Lord and Lady Carmichael. ORD CARMIOHAEL who has governed Bengal and governed it so well for five years will soon lay down the reins of office much to the regret of the people of Bengal. At a time when the sands of his oficial career are fast running out it may not be out of place to recall the chief landmarks of his administration. He is the first Governor of Bengal and his administration marks an epoc in the peaceful progress of the province. The partition of Bengal had given rise to a persistent agitation in the two provinces into which Bengal had been devided by the scheme of partition and some shortsighted persons had succumbed to the subtle influence of the forces of disorder which have tarnished the fair fame of Bengal in more ways than one. They had sought to make administration in East Bengal impossible and some of them had resorted to the violent, methods of the anarchists of Europe. It was at this time that His Imperial Majesty the King-Emperor modified the Partition-united East Bengal with West Bengal taking out Bihar and Orissa from the old province. Bengal was raised to the status of a presidency with a Governor with an Executive Council, and Lord Carmichael, then Governor of Madras, was selected the first Governor. The choice must have fallen upon him because of the suc scheme of °ess of his administration in tho sister presidency of Madras, and he fully justified the choice. Assuming office-he took this work before him seriously and set about enquiring into the needs of the province. He noticed that Bengal War pulsating with new ideas, new hopes and new aspirations and he found some of them legitimate. He helped the people to realise their legitimate aspirations, but was determined Pub down disorder with a firm band,
- Gentle yot firm, he won each
heart and nuindl, Like the calm breathing of the soft oth wind.' In order to be able to understand the people better he began to learn the language of the province and in about two years could speak Bengalee well, So assiduously did he apply himself to understand the necds of the province that the Calcutta correspondent of the Times of India felt be wildered at the multiplicity of his endeavours and pronounced that five year would be too short a period for utilising his cv.perience But it was his suavity which at once won for him the love and information. IIe worked hard. and admiration of Bengal. IIe realised the importance of the ucstion of sanitation and rural water-supply, and appointed a Committee to consider the question of 'lis Committee met, on ()(otolber 9th, l) li alındl in the improvement of Rural Water-Supply. opening their conference lord Carmichael said“ During my tours in Eastern Bengal, one of the main subjects of conversation of those who came to see me was the need of a pure watersupply in rural areas." Subsequently he made over the entire amount of the Public Works Cess of each district to its listrict Board-not carmarking the amount for any special purpose, but leaving if to the discretion of the Board to ulitise it to the best advantage of the rural population. This was a significant sign of tho times which indicated a larger measure of local self-government in store for Bengal in the near future. Indeed Lord Carmichael wanted to give Bengal a larger measure of local Self-government ; and no one regretted more the un fore-een : circumstanceş-over which he hadi no contrul
