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282 it to the Government with its recommendation, for he was then intent on having a legislation passed on the subject. For this purpose, he consulted many of the higher officials of Government, who were his friends. There were many obstacles in its way, and the English pamphlet helped to remove those obstacles and clear the way, because it served to convince the European officials that the Hindu widows were really leading miserable lives and that a legislation was necessary to mitigate their sufferings. It was under the instruction of these officials, that Vidyasagar submitted, on the 4th October, 1855, to the Government of India, a petition praying for a law on the subject. The petition was subscribed by himself and one thousand persons besides. It ran as follows:— "To "THE HONOURABLE "THE LEGISLATIVE "COUNCIL OF INDIA. "The humble petition of the "undersigned Hindoo inhabitants "of the Province of Bengal, "RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH,

"1. That by long established custom the marriage of widows among Hindoos is prohibited.

"2. That in the opinion and firm belief of your petitioners, this custom cruel and unnatural in itself, is highly prejudicial to the interests of morality, and is otherwise fraught with the most mischievous consequences to society.

"3. That the evil of this custom is greatly aggravated