Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/245

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SYED WALAYET ALI KHAN
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proof. Among those who followed his remains to the grave were the Commissioner of the Patna Division and the Collector of Patna, both of whom wrote letters of condolence to his grandson in terms that showed the high respect in which they held him. "I have heard with the most profound regret," wrote the Commissioner, "the sad news of the death of your illustrious grandfather, my esteemed friend, this morning, and beg you to accept my most sincere sympathy in this sad event. Your grandfather had been the trusted friend of all the officials for nearly half a century and his death will be a serious loss to Government as well as to the many friends he numbered among the Europeans in this country. The public has lost a trusted and recognised leader. His memory will long survive and it will be difficult for many years to fill his place."

The Collector wrote in no less appreciative language. "I have just received with great grief the news of the death of my honoured friend the Nawab Bahadur, your illustrious grandfather. For upwards of seven years that I have known Patna I have been indebted to him for advice and assistance and for a kind and continued friendship, which has been one of the things I have been most proud of in my service. He has gone full of years, wisdom and honour, not long surviving the son to whom he was so deeply attached. It will be many years before his place will be filled and we see the like of