| Description | He has just received a prize for his father, photographs of the ruins of Gour [Gauda] from [John James] Gray. Gray is about to start a new life in Australia with a wife and two children and William regrets that he will not see him again. Gray found it impossible to get the best views of the ruins, since the jungle was so thick, and could not be fully cleared even with an elephant and ten or twelve men. He regretted that in the largest photograph he could not capture an architectural termination to the archway. The Maldah [Malda] views give the greater part of the north of the house, and William incorporates a small plan sketch. The photographs of Gour are the only pictures ever taken of the place so far. He went into Jungipoor [Jangipur] from camp to see Gray and these are his mementoes, which will be of interest to his father, so they should stay at home for now. William's cold weather circuit is drawing to a close as the hot weather is setting in early. He has been camped at Pulsa for the past week where there are sahibs supervising railway construction. He is in Browning's house at the moment. William thinks that they may have lost his 8 February letters, since he has read the 'Ara' has sunk. He is in an awkward situation at Pulsa, since the feeling against the concilation act is strong among the Engineers, who think themselves independent of the Magistrate. William is hearing a case against Browning for caning an Indian and it is difficult to avoid the subject out of court. There is a set against the Civil Service at present, and William relates the situation in Rajshehye {Rajshahi] where Chapman, the officiating Magistrate, has several indigo planters as honorary magistrates in their own residences, but they are open to imputations. Chapman has been too hasty in admitting a charge against Deverill in a case revolving around the seizure of a plot of land, when he was an interested party. Deverill denied any involvment, Chapman handed him up, but Halliday condemned him for it, including the withdrawal of his appointment as honorary magistrate as 'unwarranted'. The newspapers are now involved. William thinks that Halliday has taken advantage of the situation and hopes that Chapman will prove he was right in this case. The electric telegraph does not give news of the family marriage. William's school has started at last; he will get credit for it but has only been the dignatory, and credit is due to the exertions of Indians. Government will give grant in aid. In a postscript William says that the photographs are in a bamboo joint and have missed the mail, so he will show them in the next fortnight. |