Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/264

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232
TWELVE MEN OF BENGAL

the whole community, high and low alike." About the same time the Raja Bahadur was exempted from appearance in the Civil Courts and in 1877 on the assumption of the Imperial title by Her Majesty Queen Victoria the higher dignity of Maharaja was conferred upon him. In the same year he was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of the Governor-General, and office to which he was reappointed again in 1879 and in 1881. In the discussions of many of the most important measures of the day he took a prominent part. The Civil Procedure Code was then under the consideration of the Legislative Council and the criticisms of one who knew Indian conditions and Indian needs so thoroughly as Maharaja Jotindra Mohan Tagore were listened to with consideration and respect. His opinion often decided the fate of a proposed clause in the Bill and Sir A. Hobhouse, the Legal Member of Council, generously acknowledged the help he had received from his criticisms and advice.

"Whatever can be said on that subject will be said by my friend Maharaja Jotindra Mohan Tagore," he said when speaking in the Council, "for in committee he has supported the views of the objectors with great ability and acuteness, and I must add with equal good feeling and moderation." Later, in speaking of a much discussed clause he added, "If the clause stood as in Bill No. IV, I confess I should not be able to maintain my ground against such an