Page:John Russell Colvin.djvu/163

Rh pleasant words their sense of regret at losing him. Some of their sentiments may seem to have been winged at his predecessor rather than addressed to himself. They summed up his record in saying that he had succeeded in his task of restoring order, satisfying conflicting interests, reconciling party feelings, and establishing a healthy system of administration. Even the section of the local press which was in chronic opposition echoed the sentiments of the address, and had nothing but genial words as to Mr. Colvin's efforts to restore order and peace where he had 'found the officers of Government ready to fly at each other's throats on the least occasion,' and where 'all were distracted with contentions.' 'Let us drop a mantle,' said the organ of opposition, 'over the few faults that were discernible.' The mantle being duly dropped, in the last days of 1848 Mr. Colvin, followed by good wishes, crossed the Bay of Bengal and once more set foot in Calcutta.

The Bengal public, it was afterwards said, were somewhat astounded to hear that Mr. Colvin had been appointed a Judge of the Sadr Court. 'The objections to the appointment were many. With some, he had no experience. With others, he had no temper. Again, he had no knowledge of legal matters. But the master who placed him there seldom made a mistake in the selection of his agents.' The truth was that the reputation of the judicial branch of the Civil Service in Bengal had sunk below the level of the executive branch. Ambitious and capable men found