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40 LIFE OF MB. WOOMESH CH UNDER BONNE EJ EE. development of his forensic talents, sagacity and foresight, so conspicuous in his remarkable career. Suffice it to say, that his name will go down to pos- terity for having defended, with great ability, and at considerable sacrifice of time and money, such popular man as Babu Surrendra Nath Bonnerjee during the contempt case in 1 883, and that old, honest and true friend of India — we mean Mr. Robert Knight, the veteran editor of the Statesman and Friend of India, in the famous Burdwan libel case in 1887. He won his spurs by perseverance, knowledge, and ability, diligently cultivated, till at last he rose steadily upwards to one of the highest offices that the Govern- ment of India has to bestow — that of Standing Counsel. In this high post, he officiated, on four diff- erent occasions, viz., (1) from the 29th March 188 1 to2ist November 1882, (2) from 26th March 1882 to 21st December 1884, (3) from 20th September 1884 to 2 1st November 1886,. (4) from i6th March to 9th November 1 887. In 1878, Sir Ashley Eden, then Lieutenant- Governor of Bengal, thought of appointing Mr. Bonnerjee a Member of the Bengal Council, and privately requested the late Hon'ble Kristo Das Pal to sound him on the subject, but Mr. Bonnerjee res- pectfully declined the offer. Naturally of a shy and modest disposition, and not much given to fuss and noise, he refused to take his seat on the Bengal Coun- cil. In the same way, when the post of a puisne Judge of the High Court fell temporarily vacant in 1 88 1 and 1882, and when a permanent vacancy oc- curred in 1884, Sir Richard Garth, then chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, did his best to induce him to accept the post, but he declined. And the reason is not far to seek. It is said of Lord Mansfield that he knew no interval between no business and 3000I. a year, and the same remark holds good in the case of this Brah- min jurist whose annual income is over a lac a year.