“Interview upon interview followed during the morning, but in the afternoon I was down for the Town Hall Meeting.  I scarcely ever remember in my life feeling more thoroughly weary than on that day.  Three times I laid down to try to sleep, and each time failed to get a wink, and my brain was benumbed and bewildered when I entered that immense building and was called upon by General Merrill, the American Consul, who presided, to address that crowd.

“I don’t know whether Commissioner Booth-Tucker ever had a Meeting at the Town Hall.  It is a long building, 120 feet long, with the most clumsy pillars down the sides shutting out almost the side seats from view.

“There was quite as large an audience as I expected, although it was not what it might have been.  There were a few Europeans present and a few native Christians, and the remainder were composed of the non-Christian element.

“Amongst others who interviewed me during the day, or were introduced to me before the Meeting, was the successor to Chunder Singh and the two most prominent teachers of the Brahmo Samaj, and a number of other leading people.  On the platform was the Judge of the Supreme Court and Vice-Chancellor of the University, and one of the few Hindus who are strict observers of every principle and usage of their sect.  Near to me was the Nawal Abdool Luteef (Mohammedan), and just behind me was a boy of about fourteen, a son and heir of a Maharajah whose father had intended to have been at the Meeting, but was prevented, and so sent his son, a bright-eyed youth who paid every attention to what was said.

     “General Merrill had consented to preside at the last moment, being
     induced to do so very largely from the fact that every one of the
     English of any note had refused.

     “Bombay, January 16th.

“I broke off at the beginning of my Calcutta Campaign as above, not having had a moment’s space to resume.  Never had I such a crush of engagements before, and it was really all I could possibly do to keep pace with them, and that I only did to some extent in a poorish way.

     “The detail of them I must leave to another day.

“I may say, however, that Calcutta in interest exceeded anything I have seen since I left England.  From the rush of welcome at the railway station at six in the morning, to the pack who came to say farewell (in which the papers say there were 3,000 people), it was one series of surprises.  Although the Town Hall Meeting was stiff, and the Europeans were conspicuous by their absence, still there was sufficient indication of the high esteem in which The Army was held in general, and myself in particular, to make it a matter of great interest and encouragement.

“Of the welcomes that followed from individuals of note, such as Mr. Bannerjee and Mr. Bhose (representing the Brahmo Samaj); and