ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OP THE PRESIDENT. lv 



treated the three " India hoys" with comparatively little ceremony. 

 Thomas was sent to Mr. Delafosse's excellent classical school at Bich- 

 mond, and, having to trust entirely to his own exertions for getting 

 on in life, early showed an eager thirst for knowledge ; so that, instead 

 of wasting his youth in play, he studied with the greatest attention, 

 and was soon one of the most proficient in the school for his clas- 

 sical knowledge, taking great delight in Greek and Latin poetry. He 

 now became very desirous of acquiring a knowledge of other subjects 

 then so much neglected at classical schools, as is still too frequently 

 the case in great seminaries : he procured some books on elementary 

 mathematics, and studied them diligently, making himself by his 

 zeal a favourite with the principal. During the holidays, which he 

 spent with his uncle, he still pursued his studies by himself, and 

 spent his allowance of pocket-money in procuring little French 

 books, a pencil, or something similar, exhibiting an energy in the 

 pursuit of knowledge uncommon in a lad of his age, though shared in a 

 measure by his two elder brothers. He now persuaded his cousins to 

 teach him a little French and drawing, and he always remembered 

 with gratitude the simple lessons of one of them who thus assisted 

 him. Hence he was sent to Addiscombe College to study for the East 

 India Company's service, in which for several generations his family 

 and relatives had passed the best years of their life. He had here a 

 better opportunity of studying the languages, French, Hindustani, &c, 

 and under the able professors of that establishment he mastered the 

 elements of mathematics, becoming, as he advanced in knowledge, 

 enraptured with the subject, which he followed up to the day of his 

 death with unwearied delight. After having remained the requisite 

 time, he passed a most honourable examination for the Engineers, 

 being one of the foremost of the cadets of the year (and there was no 

 lack of talent among the candidates for the Engineer service) ; and he 

 was sent lo "Worcestershire, under Colonel Mudge, B.A., to work on 

 the Ordnance Survey of England : the part he surveyed was the town 

 and neighbourhood of Bromsgrove, since engraved on the 1-inch scale. 

 . He now embarked in the fleet which was despatched to convoy 

 the merchantmen sailing for Bombay, and he arrived at that port 

 in May 1814. Immediately after his arrival he entered on the 

 responsible duties of his profession, and had the control of large sums 

 of money, .£28,000 having been spent by him in erecting civil and 

 military buildings ; and at one time he had five thousand natives 

 under his orders, whom he had to instruct in bricklayers' and masons' 

 work. To make up for the scarcity of limestone, he examined the 

 beach, and, finding that there was a considerable bed of recent shells 

 in the neighbourhood, he persuaded old women and children and 

 infirm villagers, by liberal offers, to collect them in baskets ; and so 

 great was the quantity obtained, that the kilns were filled and the 

 building rapidly erected. He was appointed interpreter to Major- 

 General Keir, in Guzerat, in December 1817 ; temporary Assistant 

 to the Superintending Engineer at the Presidency in February 1819 ; 

 and Executive Engineer, Southern Concan, in September 1819. 

 In 1820 he requested to be appointed to survey the Southern: 



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