| Description | William explains that he did not write last mail, as he had just broken his leg while mounting a horse. He describes the accident and the fracture, which causes little pain, but which has stopped his work and disarranged [John Peter] Grant's plans. The new Commissioner, Schalch, was ordered up to see that William did nothing, and an additional Magistrate and Collector, Grey, was sent for. He will not take William's position, but will help with the judicial work and William outlines the number of courts he is responsible for, and his executive interests. He believes that the planters have caught the government in a mistake over the 'Nil Darpan' affair [the drama by Dinabandhu Mitra] about which William has kept silent. He thinks it a mistake to publish it as a government act, otherwise there is nothing there that he would not defend. It is no more a libel than 'a coarse novel, or a severe play is in England'. If a libel case, they should prosecute Lord Palmerston for what he said about habitual forgery. The language of the play is natural, William says, It was stale to him at first, but on looking through it again, he considers it an exact reflection of Indian opinion. It was circulated and acted long before he heard of it, and it should be judged on its own merits. The 'Saturday' looks upon it as a political squib, but this was written expressly for Indians. 'All thoughtful men [should] stop and ponder and ask can there be truth at the bottom of this?'. He discusses other questions it raises, mentioning that he has just arrested three professional forgers with the tools of their trade, and there is ample evidence among their papers that the whole of society, English and Indian, is concerned in their illicit business, and he lists those classes with actions in court who have associated with the forgers. William was ashamed to discover them when their trade was an open secret in the whole of society. |