the
completion of the important work of which we are about to-day to
celebrate the opening. I need hardly remind them that they will owe
this advantage to the introduction of British engineering skill and
British capital into this country. I trust that the consideration of
this fact, and of similar facts which are of daily occurrence, will
tend to produce a kindly feeling between the races, by showing them to
what an extent they may be mutually useful to each other. Meanwhile, I
hope that the gentlemen whom I am addressing will turn these
advantages to account by doing their utmost to improve their
properties, and to promote the happiness and welfare of their ryots
and dependents.'

[Sidenote: Railway dinner.]

In the afternoon of the same day he was present at a dinner given in
celebration of the opening of the railway from Jumalpore to Benares. In the
course of a speech which he made on that occasion, after referring to the
fact that both his predecessors had taken part in similar celebrations, he
said:--

In looking over the published report of these proceedings a few days
ago, my attention was arrested by an incident which brought forcibly
home to my mind one painful circumstance in which my position here to-
day contrasts sadly with that which Lord Canning then occupied. At a
stage in the proceedings of the evening, corresponding to that at
which we have now arrived, he departed from the routine prescribed by
the programme, and invited the company to join him in drinking the
health of his noble predecessor, the Marquis of Dalhousie, who had, as
he justly observed, nursed the East Indian Railway in its infancy, and
guided it through its first difficulties. It is not in my power to
make any similar proposal to you now. A mysterious dispensation of
Providence has removed from this world's stage, where they seemed
still destined to play so noble and useful a part, both the proposer
of this toast, and its object. The names of both are written in
brilliant characters on some of the most eventful pages of the history
of India, and both were removed at a time when expectation as to the
services which they might still render to India was at its height. I
shall not now dwell on the great national loss which we have all
sustained in this dispensation; but, perhaps, I may be permitted to
say that to me