenue. The estimate which I have formed was collected in the course of my circuit from the Munduls and Conoys (or head labourers) of the several villages; they have been constantly employed in the business of the repair and have a very competent and sufficient knowledge of the work; the particular estimates as formed by them are too voluminous to be now translated, but for the information of the Board I enclose a translation of the estimate for the pergunnah Chuttrah which is similar to all the others and formed upon the same principles. In endeavouring to comply with your instructions for obtaining a knowledge of the expense incurred in the repairs of last season, I called upon the several darogahs who had been employed in that business, but found that they had all quitted the districts upon my going out and had carried with them every paper and person that could have given me any information; the general intelligence I got from the inhabitants was that the Darogah was carried at that time to Burdwan by the Rajah's officers for the purpose of explaining their accounts and it appears to me to have been with a view of frustrating every attempt of mine to acquire the knowledge I was instructed to do.

The information I was able to obtain from the ryots and some Gomastahs (who had been employed by the Darogahs) together with my own observation proves that a very trifling part of the sum was applied to the repairs and that the greatest part has been embezzled. I beg leave to lay before you a translation of some petitions presented to me by the ryotts in the Pergunnah Boorsut, and it was confirmed to me such methods were used in every Pergunnah, the circumstances of which they are ready to prove if you shall think proper to call upon them.

I also beg leave to acquaint you that notwithstanding I was furnished with Purwarnahs to the Tanadars of the districts to attend me and render me every assistance in my progress, yet it was with some difficulty I could get them to attend and a few of those who did, it was with reluctance on their part that they afforded me assistance.

I beg leave to observe to you, Gentlemen, that there is time sufficient before the ensuing rains to put the Pools in proper repair, and whoever is entrusted with the work cannot plead want of time as an excuse for any neglect.

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Estimate of the advances absolutely necessary to be expended this season for putting the Bunds of this Province in a thorough repair.

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TO THE HON'BLE THE COURT OF DIRECTORS.

I have the honour of inclosing you a copy of a letter which I understand was written to your Select Committee by Philip Francis, Esqr., late a Counsellor of this Presidency. If I am irregular in my correspondence, I hope you will attribute it to my anxiety to refute in the most open manner insinuations

contained therein which are levelled at my reputation by innuendoes which cannot and which I do not wish to be misunderstood. This I am confident you will think fully done to your complete conviction by the two affidavits which I have annexed thereto.

To the truth of these affidavits as far as they relate to me, and that everything is set forth therein, which can in any wise concern me I am ready to add my own oath.

I have requested your Governor-General and Council to record the whole on their Proceedings and have taken the liberty of addressing the Court of Directors at large rather than your Select Committee to which Mr. Francis has addressed his letter that I may have as full a reparation for the injury which has been done me as the nature of the case will admit, by bringing to a more public attention not only my own vindication, but both the spirit and mode with which that gentleman has practised the conveying secret informations, much more calculated to defame than to accuse, to instill suspicion than to establish guilt.

That the reparation cannot be adequate to the injury I have received, I have to lament; the writer of that letter knew as well as I do the force of first impressions, the weakness o defences made at a distant period and the improbability o their being read candidly, or even coming to the hands of all who have imbibed prejudices.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,

your most obedient humble serva nt
(Sd.) E. IMPEY.

CALCUTTA,

8th August 1782.

S. C. SANIAL.

NEW BOOKS.

UNDER FIVE REIGNS-By Lady Dorothy Nevill (Methuen and Co.) is a most wholesome and pleasant volume of reminiscences and some idea of the very catholic interests of the distinguished authoress may be gleaned from the fact that in the volume are included letters from Matthew Arnold, J. A. Froude, Lord Beaconsfield, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, Ouida, Cardinal Manning, Richard Cobden, Lord Lytton, Henry Irving, the late Duke of Cambridge, John Bright, Charles Darwin, and Justin McCarthy. The letters in many instances are profoundly interesting, occasionally touching on political or scientific matters of great importance yet redeemed from all stiltedness by their pleasant friendliness. The actual reminiscences of Lady Dorothy are written in a most unaffected and sympathetic manner and form a wholesome contrast to other somewhat notorious books of recollections which have been published by some of the great ladies who lived in the reigns of Queen Victoria and Edward VII. Lady Dorothy writes in vivid pleasant fashion on a thousand subjects-dress, politics, manners, fashions, scandals, household matters, animals, flowers-while the simple dignity of Victorian days is frequently contrasted with the magnificence and ostentation of later years when the noveau riche began to invade aristocratic ranks. Many of the letters are well worthy of quotation. The following is a very human little document from Mr. Joseph Chamberlain :—

"Dear Lady Dorothy," wrote the great statesman on 3rd November 1888, "I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you during the autumn session for a reason which I am sure you will recognise as a good one. When this reaches you I shall be half-way across the Atlantic and I don't expect to return home till Christmas.

"I am going to the United States to marry Miss Endicottone of those American girls whose importation into this country you once deprecated so strongly in my hearing. You

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