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practical assistance in their campaign against the plague. The action of the people
themselves in concealing cases, refusing to evacuate their insanitary dwellings,
and opposing the isolation of the sick Was the result of ignorance, but was
suicidal to themselves, disastrous to others, and ruinous to the city. The
Justices were enlightened members of their various communities, and if they
chose to exert their influence on the fellow-eastern en it was in their power to
overcome this opposition, and prove themselves useful citizens. What he had
told the people of Poona he repeated here—voluntary action on the part of the
people, themselves in taking the necessary measures was to be preferred ; failing
that, use of the powers conferred under the new Act would be inevitable. He
asked the Justices to volunteer for active work in the city; those who were
medical men could give part of their time to work in hospitals; the rest were
asked to take certain streets, which had been already mapped out for this pur-
pose, and get the sick whom they might find to move out from their houses into
hospital, or, failing that, to inform the authorities of the localities in which the
cases were being concealed. Ou the conclusion of this speech His Excellency
announced that he was ready to take down the names of any of those present
who might be willing to volunteer for this work. A large number came
forward and gave in their names for the work.
1-5. On the 27th February His Excellency the Governor made the follow-
ing speech regarding the policy of the Government in the presence of repre-
sentatives of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce assembled at the Secretariat :
"Mr. Abercrombie and Gentlemen, I am very glad that the representation of the Chamber
here to-day is not limited merely to the members of its committee, for there is certainly no body
of men in Bombay who have a greater right to address the Governor and to come and lay their
views before him. I well remember, Mr. Abercrombie, the last time I had the pleasure of
meeting the Chamber of Commerce ; on that occasion instead of your coming to see me, I went
to see you. I do not recollect the actual state of trade at that time, but at any rate none of us
then foresaw the terrible condition of affairs which was to ensue within such a very short time.
I regret that I should have had to postpone this meeting from yesterday to to-day, but in the
threat over-pressure I really had no option. I understand that your good feeling was that, in.
view of this over-pressure, and bearing in mind the little speech I made to the J. P.'s, you were
willing to let me off, but, gentlemen, while it is unhappily, true that with famine in the Mofussil
and plague in Bombay our hands are more than full, yet I said to myself and to Mr. Abercrom-
bie, a bargain is a bargain, and I am glad to have an opportunity of meeting the Chamber of
Commerce at this time. That, however, has caused no delay in dealing with your suggestions
that no vessel should be permitted to proceed from Aden towards Europe unless with a clean
Bill of Health there obtained, and that at Moses Wells, near Suez, there might be an Inter-
national Board of Health to certify to the condition of passengers and crew on every vessel
proceeding through the Canal towards Europe. The suggestion was at once telegraphed to the
Government of India and recommended for their serious consideration. I may say at the
outset that I consider that the tone of your letter is in keeping with the spirit that has been
o-enerally shown—that of moderation. I am aware how seriously the general commerce of
Bombay —nay, every shop-keeper and everyone who plies a trade has been affected, and amid
all this I will say that I think that the executive have been treated not only with modera-
tion, but with generosity. The letter of the 15th February that I received from your
Secretary is full of suggestive matter. It alludes to what has been done, and states
what, in your judgment, might be done, both as temporary measures to stamp out the
plague, and as permanent measures to prevent or minimize all possibility of its recurrence. I
may say here, what I think should be received with general acceptance, that the Municipal
Commissioner asd his staff have spared no energy in combating this invisible foe, and have
worked with an energy which has secured the eulogies of Dr. Cleghorn, which ' have been
endorsed by the Viceroy. It is superfluous, after such testimony, to say that the Municipal
Commissioner carries my confidence, and that he and his staff are entitled to the warmest
admiration and encouragement. At the same time it is necessary to remember chat we are
fighting, a new foe that we know not whence and how it came, or on what it thrives. We have
sought the advice of medical, sanitary, and bacteriological experts. "We have listened to the
words o£ a multitude of councillors, and we have striven by active measures to combat and
resist this pestilence. We shall now have the advice and assistance of those who dealt with the
plague in Hongkong. Two of these medical officers have been directed to thoroughly acquaint
themselves with this city, the methods employed, and the general system pursued, and they are
directed to make any suggestions that their former experience of dealing with plague prompts.
A third I have sent to Karáchi, as a personal plague assistant to Mr. Wingate, the Commissioner
in Sind, whose efforts and those of all under him deserve the highest commendation ; and the
fourth has gone in the same capacity to the officer who has lately assumed charge of Poona
town. One thing, however, to me seems very clear ; it is not quite understood what has been
and is being done in this city. In each of the great divisions of the city we have the existing
staff to which additions have been made, are being made, and will be made. At the very outset of