Page:Max Havelaar Or The Coffee Sales of the Netherlands Trading Company Siebenhaar.djvu/233

 sidered the fact that in reality the question is an entirely different one, viz., the condition of the official Indian administration, and that the letter which I here reproduce not only casts another ray of light upon the artificial optimism I have already spoken of, but sketches also the difficulties one has to face who, like Havelaar, wished to go his way straight forward and without looking back.

“When I returned to you the letter of the Director of Public Works, dated 16th February last, No. 271/354, I requested that you should answer the questions therein asked, after consultation with the Regent, with due observance of what I wrote in my missive of the sth inst., No. 97.

“The missive contained some general hints with regard to that which may be considered equitable and just in fixing the prices of materials which the population have to supply to, and by order of, the Government.

“In your missive of the 8th inst., No. 6, you—I believe according to your best knowledge—complied with my request, so that I, relying on your local experience and that of the Regent, presented these quotations, exactly as supplied by you, to the Resident.

“This was followed by a missive from that Head Officer, dated 11th inst., No. 326, asking for particulars as to the reason for the difference between the prices quoted by me and those ruling during the erection of a prison in 1853 and 1854.

“I, of course, placed that letter in your hands, and instructed you orally now to justify your statement, which should have been the more possible to you as you were able to refer to the instructions given to you in my minute of the 5th inst., which instructions we have also repeatedly discussed orally

“So far all is straightforward and regular.