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To SIR,

The trial, in the Supreme Court, of the Reverend James Long for the libel in the publication of a pamphlet called the "Nil Durpan" or Indigo Planting Mirror, having elicited the fact that a copy of the work was sent to many influential persons in England, under the frank of the Government of Bengal, the Landholers' [sic] and Commercial Association of British India, at whose instance the prosecution was instituted, deem it right to send to you the report of the trial herewith, and a brief statement of the circumstances which led to it.

On the 25th May the Committee became aware by a communication from Lahore, that the pamphlet in question, containing foul and malicious libels on the Calcutta daily newspapers and the Indigo planters of Lower Bengal, had been circulated under the frank of the Government of Bengal.

On the 25th and 29th May they addressed the Government of Bengal on the subject, and under date 3rd June, received the reply, which with their letters, will be found in the Appendix (I).

As an answer to the request that the name of the parties who had so circulated the pamphlet should be given to them was evaded by that Government, the commitee [sic] had no alternative but to institute legal proceedings, which they did—first, against the printer; who, when put on his trial, pleaded guilty, and gave up the name of the Rev. James Long as the person who had employed him.

Mr. James Long was accordingly indicted at the Sessions; that form of proceeding having been adopted at the suit of a body of men such as Indigo planters; and having been tried by a special Jury, the result was that he was found guilty, and sentenced to one month's