uniform temperature of Lower Bengal, to a greater and greater degree
with every step that the traveller takes towards the north.

The railway, with the exception of a portion near Calcutta, is a
single line; but it is perfectly constructed, and with no great regard
to cost. The vagaries of the water-floods, which, during the rainy
season, sometimes pour down in unmanageable force from the Ganges and
sometimes rush towards it from the opposite side of the railway line,
have constituted the great engineering difficulty of the work. Some
very remarkable bridges and other constructions of this class, to
permit the free passage of water under the line, have been built. The
most critical point has been to obtain a secure foundation in the
sandy soil for these erections; and, strange to say, the principle
adopted by our engineers, under the name of the 'Sunken Well' system,
is the same as that followed by the great architects who built the
famous 'Taj' of Agra. It will, it is to be hoped, prove successful;
and these important works will remain an enduring monument of the
benefits conferred on India during the present reign. Nothing that has
been done by the British in India has affected the native mind so
powerfully, and produced so favourable an impression, as these railway
undertakings.

[Sidenote: Durbar.]

On the day after his arrival at Benares he held a Durbar--his first truly
Oriental Durbar--which, though not comprising any independent chiefs, was
attended by several native gentlemen of high consideration and large
possessions. In addressing them, he took the opportunity of dwelling upon
the improvement which recent measures had effected in their position, and
the consequent increase of their responsibilities:

'It is the desire (he said) of Her Majesty the Queen that the native
gentlemen of India should be represented in the Council of the
Governor-General, in order that when laws are made for India their
opinions, and wishes, and feelings may receive due consideration. It
is my intention and duty to do everything in my power to give effect
to Her Majesty's gracious intention in this respect. Among the rajahs
and gentlemen here to-day are many who have large estates in the
neighbourhood and along the line of railway which we travelled over
yesterday. The value of those estates will be greatly enhanced by