(ii) For some private reasons over which I have had practically no control, its publication has been so long put off. Owing to this unconscionable delay, I have been obliged to reprint several pages where alterations have been urgently necessary, but nearly the whole of the book remains as it was printed ten months ago. I also beg to express my regret for the many misprints, faults of omission and commission in punctuation, and other small defects which have crept into this work in spite of my best edeavours to avoid them, but they are so obvious that I donot deem it necessary to add a list of corrigenda. In conclusion, I beg to acknowledge my deep obligations to my esteemed friend Dr. Nilratan Sircar, M.A., M.D., but for whose kindly interest the book would never have seen the light of day. My heartfelt thanks are also due to Professor Ramananda Chatterjee, M.A., of the Calcutta City College, for his very material assistance in seeing the pamphlet through the Press. I am also indebted to our distinguished countryman, Sir Romesh Chandra Mitter Kt., for his very kind letter of encouragement which is inserted in the next page. Beadon Street, CALCUTIA, September 1, 1895. } PRITHWIS CHANDRA RAY, My Dear Sir, 75, PADMAPOOKER ROAD, Bhowanipore, 23rd September, 1894. I herewith return to you your essay on "The Poverty Problem in India." It would indeed be a very interesting and useful contribution to the literature on the subject. It is interesting because in the range of the Indian Politics there is no subject which is of more vital importance than this. Unfortunately, however, there are very few persons, amongst the educated Indians, who have so carefully studied the subject and can deal with it so exhaustively as you have done. It is extremely useful because on a practical solution of this Problem our political advancement chiefly depends. Whether the remedies suggested by you would prove themselves effective or not, you have done a great service by clearly setting forth the nature of the disease with which we have to grapple. I hope the publication of your essay will arouse public attention to the subject dealt with, which, I regret to say, has been hitherto comparatively neglected. Yours sincerely, ROMESH CHUNDER MITTER. To Babu Prithwis Chandra Ray. FREE TRADES PROTECTION OR INDIA'S CASE AGAINST FRÈE TRADE FIFTY years ago, writing before the AntiCorn-Law League could induce the British Parliament to grant to the United Kingdom even a fair modicum of free trade, the seer of Chelsea complained that though England was full of wealth, yet she was dying of inanition. Here in India, protective tariffs were practically abolished before 1848, and yet after the lapse of about half a century, though the land 'blooms and grows with unabated bounty, waving with yellow harvests,' nearly one-fifth of her people in the year of grace 1895 are on the actual verge of starvation. Between the condition of the British Isles before, and that of India after, the adoption of free trade, what a difference! If Cobden, Villiers, and Bright had not carried their battle with the fire and energy they did, England would have probably by this time gone to the wall and her greatness and world-wide Empire lost. And India with the blessings of free trade, 70 per cent. of her people toiling and drudging day and night to eke out an honest living by tilling the soil, is driving, driving fast-God only knows to what fate. Indeed, India has a strong case against free trade, or what trade goes by that name. She has been a commercial country from time immemorial-ahead of all others in enterprising undertakings. Even in the days of Solomon and the ancient |