and evidence of a very different kind from any that I have yet seen.—[Book G. page 63.] 22nd May, 1835.
The Bishop’s College bill for printing part of Dr. Mill’s Arabic translation of Bridge’s Algebra.—I see that, when the question respecting Dr. Mill’s work was last before us, I confined my observations to the question, whether we should go on with the printing or stop it. Indeed the fact that the estimate had been so enormously exceeded, was not distinctly brought under our notice in the Secretary’s minute, or, as far I can now remember, in any of the papers then circulated.
I should be sorry to act in a manner disagreeable to so distinguished a scholar and so highly respectable a gentleman as Dr. Mill. But I really cannot see that I have any choice. An estimate is sent in amounting to 828 rupees. This estimate is sanctioned. The bill comes in, only part of the work has been done; and we are called on to pay 3000 Rupees. This is not the way in which public money is to be squandered, even when the object in view is one of real utility. The object in this case is to have an Arabic version of an exceedingly bad English book. A translation which, nobody will read, of an original which nobody was ever the wiser for reading. Those gentlemen who, when the question was last before us, conceived that we were bound not merely to pay this bill, but to go on with the work, will now, I think, allow that, if there be any breach of contract in the matter, that breach has not been committed by us. I propose that we should acquaint Mr. Holmes, that the Government object to his bill as greatly exceeding the estimate, and that we should call upon him to explain, in the first place, why it so much exceeds the estimate, and, in the second place, why, when it was found impossible to finish the work for the sum originally contracted for, no communication to that effect was made to the Committee. I take it for granted that no such communication was made. Had there been any such document, it would of course have been circulated.—[Book G. page 76.] 29th June, 1835.
Further minute on the same subject.—At last we have an explanation which turns out to be no explanation at all. Both the Government and Dr. Mill have, I think, great reason to complain of the conduct of Mr. Holmes. That gentleman, by his own confession, never brought to Dr. Mill’s notice the fact that, while Dr. Mill was in England, an estimate was presented to the Government on the part of the College and was approved. He says, with a most extraordinary coolness, that the estimate was obsolete, and he assigns no other reason for pronouncing it obsolete except that be had himself forgotten it.
