120 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



the whole rendered impressive by a becoming confidence 

 and promptness of utterance. This specimen of their talents 

 was unanimously pronounced hopeful ; so that if they con- 

 tinued studious and devoted under their able and pious 

 Rector, much good might be expected. The next year they 

 were admitted as Proponents (licentiates) after undergoing 

 a strict examination. Their life and conduct were described 

 as exemplary and in this respect they were considered su- 

 perior to Malabars. The year after this (1726) their wor- 

 thy Rector Synjeu died, and the Rev. P. Kalden, lately 

 arrived in the colony, became his successor, At the next 

 ensuing examination the new Rector delivered an address 

 on the fundamentals of true religion, and at the conclusion 

 directed himself particularly to his pupils. These were 

 eleven in numbers, five of whom were clever Tamuls. The 

 four Proponents already spoken of are mentioned in an of- 

 ficial letter dated 1727 as conducting themselves well, and 

 proving useful agents. The Rector gave the next year 

 striking proofs of his zeal, the progress of the youths was 

 remarkable. The subjects of examination are thus stated : 

 the knowledge of God derived from nature and the religion 

 founded thereon, the knowledge of God derived from reve- 

 lation, the eternal Sonship of Christ, the Holy Ghost pro- 

 ceeding from the Father and the Son, the counsels of God 

 in general, his foreknowledge and election in particular, 

 the work of creation. There was one youth in particular, 

 Philip Emmanuels, a Tamul, who excelled i in penetration 

 and ability. He became a Proponent in 1734. 



1728. At this year's examination the gentlemen present 

 expressed a hope that an experimental knowledge of religion 

 might accompany the theoretical knowledge. For the sake 

 of brevity only such subjects of examination will now be 

 mentioned as have not appeared before. 



In 1729 a Dutch master was appointed for the lower 

 classes. It is remarked in this year's report that the Rec- 

 tor had an easy and most intelligible method of instruction. 

 The theological subjects of examinations in 1730 were jus- 

 tification, adoption, sanctification, glorification, the sacra- 

 ments, the church. Seven youths were reported inefficient 

 and dismissed by Government. Eleven new ones were ad- 

 mitted. 



1733. Number of students 14, divided into 3 classes: the 

 last class were learning reading and writing in Dutch, Sin- 

 ghalese and Tamul ; some had committed to memory 9500 



