On Wednesday an important Blue-book was published con- taining the
correspondence with regard to the resignation of Sir Bampfylde Fuller. The conduct of the masters and students of the Government schools at Sirajganj was so dis- orderly that be took the extreme course of officially requesting the Registrar of the University of Calcutta to take steps for their disaffiliation from the University. Unfortunately, Sir Bampfylde Fuller had not consulted the Government of India before taking the step, and when the matter came to the notice of the Viceroy, he was compelled to interfere. While admitting the disgraceful character of the students' conduct, he considered the political objections to such disaffiliation so great that he requested that the application to the Registrar should be withdrawn. Sir B. Fuller bowed to the Viceroy's will, and undertook to execute his orders, but added that his authority would thereby be so greatly weakened that he could no longer maintain the prestige of the Govern- ment. Since Lord Minto was unable to reconsider his instructions, he could only accept regretfully his subordinate's resignation. The publication of these papers clears up an obscure question. Sir B. Fuller did not resign out of any sudden pique, but from a high sense of duty. It is much to be regretted that the resignation was necessary, but we do not see that Lord Minto could have acted otherwise than he did. The mistake lay in Sir B. Fuller's not seeking the approval of his superiors before making the public request for dis- affiliation.
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