But as so often happens in moments of almost universal brightness, some untoward clouds were appearing. Certain conspiracies on the part of Muhammadans in Calcutta and in Patna, the capital of the Behar Province had been discovered. Patna, indeed, had for many years been known to the Government as a focus of mischief; and the secret designs emanating from this centre, as well as from others in the north, had always been watched, sometimes also frustrated by the British authorities. These particular conspiracies might have been regarded as only forming an exacerbation of a chronic ailment. Recently, however, there had been in Arabia a reforming and fanatical stir among the Wahabis ; similar movements had occurred, too, in other Muhammadan countries; and altogether there seemed to be a thrill throughout the whole body of Islam. Though generally unwilling to bring Muhammadan plots into prominence by prosecution, the Government of India deemed that the evidence which existed of these particular conspiracies ought to be produced at the criminal bar against the conspirators. Accordingly several Muhammadans of more or less note were prosecuted before the High Court of Calcutta ; the prisoners engaged in their defence the well known counsel from Bombay, Mr. Chisholm Anstey. In the course of the defence Anstey adopted a tone, style, and language which caused much remark, as being calculated to agitate the minds of the disaffected. Though unguarded in his expressions, he was loyally anxious on behalf of his clients, and the Judges felt a delicacy in checking the licence of a counsel defending men who were on trial for treason. While the trials were pending, the Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Norman, was stabbed mortally one morning in October while ascending the staircase of his courthouse, the passage being quite unprotected. Enquiry proved beyond doubt that the murderer perpetrated the deed in the vain idea of influencing the judicial proceedings. It was remarkable that the criminal chose for his crime that time and place as affording his only opportunity, so difficult was it for him otherwise to approach his victim under the circumstances of residence at Calcutta. Subsequent reflection showed the local

CHAP. XVI.

ASSASSINATION OF LORD MAYO.

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authorities that while political trials are pending, the avenues and approaches, by which the ministers of justice must pass, should be effectually guarded. The effect of a deed like this is always serious in India, and instantly suggests a repetition of assassination to the thoughts of the evil-minded. No outbreak, however, occurred, or other immediate sequel to this grave event.

In the following January (1872) Lord Mayo proceeded to inspect the convict settlement at Port Blair of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. The superintendent of the settlement was General Stewart (now Sir Donald Stewart, Commander-in-Chief of the army in India), who took every precaution for the safety of the Viceroy during the inspection. Guarded vigilantly at every step and turn, Lord Mayo safely completed his inspection exactly according to the official programme, comparatively early in the afternoon. Finding that there were two hours and more to spare, he suddenly decided to ascend a hill close by, though this ascent was not in the day's programme, and consequently no special arrangements for guarding him had been completed beforehand on that particular line. As he ascended and descended the hill, his course was dogged in the shadow of the surrounding forest by a ticket-of-leave man, who had previously resolved on seizing any opportunity for assassination which presented itself. He was still so surrounded by guards that no chance occurred for striking a blow. He had returned at dusk by torch-light to within a few yards of the steam-launch which was to convey him on board his ship, a man-of-war. Just at the last he walked very quickly a step or two a-head of his staff; at that moment, but not till that moment, the looked-for chance offered itself to the assassin, who instantly rushed forward, sprung like a tiger on his back, and stabbed him fatally in the chest. The man was a Muhammadan of the hills near Peshawur, who had several years previously been sentenced to transportation for complicity in a murder; he declared to the last that the thought of assassinating the Viceroy had sprung only from fanatical bravado and from a feeling of revenge against the Government

which had imprisoned him. Careful enquiry was made as to whether this assassination was connected with the recent murder of the Chief Justice at Calcutta; possibly there may have been some indirect connection, though no clue to it was ever discovered.

At this time I was in Calcutta, as Financial Member in the Council of which Sir John Strachey was temporarily President, during the absence of the Governor-General. One afternoon Strachey sent me a message asking me to come and see him quickly. On entering his room, I found our other colleagues coming also; he said that a cypher telegram had just been received which was being deciphered, but which already showed that something serious had happened to Lord Mayo. We all stood round watching while the telegram was being deciphered, and word after word was spelt out completing the melancholy tale. The necessary steps were immediately taken to carry on the Government without the slightest interruption, and Strachey assumed, by law, the Governor-Generalship, until the coming of Lord Napier from Madras, who as senior Governor of a Presidency, became, under the Statute, Governor-General pending the arrival of the person who might be appointed to succeed Lord Mayo. The public grief was manifested in every form and manner; there was much excitement among several disaffected classes among the Natives of Calcutta, though no overt sign of it was allowed by them to appear. The strictest precautions were adopted to guard against any fresh attempt being made on the life of any prominent European, inasmuch as the occurrence of two very notable assassinations within four months was calculated to give rise to a murderous impulse which, if once started, might spread like an infection.

A few days afterwards the corpse of Lord Mayo arrived by ship, and was escorted from the landing-place to Government House for two miles by a long procession of all the European notables of Calcutta on foot. The concourse of Native spectators was vast, and at Government House the cortège was received by the European troops together with the Calcutta Volunteer Rifles. He was borne in his coffin up the flight

CHAP. XVI.

LORD MAYO'S CHARACTER.

389

of steps which he had just three years previously ascended full of strength and hope to take charge of his high office. He was then carried into the chamber where only a month before his voice had been daily heard. The burial service was there read before his widow, the members of his staff, his councillors and a few others. A more solemn and impressive scene could not be imagined for us who stood in the very place which was full of the freshest associations relating to his life and actions, where we seemed almost to breathe his presence, and hear the echo of his latest utterances. Then the coffin lay in state for several days in the throne-room, where he had held so many public and private receptions, until it was taken with due ceremony on board a ship of war to be conveyed to Ireland.

In November 1868 the Prime Minister, Mr. Disraeli, said: 'Upon the Earl of Mayo, for his sagacity, for his judgment, for his fine temper and his knowledge of men, Her Majesty has been pleased to confer the office of Viceroy of India. I believe he will earn a reputation that his country will honour."

This is a complete as well as concise description of Lord Mayo's character, and the prediction with which it concludes has been abundantly realized. Besides the qualities pourtrayed above, he displayed the energy of an administrator and the capacity of a statesman. At every time and place he made. fast friends, whether in the study, the council-chamber, the hunting-field, the social gathering. When sudden death overtook him, he had reached the rare height occupied by those regarding whom all men speak well.

CHAPTER XVII.

(1872-1874.)

LORD NORTHBROOK AND THE BENGAL FAMINE.

State of public opinion after the death of Lord Mayo-Lord Napier acts as Governor-General-The financial budget-Riots in the Panjab-Lord Northbrook assumes charge of the Government of India-Voyages down the Indus and visits Bombay-Remission of the income-tax-Drought in Behar and northern Bengal-Importation of grain by Government— Organization of transport-Character and extent of famine-Estimate prepared beforehand of cost to be incurred in relief-Employment of distressed poor and gratuitous succour to the infirm-Reserve of Government grain-Public criticism on relief measures-Native opinion thereon.

AFTER the assassination of Lord Mayo, the administration of India went on as usual without the break of a single hour. The members of the Government, though shocked and deeply moved, felt the importance of preserving a calm front before the Native public. From the moment of Lord Mayo's death, Lord Napier (now Lord Napier and Ettrick) the Governor of Madras became by law the head of the Government of India pro tempore. Until his arrival at Calcutta, the senior member of the Council, Sir John Strachey, assumed, also according to law, the functions of Governor-General. A few days afterwards the King of Siam who had been visiting India, and had recently received hospitable attention from Lord Mayo at the capital, returned to Calcutta on his way home. Strachey received him at the top of the flight of stairs, and in a few well-chosen words declared that the Government of India, while mourning for its lost Head, nevertheless preserved the tenour of its course uninterrupted.

. Nevertheless there was anxiety in the inner thoughts of the Government, and much agitation in the public mind. Though