their intercourse with the various nations included within their dominions. They extolled the beauty of their own language, and gave the utmost encouragement to the cultivation of it. The effect was not universally beneficial, because many of the subject races were already in a more advanced stage of civilization than the Arabs themselves; but it was such as exemplified, in a very remarkable way, the extent to which the study of a new language and literature may remould national character. Arabic literature became the literature of all the conquered nations; their dialects were saturated with Arabic words; their habits of thought, their manners, their whole character, became conformed to the same standard. gion has, no doubt, a great deal to do with the striking uniformity which prevails throughout the Mohammedan world; but language and literature have a great deal more to do with it. There are many tribes on the outskirts of Mohammedanism which have conformed to the religion, without adopting the learning of Islam, and they are often

Reli

and it was perhaps not in the power of the Greeks to make more than a faint impression upon them. The Moslems with whom we have to do are our own subjects; and if we neglect to mitigate the hostile spirit of the sect, by encouraging the disposition they evince to cultivate our literature and science, posterity will have a heavier charge to bring against us than that of “ foolish vanity."

not to be distinguished from the people of the same tribe who have adhered to the religion of their fathers, with whom they have language and every thing else in common.

These are the facts upon which the plan of the education committee is based. Their object is to fill the minds of the liberally educated portion of the people with the knowledge of Europe, in order that they may interpret it in their own language to the rest of their countrymen. For this purpose, while, on the one hand, the pupils are encouraged to acquire the various kinds of information which English literature contains, and to form their taste after the best English models; on the other, every endeavour is used to give them the habit of writing with facility and elegance in their native language.

The committee's first desire is to establish a seminary based on these principles at each Zillah station. The large towns always take the lead in the march of improvement: the class of people whose circumstances give them leisure to study to good purpose, and influence to make their example followed, are congregated there in greater numbers than elsewhere. Even the proprietors residing on their estates in the district keep up a close connection with their provincial capitals,

where they have generally town houses and resident agents. The subordinate officers of government are selected and sent from thence to exercise their functions in the surrounding country. The European functionaries are present there to exercise a general superintendence over the seminaries, and to assist the teachers with their countenance and experience. By purifying the circulation through these vital organs, the whole system will be re-invigorated; the rich, the learned, the men of business, will first be gained; a new class of teachers will be trained; books in the vernacular language will be multiplied; and with these accumulated means we shall in due time proceed to extend our operations from town to country, from the few to the many, until every hamlet shall be provided with its elementary school. The poor man is not less the object of the committee's solicitude than the rich; but, while the means at their disposal were extremely limited, there were millions of all classes to be educated. It was absolutely necessary to make a selection, and they therefore selected the upper and middle classes as the first object of their attention, because, by educating them first, they would soonest be able to extend the same advantages to the rest of the people. They will be our school

masters, translators, authors; none of which functions the poor man, with his scanty stock of know. ledge, is able to perform. They are the leaders of the people. By adopting them first into our system we shall be able to proceed a few years hence, with an abundant supply of proper books and instructors, and with all the wealth and influence of the country on our side, to establish a general system of education which shall afford to every person of every rank the means of acquiring that degree of knowledge which his leisure will permit.

D

CHAP. III.

The violent Opposition made by Oriental Scholars to the Resolution of the 7th March 1835. The whole Question rests upon Two Points; first, Whether English or Arabic and Sanskrit Literature is best calculated for the Improvement of the People of India ; and secondly, Whether, supposing English Literature to be best adapted for that Purpose, the Natives are willing to cultivate it. These Points considered.

THE resolution of the 7th of March 1835 was passed in the face of the most keen and determined opposition on the part of several distinguished persons whose influence had not been usually exerted in vain; and their representations were seconded by a petition got up by the numerous class of persons whose subsistence was dependent on the oriental colleges, and on the printing and other operations of the committee connected with them. The Asiatic Society also took up the cause with great vehemence, and memorialised the local government, while the Court of Directors and the Board of Control were pressed by strong remonstrances from the Royal Asiatic Society. The spirit of orientalism was stirred up to its inmost depths,