672 
MISCELLANIES. 
Arr. VI. Essays by the Students of the College of Fort William in Bengals To awhich 
are added, the Theses pronounced at the Public Disputations in the Oriental Languages, on 
the 6th of february, 1802. 
THESE essays, as the frugum primitia 
of an institution established on the sound- 
est principles of justice and of wisdom, 
and which bids fair to revive the droop- 
ing learning of the east, will be welcomed 
by every lover of science, and every friend 
tohumanity. Jt is well known, that the 
Marquis of Wellesley, among other im- 
_ portant services which he has rendered 
-to the East India company, founded a 
college at Fort William for the instruc- 
tion’ of the junior civil servants of the 
company, in all those branches of litera- 
ture and science, which may be deemed 
necessary to qualify them fer discharg- 
ing the duties of different offices, consti- 
tuted forthe administration of the go- 
vernment of the British possessions in the 
East Indies. Itis not so generally known, 
perhaps, what those branches are, and on 
how very extensive a basis this estabiish- 
ment is founded. Presuming that most 
of our readers will feel the same pratifi- 
eation that we did on being made ac- 
quainted with the collegiate studies, we: 
o 
make no apology for transcribing, from 
the second volume of the Asiatic Annual 
Register, the following concise account 
of thém: It is enacted, that ‘ profes- 
sorships shail be established as soon as 
may be practicable, and regular courses 
of lectnres commenced in the following 
branches of literature, science, and know- 
ledge: Arabic, Persian, Sanscreet, Hin- 
distanee, - Bengal, Telinga, Mahratta, 
‘'amula, Canara languages; Mahom- 
medan law, Hindoo law; ethics, civil ju- 
risprudence, and the law of nations ; 
English law: the regulations and laws 
enacted by the governor-general in coun- 
cil, or by the governors in council at Fort 
St. George and Bombay respectively, 
for the civil government of the British 
territories in India; political economy, 
_ and purticularly the commercial institu- 
tion and interests of the East India com- 
pany ; geography and mathematics ; mo- 
dern language of Europe; Greek, Latin, 
and English classics; general history, 
ancient and modern ; the history and an- 
tiquicies of Hindustan and the Deccan; 
natural history ; botany, chemistry, and 
astronomy.”’ 
«« The essays and theses here published, 
were composed by the ‘students, under the 
following statutes enacted by his excellency 
the most noble the governor-general, patron 
and visitor of the college of Fort William. 
Svo. pp. 228. 
Calcutta printed. 
« Statute VI. Of public disputations in 
the oriental languages. 
« Whereas it is necessary, that the students 
destined to exercise high and important func- 
tions in India, should be able to speak the 
oriental languages with fluency and propri- 
ety; it is therefore declared, that pablic dis- 
putations and declamations shall be holden in 
the oriental languages, at stated times, to be 
prescribed by the council of the college.’ 
«« Statute VII. Of exercises in English 
composition. 
* iivery student shall compose one essay 
or declamation in the English language, dur- 
ing the course of each term. 
« The subject of these essays or declama- 
tions shall be proposed by the council of the 
college.” 
The disputations in oriental languages 
were held at the college hall on the sixth 
of February, 1802, being the anniversary 
of the commencement ot the frst term of 
the college. After the distribution of 
the prizes and honorary rewards, the 
honorable the acting visitor, George Hi- 
laro Barlow, Esq. in absence of the noble 
patron and founder, who was called toa 
distant quarter of the empire, addressed 
the students in a short appropriate speech, 
expressive of his satisfaction at their ge- 
neral good conduct and proficiency. 
This volume contains nine essays; 
three “* on the advantages of an acade- 
mical institution in India, considered in 
a moral; literary, and political point 
of view,” respectively by Mr. Martin, 
Mr. Elliot, and Mr. Bayley ; three “ on 
the best means of acquiring a knowledge 
of the manners and customs of the natives 
of India,” by Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Martin, 
and Mr. Metcalf ; three “on the charac- 
ter and capacity of the Asiatics, and par- 
ticularly of the natives of Hindoostan,” 
hy Mr. Wood, Mr. Martin, and Mr. 
Newenham. ; 
Here it is impossible not to be struck 
with the wisdom aud judgment which 
dictated the choice of these subjects. The 
object of the frst is clearly to direct the 
attention of the students to the nature 
and views of the institution of which they 
are members, to impress them witha just 
sense of its importance, and of the value 
of those advantages which are now within 
their reach, and which, if they suffer to 
pass away without profiting by them, 
must be dishonourable to their character, 
and detrimental to their interests. The 
second, by enquiring the best means of 
