Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/98

 have been, and am still too much occupied to give sufficient attention to the approaching Convocation of the University at which you had kindly suggested that I should preside. I should be very sorry to think, after quitting Bombay, that I had discharged this duty in an imperfect and unsatisfactory manner, such as would have afforded the members of the University just ground of complaint, and subjected me to well-merited censure. I do not hesitate, therefore. to ask you to do me the favour of presiding, as Vice-Chancellor, at this Convocation, and to offer my excuses to the members of the University. They at least must be gainers by the exchange. You have always taken so lively an interest in all its operations, and are so thoroughly conversant with all their details that a review of them coming from you must be in all respects more interesting and instructive than any statement of the views of one who will soon cease to possess the means of affording useful support to an institution of which he trusts the importance and influence for good may steadily increase to the full satisfaction of those who, like yourself, are at all times ready to use their best efforts for its welfare. "Yours ever truly, P. E. WODEHOUSE."

I personally may perhaps be permitted to testify to the great amount of labour which His Excellency has taken upon himself since September last,  when it appeared clear to this Government that we had to face a most severe calamity. Sir Philip Wodehouse set himself from the first to direct all the movements, and to arrange all the details. How well he has done this may be understood from the very warm commendation he received from the lips of the Viceroy at Delhi, while the fullest approbation, I am happy to state, of his judgment and ability in this important crisis has been received from the Home Government, judgment and ability which have hitherto prevented the disastrous results which might otherwise have ensued; for be it remembered that to scarcity of food from failure of the usual monsoon, was added scarcity of water, and scarcity of fodder, each tending greatly to increase the distress pervading nine of the largest districts of the Presidency. All these difficulties have met with the utmost attention, and we trust that the results will prove that the Governor's forethought and energy will, under Providence, reduce the distress of the people and their concomitant loss of health and property to the smallest amount. To have to arrange for such an important crisis, added to the fact that all this additional labour is thrown on him at the close of his Governor.