Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/508

Rh Carpenter was intended. I had not the remotest idea that the meeting would be formal or that a question of such grave importance would be decided so summarily. As I was thus taken by surprise, I did not feel myself in a position to take part in the discussion or to express my sentiments on the subject. I need hardly add that under the circumstances set forth above, I am under the painful necessity of withdrawing myself from the Committee.

"3rd December 1866, "I have &c. (Sd.) "Isvar Chandra Sarma."

On receipt of the petition referred to before, the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal wrote on the 1st September, 1867, a long letter to Vidyasagar asking for his opinion on the proposal set on foot of converting the Bethune School to a Female Normal School. In reply to it, Vidyasagar also wrote a long letter to Sir William Grey, strongly opposing the measure and clearly setting forth his reasons. The letter ran as follows:—

"Calcutta, 1st October 1867.

"My dear Sir,

"Since we met last, I have made careful enquiries and have thought over the subject, but I regret to say that I see no reason to alter my opinion as regards the difficulty of practically carrying out Miss Carpenter's scheme of rearing a body of Native Female Teachers either in connection with the Bethune School or independently such as