ABSTRACT
Allahabad, at the meeting of the Ganges and the Jumna in the plains of Hindostan, was not the most distinguished of Indian cities, although it boasted of some fine mosques and a Mogul fort. The idea of building a grander Government House in Canning Town was eventually dropped, and what had been intended as a makeshift became permanent. The Government of India had, however, set the limit of the expenditure to be incurred on the new house at one lakh only - rather less than £10,000. Allahabad resented Butler's preference for Lucknow; particularly so when Lucknow was given three days to Allahabad's one in the programme of the Prince of Wales's visit during the cold weather of 1921-2. The Allahabad worthies made what Butler regarded as 'the most absurd proposals' to detain the Prince in their city; it was even suggested that he should 'unveil a column which has been unveiled for six or seven years'.
