"We women, your most gracious majesty's most devoted and loyal subjects, inhabiting the ancient city of Surat, the birthplace of the British empire, are particularly proud of it as being thus gloriously ruled over by one of our own sex, and we quite appreciate that we owe our present position, progress, and advancement and education, and our prospective elevation entirely to your majesty's most righteous, philanthropic, and sympathetic reign; and we thank the Almighty for having placed us under the noble-hearted sovereign who always evinces a motherly tenderness, care, and anxiety, and who is always anxious for the promotion of our happiness and the relief of our distress.
It being previously arranged, all the members of the Mutual Improvement Society went in a body to Lal Bungalow, situated just opposite the Bamba Wadi and commanding a very magnificent view of the fields and wastes surrounding it, in order to partake of the feast that was to be given in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee. Great indeed had been the preparations for the dinner to be served, and great had been the rejoicings of the members throughout the day. In mixed the visitors and the sympathisers of the Society with equal enthusiasm and equal raptures to perpetuate the memory of Her Majesty the Queen-Empress.