Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/555

508 at this time heavily embarrassed with debts. His letter published in the Hindoo Patriot, referred to above, showed that his debts amounted to something between 20 and 22 thousand rupees. To clear some of these debts, he asked for a loan from the estate of the munificent Maharani Swarnamay of Cossimbazar. We have said before, that Vidyasagar was intimately connected with the Cossimbazar Raj family, and used to borrow monies from the estate now and then, which he repaid at convenience. On the 4th November, 1869, he addressed to Rajib Lochan Ray, the Maharani's Dewan, a long letter to the following effect:—

'You are aware that I have been encumbered with debts on account of the widow marriage movement, and I am clearing them by degrees. I owe somewhat heavy debts to two persons, who are unwilling to be paid off by instalments. They demand repayment of their entire amounts at a single instalment. I have no means, at present, to pay them off. I therefore ask the Maharani for a loan of 7,500 rupees. If she should be pleased to lend me the amount, I will execute a hand-note, agreeing to repay it in three years. I have not an iota of doubt that I shall be able to liquidate the debt. Otherwise I would not have asked for the loan. Without your help, there is no chance of my success in this affair. You may assist me freely. Do not think that if you should aid me in this matter, you will have to meet with