Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/75

H. H. The Maharajah of Bobbili.The Aristocracy of Southern India. the effect of enlarging his mind. Lord Wenlock, during his recent tour in the Northern Circars, laid the foundation-stones of two important and much-needed institutions which the Rajah himself admitted were in commemoration of his visit."

The ceremony of investiture took place at Oota-camund. H. E. Lord Wenlock, the then Governor of Madras, invested the Rajah with the insignia of the Most Exalted Order of the Indian Empire. In addition to the honor conferred upon the Kajah by the British Government and the kind words said of him by the Governor, all his subjects without one dissentient voice resolved to offer to their beloved Rajah the highest tribute of respect and praise that could be bestowed upon a Prince. The Rajah, on returning to Bobbili, was the recipient of a spontaneous address from all classes of his subjects. While thanking them for their kindness, he said that he could not carry out all their requests at once but promised to fulfil many of them in due course. On this occasion he showed his generosity by remitting to his subjects, Rs. 80,000, arrears of revenue.

The Rajah paid his respects to H. E. Lord Elgin, the then Viceroy, when His Excellency visited Madras, and he then endowed a bed to be called, "Lady Elgin's bed" in the Victoria Caste Gosha Hospital in Madras. In 1896 the Rajah endowed another bed to be called "Lady Wenlock's bed."

When the seat in the Governor's Council occupied by the late Maharajah of Vizianagram fell vacant on the expiry of his term, the then Governor of Madras nominated the Rajah to it.