120 LIFE OF BABU SURENDRA NATH BANERJEE. the Hindoo Patriot. Be that as it may, a Commission of enquiry was appointed to try Surendra Nath consist ingofMr. Prinsep as President, and Mr. Reynold^ then Magistrate of Mymensing, and Major Holroyd then Deputy Commissioner in Assam, as members The Commissioners met at Sylhet in November 18731 Babu Surendra Nath had asked that the trial should be held in Calcutta in the full blaze of public opinion^ and where proper legal assistance would be available* The application was refused, but the Government expressed its willingness to consider favourably an J proposal he might make for giving him legal help. He suggested the name of several gentlemen whose ser r vices might be lent to him,, but no help was given him by the Government in this respect. The trial lasted for several days and the Commissioners submitted their report, finding Babu Surendra Nath guilty of the charges brought against him. The Government of Bengal and the Government of India substantially ac- cepted the view of the matter, and Babu Surendra Nath Banerjea was dismissed from the Service of Go- vernment in March 1874 with an allowance of 50 Rupees a month. We have no desire to rake up a con| troversy which is past and well nigh forgotten, and which probably would have been wholly forgottenj but for the position which Surendra Nath has won for ( himself in life and in the annals of his country by nig subsequent work. Judging by that work, the charges; appear highly improbable. A man's character does not change as if by miracle. Does it stand to reason that he who has been found guilty by the Govern- • ment of falsehood should exhibit the devotion, the energy, the earnestness, and the manly and firm self- reliance which have been the leading characteristics of Surendra Nath throughout the whole of his public life ? The whole of Surendra Nath's public life has conclusively shewn that he is an essentially sincere? and earnest nature. Is it likely that he was guilty of the
