Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/608

Rh Three years ago my honourable friend, Raja Deonarayan Sing of Benares, essayed to bring a Bill for this purpose into the Viceroy's Council, and was, I believe, prevented from doing so only by a suggestion from Lord Elgin, that some further expression of public opinion was desirable before having recourse to legislation. On both these occasions, I did all that I prudently could, to advance a measure of social reformation, of which the importance is, in my opinion, second only to the abolition of infant marriage.

"After this public expression of Hindu opinion, I feel myself at liberty to revive the subject. It is one which must, I think, be dealt with by the Imperial Legislature, and I may be permitted to say how glad I should have been to support the Maharaja of Burdwan if he had felt himself in a position to press it upon the attention of the Council. As it is, I shall lose no time in submitting your memorial to the Governor-General in Council, and I shall be prepared, with the permission of His Excellency, to introduce a Bill next session, which I trust may be accepted by the Council and prove satisfactory to the large bodies of Hindus, whose opinions are expressed in this memorial."

Maharaja Mahatap Chand Bahadur of Burdwan also presented another petition to the same effect as the former. But the movement was again destined to end in failure.

On this subject, the following appeared in the Hindoo Patriot of the 26th March, 1866:—