Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/155

Rh in a letter from the Foreign Secretary of the 28th of May—

'I am to request you to inform Nawab Abdul Latif that the services which he has rendered to the Bhopal State, under trying and difficult circumstances, are fully appreciated by the Government of India. His Excellency the Viceroy has consented to appoint an English Minister in his place; but this appointment involves no disapproval of the Nawab's action which appears to His Excellency to have been marked by ability and uprightness. Nawab Abdul Latif will leave the Bhopal State with a reputation not only unimpaired but increased by the occurrences of the last few months.'

"To these expressions of approval of His Excellency and the Government of India," continues Sir Lepel "I desire to add my personal testimony to the value of your services.

"It was in December 1885 that, at my request and at a day's notice, you left Calcutta for Bhopal to take up the temporary charge of an exceedingly difficult appointment, until the return from England of an English Officer, whom Her Highness the Begum at the time desired to appoint as Minister. Your provisional appointment was fully approved by Her Highness. From that time to this you have conducted your duties at Bhopal to my entire satisfaction, and with singular ability, discretion, and integrity. I should have been well content to