भशंब्रांख्ञां कुम्न भनैोठ्द्रछठद्र नकौ * &S house which is identified with the growth of British power in Bengal, I desire to say that the partition of Bengal is a political blunder of the greatest magnitude, and the • Government should reconsider its orders and withdraw them. The prestige of the Government will not suffer by such withdrawal. Prestige is not lost lest enhanced by the frank recognition of a mistake and the withdrawal from an untenable position which is condemned by "public opinion. There is no greater triumple for a Government to achieve no nobler renown to acquire, than by the exhibition of the moral courage which does not hestitute to avow a blunder and to uudo it. It is however only the strong ruler who is capable of such conduct. It is prerogative of the weak to persevere in errors under the delusion that it constitutes an unfailing index of strength. I venture to think that nobody has a greater right to speak with authority on the question of the partition of Bengal than Sir Henry Cotton ; for he was connected for nearly a quarter of a century with the Secretariat and has intimate knowledge of the administrative labours and anxieties of a succession of distinguished Lieutenant Govranors. In the admirable speech which he delivered in this very Town Hall he said with all the authority which belongs to his unique experience that there has been no sensible accession to the work of the Lieutenant Governor such as he is not able to copewith. Having regard to the rapid opening up of the country in all parts and to the facilities of communication which have been established one would certainly be inclined to accept this view. I must say that from first to last no “case has been made out for the partition of Bengal, Is
