118 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



with his Council. The Reverend Principal or Rector, as he 

 was called, of the Seminary was always a member of the 

 Scholarcha] commission ; yet, being"also one of the ordinary 

 Clergymen of Colombo, but excused of a portion of his 

 pastoral duties, it is not clear whether his seat in that meet- 

 ing was in the former or latter capacity. 



When the Seminary was established, cannot be ascer- 

 tained; the earliest notice found of its existence is in 1708. 

 The higher course of instruction was imparted in the Dutch 

 language, and therefore the preliminary lessons were Dutch 

 grammar, composition, translation from the native lan- 

 guages and such exercises as would give a thorough know- 

 ledge of the language. We shall find that afterwards 

 Latin, Greek and Hebrew were introduced, and that even 

 the medium of instruction in the higher Theological class 

 was the Latin language. 



The selection of students was choice: in 1710 the institu- 

 tion contained 16 youths, 9 of whom were prepared to 

 commence with theology. In 1712 the Seminary was re- 

 ported to the East India Company to be very promising. 

 The higher class were examined on the Divine attributes 

 and perfections, "'on 'the "soul of man, and in logic. Two 

 Jaffna youths distinguished themselves by their correct 

 grammatical knowledge of Dutch. The subjects of exami- 

 nation in 1715 were, natural theology, the passions and 

 their government, Christian morality. In 1717 at the ex- 

 amination of eight youths in the Christian institutes, the 

 questions and answers were of a controversial nature, with 

 the view of qualifying the students, by arguments here- 

 after with their countrymen, to refute heathenism. In 

 1718 the seven scholars composing the lower class had been 

 learning Doutrein's sketch of the Christian religion, but they 

 were slow of comprehension, and the Rector, Mr. Synjeu, 

 (who by the way was assisted at the examinations by his 

 brethren in the ministry) expressed his opinion that the 

 adult age of these scholars disqualified them to proceed to 

 the higher course of study, but judged them fit to be em- 

 ployed as Schoolmasters and Interpreters. They were ac- 

 cordingly discontinued. This led to the plan of admitting 

 natives of more tender age, and of training them ab initio. 

 The seven youths of the higher class had gone through 

 the course in Natural Theology, when a repetition was 

 recommended and they were to give in writing from me- 

 mory the result of their studies. The Rector had made an 



